The Target is best fished from October through to January where most anglers find better results over low water, although it can be fished from the cliff top over high water.
Ideal conditions will be a dying north-easterly swell. Three hours after high water down to low, then the first hour of a flooding tide will see fish feeding very close in.
In the right conditions, daylight can be just as productive as darkness.
SPECIES
Early autumn can see the place full of silver eels to crab baits.
If the conditions are right, late autumn and all the way to Christmas can produce good catches of codling along with the odd bass and coalfish. After Christmas, catches can fade.
BAIT AND TACKLE
Fresh peeler crabs when available are ideal but frozen crabs and mussel cocktails along with worms are just as good.
The ground is not particularly heavy although you can encounter snags, so tackle up accordingly.
A decent 13ft-14ft beachcaster and a fast retrieve reel will do the job. Use Pennell rigs and no need to clip down as you don’t have to cast far. 40yds is enough to catch fish.
TACKLE SHOPS
FISHING REPUBLIC, Woodbine St, Hendon, tel: 0191 567 9770.
Opening times: 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 10am – 8pm Saturday and 10am – 4pm Sunday.
Bait: Lug and rag daily. Yellowtail lug and peeler crabs when available. Frozen baits.
NORTH EAST TACKLE, Ryhope Rd, Sunderland, tel: 0191 510 3573.
Opening times: 9am – 5.30pm Monday, Friday and Saturday, and 9.30am – 6pm Tuesday and Thursday.
Bait: Rag, lug and crabs, plus frozen bait.
THE TRADING POST, 40 Hylton Rd, Sunderland, tel:0191 565 4626.
Opening times: 8.30am – 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 8.30am – noon Sunday.
Bait: Lug, rag and crab, plus frozen bait.
RUTHERFORD’S ANGLING LTD, 125 Roker Ave, Sunderland, tel: 0191 5654183.
Opening times: 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, closed Wednesday, 9am – 1pm Sunday
Number of lakes/pegs : –
Prices : –
Directions : Leave the A19 at Seaham and take the A1018 to Ryhope. Continue on through Ryhope Village until you reach the roundabout at Salterfen Industrial Estate. New roads are currently being laid, so parking may have changed.