Ward and Horbury star in Whitby Sea Anglers Association League

On Wednesday night, everyone appeared to have the same idea, and were spread within 100 yards of each other on the beach - not a pegged match though!

Scratching for whitings. SSEasterly winds 12mph, gusting 25mph for the three-hour match. Sea state 1-2ft Northerly, little to no colour on the biggest tide of the month.

Clear skies, the Worm moon rose above the horizon in spectacular fashion, bright orange. The sea state was heavier than forecast, and until the sandbar dampened the swell sets the fish just were not biting.

At the scales, five of the eight had a weigh-in, two codlings and 16 whitings.

Ward, Guisborough, was the only one to fish the rock, yet another bonne-surprise on a scratching night, with two codlings for 7lb 9oz, his best 5lb 9oz now leads in the Monthly Sweep.

For Sunday’s four-hour evening match the conditions were very similar to Wednesday night, another scratching match, starting an hour earlier SSEasterly breeze, 0-1ft Northerly long-distance swell with no colour.

High water 7pm, beaches and piers being the main marks of choice, flapper rigs, small hooks, oily baits, i.e. mackerel, fishing for whitings and flat fish - anything for a weigh-in.

At the scales, the poorest weigh-in from just three of the eight fishing (since Sunday January 18), 9 whiting, and a billet - 5lb 13oz.

Man of the Match Horbury, Whitby, has eight whitings for 4lb 5oz.

Heaviest Fish, a billet, fell to Brian Harland 1lb 1oz. Just six matches left until close of the season.