Monthly Fish Update: March 2013
Fish Counts
The upstream count for March was one which was recorded early in morning on the 16th. The upstream count is lower than both the five-year (52) and long-term (45) averages. The highest recorded count for March was 144 and occurred in 2012. As of 3pm 5th April, no upstream counts have been recorded.
River flows throughout March have been mainly below the five year average. The spate on the 18th March produced a noticeable rise in flows but it quickly passed and they rapidly dropped back to below the monthly average. River temperatures throughout the month have been well below the 5 year average for March. The warmest spell during the month was between the 3rd and 8th but that was still approximately 2⁰C below the monthly average while the coldest spell was almost 5⁰C below average. The underlying trend in water temperatures is downward during March with cooler temperatures occuring towards the end of the month rather than the beginning. If we compare this March with last year when we had the record upstream count for the month, the maximum temperature obeseved this year is nearly 1⁰C lower than the minimum observed during March 2012. The solitary upstream count occurred when the river temperature and flows were increasing as a result of a release from Kielder.
Further details of the daily upstream counts for 2013 and historic monthly counts can be found by following the link below:
Environment Agency - River Tyne fish counts
If you are not already aware, we have a system on the internet that will allow you to check river levels before you head out. Please follow the link below:
Environment Agency - River and sea levels
So far, we have received scale samples from five salmon during March bringing the total for the season to 12. Four of the salmon were caught on two beats downstream of our facility at Riding Mill and one was caught on a beat upstream. Only one sample came from early running two sea winter or ‘spring’ fish, which was caught downstream of Riding Mill, while the other four came from fish that will have returned to the river at sometime during 2012.
If you have been keeping an eye out in the local press, you will have read about one of the sea trout we tagged during our broodstock operations in 2012. The male sea trout that measured 57.1cm was originally caught and tagged on the North Tyne at Falstone on 13th November 2012, was re-caught 99 days later off the Dutch coast near Heemskerk. During the 99 days it has managed to swim back downstream, exit the estuary and work its way across the North Sea, a journey of some 300 miles as the crow flies. This is now the second sea trout we have tagged to turn up off the Dutch coast.
If you do happen to see a green or blue tag beneath the dorsal fin of a fish you have caught, please note down the number and call us at the number below.
If you would like further details of the Angler Scale Sampling Programme or the Tyne Angler Logbook Scheme or know of someone who would like to join please call the environmental monitoring team on 0191 203 4140.
Many thanks for your support
Morton
Fish Counts
The upstream count for March was one which was recorded early in morning on the 16th. The upstream count is lower than both the five-year (52) and long-term (45) averages. The highest recorded count for March was 144 and occurred in 2012. As of 3pm 5th April, no upstream counts have been recorded.
River flows throughout March have been mainly below the five year average. The spate on the 18th March produced a noticeable rise in flows but it quickly passed and they rapidly dropped back to below the monthly average. River temperatures throughout the month have been well below the 5 year average for March. The warmest spell during the month was between the 3rd and 8th but that was still approximately 2⁰C below the monthly average while the coldest spell was almost 5⁰C below average. The underlying trend in water temperatures is downward during March with cooler temperatures occuring towards the end of the month rather than the beginning. If we compare this March with last year when we had the record upstream count for the month, the maximum temperature obeseved this year is nearly 1⁰C lower than the minimum observed during March 2012. The solitary upstream count occurred when the river temperature and flows were increasing as a result of a release from Kielder.
Further details of the daily upstream counts for 2013 and historic monthly counts can be found by following the link below:
Environment Agency - River Tyne fish counts
If you are not already aware, we have a system on the internet that will allow you to check river levels before you head out. Please follow the link below:
Environment Agency - River and sea levels
So far, we have received scale samples from five salmon during March bringing the total for the season to 12. Four of the salmon were caught on two beats downstream of our facility at Riding Mill and one was caught on a beat upstream. Only one sample came from early running two sea winter or ‘spring’ fish, which was caught downstream of Riding Mill, while the other four came from fish that will have returned to the river at sometime during 2012.
If you have been keeping an eye out in the local press, you will have read about one of the sea trout we tagged during our broodstock operations in 2012. The male sea trout that measured 57.1cm was originally caught and tagged on the North Tyne at Falstone on 13th November 2012, was re-caught 99 days later off the Dutch coast near Heemskerk. During the 99 days it has managed to swim back downstream, exit the estuary and work its way across the North Sea, a journey of some 300 miles as the crow flies. This is now the second sea trout we have tagged to turn up off the Dutch coast.
If you do happen to see a green or blue tag beneath the dorsal fin of a fish you have caught, please note down the number and call us at the number below.
If you would like further details of the Angler Scale Sampling Programme or the Tyne Angler Logbook Scheme or know of someone who would like to join please call the environmental monitoring team on 0191 203 4140.
Many thanks for your support
Morton