I reckon those fishing boats would have been returning to the fish quay at North Shields, WAV - though you used to get the odd coble in Prior's Haven. I was born in North Shields, Preston Hospital, long demolished, and raised between Shiremoor & Blyth. Never a big fan of South Shields myself, a lot of my childhood friends hailed from the Yemeni community - established in the 1890s. Nice walks down to Soutar lighthouse & still-picturesque Whitburn - and Marsden Rock & Grotto is always worth a visit...

Hope you're still getting out & about anyway.