Adam F Posted May 24, 2010 Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 For those golfers of you, you'll recall the famous, Gary Player quote: "The more I practise, the luckier I get" .... that pretty much sums up this years first trip to Alderney for JV. If you havent guessed, I flippin LOVE Alderney, the trip is the highlight of the year for me. After getting blown out early May, we were mega keen last thurs to get cracking, so before 1st light last thurs Alun, Rob Francis and I edged out of them Marina, and hooked up with Yelo, Alfesco, Quest II, Abode and Wight Magic for 4 days in the channels islands. I'll spare you every detail as it has been covered before, but I'll pick up a few highlights! This time Plans A,B,C, D and E all worked, hence the quote at the top of the report. We had a box of prime pollock on the trip over on Thurs, before fueling and going out for a crack at the Alderney Tope... we fished for 2 hours and had a dozen fast and furious tope, biggest 47lb, smallest 30lb - amazing! Friday saw no wind, and sunshine and a long day on the Shoale bank. 9 turbot to about 7lb was a cracking day. Rob 'honest I saw that bite' Francis was top rod, and seemed to have a knack of just picking up the rod with a turbo attached! We didnt take the mick.... much! Sat was a suprise, we expected to be land bound, but whilst it blew it was fishable, so we took the bull by the horns and headed to the Shoale again. We fished long and hard with a F5 E wind over tide all day.... lumpy.... and managed another 9 fish. Alun got his nickname of 'First and Last' today as the same as Fri, he caught the fist and last turbo of the day.... he fished damn hard for them! Sun... home time. We had a delayed start as 6am saw 50m visability due to dense fog and a string F5... should we stay another day or go home? An educatated decision based on the forecast and help from Steve Porter a few miles ahead of us saw the whole foltila leaving at 10am, headed North for Poole. We fished a few wrecks on the way back and ended up with some more lovely pollock and a few plump cod. Back into the marina at 6pm, we had covered 241 miles for 277 litres of fuel used. Tired but happy! A few nigles over the weekend.. a poorly VHF which needs some 'Bob' attention, an engine fault alarm which popped up 15 miles of Durlston on the way home, and on cleaning the boat today a cracked stringer on the hull which will need a repair (I suspect a tankers wash, and 20 knots on a flat sea with 3 up in the wheelhouse was the blame) Anyway, a great laugh and a superb weekend! The bad news is we are back in reality... the good news is we are going again in 3 weeks! A few photos for you: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted May 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 Tom had his SLR with him so we arranged a few 'fly-by' photo shoots... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted May 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 Quote of the week for me.... Adam: " Rob - what's your best tope?" Rob: "About 7lb... do they go big here? Do they go to 20lb?" Adam: "Nah... not 20lb mate..... about 30 is the smallest!" ..... que a big smile and then 5 mins alter Rob hooks a 47lber! Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niggle Posted May 24, 2010 Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 U read like ur still buzzin Adam ,I might do Alderney in 2 weeks time when boat is based at Weymouth,but will try next year or crew Well jealous Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted May 24, 2010 Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 As they say it is the journey not the destination - well this is not true for Alderney, it is both!!!! I'm lucky to get 4 top days fishing in a couple of months, let alone 4 days in succession. The fishing was great along with the land based activities (drinking and eating) and the compay onboard was such a good laugh with a handfull of ribbing and tomfoolery! And JV what a boat - brilliant - great platform and beautifully fitted out, this you dont appreciate until you have spent some hours on her (even if quite a bit of that was asleep!!!). Well done Bob & Adam, you did a great job!!! Adam was a great skipper too, and even made the tea occasionally! I set a few PB's this last week - monster Tope and my first ever Turbo. Jo has advised Turbo is now her favourite table fish and I am allowed to go back, result!!! Cheers to all who went, we had great club spirit and it was a pleasure to be part of it. The banter on the radio was great and it was nice to really fish up close and personal to other club boats - if not too close sometimes!!!! Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 Wonderfull ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 Stunning guys, I'm green with envy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just add water Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 some nice fish but adam i thought your scales only went up to 40lb lol Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 As ever Adam a well written report (apart from the spelling mistakes ) that describes how the Alderney trip should be. Shame about the niggles hope you get them all easily sorted. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 What a great trip. Glad I didn't go. Great photos, too! Mutter, mutter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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