alun j. Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 At last...... wind light enough on the weekend for a fish.....[ JUST !!!] Crawled out , bleary-eyed at 7, to see the trees were still and metcheck sticking with light westerlies ....... so quickly got the boat ready....and out on the Ledge before 9. Hefty swells coming in [ hope no one tried Kimmeridge??] and a freshish force 3 out of the shelter of Hengistbury. Anchored up on the drop off and straight into doggy [but this was the only one !!!, couldn't believe it!!] After a quiet hour, whiting started to arrive....... a few smaller ones first.... then the bigger ones [ haven't weighed any yet .... but 7 or 8 between 1 1/2 and 3 lbs. would be my judgement] ....... a couple of fat bass [ similar size ] ..... a lonely mackeral and several scad...... before the tide swung round and all action stopped. Tried moving a bit to be able to fish back into the drop ....... but nothing except a strange feeling in my insides in response to the tide pushing into those swells, despite the wind disappearing !! Had to pick my moment to come back across the top of the Ledge as those swells and tide were breaking with the bigger ones !!! ...... but it looked worse than it was and the trip back was fun ....... whizzing down the wavefronts like a surfer !! Now, lets go sort those whiting out !! Hope this is the start of a good autumn / winter for them. PS. All taken on mackeral strip ; only the doggy went for squid . Stuck to fishing one of each all morning ....... but only mackeral scored !! Tight lines to those trying tomorrow, Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Nice one Alun Always good to read your reports We went out today to fish the banks through the period when the tide was at its kindest . We had 6 whiting [ all on mackerel] best 1.5lb several dogfish, well more then several really but not quite the pest numbers that we sometimes get. Sam landed a decent Smoothy of 9lb 8oz and a Blonde Ray of 12lb 8oz and lost a decent fish when his braid parted. I then lost another smoothy of simular size that spat the hook just under the surface, before landing a small blonde of about 5lb and a small bass A few decent fish in weather that was kind to us. [we were 5 miles out watching the rain falling heavily over the pubecks] No Cod yet but at least some whiting have arrived. Tight lines all for Sunday Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted October 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Good fish Charlie; did you get those swells 5 miles out ? ....... or is the water too deep?? ........ probably i t's the steep slope on the ledge that pushes them up when wind and tide conspire. Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIMBOB Posted October 17, 2004 Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 Good to see you guys are getting some good sport out there . I just hope this weather window holds till my next day off. Alun well done on those whiting a 3lbers a beast! Charlie ,I see the boys are still hauling James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted October 17, 2004 Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 Alun Yes we had the swells but further out and in deeper water they were not a problem. The worst sea state we had was when the wind increased at slack water while the boat was on the turn, at the start of the ebb it eased off again so the early return to the Harbour we had discussed was not necessary. I had a problem with the engine just stopping on me in the morning, which seems to have been sorted out by cleaning the lift Pump filter and venting the fuel system. Thanks to Kim on Overdraft and Frank on Sheila Marie for offering assistance if I needed it. I think the boys were impressed about how quickly I managed to get the engine back into life. I had dropped the hook and started fishing while the engine cooled down a bit, and to avoid any panic. So I was very pleased not to have to haul the anchor back up by hand for a tow. Best of luck with the weather James I hope you get out to practice. By the way what format is the final going to be fished to? I saw a post saying you were going to practice scratching. I hope you get a spot of good weather so you can at least get out of the harbour. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIMBOB Posted October 17, 2004 Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 The format for the final is going to be a species hunt, maxium of 2 hooks and the same bait issued to each angler. I think the plan of action is to get out to the cod grounds if the weather allows, plan b being scratching in the harbour. Im a little bit worried though because ive never fished a species match from a charter boat. When adam and I fish the club comps i think its the marks that give us the edge. Ill just give it my best shot. Any one got any good scratching rig ideas? James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 James....Billyboy gave me a shed load of rigs for the YYS comp, all stuf that caught on the day. Dont be too afraid to scale right down in hook size. Also, break down some feather rigs, of different types and sizes, into two hook traces....they will catch you all sorts on the drop, and on the bottom, in one day on the YYs i managed 11 species, so if I can do it....bloody sure you can!!! I'll have a looky in the tackle box, and see if theres any of the stuff BB gave me, and bring it over to you. Just try everything out........and beat the buggers!!! Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIMBOB Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 cheers rich, I was maybe going to use a set of baited shrimp rigs, any help would be greatly welcomed. I was going to try out a few mini rigs on thursday out with adam to see how they fish. James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 James, i used mini rigs for the last hour or so of our trip out on sunday.....they were size 6 hooks, with silver and pink streamer on them, and a small red or green bead. I was catching pout and poor cod, when others were not connecting.....also, takw some flashy pirks with you to use as weightssfor the base of the string.........they really improve the take ratio, I was using eith Yan lures, or the dexter wedges......and both worked well, the yan ones fish better though. Also, get some of those minature redgill type eels, and fish em on short snoods, with an attarcter above them, they worked brill for me If there are some Gars still about, a white or silver floating bead on the business end is an absolute killer, so maybe try that. AND dont go out without any storm sandeels.........they are absolutely mustard...thats what i caught my 1lb 8oz gar on.......108% specimen mate!!! Ive got soem stuff made up, I have to go over to Mark B's to collect a machine ive lent him, I'll drop em off beforehand ok??? Good hunting........Rich PS...............i wanna trip when u win the motah!!!! Tight lines chap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 James I don't know what you would usually use in our comps but a one up one down rig would give the best of both worlds in a species chase from a charter boat IMHO. whiting , pout scad bream etc seem to like to bait just off the bottom and Rays Dogs Bull huss Congers Cod etc on a flowing trace on the bottom I would even consider using a baited hokia or feather on the top hook to about 2/0 and a larger hook [or pennel if allowed as one hook] on the bottom When I used to fish more comps around the country I tended to tie these as seperate parts joined with links so that both parts could be changed quickly and thus change trace lengths and hook sizes. We also used to double Pat [spare rig ready and baited onboard] if we were speed fishing. It saved time wasted after winding in to check bait and if you get tangled up with other lines as you often do on charter boats its quicker to cut the trace off, drop it on the deck, tie on the spare baited trace then start fishing prior to sorting out the tangle. I would also advise carrying a good supply and selection of weights as you do not know what position on the boat youi will be fishing, but with only 5 per boat tangles should not be to big a problem. I presume you will be fishing our comp on Sunday for a bit of practice Tight lines and good luck with the weather and the fishing Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boybilly Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 Congrats James on qualifying for the fish off. We fish the Poole Species comp and I will gladly tie you some of the rigs we use for scratching. What date is the comp mate? BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 James, If you want to borrow any gear just give me a shout Paul J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIMBOB Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Cheers guys, the comp is on friday the 29th .BB would love to see one of your scratching rigs to see how they compare to mine {and yours work!} I took the day of work today and after spending a small fortune in bournemouth fishing lodge, think ive got all the rigs bits i need and a new rod and reel I realy shoulnt go in to tackle shops with any money in my pocket! Been tieing a few scratching rigs this morning and should be testing them out tomorrow and sunday to see if they can catch any fish{and dont just look pretty} Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Hi James I would have loved to have come down to the Quay Thistle to see you after the comp but unfortunately I am away on the 29th I will just have to wait until our next club meeting to hear your report. Anyways good luck and just give it your best shot. Cheers Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Weather permitting Ill be their all day on BW, shadowing the charter boats from afar...if anyone wants to join me they are more than welcome. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boybilly Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Is that 29th November James or October? BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Billy - 29th Oct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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