Poor Day And Netting Of Inner Poole Patch

[bootlegger]

Myself and Dan, after a very hot and enjoyable 4th of July out on Bootlegger down at Swanage decided to venture out again today after the storms.

 

We decided to feather for mackeral of Bournemouth pier and then try and locate a nearby wreck. After feathering for only 10 minutes we had a good half a bucket of mackeral, unfortunately that was the highlight of the day.

 

The wreck was vey small and although accroding to our charts, chart plotter and GPS we were over it we couldn't locate it on our sonar. So after searching without finding we decided to run the marks along Bournemouth and Poole.

 

First stop was Southbourne rough, fishing just off the pipeline we caught a couple of late Bream, lots of bites but nothing else.

 

We then moved off the fish Bournemouth Rocks, after drifiting and losing a load of gear we caught nothing.

 

We then fished both outer and middle patches, we tried at anchor, drifting and spinning, we even deployed our lobster pots, despite numerous small bites, there again was nothing, numerous rigs, baits etc were tried but just not happening.

 

Finally on our way back we decided to stop off at the inner patch. We had noticed a large amount of buoys, as usual at the patches and put it down to pots as there was nothing to indicate anything else.

 

We dropped anchor at the edge of the patch and after the last 90 minutes the only thing we had to show was a couple of smaal wrasse in the lobster pots.

 

We then started pulling up the anchor, I got to about 6 feet from the anchor when it stuck fast. Looking over the side whilst hanging onto the anchor chain I realised it was snagged on a net and no matter how hard I pulled I couldn't free it. The surreptitious use of the boat hook, brute strength and a 75hp Yamaha in reverse after about 15 minutes we managed to free the anchor

 

A minor victory of a poor day.

 

After mooring I drove up to the Commodore in Southbourne and with my binoclulars surveyed the patches, it does appear that not only the inner patch has been completely netted but also the outer patch as well.

 

This is not surprising but is a little wearisome, as I hope the patches don't become like Evans rock, which is just a snag fest now, caused by the amount of discarded and torn up nets where commercials tried to net the rock, this has just resulted in a hazard for anglers and the fish themselves. Speaking to a couple of local charter men Evans rock mark no longer produces the amount of fish it used to and their opinion is because of the reasoning above.

 

 

[Bob F]

Do you know the name of the wreck you were trying to find?

 

 

[bootlegger]

Off the top of my head Bob no I don't as the mark is on my GPS and charts which are in the custody of Dan whilst I am away as he has use of the boat when I'm in town.

 

The wreck is shown on the Poole Bay chart and on my chart plotter about 1/2 mile from the outer patch towards Hengistbury Head, we were going to fish the wreck at Ballards Point, but the dive boat was diving there (funnily enough).

 

At the end of the day it was my fault for badly planning the day, it's not as if there isn't enough marks and wrecks in the area.

[Bob F]

Could be the "unkown" wreck or one of the Valentine Tanks. Both would be tough to find 'cus they're buried in the sand.

 

BF

[Afishionado]

Quote.........

 

one of the Valentine Tanks.

 

 

So called because they all sank on Feb 14th .

 

Mad Mike

[Wedger]

I believe these tanks (I think 7 in all) were blown up to clear possible hazard. I have in the past found 2. Both showed as a shallow scour around the outside with the body at the same level as the sand.........not very interesting. One of them, on our only visit, was absolutely plastered in small bream. This, I would say, was more coincidence than the effect of the wreck, but who knows .