charlieannear Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Apologies- another long post! Having decided to make the most of the weather, Andy Southwell and I were down to Baiter for 8 am, and had Star Turn in the water without any problems. The new steering was a delight as we headed into the harbour and off out into Poole Bay. Once out of the harbour the Johnson 50hp was pushing us along at a steady 17 knots and although reasonably calm we seemed to be airborne over a few troughs. As I'm not 100% sure of exactly what lurks beneath Star Turn's anti-foul (will be stripping that off soon) I didn't push it any harder on her first real 'Sea' sea trial. We motored out to Poole Patch- the only numbers in my GPS which were put in as a test and were supplied by the sheet given out at one of the club meetings recently. Everything held together nicely and we pulled up on the mark and dropped anchor. This is quite a precarious undertaking in the Shetland as the anchor locker is at the bow, but with no forward hatch the only way to get to it is by climbing out and around the sides. So, having waited for a calm moment between the wakes of the various gin palaces that were steaming past, I climbed out (Mike- I was clipped on!) and carried out my first anchoring of Star Turn in Poole Bay. Thanks again to everything I have picked up since joining PBSBAC this was accomplished without any accompanying horror stories. Sorry! So back onto the boat to bait up and get our hooks and Andy's competition prize Bomb over the side. We were on rag and squid on size 4 hooks. The bomb had more of the same plus some mackie. Nothing happened for a while but Andy said to hang on and I bowed to the superior experience (though seeing what some people caught in other places perhaps we should have moved!) Slight excitement ensued when Andy turned the VHF onto 'high' in order to talk to Prodigy and a fuse blew, but it was sorted quickly with the on-board spares. Eventually Andy broke the drought with a bream, followed by a doggie. I was beginning to think that perhaps I should have bought a shiney new rod and reel like Andy was waving about (he had a rod in each hand like Arnie with twin Uzi's. I must fit those rod holders...) but then after following a few of Andy's tips I had a bend in my rod too. It was no monster of the deep but I soon had my first ever bream in the landing net. Soon after I had a second, smaller one, and soon after that I had a proper bend in my rod. This wasn't responding like the two previous bites, it was keeping the rod bent, and even taking some line from time to time, but before long I had something nearing the surface. "What have I got?" I asked Andy, as he leaned over to see the shape looming out of the dark "It's a ray!" he says "What do I do with that?" said I "Dunno, never even seen one before!" says Andy He swiftly caught it in the net and I got a closer look "I think it might be a Thornback" I suggested "Why do you think that? "Because it has big thorny spikes coming out of it's back, where are my gloves!" Anyway, we got it photographed, weighed and back into the sea. We then entered another quiet phase with me catching one more bream before our time was up. Perhaps the thing which will most surprise Sam Chapman, Tom Bettle and Rich Swain is that I managed to keep my guts on the inside of my body for this whole time! Pharmaceutically assisted I must admit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Nice report and good to see you getting to grips with this boating malllarky You can rig your anchor so that it can all be done from within the confines of your cockpit. Much safer especially if you intend fishing spots out of the harbour on a regular basis. If you would like me to pop up and show just shout. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieannear Posted April 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Will do Martin- always open to suggestions! C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 nice report Charlie! If you have no front hatch, feed the anchor warp through the front roller, but have the rest of the rope inside the boat so you can control how much is out/ and or cut it quickly in an emergancy and then take the anchor and chain back on your self and store in a large bucket inside the boat (reading this, this dosn't actually make sense, but i know what i mean ). Its safe, and practical, and it works for me! Just think if you at the front in and it was roughing it up and you find your self in the drink, someone else would then have to get to the front of the boat and release the rope, taking up vital time. Having the warp stored inside if you have no front hatch will let you cut free and be getting the casualty inside the boat in seconds! Just to recap, i run the rope through the front roller, take the anchor inside, then drop anchor. I then feed the warp from a bucket, which then runs through the front roller, until enough is out, then i tie off on a cleat that is reachable. Its fine to tie it off here, as the warp is still comming from the front of the boat! When i bouy the anchor, i just coil the warp inside the bucket and lift the anchor in it after. Just like when you are at anchor, motor out with the rope attached from the front of the boat, and never tie it off at the back. I think all that all makes even less sense now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 (edited) nice report C - great when you catch a fish like that ray "what is it?" I never get fed up hauling rays aboard (well there is the odd big tide/ unexpected small ray situation......) 'cos they are so pretty and individual. Good call re Brownsea - weekend's it's a finish by 0830 job or suffer the boat wakes etc; not a hospitable spot to combine family and fishing (evans rock is the only one I know that is locally, although drifing the little eddy under Durlston/Anvil is good too). Edited April 30, 2007 by duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Well done on another great trip Charlie. The suggestions regarding leading anchor warp back to the cockpit are all sound, and much safer. Some things like this are better demonstrated rather than explained, I suspect! Good fun this boating bit isn't it! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Or you can use a lazy line. Fasten a length of rope no longer than the hull (so if it fall under it will not reach the prop) put a clip on the end, when arrive at the choosen mark guesstimate how much rope you need, tie a perfect loop (similar to a bowline but can be tied in the middle of a rope) clip the lazy line onto the loop and let the anchor down with the rest of the rope in a drum inside the boat. Only problem is that it can take up some space on the deck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotshot Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 (edited) I'm interested in how to tie the "perfect loop" you mentioned (no pun intended) - I appreciate it's difficult to describe in words - I just wondered if you might know of a link to a picture/ description or whatever (I've tried a google search but no success). Thanks, Dave Edited May 23, 2007 by hotshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 Dave, im round the corner from you, if you ever want to check my anchor set up, let me know. Or even better, bring your boat out Sat and buddy us? Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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