the highs and the lows of boat fishing

[Gnasher]

first session out in a couple of weeks and with my mate Tad on board, we thought we would spend the last hour drifting for a bass or two around hurst.

 

Hurst was fairly calm for once, but it took me a bit of time trying 2 work out what drift to take as the bottom as i found depths down to 236 feet only 200m from tha shore!

 

Anyway, we only get time for one drift anyway, and it was a poor one at that with weed everywhere, but i still managed a bass, only a smallish one and it fell to a shad (thanks pauld and rob for the tips), but nice bbq size and also the first of the year for me:rolleyes:

 

A quick motor to the slack area to anchor into darkness, but there is still a strong tide and i cant hold bottom in the shingle. I decide to change and move much closer in, this time an area with little tide and in 18ft with the target species being hounds.

 

Plenty of bites on small bits of squid, mainly pout, before i hook into a big hound that i just couldn't stop. 50 yards gone in the shallow water and the hook pulls! Gutted as i am sure it was a really decent fish!

 

a few more pout, and plenty of missed bites then i'm in again. Long fast runs in the shallow water, but no where near as powerful as the lost fish.

 

5 mins later though a nice hound is netted!

 

We decide to call it a day, but problems!!!! Complete engine breakdown!!!!

 

With out a back up, im forced to call the rnli and they were out in no time to tow me back into the harbour. They actually broke down to, but the 2nd of their twin engins kicked in, then we run aground! lol..... they were a top bunch though, and they even had a mullet jump in their boat! Instead of the rescue, they then decided to use my landing net and spent 10mins trying to catch jumping mullet from their rib witch was a bit of fun.

 

I was very greatful to them for helping me! They done a great job, but were also top, top blokes aswel.

 

I will be looking at the engine tomorrow, and will hopefully find the problem.

 

Danny

Edited May 30, 2008 by Gnasher

[Gnasher]

hound

[Jim]

Is it normal for Mullet to jump like that?

I would guess that something big was after them,............... perhaps the one that got away !

[Gnasher]

Is it normal for Mullet to jump like that?

I would guess that something big was after them,............... perhaps the one that got away !

at night yes, the thinlips often go mad and very occasionally during day to. They were not being chased though. I think Paul D also had one jump in his boat in christchurc last year.

[Mike Fox]

Am glad you were all right in the end Danny.

 

Such a simple thing as engine failure could have been catastrophic had conditions been worse, or the location different.

 

Hopefully, the experience will persuade you and others that the RNLI SEA Safety Check isn't something to be ignored.

 

I for one am delighted that the RNLI volunteers are there when needed, and wince whenever I see the lifeboats going out on a shout. Interesting to think that each shouts costs an average of

[alun j.]

Summer before last, coming back in from sole fishing with Paul F., we saw hundreds of fish jumping all over the place on the Bar outside Christchurch Harbour entrance ..... warm, calm conditions.

 

Good luck sorting your engine Dan..... any idea what the problem is\was??

 

The one [ and only] time I experienced anything like that, was a brand new engine that had a loose \bad connection on the starter.

 

Alun.

[Gnasher]

Problem sorted. I have been up since silly o clock checking it over. It wasn't actually engine failier (although as it didnt start, indirectly it was), but it was connection problems with the kill switch. A tiny split in the wire that was impossible to spot at that time. All re-wired now and ready to go.

 

I would be interested to know how a sea check could have got me home (although i know an aux engine is advisable on any craft, and i have been looking to have one for sometime, but most of the lads i know who have had sea checks still operate from one engine!), and the rnli actually commented on how professional we were in how we delt with the situation, but i will be looking to have a check at some point this year anyway as i have never denied that it isn't worthwhile.

Edited May 30, 2008 by Gnasher

[DommyBoy]

Glad you back safely Dan, was proper worried when i spoke to you lastnight. Glad the conditions were good as could have got a tad hairy.

 

Well all sorted now so shouldnt be a problem in the future!

 

Good to hear the RNLI were bang on form and doing what they do best.

 

Dom

[Sinbad]

Why not save your money on an Aux Engine, and join or donate something to the RNLI if your not already there ?

 

Good that you enjoyed your fishing, and got back safely - thats the main thing!

 

Regards

 

Paul

[Rob]

 

Just picked up a sweet little Honda 5 for a friend in Holland (outboards are cheaper in the UK generally and with a strong Euro it will pay for his ferry and some!!). Its a nice 2001 4 stroke which purrs and was

[crazy fred]

Dont realy understand the logic of (Why not save your money on an Aux Engine)

if you can fit one then it must be better than thinking the RLNI are just a breakdown service, one day they might be towing somebody in with one engine and your bobbing about in the water in solent without your boat

[Gazza]

Why not try 'sea start' this is the AA of the sea, No idea how much it costs per year or what there terms of breakdown recovery is........Probably cheaper to get a auxillary engine in the long run.

 

Glad your safe.....

 

Gary

 

[Sinbad]

Fair point Fred - just to explain what I meant...

 

I personally dont have an Aux fitted, but had one on my last boat and never used it. It then became a chore to run it up each time to ensure that it started etc etc.

 

My point is for some guys, 400 quid is alot of money for something that they may never use, which would then become next to useless in the event - probably better to spend this on maintaining the main motor, and the rest on giving to the most valuable charity, which relies on the support of individuals like us.

 

I'm a member of RNLI, and would never refer to them as a 'breakdown service', but at the end of the day, when lives are at risk, I wouldnt be troubled by having to call them out. Others might when they are not in any danger, but thats their decision.

 

I dont suppose many diesel inboard owners would fit an Auxilliary either? is this true?

 

Possibly straying from the 'catch report' a bit.

 

Regards

 

Paul

[Coddy]

Paul

 

Got an old 5hp seagull on the back of Lady C

 

I know it wont go fast but will push the boat along through most tides albeit slowly.

 

As long as I am out of danger this set up suits me fine. Should a problem or danger occur down would go the anchor or two if needed.

 

Coddy

[codless]

Firrst job i did when i got my boat ( 25 ft displacement ) was to fit a aux outboard 8 hp mariner self help first. i have towed to many boats in over the years not to take resonable precautions, one i towed 0f the long rocks at xchurch no life jackets no radio no flares shorts and tee shirts no fuel dead battery and only 30ft of anchor rope then they had the cheek to ask as to tow them back to Poole,regards mullet i used to catch them on the mud flats in poole with only a spot light on the bow i liked the golden eyes best i would advise wearing a box if you have low gunnels 5lb mullet in the nuts hurts a bit.

[duncan]

I could chuck in "carrying enough petrol onboard to make the auxillary a realistic safety measure would bring other safety issues with it............"

 

when the team did the seacheck on Phaeton they discussed and dismissed an auxiallary on the basis that it would need at least 8hp and probably 10 to make way in most conditions (from danger), be difficult to mount securely in a manner that would provide drive in any sea and would need a significant quantity of petrol stored somewhere (?) to cover any distance at all. Overall they suggested, and I agreed, that 2 good rigged anchors capable of handling the boat properly (rather than lunch stops) and a well maintained tool/spares onboard would be a better solution all round. This was of course a boat specific comment and doesn't necessarily transfer to any other craft etc etc.

 

sorry to hear about gnasher's problems - with hook pulls. there is nothing worse than the uncertainty of the one that got away. At least it wasn't gear failure.

[great white]

We had a bit of a problem on Sat

 

 

Due to a very long floating pot rope at slack water we picked up a rope on the leg,

although we cleared it easily it left a blade bent and a vibration which had us running at a slower speed for the rest of the trip.

 

On the way back the other boat developed a fuel fault that meant we escorted him at about 12 knots, until his engine died and we took him in tow 15 miles out. at about 7-8 knots

 

The tow was very slow and due to our prop a bit worrying, so I jumped ship on to the other boat, grabbed some tools cleared some room and started to strip the fuel system as much as I could on the LP side. after bleeding and starting the engine she seemed OK and we dropped the tow.

 

After 10 mins at about 14 knots I transfered back and we continued home

 

Lessons learnt:

1. Give small buoys lots of room especially at slack water

2. Its also good to do these trips in company.

3. If you have tools and spares you can always try to do something to get yourself back.

4. An auxillery engine would have needed a lot of fuel to get a starfish 8 back from 15 miles out. In fact we must have used a lot more fuel than planned so its a good job both boats were filled before the trip. although filling from the barge may have been the cause of the fuel fault.

5. If all else had failed and both boats were U/S we would have called the RNLI.

 

Charlie

 

[Mike Fox]

Excellent example of superb seamanship - well done Charlie and all.

 

Mike

[Gazza]

We had a problem Saturday aswell!!! snapped steering cable!!!!!

 

We got a tow back safely with Bob wotton on 'Josephine'

 

used auxilllary when back in harbour but i would not like to use it coming back into Poole entrance around tea time

 

Portland harbour mentioned 'Sea Start' after this Bob Wotton said they would probably charge

[duncan]

Bob likes good Scotch..............

 

[wrigler]

I agree "Seastart "only operate from a limited distance from harbour but on most outer limits an auxillary would struggle to get you home. I had the unfortunate experience of my brand new 70hp outboard injesting a sheet of polythene when exiting the Poole entrance on a full spring ebbing tide. The choice was drift back towards the ferry and with luck avoid it or take "Our" chances on also avoiding hook sands and a fast appearing training bank. My engine was down to reduced power and rightly or wrongly I turned uptide and struggled back to the side of Brownsea castle and managed to grab a buoy and tie on. The engine died ""Terminally""at that point . As a member of seastart I rang them on my mobile and within an hour we were under tow back to Parkstone bay marina My insurance covered a replacement engine and I was so glad that I'd Invested in Seastart. Yes of course the RLNI are the ultimate life saver but we also have to take all available protection to leave them free to deal with real emergencies. Reading reports of RLNI callouts it seems most are inshore so for