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Sun no wind flat seas and fish what more could we ask for? Arranged a trip out on Madness and press ganged Tony D and Graham N to crew with me. The weather men actually got there predictions spot on for a change and we we headed out on flat seas with sunny glimpses cruising all the way at about 20knots. After a little issue with Navionics playing up on the iPhone sending us past the mark we eventually anchored a bank in 90' of water. Turns out not to be Navionics fault but my new iPhone couldn't see the satellites so wasn't updating correctly (lesson Learned) Virtually zero tide running for a few hours but average sized Bream were caught from the off. Our club chair joined us on Y-Knot just as the tide was about to turn. We were not positioned quite right for the changing tide so re-anchored just as the tide began to run and bagged ourselves a better spot. Here we had a solitary Mackerel on the lazy line, several rays a nice Tope and more Bream The fresh Mackerel definitely upped our catch rate Thanks Tony and Graham for being such good sports and great company

I’ve had some time off and been scanning /uploading some old photos . Thought you’d like this one . I’m in the middle with long hair . Some might spot Phil Higgins too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Our day started with a lovely sunrise over the IOW and the a great view of a Peregrine Falcon chasing a pied wagtail. There was plenty of Guillemot's, Razor bills and Gannets about. Our fishing started well with Rays coming soon after the start, a run of Smalleyed and followed by some Blondes. The uptider rod was fishing well. We were gradually losing the ebb and the bites with it, unfortunately we also had the SM 75 the trawler making tracks close by which sealed the deal, we moved out for more tide. With some careful planning using the mobile app from Navionics we positioned the boat for the wind and tide at the time allowing for the move to the East as the tide flow built. This gave us a very good second part of the day with many Rays, Tope, Mackerel and plenty of Black bream of a decent stamp. The Tope gave me the run around and tangled a few lines. We had Martin and crew on Madness close by so some banter between boats and crews was imminent and great fun. Duncan was great company and enjoyed being on Y-Knot and stayed behind for a good cleaned down.

Duncan and I had a red letter day today based on the year so far, 16 rays or one or two more. Nothing bigger than 12lb but plenty of them on two different marks. Our Trawler got close at one point and made us move away further out and it turned out to be a good move. Really tired tonight so this post will developed with some pictures and more stories of the day.

For the avoidance of any doubt, it was Y-Knot who had the good clean down, not me 😜 A great day out from start to finish, thanks again Mal

Cheery news is scarce these days . Thats really great Jim.

So what happened on our three day fishing trip bonanza? First of all let’s start wit a spot the birdie competition; my version of where’s Wally There’s loads of prep; light boards ever let me down. Thanks god these work. IMG_9563.mov Gordon valiantly tried to splice an expedition with me onto the end of an overseas break but got delayed ( to fight another day hopefully)…. So proceeded to Ridge Warf near Wareham early on Tuesday. Booked to stop over Tuesday/ Wednesday nights. Intending to cash in on superb weather on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday would be weather dependent . Tuesday on the run out. Almost too quiet Caught up with “ farmer Colin (“ who is a Buckinghamshire (?) farmer who travels down even further than me).. just outside the harbour entrance. I always forget something, I loaded milk , bait ,waders ( for the launch), jack , wheel brace,life jackets, tackle box,rods. Spare radio, torch, change of clothes, towel, toothbrush , nav aids, sleeping bag, luxury half inch thick foam mattress (mattress?), spare wheel, jack, jack handle, spare bearings, hammer , punch, grease, four cans of fuel,change of clothes, £100 cash prize for my crew, vacuum flask of tea , charging cables of the new standard, charging cables of the even newer standard,bait,bait board, bait knife, filleting knives, iced chilly bin and other stuff. But what had I forgot? A box full of goodies and provisions.. that’s what was still on the bench outside my back door. I rafted up with Colin’s boat and and he’d forgotten stuff as well but with combined efforts we produced latte coffees And had a social hour drifting in very light conditions by the training bank lure fishing , lazy lining and dragging plaice gear. I watched the mackerel swimming under the boat but they weren’t feeding. Odd bits were being caught to other boats but Colin and I left them to it . We went to ground further out where he caught squid last year. We kept this up most of the afternoon Colin quickly scored one and I persevered and got my first one ever after a couple of hours. It wasn’t very fruitful. We had three in all. It was a my first and therefor PB for me. We left an hour or so to join the plaice drifters along the shore. Colin caught some quality mackerel there. I had managed a tub gurnard earlier. Left Colin to it and plied my lonely way back to Ridge. I slept over on the boat and got up before seven awaiting the arrival of two guests. Hooky was coming over with supplies and a friend from Pewsey managed to get down. We snacked on the squid before getting on our way. Beautiful glassy still day. Too still Searches around the Hook sands found no fish . I decided to try Peverel ledge where the rough ground might stir some fishy action Mutley was taking it all in . A novice to this job. A steady drift across this interesting ground eventually brought us to Black Bream. With beginners luck Mutley had this beauty . The best of the day We caught over a dozen in the end Beginners luck held and Mutley brought this scrap in Not until I got home and checked the identity did I find out that whilst common in Cornwall it’s very rare in our bay. It’s a Comber. Can’t claim it on the species comp as it’s not on the list yet. A few new species are turning up. It’s great have one on our boat. Other catches; pouting, red gurnard and a string of plump mackerel . Hooky took a head for bait and brought in a Cuttlefish . He used a pouting for bait and it came back macerated by something toothy. No hookup though. We wanted to get our guest back in daylight so sped back at five. Speed limit is relaxed in October so we made good time. Everyone was well happy with that. Sent Mutley home with a couple of bottles of cider to go with his fishes and discovered a flat tyre on the trailer… but I had a spare. Slept on the boat again and dreamt up a plan for Thursday. The falling tide snd the bad weather meant that everything had to be done by 11 am. It gave me very little time to fish but if I got up early changed my trailer wheel and went down the river at 7 o’clock. I could fish at Hamworthy for guilt head bream for an hour or so. That’s what I set to doing But there was quite a thick early morning mist. It seemed thicker on the open water. Anxiety appealed to wisdom urging me to go back. Bravado and a desire to prove that I could handle the conditions said go on . I had instruments after all . The fog would soon lift anyway . It wasn’t on the inshore waters forecast. Turn 30 degrees at the next corner watch the depth sounder watch the garmin and take it steady I passed the post and steered 30 before very long at all I was on mud. Thinking I’d oversteered i steered 20. No improvement then I glanced at the garmin I was way off course in the mudflat then I figured out my mistake I’d made my 30 degree tun one post too soon. I felt very lonely then . There isn’t a higher point in the tide for 24 hrs . I wasn’t in any particular danger but being stuck there would belike bing in the stocks. Adrenalin was high., more embarrassment than panic . I lifted the motor and punished it a bit whilst rocking the boat 1.5 ft depth it took ages but it didn’t stop sliding and eventually I found the gully. That was fun wasn’t it. I was glad I had opted to go up the learning curve but that was enough education for one day and I steered for home. Lovely quiet trip back let’s play spot the birdie again u there he is. uplifting encounter on the cruise home! loaded and away. By 11am who wants to come next time?

September is always know for less dogfish being put down to the bream or the really small bream being bait robbers

Yesterday my 18 year old Grand Daughter passed her driving theory test which I'd been helping her with. Today at about 3am ish my 23 year old Grand Daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. So . . . . . Yesterday I was a good Grand Pappy. Today I'm a Great Grand Pappy. 👍 Can you imagine just how proud I'm feeling today ? 😄 🥰 👍 😊

That’s incredible. Congratulations. I became a grandpa this summer too. Be nice to get to great Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for accepting my request to join you Martin. It was a most enjoyable day with good company on a great boat, and the flat seas saved me any embarrassment of hanging over the side emptying my bacon and egg breakfast. Some nice fish and not a single dogfish! What has happened to the dogfish in recent years? Have they moved out along with the mackerel?

If you want to catch one of these…….fladen whites apparently…….both pics ; same brand of feathers!

5 oz😉

Well done Duncan . I was out there trying similar tricks . Report to follow.