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Just got back at 11.30pm. After a 4.30 am start. We survived ! unfortunately so did the Turbots🫩.

It was a day out on the water in beautiful weather. Of course some Turbot would have been a bonus but what a great day for it. I look forward to your report please Martin.

You’ve pretty much summarised my report in those few words Jim. I know you guys like a big fish alongside a big grin in your favourite photos. These elements didn’t come together on this trip but for us we tried something new exciting and gained plenty of new skills. I was preoccupied for much of the week trying to get a crew and am grateful to J2 who furnished me with a host of well proven fishing and nav tips for this venture. I wanted to treat my daughters soon to be father in law to a trip and fearing the unknown and the Portland race wanted someone wise and well informed who had been there before. I got Hooky. Hooky declared his excitement at the prospect of white water rafting with alive mackerel for bass. A little odd since I was organising a Turbot trip. Spent Saturday afternoon fixing rod tips, darning the holes in my landing net, reclaiming my petrol tanks which had gone farming, and so on and last but not least Putting the bung in👏. Steve and I left by five on Sunday morning. Now trailering is always a worry. It saves me masses in mooring fees but it has its challenges. So ten miles into my trips I pull over and do a load check. Good job I did it on Sunday. I was met with a healthy plume of smoke coming off both wheels😕. This must surely put paid to our trip🤧. Both wheels.🤔. Thats brakes, not bearings. Why are they binding. 🤔. 😩🙄😖Doh😖 Because I left the handbrake on after fitting a new jockey wheel last week. Dont normally use the handbrake because the drums bind so it’s not normally on. New day /school day and we hadn’t got going yet. Weymouth harbour slip. Despite the above got there by 7.30. I have never used it before and wanted to be early to beat the bank holiday rush. In the event it didn’t seem to get oversubscribed. It’s an easy slip and the car parking is well designed. Expensive at £26! It’s only a five minute walk to the helpful Weymouth Angling shop, open at7.00. You do get access to washroom facilities at the harbour office. Had no trouble launching at neap water low. Saw other trailers going to Portland . Now for our holiday snaps If we are the good guys , what must pirates had looked like. what a day, what a prospect. we trolled the Portland harbour entrance in the background. Some fish finder hits but neither sabikis or fladen whites did the business And when we got out there. Maybe it was too quiet. It was not long before we had a few launce It was going to be ages before we had anything else . Drifts were slow, sea-state was languid and with hindsight I wish we had followed a more “Follow the pack” routine. My helmsman hankered after a different kind of adventure. It happens that I have prior experience of such jaunts. Thats Gummage in the fetching pink hat in 2015 on the Zambezi. I didn’t catch much that day either and everyone bar my son and the skipper ended up swimming. Im not sure which way up the photo is supposed to be!? Moving on! Late afternoon and most folk had left the banks .and a few new optimists were powering in. But it was flat I was anxious to show my new guest any result. Lulworth banks beckoned. On an imperceptible drift there , half a dozen Bream fell to Squid baits. Thee red gurnard and a cuckoo joined in. The new father in law and me ate one of the bream (guess 1lb 6oz) and a stout red gurnard for tea tonight. All other specimens returned, except mr Hook Mission accomplished

Good luck Martin don't forget to drag some lance / sand eel feathers. Tight lines all👍

Good Luck Martin, Remember plenty of Sun Screen and fluids, it’s going to be very one hot today!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Alderney is very much on. Reel Magic and Tigerfish are making the trip on Friday, great forecast. Bring on the Turbot!