Leaderboard

I'm hoping to get the grandchildren out of the harbour tomorrow afternoon, so I popped out today to see if I could get a little taster. I've not been out in ages and the swell was a tiny bit bigger than I expected, so much so that my Marks & Spencer salt and cracked black pepper crisps (I had for breakfast) made an unexpected return. I must be honest, they're no ginger nut biscuits, and definitely DONT taste better second time round. But once they were gone, everything was fine and dandy. So, I dropped anchor around the end of Dolphin Sands in the hope for anything really, but expecting doggies and maybe a small ray. I was surprised that there was absolutely nothing out there, no other boats and I was wondering if everyone knew something that I didn't, but we persevered. Not long after dropping a worm/squid/mackerel cocktail the rod tips were twitching with obvious bream taps. They were stripping the baits within a few seconds. A drop in size of hook and bait resulted in a few decent catches. My mate had the biggest bream I've ever seen. We didn't weigh it because at the moment he brought it on board, I was on the phone talking to Bournemouth hospital who had just taken my mum in as an emergency patient. They assured me there was no point me coming in for a few hours as they would be doing tests on her until late afternoon, so I had the doctors permission to stay where I was 👍. I didn't need telling twice. We stayed for 3 hours and had about 5 doggies, 12 bream, 2 mackerel and a beautiful red guarnard. All went back apart from the Mackerel. Anchor up just after 1, back on my trailer at Wareham but 2.30 and home unloaded ready for work tomorrow morning by 3. It was really nice to be out, weather was certainly more tolerable than the last few days. Fishing was good. Boat went well ..... roll on tomorrow afternoon (so long as the doctors don't need me to collect my mum then).

Thanks for taking the trouble for writing the report Charlie and taking all the photos, it was a great read. Every time I've been I've enjoyed it. The biggest pain for me is keeping dates clear in the diary and the replanning when the weather doesn't play ball. I'm surprised more boats don't go, age is probably a factor as 3 or 4 days constant fishing is tiring, but I had 72 year old Ian on board with a bad back (temporary I hope) and he enjoyed it! Guys if you are thinking about just take the plunge and try you will get plenty of solid advice.

A turbot for Ian

Great report Charlie and well done all on a safe and enjoyable trip.👍

Well what a long weekend that was, flat seas and unbroken sunshine ☀️ Great report Charlie you summed it up perfect, it was brilliant to make the trip again with good company shame young Dave has to tangle you up so much 😂😂 Had turbot for Dinner last night and beautiful it was I can see we go to those lengths to get delicious fish 🐟 Thanks Dave for the invite also Charlie and Mark for making another memorable trip👏👍 Kev

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

Violet with her 2-3 bream

Wendy , first fishing trip 2026.