blueboatdriver

At least it looks like he had the rods stashed away somewhere safe. Is he a member?

Or, quite a day!

Sure you didn't mean"quiet" day Martin

I think the biggest from there last winter was 5lbs 3oz.

Went out with Tony at six o'clock this morning hoping to get a few small bait fish on Brownsea Castle in time for first light and the first hour of the flood. Couldn't seem to catch the wrasse in the dark so we started with Storm shads to no avail. Went back to the castle and caught some small wrasse in the daylight. We messed around until the tide stopped and apart from a couple of unimpressive takes and a few follow-ups, no fish in the boat. Had a quick go down the North channel with a Rapala for the last half an hour and Tony caught one just about size which he let go. There were quite a lot of boats about and no one seemed to be catching any thing. I spoke to a couple of the professional bass boys and they only had a couple so may be it was just one of those days. I dug some worms this afternoon so I'm going to have another go for bass first thing tomorrow and then try up the harbour for a flounder when the flood has finished. I know it's short notice, but if anyone fancys crewing just give me a PM or E-mail.

I've worked on boats in any weather you can think of since I was 17 years old and it has never been practical to wear a life jacket; the auto inflate ones are ok but will inflate on you as soon as a wave swamps the deck which is quite often, in the North of Scotland. However now I'm going out in my own small boat with my small son I have bought some lifejackets which cost quite a bit. I have started to wear one all the time. When angling they are not an interference and will work much better when worn than if they are stowed away. I do think though, it's a size thing; I know that a boat my size could easily be turned over or made to sink quickely but when I go out on a bigger boat like Matt's (Bliss 2) for example I would not put on a lifejacket until the weather turned exceptionally bad or the circumstances deemed it. It's up to the individual where you draw the line on safety. We can't all afford to wear personal EPIRBs which in an ideal situation we would.

Excellent report Alun; as per usual. I'm going to try early for bass on Tuesday morning. Hopefully have something as interesting as you to report.

I'm feeling more and more vindictive by the minute. Brilliant idea.

I'm running with SP2 which has a pop-up blocker and mine works fine.

Good idea Mike. I might just get the wife to do that.

I wish someone would use my neighbours bloody cats for shark bait, what with all the mess they leave in my shingle for my young kids to stand in.

Plenty of congers up to about 40lbs. Have to come out tail first.

Adam, just have a look on the deck of one of the local potters. If you can find one that uses (D)creels and not (inkwell) pots you'll see the different types of entrances they use. The best entrance for keeping a lobster in would be a soft eye but you'd have to see one as it's a bit difficult to explain how it works. An important thing to remember as well is to make sure the bottom is much heavier than the top or the trap will fall over possibly blocking the entrance when the tide is strong. Lobsters like slack tides and will go into your trap on the slack water and then get out again as the tide starts. So it is best to haul your pot just before the tide starts to run. Also some of the inshore potters may stop for the winter but the channel fleet will keep at it all through the year.

Quite honestly when it comes to the point where I need a 2lbs lead I've usually given in and moved out of the tide or gone home.

I was looking foward to having the weekend off and entering on Sunday. I found out yesterday that we have to work both days so it's off for me I'm afraid. Any way if you see the Furzey Squirrel about on Sunday come abit close and I'll take an ariel shot of your boat for you, I've always got the camera with me.

Watch out for any birds working in Studland bay and maybe try with a Storm shad if you can't get live eels. There may be some bass.

I think the advantage of a Bruce anchor is that as soon as you lift the shank end the anchor will normally release its hold, unlike a fishermans anchor which I think will hold the bottom whichever direction it is pulled from, which could cause problems retrieving in any tide. The Bruce is also much easier to stow and with no moving parts to pinch fingers etc, much more user friendly. Simon.

Nice one. We've all got to start somewhere. My six year old started fishing at the end of last summer and now has to come with me whenever he can. It's better for them than sitting at the PC for hours on end; something else he enjoys doing. By the way you've given away your hotspot with Old Harry in the background

Wills Cut is within the nursery area though none of the legitimate commercial bass fishermen would be in this area. They only fish the Haven area and out side the harbour anywhere from St Albans to the Isle of Wight. Wills cut runs from the middle ship channel from some where around buoy 60 across to brownsea. The channel is named after the late Fred Wills who was one of the first passenger boat owners. He used to regularly take this route across to Pottery Pier. I don't think it's actually much deeper than the water either side of it.

Alright mate

There's two nice big fillets in my fridge, a couple in my Dad's and we let the ray go; so he needs to find out where I live pretty quickely if he wants to claim his share

No not me, unfortunately. the bass were 6lbs and 2 1/2 lbs.

Undulate 8lbs

Not bad.

Went out with my six year old today. Just a mile and a half or so off of Bournemouth. Thought I might get a bream or a plaice. We were using mackerel strips and I had one rod out with a live sandeel on; nothing doing just wrasse, just about enough to keep the boy interested. I had three or four really large launce in with the live eels so I thought I'd try one; bingo, within five minutes my line was screaming out; plentyof excitement , personal best bass, just over six pounds. Straight back down with the still alive launce straight into another; only two and a half pounds great fight though. Back down with another launce, by now dead. Few minutes on the bottom and hooked an eight pound undulate. George managed a bass on the way back in the haven about one and three quarter pounds, he was pleased. All in all a good couple of hours when I wasn't expecting anything much.