Jim

Returning for 2015 is a spring meet to get everyone motivated for Summer
This will be a great meet and a good excuse to raise funds for Heroes on the Water.
This meet will to promote our sport with the Cam Clearie memorial trophy presented for 1st Plaice(pun intended) and a glass tankard to keep.
This will run along the successful format of the flounder meet. Yakkers will register on the cliff top at Southbourne from 8am ,and can then go and fish from Boscombe to the Coast Guard hut at Hengistbury head .
Most will launch from Southbourne but the parking can be a pain so first come,first served. There is also a pay parking with height restrictions further along towards Boscombe and parking near the pier.
I've put a limit to the area as beyond the coastguard hut can potentially be trouble for beginners.
Weigh in and prizes will be on the beach in the afternoon.
 
Looking forward to meeting friends old and new.
 
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The Haircut...
Blessed are those that can give without remembering, and take without forgetting.
One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.'
The florist was pleased and left the shop.
When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.
The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you ' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.
Then a Member of Parliament came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill , the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.  'The Member of Parliament was very happy and left the shop.
The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.
 
 

Look at fitting a cage around the prop.
An outboard is a large food blender and although a cage will slow it down a bit it's far better than mangled kids.
No matter how much you tell them about the kill cord there'll be times they don't use it.
They are kids y'know !
 
Jim

Sounds like you're very experienced.
My boat's just a garden ornament.
Seems that having the boat but no time to use it is quite normal.

Launched at Branksome. Weather was as predicted so a bit choppy but not to bad. Set a pot on some rough ground with loads of maccy guts etc in it and drifted down to about a mile off the pier.
Mackerel were around so soon had some grub for tonight and bait for today.
My big baits remained untouched all day but my rag was robbed by scad , maccy and robber bream.
The arrows started and then Bri called me up on 8. He had a bend in his rod.
Pulled anchor for the money shots
I was expecting a SER or undulate so was surprised when a lunker thorny came to the surface. I managed to fold it into the torque forward hatch as Bri is going to have a crack at cooking it( tips anyone?) and then spent the rest of the afternoon tied to a Geordie, enjoying the aviators.
Great to finally get out after a month away.
Some shots
Must be over a thousand small boats

 
Looks like I should have my pipe and slippers
 

 
Last of the lancs
 

 
Our neighbours
 

 

 
A PB for Bri
 

 
I surfed in on a lovely wave. Perfect landing on a crowded beach.
Felt like a boss
 

 
 
A happy Geordie chappy, in front of his house
10 lb
Wings anyone?
 

Keep [wings] in the fridge for 2 or 3 days......too fresh and it can be a bit tough....much older and it gets the 'nappy' smell as trimethyl amine breaks down releasing ammonia !
 
Don't bother wrestling with trying to skin it.......cut wings into manageable pieces and drop into a hot court coubillon with some lemon juice or vinegar  and simmer for about 10 mins . Lift out and the skin will slide off the cooked [poached] fish....keep warm whilst you make a beurre noir sauce....simple !! .....heat butter in a pan until it froths, bubbles and goes brown [dark brown]...and red wine vinegar, chopped parsley and capers and pour over the fish !
 
You'll want to do it again...it's a classic !!

I'd like to see a demo after the next club meeting please
 
PJ
 
ps id suggest a disclaimer for all those with dentures or  it could end up in tears

Dean and I decided last minute to have a days fishing today.  Not up particularly early, boat launched by 8:30 down off of Swanage for mackerel for around 9:30.  Dean had set my rod up with small sabikis consisting of 8 hooks well it was like long lining, first drop literally a few feet under the boat and loads of mackerel.  Took the fish off the hook and placed in the live well threw the hooks back over the side and..........ouch one Sabiki hook embedded in the finger well past the barb.  I remembered some recent posts with ideas of how to remove hooks from flesh.  Some suggested using sting/nylon on the bend and pull others suggested pliers and pull but when it comes to it you try walking around with a hook in your hand attached to a long line full of other hooks which in turn is attached to a long stick so I came up with my own version, get hold of the hook with your teeth and pull your head sharply backwards.  It worked first time so off we go filling up the bait tank with more macky's.
 
We next moved off to our first mark westward where we drifted a bank expecting bass but nothing wanted to play so over to St Albans ledge.  Well to say it was a little sloppy would be a gross understatement so we decided to go right out to the end of the ledge where at least we could stand up and tried several drifts resulting in one bass for me at around 3lb.
 
As the tide eased we went back to the bank we had tried earlier and anchored.  We had 6 or 7 small blond rays before the tide stopped.  As the wind was westerly when the tide turned it would have got pretty lumpy so the decision was made to catch the last hour or so of the airshow.  I had seen it from the beach on Saturday but it is so much better viewing from a boat.  Dean also caught more mackerel and couple of Gurnard
 
All in all not a fantastic fishing day but our strings were pulled we were out in hte fresh air and we had a great view of the airshow with fresh mackerel and bass on the bbq this eve....nice

Looks like cheap fun for somebody Stuie.
No good for fishing though !

I should never have got rid of my Raider.

My GUT's not grumpy Adam !
 
When I was your age Adam, my eyes were sharp.
Now I'm a grumpy old GUT I can't see B*gger all !  
 
You'll have to come a bit closer and shout at me next time.
 
I'm glad all the kids enjoyed themselves.
 
 
Jim

No I struggled too Martin.
I was a few miles out of Swanage Bay.

There's always next year jim

I managed to nip out for a few hours yesterday.
All of the entrants will be pleased to know that they beat me !
I only managed 2 species . . . . . . . . Scad and Mackerel.
I tied up to a bouy near Brownsea Castle and saw quite a few of you coming back in. Chris Witheford dropped by so Kev could wave Jacob's Bass at me. Well done Jacob  
"Just Chillin " dropped by to say hello too. Sorry - - - didn't ask your name.
 
Jim

Same old story.
The Greedy few Bug**r it up for everyone else.

We spend a lot of time fishing on the drift on Boblin and have managed some very good catches over the years. It's an enjoyable way of catching fish. So why is it that there are people out there intent on making it less enjoyable. I'm talking about the prats that decide to start a drift down tide/wind and only a few meters away.
 
I've grown up with drift fishing and there was always an unwritten rule that you always start your drift uptide of someone already on a drift, not muscle in front. This etiquette seems to be completely ignored these days which I think is such a shame. It's not just Wally anglers who don't know what they are doing. We have had a lot experienced anglers in decent boats set their drift just meters down tide of us over the last few weeks.
 
Anyway rant over. Get out there and drift for those red spots there's plenty enough for all this year. Just remember to think of others before you start your drift.

That's normal for Christchurch Harbour Folk

Have been fishing locally for many years but had a break when I was working.Now well retired.Out of interest when I was a youngster in the fifties and sixties I used to fish in the harbour with my father in his 14 foot rowing boat with a 40 plus seagull.There was plenty of fish then,not like now.We used to catch bass up to 15 pounds on rag worm at the old Dorset Lake Shipyard next to the marine camp and big bass in some numbers at the haven.We motored up to the ferry on the flood tide and drifted back towards Branksea Castle ,quite hairy at times.A chap called Mike Trott also did the same at the ferry but could see money in it  and started taking out paying anglers. The charter boys soon got wind and within a few years they fished it out.Also the pleasure boat traffic increased and made it difficult.You were never bothered by the harbour board.``````you could then catch flounders all over the harbour in large numbers ,summer and winter The commercial crabbers used them as boat.
 
When I first started fishing the only charter boats operating were boats used for ferrying visitors round the harbour,the two main orators were Harveys and Davis Boat yards.. You could hire rowing boats from Davis.
 
In September and October you could catch bass  by trolling abit of white rag on the hook.Bass were very numerous at the Black Bridge at Rockley sands.
 
The night watchman  at Sydenhams timber yard used to fish off of Poole Bridge  on a flood tide with rag and prawns and catch huge bass.
Oh what times.
I only mention this to show how the fishing in the harbour has changed for the worst.
If you went out on the rocks in the bay with the ferry operators in the summer evenings when they were free you could always guarantee a bucket full of fish.
 
I started fishing again in 2003 when I bought a Parkstone  Bay with an old friend.unfortunately he subsequently died.I fish mainly in the harbour but do venture outside for the plaice and bream.
When I started fishing again I was surprised at all the new regulations.Because of low fish stocks there is some sense to this but as anglers we must be mindful of this,how far could these regulations go. I believe there is talk of stopping the digging of rag.
 
 
 

Brains of the elderly are slow because they know so much.... By Sarah Knapton, Science Correspondent   Older people do not decline mentally with age, it just takes them longer to recall facts because they have more information in their brains, scientists believe. Much like a computer struggles as the hard drive gets full up, so too do humans take longer to access information, it has been suggested. Researchers say this slowing down it is not the same as cognitive decline. “The human brain works slower in old age,” said Dr. Michael Ramscar, “but only because we have stored more information over time.  The brains of older people do not get weak. On the contrary, they simply know more.” Also, older people often go to another room to get something and when they get there, they stand there wondering what they came for. It is NOT a memory problem; it is nature's way of making older people do more exercise.   Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!  

Weigh it without your wallet Rob  - - - - - - It'll be ½ as much
 
 
Jim

I've known Mark Taylor for years.
He's a good guy !
 
Jim

Make sure you use softwood ones, they swell a bit when wet and improve the seal

With the report of a boat intentionally holed in Weymouth, just a thought re bungs.
 
I have a set of wooden bungs onboard incase of issue (not that I have an issue as my boat has positive buoyancy). But, I did a couple of year ago have a leak from a thru hull fitting and I used the bung just to stop the bilge filling up!
 
However, they are useful for other applications for you and you fellow boaters!
 
I have one in the over flow for my boat well so I can self drain it when finished for the day and I was in a position to offer on on Friday night to a rib that could find their bung and the kids wanted to go do-nutting!
 
A useful bit of kit: http://www.force4.co.uk/304/Force-4-Set-of-10-Softwood-Safety-Plugs.html

Didn't realise things were that bad Martin!!!!  

I've just arrived at one of those Swiss suicide clinics.
  It's costing me £44,000
 
Do you know what the sods have given me for breakfast this morning?
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Cheerios