Steve S

I do the same as Charlie. When refitting make sure the splines are well greased, aids future removal. I apply a little medium strength Loctite on the nuts to save replacing them. If the props are removed every year they should come off no problem, if left you may need to get a mallet on them.

Well I've got one, you could borrow it, my boat is in Lymington, I keep it on the boat. Honestly I think it's better to buy one, they are not expensive and both props need removing every year to change the oil in the leg so it gets regular use. Note, mine may not be suitable for you, it's for a 2006 DPH drive.

Tigerfish and yachts in Dixcart bay, Sark

2 winners of FoTM this time

Please add your fish/boat/marine views photo's taken this month here, most likes wins. Winner announced on the 5th of the month following. The winning photo will be added to the photo of the month gallery.

Nice one Mal, a good session.

The way cod fishing is going these days Charlie, it could very well end winning the cod comp! I've only tried it with flubbers Graham, never tried on the pollock so far. It's not a 100% success return rate but the majority do swim down.

The various weather models I use required careful study, before telling the crew (Alun, Ian and Graham) the trip was on giving just 24 hours notice. There was an easterly on the trip out so we would have a following sea, fairly calm the following day then a south westerly for the return so a following sea for the return as well! All things considered I thought the trip was on. I did take note however both Dave and Adam decided not to go. Alun confirmed the accommodation, I was sleeping on board as usual. It was a very late start on the Friday, mainly because I got home at 01:00 in the morning from a Malta holiday. Once we were underway and leaving the Needles behind us we made 23 knots the whole trip over, skipping trying the wrecks mainly due to the late start. Once on the banks they were perfectly fishable, getting bait was no problem. What was a problem was a complete lack of turbot, we had a few doggies and lots of weaver but that was it. So it was off to Alderney for a bevy or two and dinner at Le Pesked. Alderney hasn’t changed since I was last here 2 years ago. The First and Last is still being refitted, how many years has that been now… I’m really loving my electric outboard for getting ashore, plenty of power to push the dinghy along, long battery life and completely quiet, I highly recommend. Day 2 we were off to a bank again with hopes high in flat seas, nice to see a puffin in the Swinge. The turbot had other ideas, we couldn’t buy a bite; the conversation turned as to why, trawled to death, off spawning, the east wind; bottom line come lunchtime there were no flatties on board. We switched banks. Getting bait was no problem, this time getting mackerel as well as launce, a few sand eel with weavers. A pod of what I think were bottlenose dolphins showed up close to the boat, always nice to see. It was just after 3 when hopes of getting a flatty, any flatty were fading that Ian took a turn at making drinks, I was looking after his rods. Naturally that’s when he had a bite and I found myself connected to an obvious flatty after playing (winding) for a while I let Ian know so he could complete the landing. It had taken a live launce and came in a 4lb. About 20 minutes later I had a smaller one myself, still a keeper and that was it for turbot, very disappointing results wise. Graham and Alun fishing from the bow had nothing to show for their efforts except a regular stream of weavers, one of which ‘got’ Graham. Dinner and drinks were had at the Georgian House, usually good, this time they served up the best tasting food we had ever had there with enormous portions which only yours truly managed to finish. The forecast for Sunday, the return leg had worsened, it was now steadily increasing to F5 gusting F6 in the afternoon with winds from the SW. No problem getting back, it was a case of whether we could get any wreck fishing in. As we left Alderney the sea was pretty flat and we made good speed running around 24 knots, the sea gradually building. On arrival at the first wreck we agreed it was worth a go. The tide was ebbing so the boat was held back by the wind which working out very well, all be it the lure arrived at the wreck before the boat. We fished 3 wrecks and caught of all of them, many pollock with the best around 8-8, 2 COD best 5-9, a surprise bass of around 4-0, a red gurnard of 1-0 and loads of flubbers. Fishing wise the wreck fishing made the trip as we all took back fish for the pot. The skipper called a halt to the fishing when the deck dancing became a bit much and the live well was pretty much full. One tip on returning flubbers, throw them about 10 to 12ft into the air, sounds odd but most of them on hitting the water are spurred into swimming hard and are able to make the dive to the bottom. When they are gently dropped back in they get stuck on the surface to become gull food in most cases. With 40 NM or so to go we manged to maintain 20 knots till entering the Solent. The forecast was spot on, the seas built the whole time, it would have been a right old slog if heading west but in a following seas 20 knots was fine. We did pass a floating dead small dolphin, a sad sight. Back at the dock we gave the boat a bit of washdown and sorted out the catch. The photos of men with fish are some of what was caught but not necessarily who caught them! Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the trip even if the turbot fishing was pants, of course it’s the company and banter that makes the whole thing.

Tigerfish made it to Alderney, turns out fishing conditions were fine. Full report in the works

Saturday forecast is pretty poor for fishing the Solent, no chance in the bay. Unfortunately that's the only day I can do, so I'll (Tigerfish) will have to pass unfortunately.