Steve S

I use digital weighting scales (kept in a sealed bag, works for me) but the big problem I find with them is getting them to lock on a reading when weighting at sea (fish to be returned), the heavier the fish the harder to get a lock. The rocking sea is the problem of course but with digital scales numbers flickering all over the place it's hard to work out reasonable average reading if they won't lock. Now if there was some digital scales out there which would display an averaged reading I'd buy them. Surly I can't be the only one to have this problem. Currently I try to get on a lock on the digitals if no luck I switch to the traditional analogue scales where it's much easier to get reasonable read on fish weight with the needle moving. I go to for middle of the two extremes and take a bit off.

There were few enough cod around last Summer, I'm not optimistic this one will any better if lack of suitable food for the cod fry is the problem.

Swimming with a huge Great White No not swimming with Charlie... it's a real thing and it's feeding on whale meat as well. Amazing but i think rather foolish, one casual bite to see if you are food and that's it, game over.

Good luck guys, hope there are at least some to weigh in 🙄

I will be berthing in Alderney, to save cost for the crew and less distance to cover also the B&B's are very understanding about cancelling. No pre- booking in Guernsey I think, you are not likely to need it in May, a call to the harbour master before you leave should put your mind at rest about berth availability.

Good to see many of the usual guys planning to go and Loobie IV, good stuff Jerry. Oli, Diane and I spent a few days on Tigerfish in Guernsey last summer we stayed in the inner harbour of St Peter Port. Nice place to stay but the tidal issues getting over the sill does not make it very practical for going out fishing every day. The harbour master shared with me some quite amusing stories about boats not getting in right when crossing the sill, all the while showing me scars on the sill recalling how they occured... The outside pontoons are mostly walk ashore now, these should be fine and early season there should be space. When we were there everything was busy and we were advised to use the inner harbour as it would be A calmer and B we would not be woken up at 4:00 in the morning as a flotilla of yacht's was leaving, there was also very little available space outside anyway. For a place to stay well loads of choice, nothing is low cost. Lots of nice places to eat. Diesel is slightly lower cost than Alderney and accessible at more states of the tide, the chandery there is good too.

Yup, It's January, now Christmas is out of the way time to think about visiting Alderney to sample it's fishing. Last year the fishing wasn't great there but that's not going to stop me having another try this year, and as anyone who has been there know's it's not all about the fishing. Tide wise the weekends round the 11/12 May and 25/26 May look favourite, ie neap tides. I'm going to plan to go around the weekend of the 11/12 May with the 25/26 as a backup, so the 10th to the 13th May with some possible flex round that. The tides on the 11/12 and the following Monday and Tuesday are not that small, but I'm starting to think a really small tide doesn't really switch the predatory fish on and certainly a bit of tide over the wrecks is helpful in getting the fish feeding. Another possible weekend is around the 27/28 April, I can't do that date. The bank holiday is on the 6th May, and it's right smack in the springs! Who's up for going? Jerry?....

Thanks for the heads up on that.

Well the AMO effect could explain the lack of cod in the channel.

Tigerfish: few whiting, some jumbo pout, 1 blond ray, 1 thornback ray, 1 bass, masses of snakes up to around 30lb, Zippo cod

Tigerfish: Steve and Alun will give it a go.

Well good, at last. The start date is 1st December 2018, so applies to fish caught this month.

The price difference between diesel and petrol increases every winter and reduces every summer. There is more demand for diesel in the cold weather for heating and the law of supply and demand applies. What gets my goat is the prices charged by Motorway services, a complete and utter rip off. I plan my journey to avoid using them.

For swell info https://magicseaweed.com/North-Atlantic-Surf-Chart/2/?type=period

There is always the Solent! need to get there first...

Agreed Alun, looks more than a breeze, also a massive swell in due to hit us over the weekend.

Neil on Tarlach, Sunday 18th Alfresco' Charlie , Ian Alan and PJ, Sunday 18th if weather OK Madness - Martin, Dean, Tony Reel Magic Dave, Mick Sunday Tigerfish Steve, Alun 18th

Shattering new Rob, hope it hasn't caught you on the hop [emoji44]. The weather c*** so you are not missing much. Super pike well done and on a lure too, special.

No, not me Martin, I didn't get past the Needles. I see there were a few boats out there, any cod?

Had a quite a few good bass today, best 5lb 8oz (released) another a fraction smaller. Same weight as Alun's I see!

I've got a couple of good quality swivel seats in white and blue if that's of interest

I agree Peter, 1 bass take limit to apply from the 1st October until the end of the year.

Since there is no ban on catch and release I see no reason not to hold the annual competition. Places I fish typically have commercials catching all they can for sale and hopefully releasing underside ones, against that not holding the comp is a pointless gesture IMO.

There is also Lymington Yacht Haven and you may be able to get on a winter mooring on Lymington Harbour if you can it will be low cost.