Steve S

You explained the situation in freshwater pretty well Billy. I'm a freshwater fisherman turn sea fisherman too but a few years further along the path from you. The main things to get your head round different from inland IMO is: The seasonal nature of the fish present our waters. The importance of tides to where fish are and when they feed. The importance of water carity (for many species anyway). The sheer size of the sea and number of possible places to fish. Sea fish are not very tackle fussy. Personally I love the challange to figuring out where to go and when and what method to use there is so so much to learn. Results do improve with time and effort. Joining this club had given you a real leg up but the learning curve is still there and isn't that all part of the enjoyment when the plan comes together and you have a great day.

Jerry, I've got a couple of D4 260s, I keep the boat in the water. I like the engine leg setup and would certainly get them again. The engines and legs are pretty trouble free and Volvo have fixed issues that used to occur. The plus for legs over a shaft for me is more economical and I can raise them to free off ropes if needed (I've had to do this) it's also been handy to raise them somewhat when in some very skinny water, the neg for legs is they are more complex than a straight shaft so more expensive if trouble. I service the legs myself, it's no great trouble, new anodes (if needed), change gearbox oil and grease drive shaft (props need removing to change gearbox oil), lube gear change mechanism, antifoul and that's pretty much it. The cost is the gearbox oil and anodes as required. Make sure the steering rams have gaters over the shafts otherwise they will leak after a time. Dan Chapman services the engine's and he does a good job, suggest you ask him what he would charge, I buy all the parts myself.

And a bigger boat!

Looks very well thought out, ticking all the council's objective boxes. Clearly has been with detailed consultation with the council. Even includes 96 public parking places. Will further progress the gentification of Poole, as to whether you think that's a good thing or not...

Great trip Charlie, well done you two. Tigerfish - Plan B It seemed like the fish were really having it on Saturday; with the team reduced to Alun and me we planned a shortish local session from slack water (for bait) fishing the flood till the forecast rain set in, we targeted bass. Things looked up when the initial pout bashing for livebait produced a bass of 5lb to ragworm! Armed with lures and pout live bait we fished a number of spots across the east of Poole Bay and caught bass at every one. It started off bumpy but smoothed out as the wind dropped with the rain arriving just after midday, with the tide slackening and the bite rate dropping the rain prompted a return to base. We weren't really counting properly but we caught more than 20 mostly in the 2lb to 5lb range, Alun caught the last one, a cracking fish of 8lb 6oz. Bass have been few and far between so far this year and then a day like this, you just never know with fishing!

Tigerfish doing a shorter local trip now and we will be adjusting what we do based on the conditions, it may be a very short trip, but I hope it's not. Tightlines out there folks. Cherbourg in 2 weeks time anyone?

Wind levels are ok for Saturday but having had a good long look at predicted wave height and periods mid channel it has become very marginal to be much fun so we have decided to postpone.

With such a changeable forecast, I'm going to leave it to Friday to make the call, we will try and do a one day trip if one of the days is good.

Super session Steve, well done Plenty of photos for the Undulate ray project.

Hi Jack Lots of questions I see, the guys in this club can help you in so many ways with great advice and cost saving ideas. I would suggest you can't afford not to join.

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I've stocked up on lures and line, all set to go. First time I've looked at the forecast and it looks great, you doom monger Alun!

Very well done Oli, the ever shifting sands of the IT world, clearly this has been more than just a few hours work for you. The whole system has been very stable indeed over the last few years so congratulations guys for there being so few problems. Moving server etc I assume this is in the light of what just happened to get ahead of the game again. As for having to have new layouts, well we just have to accept that when using third party software.

Alfresco Tigerfish - Steve, Jones brothers and Scott Reel Magic Madness - Martin, Mal, Tony

And while I am at it. Compulsory video of the fishing and the catches. We don't need a patrol boat to check the video and see what they are up to (lots). Better to do than view

Think this is a political gesture to try and show some benefit. What will make a real difference is banning beamers and scallop dredgers as a first step as they destroy the environment. Our politicians blame the EU for most everything, our hands are tied EU policy etc . Well that has not stopped Ireland for instance have a commercial bass fishing ban for many years. We could do lots to improve our waters in or out of the EU but very little has happened. Our commercial fisherman export a lot to the EU, they are not going to want to stop that. So something will be traded... Better to do than view

Full crew sorted on Tigerfish now

So which boats are planning to go? Alfresco Tigerfish others? Better to do than view

I think personal experience of handling a boat in challenging conditions is very benifical for a number of reasons. You know the boat can handle it. You know you can cope. You get better at it with practice. It gives confidence that when you set out on a less than perfect day and things turn iffy you can get her home reducing stress and increasing enjoyment of the whole boating experience overall. Your crew have confidence you can deal with it ok so they stress less. I've had my boat out in heavy weather often enough, personally I treat it as a challenge and derive enjoyment from handling the challenge. On arriving back at port each time for me there is a feeling of personal satisfaction but I do get back knackered if it was a long one. Making decisions for each wave whilst considering other safety aspects (baton down the hatches etc) and where conditions are likely to be even worse ahead and the best route through it and looking out for the damn pot buoys all the time is very tiring. And a plan B is needed and a plan C once you are on plan B... There are so many things to learn to manage the conditions better. You can read about how in books but there is nothing like putting it in practice. Having said all that being out in a totally flat sea is fantastic like we were recently on a wrecking trip. With our weather that doesn't happen to often we just have to make the best of what nature serves up. Better to do than view

I am up for taking Tigerfish over on that weekend Charlie. Recently the wrecks are producing steadily rather than great with a smattering of good cod and big pollock so I've heard. Will need to arrange crew. Better to do than view

Charlie I think I've used both so I probably got something you can use. If you are still stuck in 2 weeks let me know as I'm back in the country then. Better to do than view

Same as we had when over there in May. Regarding using weavers, IMO I doubt that would be a magic bullet, it might make for a small increase in catch rate for a Turbo thats only slightly interested in feeding. What may have been worth a try is anchoring in a likely spot assuming they are there but switched off feeding a continuous scent might just trigger some action.

Tough trip Adam but it's always enjoyable visiting Alderney anyway. Seems like all the fish there were well off the feed. At least you were spared the travails Tigerfish had on the last trip back. Better to do than view

Err but not quite your typical Turbot bait either! Cuttle, interesting, I think they will take anything that comes in sucking distance of that huge mouth.

Well done Mal a great fish to win the comp (never mind about the method!) I make that just 4 people reporting fish caught from 12 boats and at least 24 anglers entered, that's a very very thin return. Any suggestions why? fish not biting, no fish there to be caught, entered the comp but a flattie would be a fluke in the area fished.