Steve S

Sorry no suggestions, just to say I've got 2 and they have caught me big deepwater pollock, turbot and bream with no problems at all so your problem sounds a bit odd.

So what's happened to not dumping all the other fish then, when did that part get dumped!!!! The way I last understood it dumping of all fish was to be banned except in offshore waters ie the Atlantic off the France and Spanish coast. That is one hell of a compromise Steve

Here are the photo's of my portable Livewell. Height 56cm Diameter 40cm. The top is screw on with a plastic window so the Macks can see but can't jump out. I keep the top on generally to stop escapes. The barrel bought from Solent Plastics for not much, it is fitted to a square wood platform that can be screwed to the swim platform with wing bolts. The water feed is the top connector, a standard garden hose fitting. The end of day drain at the bottom is a fast flow garden water barrel tap. The overflow is the hole on the right with the grill over. Mine was mounted on the swim platform so no drain pipe was required. There is another hole above the top connector, that was a mistake but has no effect on the operation. The aluminium plate on the inside forces the water feed to flow out one side of the barrel only with flows from the bottom of the barrel to the top using the ribs built into the barrel (the photo does not show up the exit hole well). This forces the water to flow in one clockwise direction only. The inside is kept smooth to minimise damage to the fish. The main water feed is from an inlet with a stopcock at the bottom of the hull fed to a connector on the transom. When I wanted to use the Livewell I connected standard garden hose from the transom connector to the livewell and started the 850 gph pump. Fill time was about 4 mins before the overflow came into operation. The pump is about 1m below the Livewell top connector. Macks stay alive all day in it. Steve

I made one from a plastic barrel I bought from Solent Plastics I think in Southampton, it worked pretty well. I've got it at home so I'll take some photo's and post them. Main points: Lots of water, I used a 850gph rule pump, it kept more macks alive than a 500gph one I used before. Round or oval is best, with square or oblong the macks can get stuck in the corners rather than swim round and round No big macks, they just die Unhook straight into the well if possible, ie don't touch by hand if you can Don't put too many in or they all die, more water helps with this. Try 6 if they all stay alive then go up until you find the limit. The bigger they are the quicker they die. Steve

I've got this nagging feeling, I've err, um I must have forgotten something....

Hi Mike Great, I'd like the other copy please as for Adam please give to Rob F or Alun J at tonight meeting and I'll collect from them when I'm in Alderney (tomorrow! ) It will be put to immediate use! Many thanks Steve

Err well the boats ready to go, it's everything else.... Still my dear Wife is buying the provisions without prompting so I must have done something right.

See you there Chris. I'm driving down from Basingstoke, I'll aim for 19:00 but actual arrival time may vary somewhat. I'm bringing charts with me, I guess we may want something to look at! Steve

Well I could but I'm not sure about the crew.

Yes looking pretty good , XCWeather seems to agree for Fri and Sat just a bit of F5 after 16:00 on Friday in Alderney.