lofty

I've topped up my Pbsbac hat with luck now. Everyone was out fishing for them at various times over the four days and I had the only two. Job done

Saves on the ferry fare

Another night in my Lofteepee and woke on Sunday to sh1te weather. I packed up, said goodbye and headed to the beach. It was doable so I done it. Out to the 70 foot mark and although the maccys were thin on the ground I found 8 so into my live well they went. Sat out there on my own, thinking about life and ,click click click YEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAA! Another incredible fight and I had her by the yak I looked around and saw James( the Yakler) and his mate paddling nearby. He kindly came over and took the pop shots for me. This one was a bit smaller than Friday's one but I was chuffed to bits The sun shine now and apart from another bull Huss that was my lot. I said my goodbyes and landed. What a weekend! 2 good Tope ,2 good Thornys, great fishing, banter, and chums Here's to Oxwich 2016

Competition day and everyone had their game face on Everyone had a secret plan to head for the wreck first. I had a demon on my shoulder whispering "tope,TOPE" I started well intentioned with a small plaice and a dab, but as I looked at them all I could see was fresh tope bait. I decided to have a crack at them but staying in the comp area. I had one light rod with a 1/0 hook and a bit of maccy on and a Kenzaki 6/12 with a 10/0 on. The lrf was double over into a nice thorny I also found a smoothy and a Huss 5 species and nothing on the Tope bait and I headed back for the long slog up the beach and the prize giving. Some great numbers and the usual suspects among the prizes. I take my hat off to these boys. Proper anglers using fabulous skills.Well done all that placed. Back to the campsite and although I looked a bit unsociable at first, I was actually gearing up again for the Sunday morning. No small hooks for me. Later on I joined in and had a great time with friends old and new.

Second year for me and I love it I'd made lots of rigs for species hunting and 4 Tope rigs for a prospect session either day of the comp. Drove down on Thursday pm and met up with the crazy gang already pitched up. Zebedee put my child's sized tent up for me and after escorting a very pissed snapper around the campsite , and when it started to rain I hit the inflatable for a clausto nights sleep. Friday I'm in love. What a place. With three east coast companions we headed out for deep water and BIG rolling sea. The swell was on the limit of my comfort zone, but as it wasn't breaking I dropped my anchor in 68 feet of water on a gentle slope. The chaps found there own marks and we were soon fishing. There was plenty of maccys around and I sent two to the bottom with a 10/0 Owner circle hook debarbed. These were head hooked. In 5 minutes I had a run. Here we go. Gone. On the retrieve I had a bare hook. Then I had a nod on the other one and wound into a ray. It was obviously a good one and with the tide it was a slog, but eventually a thornback around 13lb guesstimate was on the yak. I didn't take a photo but I think Alex got one that would be good to see. Baits back down and another run after an hour.Dropped. This was getting annoying. On the retrieve I saw the head and tail of the maccy with a great big bite out of the body. The next one I hooked through the bottom of the jaw, up through the nose, and right through its back, wicked tuna style. The weather cheered up and so did my chums as they all started hitting good Thornys, especially Snappers which was a lump. Another hour and then..click click click , zz..zzzzz.....zzzzzzzzzzzz We're on. What a fight this thing put on. I had my 6lb Kenzaki and penn525 mag extra and a Diawa taper shock leader. This Tope went like a train and as I had debarbed I had to keep the pressure on. Eventually it came up under the yak and I had a "gulp" moment. Huge in the water. Can I get it on my lap or cut it off? In for a welsh penny, in for a pounding. After much struggling and the fookin thing nearly pulling me in it was up for a photo. What a lump. Big fat belly.Small head.Huge tail. The photos don't do the size of it justice imo. Tried to keep these away from important bits following Richis trouser incident That was it for me apart from dozens of dogs. I watched snapper connect with a Tope as it tore line off, but snapped him off. Back to the campsite a very happy Lofty

Tbc

Will do a report later in the week Had another Tope Not as big and fat as the first one. Kayakers in the know put my first one at around 40-45, so this one looks around 35-40 So strong and what amazing fish to catch. Both nearly had me in

Got out in the bay with Snapper Ben and Alex Got to the drop off and plenty of maccys Livelys down and some missed runs Then I had a good thorny Then Alex had a good thorny Then Snapper had a good thorny Then this big girl made an appearance Whatever happens tomorrow doesn't matter now

Supernatural , more like a young boy under the seat

Ahhh. Glad I could help. Not sure how you found me but I'm one of the clubs freaks. Don't have a real boat but manage to do a bit on my kayak. The proper chaps will sort you out soon. Lofty

Hi and welcome Gary The chaps will be along as soon as they get in from fishing. I presume it's the same Gary been in contact with? Looks like you've sorted the probs but ask on here if you're still having trouble Lofty

I've seen a few other photos and it doesn't look that big, although I doubt that affects the sharpness of those teeth by your bits

A first by my chum Graham

The following is from Simon Everett , lifted from Anglers Afloat I'm sorry but the photos won't share for some reason At the Plymouth competition several people asked what was happening to HOW now that Paul has resigned (through medical reasons). For some reason people thought it would just collapse, but Heroes On the Water UK is not Paul, and neither is he (or anyone else) HOW. Heroes On the Water UK is alive and growing. We could do with more help, we could do with more resources, but with what we have at the moment we are doing good work - we have 7 new guys coming through at the moment. Those who went to Plymouth for the OK Classic will have seen them on the water taking part in the competetion. Two were on the leader board. This weekend just gone was a busy one. I set off from home for Plymouth mid morning on Thursday, the car was full to the brim with charity stuff both for a day on the water with some of the guys fishing, and the stand stuff I have for the Crazy Casting that we take to big events as a fund raiser and to provide some fun and amusement for the children being dragged around! Friday - on the water by 10.00 with Roch and Kris. Two of the new intake who are going through their CAST course, a program of progression to prepare them to be able ot be self sufficient and able ot go kayak fishing on their own, outside of HOW - just like Martin Payne did. Getting ready to launch, deciding on rigs and tactics. We paddled out and over to the reef to try and get Kris her first fish off the kayak. Several blanks so far, but enthusiasm not diminshed. Kris was a Royal Marine gunner, then became a medic, following the assualt troops in the front line - she was caught up in some pretty nasty stuff. The kayak fishing takes her mind off the harrowing visions she still gets. A new set of Sabikis did the trick, she got a string of pollack to break that duck! The smile says everything you need to know. We had lunch in a tiny cove on the eastern side of The Sound, one that is hidden away and only accessible from seaward by small boat. The rain started, but it was still a great spot to get the guys off their backsides and stretching what legs they have got and some rations down their necks. The afternoon went well with a stiffening breeze meaning we had to be back in early, plus Roch had to get back in time for the school run. He was in 3 para and smashed himself up doing rainforest jumps in South America, where they jump into the rainforest canopy and have to crash through the trees hoping the chute will catch and break their fall......his pelvis was smashed and he lost his lower legs. he still wouldn't let me help me pull his kayak up the slip though! Saturday was Armed Forces Day. We had to have the stand up on The Hoe by 07.30 and spent the next hour or so putting it together and getting ready for the influx of visitors. The Crazy Casting provides a bit of fun for the children while the adults can find out about the work we do. We met several useful contacts from various places who work with guys in need of help - and several families who have had very little information or guidance after their trauma and during medical rehabilitation. We are able to provide links with an entire network of help, in addition to providing the stress free program of kayak fishing that has proved (scientifically proved) to be so beneficial. A worthwhile effort. Sunday - I was back on the water providing the Kayak Fishing Safety and Skills Course for four new guys. Thanks to FLADEN for supporting these safety courses with goody bags for each participant. Monday - I took the long road home and squared everything away - 568 miles round trip for the weekend. Tuesday morning (up to now) sorting the pictures and doing the bit of publicity of what we were doing over the weekend to keep people aware of what HEROES ON THE WATER UK is up to. Please, keep your support going, we might not have the best PR and news stream in the world, because there is only so much I can do. MAYBE, some of you will step forward and come and help with some of this stuff. We could do with more helpers and people who are good at things. We also need the fund raising efforts that so many of you do, not just fishing comps either....curry nights, coffee mornings, boot sales, tackle sales, donations, buy a hat and T-shirt or car sticker, help promote amongst your town. We are very grateful for every bit of help and support we can get, but being quite heavily loaded on the practical side of things, we are not good at letting you all know just how much we are doing. Hopefully, you can see we are still hard at it.

Best of luck to all.

This had to go in tackle talk In Seville Atm and wondering if I should get Mal a new pinny?

Listening on the vhf while out yesterday and it was obvious that three divers owe there lives to Fishing boat San Gina

Great skills Mike

two years ago I had a couple of stingray but only around 5 lb. I'm looking for a 20 +

I've edited my first YouTube clip for your enjoyment

Couldn't weigh them but I measured the longest ones with my body.128 cm and 133cm for a common one( I know I know)

It's been driving me and chums mad. A good report one day. The next a blank. I've been there 3 times in the last month or two and it's been crap. With the threat of thunderstorms I arrived at 6 am with the tide starting to ebb Paddled out to the usual marks armed with 6 peeler, a box of squid,and a lb of rag . First hour nothing. Moved inshore. Second hour nothing. Moved inshore. Then they switched on like a light. The lovely sound of the clicker tearing off. I had my Garmin Virb running and I got about a dozen chaotic videos of the carnage the big smoothys make, although I now know the dedication it takes to upload these things. The fishing was awesome. Three hours of cracking fishing. Over a dozen( I stopped counting) and some real beauties in among them. The squid fished well, but the peelers were almost instantly hit. I've got to admit I was knackered. Two of the buggers spun the kayak up tide and one breached about a foot out the water. It's days like these that keep me motivated when it's quiet. Couldn't find the stingrays later on but that's for another adventure Here's a selection of the fish. Some may be the same one. In all the chaos I forgot myself. Size three circles Watch my saltist after 1.40

Got my kitchen job wrapped up last night so had Friday free. We had some rough weather thursday night but xc showed a small lull , with it blowing up again that afternoon. Optimistically I packed my gear . Got down to Branksome chine around ten am, and it wasn't looking promising. It was the Poole charter skippers species hunt comp today and many of them where on Poole Outer Patch. You can see many of them on the horizon I anchored up within shouting distance but not close enough to be a nuisance .I did hear Nigel catch a goldsinney. Various cork wings, a few dogs, and lots of baby smuts After a couple of hours the first white horses showed. That's enough for me to bug out. Paddled back against wind and tide( easy) and tried my mark at Branksome Had a few wrasse but nothing new , and with waves now breaking over me I hit it and quit. Not the best session in the world but not a bad Friday lunchtime