lofty

Happy birthday Rich

Well you don't expect to much and you'll not be disappointed. Met up with Ken at 10, had a prod about with the dead dolphin carcass, and the pair of Dorados launched into a relatively quiet bay Paddled straight out as the range was off limits today. We heard lots of machine gun fire all day. Hooked onto some pots in 30 feet of water and didn't have a bite for 2 hours. The sea glassed off and I could see another pot a quarter of a mile further out. I paddled over and had bites from the off. There was a smaller buoy just behind it and Ken joined me. First was a small whiting. Then a dog, then a poor cod shed its scales all over me. Then more dogs and lots of small pout. Around three we both decided to hit it and quit, and a quick paddle back to the launch to warm up You've got to love Kimmeridge

What do you mean!!!!! Recognise? RECOGNISE??!??!?! I went to great lengths to make sure I wasn't followed to give the mark away. See. Told you.

Had a session today in the harbour. Tried a few places before I found a sweet spot. Had ten flounders, all around the 2lb + mark Launched at Baitor and noticed this for the first time. A little bit cool Through the first bridge and saw Graham on the Cheetah heading out. Passed one of many old scrapers once through the second bridge that they raised in my honour Once I found them it was good fishing for two hours [url=http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/photolofty/media/2015/1037923B-BD94-4EAA-8719-D303CA13C5A8.jpg.html][/url] Headed back as I didn't like the look of the clouds. They raised the other bridge for me this time Short cut through Fishermans Dock and waved to a siren Got back to the carpark, loaded, got in the car and then the hailstones fell. Perfect timing. A great little session with 20 lbs worth of flounder landed. Ragworm baits The rigs I used where two hook boom rigs, 8 lb hook length , size 4 Kamasan match hooks,with various 8mm beads. The orange and white bead combo out fished the others

Sounds like there's going to be a lot of good prizes. I like your random prize idea rob

The main thing we want to avoid is people bringing fish with them as its a species comp. There was an idea to cut off the pre bought mackerels tails. Want to include maccys in the comp as a few juniors enter. A suggestion of random boat checks pre launch seems sensible.

Court Jester and AWOL Happy days.

No.

Great news that AWOL is in attendance again Thank you

The club has been approached with a view to helping this competition out this year. The date is 16 th May This national open kayak competition this year is being sponsored by Hobie, a large American kayak company, who are donating a large prize table. What they do need from us is support on the day. They also are very interested in club members views in how this competition can be run fairly. The format is this. It's a species competition that is in held in a specified comp area in Swanage. It is held over a fixed time eg.10-2 pm. Competitors need to sign in and out of the comp. The most species wins. The competitors photograph what they catch against a card issued on the day and have the species verified by adjudicators on the green in Swanage. I would like some knowledgable volunteers for the day to help verify the species on the cameras. I would also like a couple of club boats to act as support boats. I would also like suggestions from you how to make it a fair competition with no cheating. The top prize is worth over £2500 so it's worth winning. That's a temptation for cheating. I'm considering random boat checks. I like the idea of numbers for the kayaks for on the water ID. Any other suggestions most welcome on this thread or by pm Cheers for your input Lofty

Done and promoted on anglers afloat

And Winter. I've had a few stolen days that were more like summer. I've had a good few flounders, and a few "rare" codling. More B A in November The social meets were wrapped up with the flounder meet, and despite being a bit of a dodgy day , the meet was a great success . So to sum up. It's been a good year with mixed feelings and mixed fishing. I reconciled with a chum. I made it to lots of the big meets. I caught some good fish. I tried to beat my 2013 total in a species hunt, but at time of press I've only equaled it at 30 sea species. I've had a lot of fun and met some great fishermen. I've missed out on some noticeable species. Blondes, stingers, Tope, smuts, sole, turbot. I've loved reading everyone's catch reports on AA and PBSBAC It's been a year and that's for sure. Bring on a bigger and better 2015 Luvtoots

Autumn and September saw me manage to launch at Ladram, and had a lovely day there. Met up with some old chums . Good times Also got a launch at BA and got my best bass of the year, about 7lb It went back to add to the Karma Bank for when I hit a double A few of these and these too October has seen me doing more night trips and starting to look for the winter species Happy to report Bri was on the mend

Could only catch little smuts and Tope this summer Another Southbourne special My two fishing partners bailed on me this year Bri was properly sick with pancritis, and barely got out Baz had bigger plans August didn't see me get out much as I had a few weeks abroad I did do the airshow with Bri Thorny

Summer saw trips to Oxwich, kimmeridge and old Harry All beautifully scenic Oxwich Also saw me a spot on the prize table Kimmers is stunning when the weather is asleep Old Harry on a perfect day is hard to beat The Smut meet was nice to see chums but it didn't fish well for me What did fish well was Southbourne. It was impossible to catch these big girls without thinking of someone though

I was put off of Tanners Lane this year after hearing of car break ins, so I tried a new spot,lepe, with a new chum, Digger, and we had a good day on the bass. No monsters but good sport Tywyn was next on my list for a decent tope, but following the winter storms the area had been battered. I'm sure this affected the fishing in the area because Tywyn didn't do the do this year. A few from my road trip , sleeping in the mondeomobil. Plenty of big weevers, Huss, and my smallest cod to date

Part two on next thread

Spring heralds the proper fishing and as the plaice chase was held a bit later, it coincided with the arrival of the big black bream, and Swanage was on fire. Everyone fished by the top secret blue boy and bagged up. This was a small one around 2, but I know of some nudging 5 lbs. Its been an exceptional year for black bream locally Swanage also saw me get my PB small eyed ray, and then beat it twice Swanage was the first of the "Big" competions of the year as far as I was concerned and we had a fantastic day, if not marred by the result being controversial. A few from the day Spot the Stugeron I was put off of Tanners Lane this year after hearing of car break ins, so I tried a new spot,lepe, with a new chum, Digger, and we had a good day on the bass. No monsters but good sport

The trophys from the plaice chase, supported by Pbsbac, and support boats. Cam won year one Jason Stanbridge won this year There are no sponsors for this meet, no big prizes, no caterers, but it always impresses me the effort my chums make to get a launch at this meet. Fabulous to meet friends old and new This is where many off us said goodbye to Cam, without knowing http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g388/photolofty/april/IMG_3377.jpg

Bear with me, there's a few posts Here goes With some time to kill I thought I'd review my kayak fishing year It started with me purchasing a marlin from Kaskazi UK. I'd tried one out at a meet, and really enjoyed it, but after using mine for a while I found it didn't suit my style of kayak fishing, although I did get some good fish across the gunnels I had a few warranty issues with the fish box and Simon was an absolute star when I asked about the possibility of moving to a Dorado 2. I can not emphasise enough how good the customer care and service is I've received from Simon. He bends over backwards to keep the customer satisfied. That sort of service builds brand loyalty. I excitedly took possession of "Slice of Life" As many are aware I put on a meet each year, the Poole Bay Plaice chase, and this years was to be memorable for good and bad reasons. In the autumn of 2013 I had a very public and upsetting falling out with Cam Clearie on AA. Regretfully we stopped talking and fishing together. Following the winter flounder meet Cam was to get the tragic news that he was dying of cancer. We started to correspond again and had many phone calls regarding his awful situation, but mostly we talked about kayak fishing. We were both eager to put our falling out in the past and move on, and I was proud to have him participate in the 2014 plaice chase. It was to be his final meet. Cam and Si at lake I tried Lilstock in the spring and had my first ray on the D2 In April, the Plaice Chase I love this meet. It's not about the quality of the fishing, it's about kicking off of the seaon

They're tough little buggers that's for sure. I knew this tiddler wouldn't make the grade so I decided a drive across town was not on the cards for this flobber

Went down Branksome at 9 knowing what I'd find but hoped against hope. White horses meant a no go. Back home to swap out my rods for flounder gear, popped in Wessex and grabbed some rag, and headed to Lake. What a stunning view The usual beach shot Launched and paddled over to the bridge. Spent an hour here but nothing doing. This put a bend in my lrf gear These didn't What do you expect on the 31st December? Great productive spot I found Right on the curve of the river, funnelled them into a channel Five in an hour and a half And as I use kamasan size 2 match hooks they pull out easily and all flobbers swam away strongly from the beach Great end to my 2014

Sorry. Posted to soon. Would love to see a photo or two of those lovely beastys

Photos?