Stuie

Belated best wishes Matt - good luck afloat - let us know how you got on.

Once again Cabin Boy and I chose to go out for a few hours. Leaving Cobbs around 8.45 - in relatively calm but damp conditions with visibility around a mile - we went to the Swash to try a few drifts for the spotties. It was a little loppy outside in the last of the ebb and fish were hard to come by although a small sample surrendered after about an hour. Regular use of the vuvuzela (thanks Big Col) was called upon as reminded by Harbour Control in the murky conditions. Visibility kept changing and around midday dropped quickly so we chose to feel our way carefully back into the harbour using our chart plotters, and hawk eye Cabin Boy. Inside the harbour near Brownsea Castle we picked up a mooring for an hour until conditions improved and we once again ventured out. It was reassuring to now be able to see Old Harry from outside the entrance. One further small spotty obliged before we called it a day. Good to be afloat and improve our ability to make way safely in trying conditions.

Great report and pix as usual - well done both.

A prompt start and good conditions in the bay saw us dropping lines - full of hope - on Dolphin Sands at 9.30. Dropping the anchor after a fruitless drift in the flood and eventually whiting began to appear - mainly small - but with one a reasonable size. A few see-throughs also responded. (dabs) A move North at the top of the tide and we started the first of several drifts a mile or so off the shoreline between Boscombe and Branksome which only produced a couple of whiting and a plaice to Cabin Boy - was he pleased or what. A lovely day to be out on the water.

digger An expensive error

Planning to take Cabin Boy out tomorrow for an airing in the bay - despite the very big tide. Anyone else with withdrawal symptoms? Will be monitoring Ch 6.

Just the ticket Graham - onwards and upwards. Best get your sleeves rolled up as well.

Rob - I believe SAN should shoulder some responsibility as well here for publishing these pictures. The media should consider preserving stocks as well as anglers. In my opinion this is a sad indictment on our sport.

Cracking boat. I hope Cabin Boy doesn't see these pics or he'll put in for a transfer and I wouldn't see his **se for dust.

Another great February session - three flattie species and cod as well - can't be bad. Well done.

Great report and pics Duncan. Not a bad day's sport as well.

To keep the men out or the women in?

And we can't blame continental fishermen for this little lot either..

Huge fuel tank then Brian.

That really is a well thought out excuse Mike - bet you haven't used it before either.. Two or three weeks ago we had wall to wall doggies on the back eddy of the ebb round the corner from Ballard - not very far into Swanage Bay. Hoping for a trip with Cabin Boy soon too.

That's the spirit Jim. On a more serious note it appears I'll have to buy some of this polish for Cabin Boy to try out.

A late start (9.45) with No. 1 son saw us make good time in favorable conditions to a mark off Southbourne. After dropping the anchor we were immediately into small whiting. In a couple of hours or so we had three small plaice, a see-through dab and a number of whiting before interest tailed off. The wind strengthened and we moved to the swash for a long unproductive drift. The wind continued to build so we called it a day - returning to Cobbs at 3pm for a wash and brush up. No 1 son is getting the hang of the cabin boy duties and now hardly grunts when hauling anchor. Another good day afloat.

Warm enough for what Jim - the potting shed?

So sad to read this post Nigel - it really has put the tin hat on it. You really need to catch the fish of the month on Sunday now. Good luck.

And this is the only deterrent to commercial skippers fishing illegally - the skipper will cover the fine many times over with what they catch. We can have all the legislation imaginable but it's useless without enforcement and the skippers know this. Running the risk of being caught must be worth it.

Left Cobbs with Cabin Boy shortly before 9am and we were out of the harbour in quick time heading east - after guidance from Rob - for another cod hunt. When two or three miles short of our destination ther SE swell coupled with an increase in the NE wind forced our hand and we beat a hasty retreat towards Southbourne. (We opted for just being cold rather than cold and uncomfortable.) Dropped the pick about 3/4 mile off shore and a variety of baits and rigs hit the deck. After about 15 minutes we had interest on the dab rig - and boated a plump ----dab. A short while later a smaller - see-through dab followed. This was followed by a small whiting and a small early plaice. We decided that a move to an inshore snaggy mark might up the species tally but it wasn't to be. Similarly with a move to the harbour which was also fruitless - but not crabless. With fingers refusing to do even the simplest task we returned to Cobbs around 3.30 after another successful but cold day afloat.

Tremendous amount of work you've put into this complex topic Mike. The whole issue for AT is very much a chicken and egg situation as I see it. Increased membership and funding is vital for AT to achieve its objectives as it stands and without achieving those objectives membership will struggle to increase. Not only is the AT short of funding and staff but this is also the case with fisheries protection, the coastguard and the police. This is why I believe that the AT should prioritise its effort to gain some obvious success in the sea angling arena that would add impetus to membership among sea anglers. Coarse angling successes for AT are many - they are easier to achieve as freshwater venues are easier to police than the open sea. There are a number of sea anglers I know who have withdrawn, or are seriously considering withdrawing their membership of the AT because of this apparent lack of positive results. I'm probably not the only one who lacks confidence about gathering evidence about illegal practices at sea. How about if each club member had a simple? aide memoire to help with evidence gathering - could it be simple?

Also hoping to get out with Cabin Boy.

Best wishes. I hope you have a great day Martin.