Ian.Jones

My neighbour is the sole European importer, selling to the Motorsport industry and increasingly to various military bodies. Equipping a tank is quite profitable I believe, but this is an expensive and high tech alternative to simple baffles to stop fuel surge. Also I would be concerned as to whether this would encourage fuel bug growth, as it could increase the potential water to fuel surface area within the tank. Ian

Looks like the picture was taken in the Olympic diving pool..............

I am always impressed by the effective simplicity of the fishery laws in New Zealand. Most sea fish and shellfish have both size and bag limits. Recreational anglers who unwittingly break these rules are given advice and direction - and a warning. Repeat offenders are substantially fined. Any angler seen disposing of their catch to avoid detection, or who attempts to hide or secrete their catch, have their fine doubled automatically. Anyone who abuses the rules by retaining about three times their limit will face a heavy fine and have a community service order imposed, as well as probably having their car, boat and equipment confiscated. If the same people are found to be selling fish or shellfish, both the vendor and purchaser face very heavy fines - big enough that they make the national newspapers. Most importantly, these limits are well communicated (eg notice boards at boat ramps, ads in newspapers etc.) and have widespread public support from a knowledgable community that would not hesitate to call the authorities if they believe someone is breaking the rules. There is even an easily remembered hotline 0800 POACHER !!! We could learn a lot........ Ian

I have a 14 foot trailer boat in New Zealand which is fitted with waterproof, submersible led lights - which seems to have been the standard there for over ten years. Works brilliantly, no fussing about with lighting boards that have to be suspended from somewhere, have to be removed for launching and get in the way in the car while at sea. I can see no reason why retrofitting these to an existing trailer should be difficult, although UK number plates are inconveniently large for permanent fitting to a trailer. A couple of things to be aware of though. Firstly the light units come with wires pre-fitted to maintain their water tight integrity, so the cables have to be run back to meet and be joined at the male electrical socket - therefore the cables have to be long enough to reach. This in turn also means that the electrical plug to your car should not be submerged when launching, as the electrics remain connected, which should be the case anyway. Also consider that if the led lens gets cracked and let's the water in, it will need replacing. Another point to watch is that some older cars are not compatible with led lights. This is particularly true of the more expensive models that have clever systems that identify that a trailer is connected and whether a bulb has failed. This can be overcome by buying led light sets that have a higher resistance, but it is possible to make up a resistor box in the cable run to achieve this. Some car manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes will sell an adaptor that does this but it is expensive. I had this problem with my 10 year old Merc ML. The trailer tested perfectly, the car tested perfectly, but put the two together and they did not work due to feedback in the system. I overcame this by simply fitting a different set of lights, which was the cheapest option. Having had numerous trailer boats in the past, I would definitely plan for submersible lights on any future rig as it make the whole process of launch and recovery so much simpler. Ian

Rob is right to advise caution. All of the larger Yamaha outboards have an engine flush attachment built in, but it is a flush system only, and the engine is not cooled by this system so must not be run. Engine muffs are required if the engine needs to be started (for service checks etc.) but the flush fitting covers everyday use and is more convenient, allowing a fresh water rinse from a hose even when sitting on a pontoon berth. Ian

I had a Manson anchor for a number of years - expensive for it's size, but never lost it's hold once set. However if the appeal is the tripping feature, where the shackle slides along the shank, I found this to be difficult to use. Setting up the anchor specifically to trip, either with cable ties or weak chord, or both, was better for a fishing boat where anchoring on tricky ground is more likely, and resetting the trip is a small chore, particularly if using an alderney ring where the anchor is recovered to the cockpit. I think this feature is more aimed at cruising boats that only will try to use this "in extremis" Ian

I have a 23' Grady White in New Zealand with an anchor winch - which has a rope/chain gypsy using 12m of chain spliced on to 150m of 12mm multi plait, anchoring in depths up to 60m. This has been trouble free from new (7 years) with no chafe etc. This allows me to recover the anchor from the cockpit while on my own and in rough seas. Drop speed is acceptable, but there are not the strong tides that we have to contend with here. Secret is to make sure the gypsy is well matched to the size of rope and chain, don't skimp on chain and take care to get a good smooth splice to the chain. Occasionally I have to rock the drum a little to get the chain to engage on the gypsy as it changes from rope - and occasionally I have to spread the rope in the anchor locker if it piles up after a deep water anchoring, but this is because I have three times as much warp as the boat builder recommends, so the rope locker is full. I trip the anchor, happily venture into rough ground, and am still on the original anchor. Works well for me, although on JV we decided to save the cost of a winch and use an Alderney ring for UK tides and depths. But we would rarely be without a second pair of hands to assist recovery. Ian

I got to know Chris well over recent years and admired his wealth of knowledge - which he was happy to share freely - and moreover his commitment to helping other Weymouth skippers; whether developing up coming talent like Lyle, establishing the Weymouth boat fishing website, representing the charter industry in political issues or acting as a linchpin for the EFSA tournaments. He even gave me his "Black Book" of fishing marks when he retired..........40 years of proven experience......and swore me to silence. His health was always a concern and it a great shame that he did not have more time to enjoy his retirement and the travel plans that he had. Great condolences to his wife and family and RIP Chris.

As everyone can read, a great trip in great company - and a well deserved reward for all Adam's hard work. Even the weather Gods kept smiling. What Adam omitted was that we believe his Brill was a new club record..............such modesty! The Alderney Week festivities were something else. Alun and I shared a beer with the Fire and Safety Officer for the event (on loan from Guernsey) while the fireworks were in full swing. I asked him if they had had any safety issues with the event - his reply was simple - he said that considering that two thousand drunks and kids were carrying flaming torches through the streets, then throwing them over the heads of spectators to try to reach the bonfire - plus add a huge firework display that is set up before they know which way the wind is blowing - plus add large quantities of alcohol and no lighting - his view was that considering all that it was quite safe! How refreshing. He mentioned there are two fringe events held at the same time. A bunker party for young teenagers, held in a WW2 German bunker that goes on until 2.00am. And a quarry party for the "grown ups", held in a disused quarry to avoid disturbance, that goes on until dawn...... As we headed out to JV the following morning, we met up with the harbour master in his launch, who had just fished two revellers out of the harbour who had capsized en route to their boat. He said he gave them another ten minutes or so before they would have been a tragic statistic. Any members planning a trip next year will enjoy the extra fun of Alderney week if they can work the dates. But the place is rammed so bookings for everything are essential. Alun did a great job of sorting rooms and restaraunts, and Steve on Tigerfish managed to reserve a mooring for us both with his dinghy, albeit we still had to fend off an interloper in a small yacht.

The two boats on the Shambles are locals. I understand the original boat would only trawl two nights a week and got a good return. The second boat was a scallop dredger (now banned)that has had to turn to new techniques. The original boat now shadows him every day! New Zealand faced a rapid decline in their Snapper fishery some years back. The response was size and catch limits for all, but more importantly, no trawling in any waters below 100m. That protects all breeding grounds and most inshore waters. Maybe the depths would need to be different, but the principle could work. If applied to all boats, it could work here, without any "foreign" boat discrimination, which would be politically impossible. Ian

70% of the UK fishing industry chose to sell their "rights" to foreign companies - Spain alone purchased over a third - and for some reason they often prefer to land their catch in Spain rather than UK ports.........Visit any French or Spanish fishmonger or supermarket and you will see piles of undersized fish for sale. When you challenge them, which I do, they always claim they are farmed fish, which is rubbish. Leaving the EU would not change this situation as they are fishing on UK licences. I also fished the shambles a week ago on a charter boat, with five experienced anglers, and we had not even had a bite between us after five hours fishing. Two trawlers worked the banks all day. Our charter skipper told us that up until this year, only one trawler worked the shambles, and could make a decent living trawling for two nights a week. Now there are two, both boats are out every day weather permits - and they are struggling to make it pay as catches are so depleted. This will be critical for the Weymouth charter fleet. At least there were plenty of Cod about almost everywhere at the moment- wrecks, reefs and even 200m off shore. I was in NZ when I read all the reports about that Dutch trawler scooping loads of illegal mackerel and getting only a wrist slapping fine, as well as retaining the catch. Around the same time the Australian fishing patrol arrested a Thai boat fishing illegally. Their rules were simple - first offence is a fine of double the catch value: second offence the boat is seized and used for Naval target practice. They even ask the divers where they would like it......! But there again they have a different approach to migrants too. I am sure there is much that could be done within current EU legislation if our government were determined, which means adequately motivated by voters like us. Ian

This story made front page news in New Zealand even before the BBC had got hold of it.......but the story line was not how big it was, but how little it fetched at market! Ian

Hi Lofty. Paid my £80 direct to bank account yesterday. message and email still don't appear to be working? I gather Alun will collect at the AGM. Thanks, Ian

Hi Lofty No pm or email received. Can you send to ianjones254@gmail.com. Regards, Ian

Hi Lofty I'll take the cool box. I can't collect it until mid April but can pay by transfer now if you give me the bank details. Regards Ian

Adam and I will be at the show and will try to be there to support. Ian

New Zealand seem to have the answer. All shellfish are strictly controlled with both bag limits and sometimes size limits applied. A person is allowed to only collect so many at one time eg cockles are 50, clams 20, scallops 20 with a minimum size of 100mm. Only people actually collecting have a bag limit, and fines for infringement are severe, and doubled automatically if there is an attempt ti "hide" the catch. These quantities are adequate for personal consumption or bait gathering, but would be inadequate for a commercial operation. Of course some people bend the rules, mainly Chinese gatherers taking an army of kids along to the beach to boost their entitlement, but on the whole it works. More importantly, it is seen as fair by most and is therefore publicly policed by people like us watching out for abusers and reporting them via a hotline. Easy to remember - 0800 poacher! Scenes of foreign cockle gangs dragging sacks full off the beaches only make the news when their are tragic drowning incidences. Perhaps what we need are fair rules for all that protect stocks for the future and are supported and policed by the public. Like banning commercial trawling within 6 miles of the shoreline.....???? It works elsewhere. Ian

As Mike Fox says, you don't have to go far to catch sharks. I paired up with another boat a few years ago and drifted off St Catherine's point. We each had a big sack of Burley and floated 100m apart with the ebbing tide and as Mike suggested, simply feathered for mackerel as we drifted. With three live baits on floats off each boat, set at different depths, we just drifted along, dropping a constant flow of mackerel chunks as we went. The baiting process was hard work, keeping all on board fully occupied, but we were rewarded with six runs, of which three were hooked and brought to the boat - two porbeagles and a thresher. No pics I'm afraid and it was a few years ago, but they are out there, and much bigger than the West Country Blues. These days I get more shark fishing than I need on my annual trips to NZ. Biggest last season (April this year) was a 10' Bronze whaler caught while emptying the contents of my bait freezer as Burley before coming home. But the best catch to date for me was my son landing a 70kg Mako shark hooked on sabikis on a light bait rod, 20lb line and no leader. These things jump like Marlin when hooked! Luckily we were not at anchor, so I was able to chase the fish around the bay while the shark repeatedly emptied 200yds off the small multiplier. But he landed it, unhooked it and we watched it swim away. As you can imaging, a 23' boat is no place to be playing with a 10' shark on board. Good luck to those that try. Maybe we'll give it a go on JV on a nice calm summers day when we get one. Ian

Hi Dave, is it three ply or 8strand multi plait? If Multi Plait I'll take it. regards, Ian Jones

I'm already booked on Tiger Lily so at least one Weymouth boat will be there, but I expect there will be plenty more, with Bank Holiday and good tides coinciding. My trip was booked six months ago, long before Pbsbac dates were advised, and even then we took the last rooms where we are staying. I will be there again if the trip is postponed........! Ian

I use a filleting glove a lot, particularly when preparing fish on a rocking boat. I squirt washing up liquid over it while still on my hand, give a good rub to work the soap in then as good a rinse as possible. I then put it over a rod holder and let the sun, wind and rain do it's work while I am far enough away not to smell it. Always seems ok on return, if a bit stiff. No one has ever nicked it...... Word of warning. Don't be tempted to sneak it into the family wash, or everyone will smell like a bait shop for a while. Ian

I do not profess to be an expert, but I have some experience. All bio-fuels are hydroscopic (attract water) and this is an increasing problem as bio-mix ratios have increased, particularly where fuel tanks are standing for extended periods. The old advice of keeping tanks topped up to prevent expansion/contraction sucking in damp air, has to be weighed against hydroscopic contamination. I doubt whether there are many places that you could now buy petrol or diesel without some biofuel content, except speciality fuel supplies for vintage cars at prohibitive prices. I have a boat in Spain which is left for six months over winter, and we now leave as little fuel as possible, well dosed with biocide, topping up with fresh fuel at the start of each season. For your tank to have over ten litres of water in a 100 litre tank over the period of time indicated, would suggest that water is getting in somehow. 10% sounds too high for hydroscopic action alone. The most likely cause would be the rubber seal on the fuel cap. Often these are not fuel grade rubber, become contaminated with fuel which causes them to swell, which in turn can allow water ingress. I'd start there, and then look for other causes. I hope this helps. Ian

As Joint Venture is out of action this coming weekend awaiting turbo heart surgery, does anyone need a crew for the Bass Comp? Regards Ian

I was in Lymington today and Berthon's price for diesel was 87p per litre, reducing down to 80p depending on quantity purchased. Sounds like Poole is expensive! Ian

Our crew ate at the Moorings last week so maybe our experience is useful. Burgers were good, beef better than pork. King prawns v.good, but they only served 5 small ones, doubled on complaint. Rib eye definitely the best choice, but ours were cooked one level more than requested. Ie order rare if you want med.rare. It was the new owners first week and they were struggling to cope, even though Alderney was empty. However they have mastered the local disdain for visitors, as observed by Charlie. Hope the weather is kind and the turbos are biting. Wish I was there. Ian