Hooky

Yes ; to my mind it's not about owning, it's taking part in a hobby we love . As for getting invites , I personally invite full club members who I meet and reciprocate the offer We do have a few me members that no longer have craft ( old age or broke! ) that still go out regularly . I get on far better with people who contribute in some way , if you can't contribute to others you are just another taker , these types are better off going out on charters ( they just want a shortcut to the best marks etc) which is not going to happen !

Well done Jimbo : I would like to thank you for the invite but it was very much hit and miss for Saturday, I've got your number (sent you txt) programmed in so next trip I will make sure my (not svelte weight) keeps Tiddlers speed down and help you with the baguettes. 13 lts fuel!!!!!! Incredible for a day trip , my dear wife would not be able to go off on a rage about that ( (( maybe))~?)

Really yea , thanks for the reminder Alan , glad you didn't mention those other little issues I may ( or not) have occurred! Meanwhile, ( cheers Marcel) approx what weight do you reckon ?

Yes, you all seemed (as you posted ) 'very relaxed ' that's what a days fishing is all about ( lol) More piccys to follow

Careful planning , yes I'm a believer, keep checking the wind over the (huge) tide , make sure to allow lots of time to get Fisheagle past the bridges . Alan had it all sorted , it went wrong when he invited me ! Over a hour late at Cobbs , not to worry lets just get a shift on as it's going to be a 48 hour trip ( sigh) . Last week I had spent the whole afternoon sorting out this persistent problem with the big Lowrance unit (fish finder/ plotter/ downscan etc etc thingy ) Alan has had nearly two years of aggravation with this thing and has paid for a supposed 'professional, to sort it out , update this updated that it still would not perform as it should . The main issue was the position angle of the transducer, it's a shoot through hull ( oil bath ) type it is critical to get it correct or it will keep re- setting and give false depth readings , not good when you need it to get over the planned shallow ledges of the Purbeck ledges in Darkness ! . Without going into too much detail the issue stemmed from the sealant that had crystallised over the gel - coat , thousands of little air bubbles spread over the bottom , shame I didn't see it the first time as I all I did was fill it up wth cooking oil ( it worked perfectly until it leaked out a few days ) So here we are, still tied up to the mooring, two hours late, no depth reading, no fuel, ( in the queue) meant I had time to get to the truck, get some of my sooper - dooper wet seal goop and start from the beginning ! ( it worked perfectly , best I could do anyway) Out into the bay, the day nearly over, let's get a few mackerel for tea , funny thing is it turned into a huge fish fest with every drop !!! Alan and I disagree with each other on this one , we had already got a very nice thorn back , we have all seen and caught a Undulate , look at the tail , very thorny indeed , is it a hybrid ????? What's your opinion? Round two , a lovely little Brill , add Plaice and some of my personal favourites the (very much underrated Red Gurnard . Tope, where do you begin ? Literally everywhere some going to a fair old size , .would you like me to take your picture ?? Says Alan ( he actually took lots of his thumb ! ?? ) this is one of his better efforts ! Alan (bless his ol bones ) may be good at fishing but operating a iPhone to take the first YouTube Fisheagle channel may have to wait a little longer ,so it went back on its mount for a full hours of high definition shot of a packet of frozen squid so I think it will not make the best viewing. No chance of going over to Chapmans for a sleep-over , my arms had had enough , never had I hauled up so many fish in a few hours . ( and I had run out of ciggies, let's head back, I'm not going to get home til midnight. Friday : Strange one this, my mate Marcel was coming down from Swindon on his boat (endeavour 111) he needed a little help as to be fair ( !!!) he has not had the best of luck with his efforts , the big issue was some of the biggest tides of the year - yes the Blue Moon it would dictate every hour of today's fishing . No chance (again) of me getting down to launch at Baiter , so once again Alan offered to change his plans again so we could buddy up and meet him in the bay on Fisheagle. Endeavour is a very fine Wilson 23 : it will take one hell of a beating in bumpy conditions , main issue is that she will easily burn her 70 lts of fuel in a short time and distance , long and short of it Marcel halled up the biggest Tope I have seen in years ( he will mail me the picture, will add to this post ASAP), Topefest ; a day when they demolished every bait at all marks in depths between 60 -120ft , like all fish they need to be treated with care and must be weighed in a sling wherever possible , , use a wire trace please ( single hook baited with live mackerel on a flowing trace) Tired again , let's just moor up on tne visitors mooring alongside the quay , put the kettle on , sit back in the peace and quiet . Hell no ; we heard than bangs and noise coming in , the smell of Gin was unmistakable, the guvner was coming in, Champagne bottles exploding from every angle , I think it best moderated the following pictures , Blue moon ?? ( aged mooning is moor like it ) (Full res images of Madness available by pm ) So once again , I was late, I forgot to shut the sun roof, , I could not get over to help tidy up two days of crud and crap from Allan s pristine boat, I wrecked his carefull plans for two days AND lost the pound coin for the trolley !! So if your brave enough send invites by pm to my inbox , after all , what could really go wrong ??? ( cheers Alan)

What can we say ? Puts all my efforts to shame , I must try harder, well done Steve

Even better news ! Well done Jimbo and Please DONT forget that you can Pm 'special ' persons to crew ( I love these boats !!) and more than willing to supply pies.

Just to add; if you have a Triailer boat this venue is superb, it's a bit like Swanage . The slipway is fine at high water, failing that the sand is solid so even beach launching is a option (4x4) plus there is always someone around to give a helping hand. The tides can be huge , so carefull planning is needed, fuel trip is a fair old drive) Its possible (although not exactly allowed) to spend the night on the beach (far right hand side) . I leave the boat attached to the truck ready for superb night trips ( gates on entry to the private beach) for superb monster bass fishing Well done Lofty , proper job & theirs lovely boyo etc

Lee is the proud owner of this Texas 530 , (Jay-Jay ) hours have been spent getting he ready for this season . Yes he's been out on a few trips and has had some fish but to be fair this is his first year as a boat owner and he has done all his fishing in freshwater so for some unknown reason invited me out to put him on some decent marks using the correct rigs and methods so no pressure for me then !!! Leaving from Christchurch at 9am , weather was ok but once again the wind would make it a tad bumpy against a fair spring tide. Very few boat heading out which is strange for a Saturday, I love the trip down this river and out to the run, it gives you time to hatch a plan , rig up, sit back and enjoy a beautiful morning. First plan ; Mackerel, no problems , plenty around in 15 ft depth but not as many as last weekend. Lee just left his feathers down to keep us supplied with lots of bait for the big rods , the plan was to keep them hard to the bottom , it worked just fine . As we drifted towards one of my small bass marks I had it in mind to try and kick off the season in style. Lee took the first, on feathers , perfect for the table , you could hear the shout as its his first on his new boat ( the last one didn't count !) It continued until slack water , no more tide and that's your lot , no point in being greedy , In all a fabulous day , I never bother weighing any fish as such , I never bother counting , but I love days like this. Cheers Lee (Darvester)

Doh ! Went off on one again , deleted oz I'm so senile

deleted; off topic

deleted coz I went off topic as usual

Oh yea, make sure you get a tablet/ iPad with gps

This is my own personal preference and opinion You can spend one hell of a lot of money on a plotter/ sonar, you then need to buy the card that slots in to give your maps etc If you do a search on this forum you will find a few threads on iPad / Navionics etc I have now combined this with 'sonar phone ' My though is my set up works as well as a plotter/sounder that could cost you £900.00 +,the comparison I make between the two in performance and specifcation is virtually identical Peter ( Redfin) has the same set up on his boat as mine ( I use a iPad, he uses a standard tablet.) I have a preference for IPad He also has a large Lowrance /plotter etc unit that ( I believe) cost close to £1800 ish It would be fair to say he knows how to use his Lowrance unit to its full capabilities; it sits there unused, it's complicated to use, far more buttons and menus that never get used or needed. As I am also not the most technically gifted , I do simple. I also need low cost. There is a downside to my system You need to download the Navionics to your laptop , iPad , tablet.( UK and Holland £34.00) You need to download the (free) sonar phone app Purchase the sonar phone sp200 ( eBay, price has just shot up to £180.00) Install the transducer to the hull and run the unit to a battery ( took me a hour) You need a 12v cigarette type charger to keep the tablet fully charged I have no problems coming down to your boat and setting it up and showing you how it works, you need a little patience and to play about with it Again I prefer touch screen, I find it difficult to use hard buttons when the sea is bumpy and fingers are slimed I have just totted up my cost , it's now under £400. For the lot (including second hand iPad) fully working , everything installed . This is what I see with the plotter on This is my sonar on the same screen

Mike, have you looked at Navionics on a tablet with combined sonar ? It's very reasonably priced and it works very well and simple to use

And a truly big thanks from me on your 21st birthday ( it's always better the second time around anyway ?)

Well that's that then ; sorry but you will not be having the pleasure of a day out on the most luxurious boat in the PBSBO! Shame as I needed a nice couple of strong chaps supply some fresh ground bait : still Tony will look after you two , he even supply's champagne & strawberries etc !

A wee present ; I have loads of it for my own issues and always willing to share

I will try - attempt to get something sorted out for you Ian, no promises , depends on work situation . I am more than happy to show you how it's not done !!! No money required on my boat , just smiley faces and a sence of humour plus constant taking the piss is mandatory

I afraid they are allowed and will continue to do so, did you know that 70% of the trawlers are not UK based boats, isn't it great to be part of the European fisheries that is run from Brussels ! It decided my only option was to go to areas they can't , try all those rocky reefs and inshore bays , change your expectations to save constant frustration and wasting your own valuable time and money. I believe the days of getting a big old turbo or brill etc is going to be a very tough , my own personal leasure time getting a fish or two IS a far better option than chasing dreams from days past

When it's impossible to get any time to get out and my plans for this year "scuppered' a decent report is more than needed , gets even better when the report is superb . Who will be the first to get the Stingray and claim a new club record ???

Cheers Rob, I didn't know where he lived ! Can you pm your address please fo pick up, I see a weather window and a day off next week !!!!!!!! About time too lol

Sorry for the bump , Adam , I will be at the club this Thursday with beer vouchers, can you bring the cables please.