Mal Thomas

Done

No need to hold that donkey forward.😀

This is my first sight of this post, it has driven an intelligent discussion and debate within the Club and no doubt beyond, in turn this generates website posts and stops us all from becoming unmotivated and not having an opinion, whilst of course entertaining Greg's during his rehabilitation. I think you could change the title from Mackerel to a number of fish and Creel the food for fish. You should watch Natural Geographic Tv film on Tuna. Greg, it is worth a watch if you can find it. The Environmental Scientist have done extensive research into fish stocks taking over twenty years around the world especially on valuable and most consumed and over fished. They then inform the fisheries agencies around the world what they consider sustainable quotas, the Agencies and Local Governments around the World then rip up these suggested Quotas and set the tonnage sometimes five times higher to suit the local and worldwide markets to aid them in becoming very rich, whilst they suggest the business is valuable to their local economy. Unfortunately the fish markets and selling of fish has always had a large black market operation which drives owning bigger ships and profiting on greed from a free resource. They have even bought Aircraft to fly over the Seas to spot shoals of fish and direct their fleet towards the fish. This is how twisted it all is, they know it will lead to depleted stocks and no fish to catch in the very near future. But they won't stop because they risk someone else jumping in and profiting on what they see as their free resource, when in fact fish stocks are a world wide economy and should be protected by a World Wide Agency with teeth that actually control the quotas. All these practises and mistakes have been made before with Herring and Cod to name just two, Nova Scotia was built on Cod Stocks until it emptied the waters of Cod. Now the ships are bigger, the search equipment and technology so good very little escapes a deployment of the factory ships nets. Whole shoals are wiped out never to return unless the world unites on fishing. Guess what it is unlikely to happen and on that cheery note I will end.😒

What a bonus fish, I would love to see more in our waters.

On holiday or in our waters?

We have camped in Burnbake site on the Rempstone Estate, not much has changed here for centuries and it shows with the bird count for two walks totalling 19 miles. The tally is impressive and a first siting for me. Cross bills. Coal tits. Kestrel. Jackdaws. Curlew. Chaffinch. Wren. Buzzard. Wood pigeon. Greater spotted woodpecker Serin. Robin. Raven. Collar dove. Dartford warbler Goldfinch. Song thrush. Rooks. Tawny owls overnight. Siskin Long tailed tits. Meadow pipits. Crow. Pied wagtails. White throat Blue tits. Chiff chaff. Jay Gold crest. Cormorants Great tits. Green finch. Magpie. Fire crest. Egret The crossbills have eluded me for decades so I was very pleased to see so many. Such beautiful scenery especially up above Corfe on the ridge that runs all the way to Old Harry. Not so good on my Deer’s maybe Sika and Fallow

Good luck with the operation

Due to a full on work week, I have revised my plan and decided to finish of my reports and then take off in the camper with my lovely wife for a chill lax. So I will be fishing with you in spirit, put a rod uptide for me. Don't forget those reports they are a vital piece of our successful club, Stu the Wales International was so impressed with or Club and turnout at the meeting. Tight lines everyone, keep your eyes peeled for that jumping visitor.

Thanks for sharing, we need to talk I think I can provide a day out and an overnight van stop.

I am hoping to get out Friday

My Guess is a Weaver, not sure though

Our day started with a lovely sunrise over the IOW and the a great view of a Peregrine Falcon chasing a pied wagtail. There was plenty of Guillemot's, Razor bills and Gannets about. Our fishing started well with Rays coming soon after the start, a run of Smalleyed and followed by some Blondes. The uptider rod was fishing well. We were gradually losing the ebb and the bites with it, unfortunately we also had the SM 75 the trawler making tracks close by which sealed the deal, we moved out for more tide. With some careful planning using the mobile app from Navionics we positioned the boat for the wind and tide at the time allowing for the move to the East as the tide flow built. This gave us a very good second part of the day with many Rays, Tope, Mackerel and plenty of Black bream of a decent stamp. The Tope gave me the run around and tangled a few lines. We had Martin and crew on Madness close by so some banter between boats and crews was imminent and great fun. Duncan was great company and enjoyed being on Y-Knot and stayed behind for a good cleaned down.

Duncan and I had a red letter day today based on the year so far, 16 rays or one or two more. Nothing bigger than 12lb but plenty of them on two different marks. Our Trawler got close at one point and made us move away further out and it turned out to be a good move. Really tired tonight so this post will developed with some pictures and more stories of the day.

Amazing