Mal Thomas

My best effort 3lb 4 0z Black bream

Yes it was calpac, the over hanging tree by the pill box was near the Aquarium swim, made famous by a mate of mine who knocked out many 30 to 40 chub a session with the odd barbel mixed in. I used to opt for the long walk to the end of the venue, praying I was the only one down their. Many large bags of good roach to casters. Great times, now full of Amercian cray fish eating the fish eggs and the otters causing lots of trouble. The Kennet is now in a bad way. See what you gone and done Rob making us oldies remember the good old days.

Your joking thats exactly where it was on the last bend at the end of the venue.

Awesome my favourite fishing, Barbel being as good as Bass. My best 9.8lb on 3lb line size 18 hook trotting on the Kennet many years ago, but still gives me a thrill. 😊

Wow you have started a topic here, this could run and run. Ask yourself a similar question about cars, is there a car for all uses??? A fishing boat and cruiser is a difficult blend to find. I think it depends on how big your prepared to go to get what you want, for comfort and speed your probably in the two engine market and a heavier displacement. Lighter boats at higher speeds tend to be noisy or slam and feel more rally car than Rolls Royce. The Barracuda 9 in several formats tends to be an outboard boat, fast planing and petrol thirsty. It does have fishing space upfront which is a bonus, but when anchored you would prefer to fish from the stern. Maybe a Rodman with two diesel engines and no flybridge would be worth looking at. Large accommodation, heavy displacement cruising at 18 knot + more family friendly + economical on fuel. Sterndrives can be expensive to maintain but as a rule quicker boats, but a fast fixed prop is probably more durable if you do not want large bills. Stability normally derives from low down weight in the hull and outboards tend to be higher up, if you have a catamaran this is can be offset with a wide beam. 20 knots is not the norm in our waters unless you have the right boat or flatish seas , a Targa, Rodman and few other top brands have this capability and more fishing specific boats, like the Breaksea models .Otherwise you will find most travelling between 13 and 18 knots. Hunting for a boat is great fun and many members are always looking online including myself, there is normally a comprimise as with all things, good hunting. No doubt Iam going to get shot down in flames very soon for these comments, never mind I can take it.

Neil your 15mtr of chain is off setting your light anchor, a 7.5 kg anchor would give you a better set in deeper locations.

Billy for a 8mtr boat I would definitely have gone 10kg, i have a 10kg on my 6.95mtr. They will exchange if you change your mind. It will probably be ok in shallow inshore depths but not for 100ft off shore anchoring.

PBSBAC should write a booklet on the pros and cons of anchoring, this our most discussed subject, every year it comes up. Especially when you have just lost your trusty anchor. Perhaps we could have a refer to page on the site for FAQ and answers, it would make great reading as well as constructive information for our new members. Having had both types of anchors, I prefer the delta type on the ground I anchor on mostly. The key to most stuck anchor retrievals is to make sure you connect your chain to the base of the anchor and cable tie or trip the chain to come loose under strain to the shank eyelet. If you do not trip your anchor you chances of recovery will be reduced. Also when anchoring over rocky ground, lift your anchor at the slack tide, have a drift for twenty minutes the re anchor your mark, this reduces the chance of the chain becoming entangled a round the rocks which is the worst way to get stuck in.

I small Turbot for me, had a blonde ray 11.8lb which got us all excited for a while, till the tail appeared out of the depths.

Happy birthday Charlie.

Mal, Nige and Chris Sunday

The weather for the 9 & 10 th this coming weekend could do with improving a fair bit for our Flatfish comp. Got everything crossed.

Have you check an in line Fuel valve under the deck.

Happy Birthday Jerry.

I agree with that Charlie, Sunday is looking iffy.

All from stepping on my boat to have a look around, things have turned out well for you and I am pleased.

Nice to see people genuinely excited, with lives being so full on nowadays it is good to get some good weather and planed trips going ahead, it all seems a little surreal. Mr V Excited also. Now with my safety head on let us all help each other with navigation, fuelling up, mooring and general good seamanship that I know all the skippers and crew have. See you at the meeting tonight, I think I am lurgy free now otherwise I would stay away. OH yes I forgot to mention the pink pinney will be having it's first outing of the year

I thought I had done this already, idiot Mal. My excuse is it was at the top of new activity for some reason.

Happy birthday Mr Raffle winner, can the rest of us have a chance sometime please. Have a good one, plenty of CAKE. YOU LIKE CAKE.

Slightly over eagar start to get out this morning, took one look at the breakers at the end of the channel and went back into the Harbour for an hour. Even after the wait there was only 2 foot 6 inches outside the last channel markers, had to quickly lift the engine more and coast over the realy shallow bit. No fun at all, on the way in the breakers were quiet lively and still only 3 foot 6 inches at the end channel and no end markers have been positioned. Went down to Milford to try for a plaice or two, no luck with the plaice but I did manage 4 nice thorneys in 40mins, tons of baby dogs and a pout. Moved back to Christchurch and had 3 small eyed rays in 20 minutes and then the dogs moved in. Back home for for 3.30pm and a wash down, first trip without any hiccups always a good start to the season.

Happy Birthday Jim.

Saturdays weather is looking promising at the moment.

Happy Birthday Tony

Happy birthday Dave.