Mal Thomas

With regards to reels you need to speak to Dave lynes, the reel wizard and a very good angler with a intimate knowledge of reels both from a spares and maintenance view point and usuage. It will probably be easier to tell you the reels to avoid and there are a few that disappoint. Finor reels have a good reputation for build quality, it is all about keeping that salt water out or the ability to drain out after a rinse off. Good luck.

Happy birthday Nige and Barney, have a great day both of you.

I personally believe the specimen weight for Blondes and undulates are out of balance when using the specimen fish calculator for Dorset and Devon, compared with what we are catching. Neil will know better than I, but I bet we had a number of 100% undulates and over. Yet a nice sized blonde ray was caught on the day in the twenty pound range which did not even make the 23lb 100% specimen weight . In my opinion that fish should have one on size and what is becoming a rarity. Just athought, I think we have had very few 23lb specimen Blondes caught this year, or years before, btw I will be happy if Iam wrong, I think specimen undulates are quite regular. May be just for our comps we should adjust the figures on our history of fish caught.

And the water based product is called...........

Does anyone know where the line actually is in the western solent, I dont have a chart to hand. Is lymington in, bramble bank?

Happy Birthday Alan, hope your having a lovely day.

What's the Axiom like, I was going to take a peak at the boat show. Are the images useful to us fishermen?

Mel, has the trim tab had any intefering effect on the transom transducers, ie turbulence when scanning the bottom with sonar.

Welcome to the club Mel, this will lead to confusion no doubt a Mel and a Mal, should be quite amusing. If you need any safety or Vhf courses, send me a message and I will put you in touch with our trainers. Tight lines.

Ray welcome, I would like to offer you some advice, but launching and recovering is not something I do. We have members who may be watching who have plenty of experience, so watch this space. As a new member and a new boat, can I ask if you have had a safety check and engine service on your new boat and whether the vessel is equipped with all the safety equipment? We can organise for all the services if you require help. This may also give members looking on some idea of your approach to boating and safety. As mentioned we can help with VHF radio courses for the license you require to operate a VHF radio. We all listen in on channel 06 if you require some help or advice or would just like to know other club members are near by. Please make sure you are planned and considered with the launching of your new vessel, this can be a tricky maneouvre a few of our members can recall with slight embarrassment. I will watch with interest. Mal Thomas Safety officer.

Happy birthday Lofty.

Good to see you have mastered the web site this is your fountain of all knowledge, the members will always offer help and good advice. Welcome.

Yes still got a new 5kg bruce pattern, £25.00

I would check Christchurch or Poole, they might be heading for Mudeford Quay. In which case it is crabbing with a bucket and crab line.

Some are marked out on the top of igloo fish boxes or similar.

The forecast for the weekend looks good, Iam away on the weekend but I do not think this is going to change, sea breezes this time of the year can make for choppy conditions, so be prepared to take some shelter if it becomes uncomfortable. Tight Lines and enjoy the day, please wear your lifejackets they are no good in the cupboard.

Neil for your info, the VHF license is mandatory, all users of a vhf radio should have one. You can then obtain an mmsi number to install in your DSC radio which in an emergency when using the red DSC button will identify your vessel to the coastgaurd. The license is also useful when travelling in the boat to other marinas as Id and as a bonafide boater.

Good idea Neil, the site contacts are worth the money, besides if you need a vhf license or want to do any courses we contribute and you get some of your membership money back. We have contacts over your way for training. Let me know.

Glad we cleared that up

Exactly what type of winch, a tow bar winch, a anchor winch, a drum winch, a vertical winch or a horizontal winch.

What have you bought.

What an excellent article by Malcolm Gilbert, simple and concise. A real shame the governing bodies can act on such straight forward thinking. If the stocks are not there you cant have a fishing industry, so Europeans including us need to allow the stocks to replenish. The monitoring system via satelite needs to be enforced asap for 12mtr and less vessels, so that some accountability can be enforced and tracked, what are these commercials actually taking. I see to many white vans on docksides taking boxes of fish and lobster away, is it counted? Is it official or black market. The fish stock belongs to you and me as much as it does the commercials.

Jerry, we would not be the characters we are if we did not make mistakes, your very much forgiven. The man who did not make a mistake, did not make anything. We all still love you, dont be hard on yourself. It will be a while before you allow it to happen again, but you will your human.

Sounds just like a trip my mate made with his new purchase, should not have gone in hind sight but could not resist. Well done on keeping safe and good piloting. Enjoy your new purchase.

Looks good, looking forward to hearing how she handles and how you fit her out. Congratulations Enjoy.