Mal Thomas

When or how do I progress from a pout catcher, who do I have beg. After a year of enjoying myself could I have possibly climbed the rankings, is martin the key? could I have possibly climbed to the dizzy heights of dogfish.

I managed to smile in this one...!

Played golf thursday got paid for it and won a set of golf clubs in the tombola, very happy. Planned a days fishing with niggle and got a PB cod 19lb and a conger about 20lb with a few good whiting thrown in for good measure. Thanks nige for a memorable day, out never drunk so much tea. CHEERS MATE.

There was a pod of porposes in the car park sunday perhaps they were to blame for the lack of bites and the odd hook ups.

Flat calm was a nice introduction when crossing the bridge for my first time in Sweet Pea, anchoring was an experience in the flood more rope was the cry from niggle as we drifted pass. Should have gone up front and lowered manually it would have been better. Eventually we came to a standstill and got some baits down. Excellent weather thank goodness because the bites were not plentiful. No cod just some pout and doggies, however more skippering confidence, my top eye came off my kenzaki that sidelined my favoured rod for the day. lots of red weed didnt cover my baits thanks to extra swivel, the cod get to stay off my plate a bit longer, thankfully I had one a couple weeks ago.

Happy birtday crossy only the best have this birthday.

Thanks everyone for your good wishes, I didnt get the weather I ordered, somehow I got manflu instead Never mind. A 10lb cod was a nice present on a charter monday.

It's what a guy in our marina called them! They are groups of limpets (?) joined together to look like a claw. We had loads of them nibbling our bottom bait and clingin on whenever we reeled in. A pest to be honest unless you break them open and use them as bait.

Set out as early as the tides would allow this morning and headed for The Ledge. Fishing was slow to start with just a few mackerel and the standard dogfish. Took out a new rod and christened it with a nice blonde ray, followed by several more. My other rod was also working well with several blonde rays, a thornback, and a school bass. As we were getting ready to relocate towards the bay to watch the airshow, I picked up the rod to reel it in and felt a faint tug. After the briefest of waits, it took and I reeled in our first plaice - at 3lb 6oz. From The Ledge we moved to the bay to anchor up and watch the airshow. (Never knew a chinook was so agile). Not much in the way of fish, but we did snag a cuttlefish, several devil's claws and some shad, before having to head back.

No...it's my special 'Superdry' fishing jumper from Edinburgh Wool Mill

Set out Saturday with dark and grey skies. Not what we expected. Set the anchor and got the rods down and started a brew. The tide was drifting the weights back well away from the boat. The rod bent over and I knew I was into something weighty. My 6lb class rod was coping nicely (see photo). 10 minutes later, we had our first double-figure fish on the boat. The thornback averaged 14lb 11oz on our new digital scales and was returned safe and sound for another day. As complete boating novices, it has only taken us 7 months to achieve this and we are delighted. See attached photo of fish.

We're fine thanks..we're under the shed and out of the water. We've only got pigeon poo to worry about:-) Still...we've got a clean bottom now...

Talk about a pain in the arse....

Two spaces available on Last Laugh from Lymington, on a bass and bream trip, this Friday 11th May.

In answer to your question Martin, in my haste to return it live....I forgot to weigh it! Doh! 3lb-ish, I would say. This club has indoctrinated me to return fish live. Consequently, we went hungry! We're gonna try again tomorrow and I'll try to remember to use my new digital scales.

Glad I took a day off work today.... We had a good day on the Ledge. Numerous doggies, small Bass, pollack, personal best black bream (see photo) and nice sized whiting.

Great news Nige, obviously we didn't put them off too much!

Laura has jsut downloaded the photos from her phone and found this one of Mike (codnbass) fishing on Sweet Pea lasy Sunday. Hope you like it!

hope you enjoyed your day out boys and for your company and guidance. thanks also for the three species to get us started! we hope you have warmed up now. best wishes Mal (and Laura)

They must have been on Sweet Pea again as well, as we went down there last night and saw footprints on the deck. They didnt get anything though as had large padlock and chain on door.. Good to know some have been caught. The Bar Stewards. Mal

I now know how you feel Nige. Sweet Pea was one of the boats broken into last night at RIBS and our little plotter was taken.They couldn't get the big one out of its fixing, but I am waiting for them to come back. My wife has security marked it, as with all our other bits on the boat, but I dont suppose we'll see it again. Have been down tonight to fit a padlock, for what good it will do.Just felt I had to do something. Mal

Hi....I am looking to join the club and came to the meeting last week. However, I want to know the difference between standard and family membership. I have emailed several times but the emails jsut keep coming back as undeliverable, so I hope that this gets to the right person! Many thanks Mal Thomas