TomBettle

On the off chance... If anyone fancies one extra day in Alderney (a free day, but you need to cover accomodation), I may be looking for two, maybe three crew to join me in a Motorboats Monthly review of the awesome Pursuit Powerboats (you may have seen the smaller of the two reviewed in BFM recently). Whilst we are in Alderney, they are at the Jersey Boat Show and plan to travel back on the Tuesday. I may be joining them on the run back to review the two boats and take part in a spot of wrecking on the way. They are stunning US style sportsfishers, gorgeous and powerful. The review will be "cruising" based, but they are angling boats so we will fish from them and spend the day as we would normally on the run back. It's all up in the air at the moment, but as likely to happen as any other plan is within the marine industry! PM me if you may fancy "jumping ship" from your planned ride home. It would mean a day of rest (or whatever) in Alderney on the Monday as we'll have no boat to play on. Tom

Unfortunately not BB. Unless we can persuade him that the frozen north has nothing on his families sofa in Swanage, I think he'll be heading home afterwards. But a few quid, recorded delivery and you really do have the best reel doctor around. Lovely chap (if you can understand a word he says) and very very helpful.

On your own NOOOOOoooooooooo Given fair weather, a good forecast, experienced crew and a flotilla... Why not!

Adam As you may have guessed, I also posted the same over on WSF and within about a minute and a half I had two requests, both from what I think are very reliable sources (one is a friend on there and the other is PBSBAC's good friend, Norman Berry). As far as I am concerned, they would both be welcome so long as they decide which of them will sleep on the floor! Cheers guys, may have only been on here for minutes, but it looks like I am sorted. Tom

Guys I've just been let down by my usual fishing mate on a week away. Does anyone fancy joining me? I have booked to visit Fuerteventura on 25th February to 4th March, flying with Thompson from Gatwick and staying, self catering at Castillo del Mar apartments in Caleta de Fuste. Flights are about

Ewen Hill, the chap coming to next months meeting is ex Penn, but setting himself up as multi brand. Hopefully you'll all get on well with him at the club meeting and start steering a bit of business his way as anyone starting off in today's climate could do with all the support they can get.

Heads Up Lads Please be aware that there is a spate of thefts going on at the moment. The police are pretty sure they know who is doing it, where the gear is being sold off through and even what boats the thieves are using. So far, they have not been caught in the act, but please report ANY suspicious activity to the Police on 01202 222222 or if it is a crime in progress, obviously call 999. The little shites are taking aux outboards, easy to nick electronics, onboard tools etc. They are arriving and leaving by boat and the kit they are helping themselves to is moved on almost instantly so please can we all be vigilant. Tom

I have to say, Joint Venture looked great yesterday. I got to see her from several directions at different speeds. Chris (co-owner) also commented on what a good job you guys had done whilst alongside. By far the most common alarm I have come across on any of the D series engines has resulted in the coolant levels being a tiny bit too low. We are talking 1mm or 2mm beneath the line. If it goes beneath the sensor, it alarms up. Frustratingly reassuring if you know what I mean.

Yesterday I would have wished to have been able to do that with an inboard diesel!!!

Well done Mike Hoping there may be one or two around tomorrow... Yes Quest II will actually be out, and in Winter! Tom PS: Can anyone confirm if it is the "boat" as a whole that is in the year round species comp or is it just club members catches on that boat?

Hi Zippy Any of the tiny hokkais work fine. Use a 2oz to 3oz lead, lower to the bottom and slowly (smoothly and steadily) jig them so that you touch bottom each tme you lower the rod. Use your sounder to locate the shoal and expect to get hit just at the back end of the shoal. You'll get a stack of checker Bass too. General rule is fish the edge (the drop off) of the ship channel. I've found the Aunt Betty buoy very good, but all through there will be productive if we have frosty weather. They tend to bite best at the very start of the ebb tide. It will usually fish well for about 20 minutes and that'll be more or less it. Tom

I'll hope to be running over at least once this year. Missed last year. I would hope to get two days on the banks as I'll only be going really for flatties so may stay an extra day. Aim for a small tide in early May (or later May for some early time on the Cod banks). Tom

Good stuff Martin. Finally what sounds like some progress! The Sydenham gents are top guys! Both brothers ar very helpful.

Does that seem like really cr@p fishing to anyone else???? A 1 in 7 chance of landing a fish and then they aren't very big? Sorry to sound negative, but considering it's brass monkies out there you'd hope for better odds? Bah Humbug and Happy New Year

Hi Dan Contact Martin Founds who owns Anglers World Holidays on 01246221717 he has all manner of trips on his books, including Carp, Cat AND Norway. Martin is the main man behind the trips seen in Sea Angler mag etc and is also the guy that Dave Lewis guides for and Chris Tarrant, John Wilson etc book their trips with. In fact, Chris and John are close personal friends with him and would be unlikely to use anyone else. If Norway is your bag then Northern Norway is the place for BIG fish, even if there are fractionally (only just) less than the South. Skjervoy Fish Camp up beyond Tromsoe is probably one of the best known bases and it's where you'll find Troms Explorer, the boat I delivered last Summer. Troms Explorer can be chartered as an individual for less money than you may think if booked as part of a package including flights and accomodation. You slip into part of a group of others and be guided directly by either Holger Buricke (co-owner of the boat) or Kanut Arne Mickelson who is the other skipper regularly seen in the various TV programmes about the area. You can also get self drive "Tinny's" and Arvors depending on what you really want. Self Drive is great for a break, but guided / skippered will get you amazing fish in the boat. If you call Martin, drop in my name and say I mentioned him. I am due to go at least once next year as sort of payment for my help with Troms Explorer. Any more browny points may help me get out there several times. Good luck Tom

Very very good!

....don't know what you mean! At least I refrained from the full on "Silver Back" impression! How was yours? Tom

Charlie If you still have space I would love to join you on Tuesday please! I have a pass and not sure what to do with it... Tom

Bill It's perfect and an absolute bargain. Thanks mate. Tight lines and have a great Christmas Tom

With luck Alan may be along any second to tell you about theirs. Hopefully Adam or Bob can give you an insight into the one they have just built too.

Her Maj is going to be there with the champagne bottle. Girls Aloud are doing a special gig in the car park and the QE2 has been diverted from Dubai to set of some water canons. Tom PS: Poole Fireworks are going off at the Quay in the evening and the Red Arrows are doing a fly by at midday too...

Hi Tim Much appreciated, but I appear to be well sorted thanks to Ferret! Tom

Fransy Welcome to Poole Bay! The guys will be along very shortly to give you their input. We have two sets of members with an Aquafish. Some guys use theirs from Christchurch and have an awesome time, but theirs is a little older with a different engine. You are one weekend too early for a real review from the owners of the other as it is only beig launched for her maiden run on Sunday! (check out the Xmas comes early post). Adam and Bob appear to have done a wonderful fit out of their boat, building it more or less from scratch. I have little doubt she'll be an awesome boat. Fast and sea worthy! The Hardy is something of a different beast. A closer comparison for the Hardy will be something like an Osprey 24. Both are excellent boats and both will do what you ask, but being that bit bigger and that much heavier (and a lot more pricey) the Hardy will have something of an edge in a seaway. Tom

NIce one Bill!

If you can get your arris out of bed on Sunday morning Dan, you can come and enjoy the launch! I think the boys may now be launching off "our" slip and may be there about 9am.... Can't wait to see her in the water as I know how much the guys have worked on her.