TomBettle

Would love to review your 250 or AN Other in the club! I know them inside out, BUT, current pictures and an interview with an owner after living with one for some time is always worth a lot. Again, Neal, lets sort something out. Maybe we can tie something up when we work with Graham too? Thanks for the positive responses chaps Tom

Let's do it Graham. I am under the impression that the Polish problem comes more from the cuddy versions, but lets have a good look together and talk about the findings in print. I have no advertisers to please and no real axe to grind so lets go and have a play with the boat, get some good photos and see what we can come up with. Be great if we can do your review and "A N Other" at the same time and then we can use one as the camera boat and swap over part way through... Anyone else up for it?

Mike With the ball on the other foot and as an owner of a boat that does go to Alderney. 1) I go there for a different fishing experience not because it is better 2) I go there because it is lovely and happens to be on the same date as a competition, not because it is on the same date as a competition 3) My favourite fishing is mid channel which is why I own a boat for that purpose I know I don;t fish many comps, but I would be even more put off if I was restricted on fishing where I enjoyed. At the end of the day I only fish because it is fun. Our club constitution is pretty clear as if what our comp rules are. If I owned a Yak or SIB I would be happy fishing the comp targetting alternative species. A 6lb Mullet will kick @rse and there are plenty in the harbour right now. Turbot average a much larger size on the Shambles than the Schole. A 40lb Tope is as common in Poole Bay than out of Braye A 3lb Bream is no more of a dream out of Christchurch than out of Cherbourg I did win the 48 hour a couple of years ago with a Conger caught mid channel, but that was an unusually good days fishing with wreck Conger in our stretch of water not being perceptibly any bigger than the reef conger that come out to play at night on the ledge. Many 50lb eels come off the ledge, none of us are catching many bigger than 50lb on the wrecks. All you have a different styles of fishing. In terms of sheer size a 14lb Pollack looks big compared with a 3lb Bream, but it is no better a fish in competition terms.

Guys Dave Barham, editor of Boat Fishing Monthly has asked if I can start putting together a series of Real boat tests. Not the old style reviews that pander to the advertisers, but genuine reviews, warts and all. Naturally the reviews will be positive and offer credit where it is due, but will offer genuine criticism if a failing is apparent. The idea isn't to slag off a boat, simply to talk about the compromises we find on pretty much any boat and if there is anything an owner or manufacturer could do about it. The reviews are to be genuine and not simply a spin around the harbour. They may involve an hour or two fishing plus some real driving and handling so that a proper description can be given. So... Who fancies seeing their own boat featured in a magazine? Who can take constructive criticism. knows that every one of our boats is a compromise and are also able to point out the fabulous things about their boat? Who can put up with me aboard for a couple of hours? - Yes, I'll even need to drive. I don't need brand new boats, I simply ask that the boat is either still in production or very readily available on the used market. Boats of all sizes are welcome. Fancy taking part and seeing your pride and joy in the mag, please PM me or call me. Dave wishes to start with Arvors, but getting the reviews done first is my priority so Arvor, Jeanneau, Raider, Warrior, Whatever.... Thanks for considering it Tom

Definitely not mundane at all Graham. The guys that go, go because they have the capability to do so for what is a beautiful change of venue. The fishing is good, but it isn't necessarily spectacular and you do have to work hard for each one most of the time. It's about much more than the fishing alone though and that is why i personally love to go.

Bang on. I go to Alderney 'cos I love the location and the fishing is "different" from our side of the channel. Not because I am going to bag up on 100% specimens as I know that is unlikely. There is a chance that a Tope of 60lb will be caught and could win. But in all the time all of us have been fishing for Tope in Alderney none of us have done it. Likewise with Turbot or Bass, but the BIG specimens are very few and far between. It just so happens that the 48 hour comp is booked over this set of tides, the same ones chosen for some of us to head to the islands again. It certainly isn't planned that way. If I was determined to win I would choose Bream or Conger as my target species. I am fishing the comp simply because I am fishing that weekend anyway, no other reason. Big and fast can produce a winner, but that is more likely down to good skippering and angling skills than simply being big and fast. The same good skipepring and angling skills can be just as likely to land a leviathon for it's species a mile or so offshore.

Niggle, how shallow! The boat name is actually a famous one in the world of angling. ... I am not sure if I ever told you that I hold the world record for the most Blue Marlin caught on lures in one day? 15 Marlin. Well the world record holder for the most caught on bait in one day (20) is a boat, called The Happy Hooker. She is still in operation today and her record is from the late 90s I believe.

Just met Bob in our chandlery. Bob is the owner of an Arvor 21 "Happy Hooker" kept here at Parkstone and through chatting I have found he's just joined the club after a long spell fishing out of Brixham. Welcome back to Poole and welcome to Poole Bay Small Boat Angling Club Tom

1) Adam F - JV 2) Alun J - JV 3) Paul F - JV 4) Tom B - Mrs Sea 5) Greg C - Mrs Sea 6) Terry B - Mrs Sea?

Looks like there will be plenty over the other side for the 48hr comp. Maybe in several differnent places, but it all puts a little spice in the mix. Assuming we have the blistering hot weather and still winds that we usually have , I believe our plans are to do a typical Alderney run, leaving Poole early on Thursday, Banks on Thursday pm, Friday and Saturday with a run home over the wrecks on Sunday. Possibly some fun inshore stuff thrown in for good measure at favourable states of tide.

Matt If you choose to stick with Alderney rather than head that far East then we are hoping to be there for those dates.

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7578547/i-...h-a-blue-marlin

Johnny Experience is the only way forward as relying on someone else to tell you it is safe or comfortable is a little unfair to them. Fetch is pretty straight forward. Go to any lake on a breezy day and you'll see small waves throwing froth on the downwind bank. A few hundred yards away on the lee bank it will be still and calm and probably a very pleasant place for a picnic. Fetch will have the same effect in the Channel. A Southerly blow will put large breakers on the beaches, but a northerly gale will still see it calm at the shoreline (unless you are French).

I do, but this is a team effort and my team want to target flatties. I am along as galley slave, cabin boy, anchor monkey and occasional fisher and so I will work with the majority view aboard our fabulous vessel. Not sure how far east you plan to go, but two hours is a lot more than we will be going on our way home. I was thinking more along the lines of a wreck with the name of a country in it, another that talks of channel islands beaches and then heading off to the eastern end of a certain set of mid channel banks...

The last two posts were in and written as I was reading through the others thinking to myself... "The sea states are a guide to large ships and commercial fishing vessels, not small private angling boats". What you and I consider moderate would often barely class as slight to a merchant vessel. What you and I consider rough would probably be just kissing moderate on the usual scale. My advice would be to take wind speed very seriously, but not to take a small boat out in anything more than a truly slight sea. The boat may well take it, but you certainly won't enjoy it.

Hi Guys I may be speaking out of turn as I am just crew on Gregs boat, but I don't think that Cherbourg has any appeal for "Team Mrs Sea". Everyone knows that I love my wrecking, but Team Mrs Sea is first and foremost interested in the flatties and then possibly a little bit of medium sized toothy things with lumps of rusty metal last. Our plan is to head to Alderney on 9th June and return home on 12th June fishing those Eastern wrecks and mid channel banks on the way back. I don't think the team are interested in anymore wrecks than those we find on Sunday. We'd love to buddy up with anyone planning the same as us and may even stumble across the Cherbourg teams on the way home. Tom

Nige Give him a break, it's hrd to keep a trim figure once you have had kids!

Well done chaps, gutted we weren't there, but pleased you all had a good time and got back safely.

I have put in a holiday request for Thursday 9th June to Sunday 12th June! I hope you are free then Greg!

Greg Look at the dates for the 48 hour comp. Good tides for the crossing and fishing. Officially I am working that weekend, but if I can get the time off I would love to remain as anchor monkey. You made the right call yesterday. When boating is concerned, always go with your instincts and not your heart. Tom

Gutted! Greg made it past Beachy Head and then had to turn round ad simply too rough. For us, this time was not to be.

Guess most of you have this sorted for Alderney, but I am picking up 2 cases in a moment

Charlie Going back to the mooring "solo" late at night is not something I was planning on doing unless we are too late to get Greg on the water taxi back. However, if I can simply come alongside Alfresco for night one (fenders nice and high) and there was the lure of a bacon sandwich for breakfast then I could be persuaded to hang around the wall after dropping Greg to head to his B&B... I'll give you a bell around 07.00 tomorrow for a final weather report and then again on arrival Braye to see what state you are in!

Looks like we are on!!! 3s to 4s are doable. A bit lumpy, but ok. Unless something drastic changes our plan is as follows: 1) Terry heads over with the crew of AWOL tomorrow morning 2) Greg heads up from Eastbourne tomorrow afternoon 3) I join Greg at Sparks Marina, Hayling Island, and then have a late evening crossing into dark, arriving Bray sometime around 22.00 or a little after. Friday and Saturday on the banks and a gentle trip back on Sunday arriving late afternoon. For those sleeping aboard... sorry if we wake you with our arrival tomorrow evening!

Very gusty out here at Anderson