TomBettle

Paul You'll have to get out with us on Quest II. Doesn't cost anything like as much as a charter, you'll catch as many fish and you don't have to travel as far.... although we normally do! Seriously though, well done on sussing it out, great fun on light gear and you would be welcome out for the day wheneve we have space. Tom

Hi Kam The fuel flow transducer needs an engine power of 90Hp and above to work effectively. Anyone who is interedted the price is very good and it is a usful peice of kit. Tom

Once space now available again! So far just Tommy Lap Dance and myself. I can provide a couple of rods if necessary, but these will be at the heavier end (20 to 50 and 30 to 80). Let me know ASAP on here or by calling on 07780687795. Either meeting at Salterns at 06:30 or at Weymouth at 07:15 Tom

Hi Trev Gotta say, never thought of you as a "Hot Mincer", but then each to their own.... If you could do two big sacks for the next meeting it would be great... Do you reckon your trout eggs liquidized would work well? I have decanted several "take away" tubs for general ground baiting, but still have one huge barrel two thirds full! Tom Ps: Do you wear a dress too?

Every now and then it is nice to do a good deed just because you know it means so much to someone. John, anyone here in the club would have been more than happy to offer the same. It was our pleasure to be of service. Tom

Trev When is the next batch of Sea Magnet coming. I'll be needing another two big bags in a couple of weeks. Next experiment (don't even have the results of the first foray yet) will be anchoring "headlands" for Porgie's. Tom

Just thought I would let you all know that John and family joined me onboard today for a gentle trip to Old Harry to scatter his Fathers ashes. Due to the stiff easterly breeze Martin came long to give me a hand with lines and fenders (thanks mate). John's dad was a long time Merchant Navy man and this was one of his last wishes. I was very pleased that Martin and myself could help and the family who, although sad, were really happy that their Father's wish had been carried out. Tom

I may have a little secret up my sleeve

Terry's answer is a fairly normal way to do it. Using a rubber mallet and a wedge should pop it into place if it is fixed into a little aluminimum or stainless "holder"....

I think defectants is the right way to spell it and I don't mean disinfectants. Just wanted to give a warm welcome to Salar and Boatyeti who are two guys who have seen me raving about PBSBAC over on the WSF forum. I noticed they have both joined so please make the newcomers welcome. Salar is a pretty experienced angler and boatman by the sounds of his posts and poor old Boatyeti is the newboy yet to catch more than a Goby. I said this was the best place to help you catch better fish on the South Coast so please give the guys all the assistance they need. Have fun with PBSBAC guys Tom

Rup's magic floats are 120mm X 60mm, but quite tapered low down and rated at 94g. The reality is that they are perfect for three ounces, the weight of a couple of swivels etc and a lively mackerel. The test sizes I have so far are a little less slender than Rup's with an 80mm X 60mm and also 100mm X 60mm. The 80 x 60 should be perfect for 2oz and the larger for 3oz, but I am still to do some bouyancy tests as I have to regain a little confidence following my melting episode. Hmmmm starting to think about buying them too!

At a guess Trev: 1oz will just about cock it / get it to stand upright 2oz will cock it proper, but then it will take very little weight to sink it.

Excellent report Al Glad to see someone can grasp this float fishing. I'll keep practising! Tom PS: Adam, Don't they hang on!

The cigar ones will take three ounces, but an 8" cigar prefers 2. Stick 3oz on and the mackerel tends to take it down to easily.

Steve you are spot on and typically you may consider anchoring if Porgies were you only target. We are actually going to be running a drift on Friday that takes us within very close proximity of a number of wrecks that hold good heads of Pollock and cod, both main food items for Porgies. In addition the drift line we will be following is along a small and very long reef edge (just a contour on the plotter). The idea will be to coax the shark into the slick which they should easily pick up from several hundred yards away so even if we don't drift bang over a shark holding wreck we should pull them to us. They may well be deep at the moment after the sustained hot weather so baits may have to be well down to pull them into feeding. We shall see. Anyway, we want to keep options open and try and attract Thresher and even the elusive Mako too. Fingers crossed for a good day, if the weather is good and we don't get a run at least it will be very relaxing! Tom PS: Mike Thrussell has a very good piece on Porgie Hunting on his WSF website at the moment. Right on the home page. Read it with intent the other day and tried to take onboard as much of what he said as possible.

I certainly talked about borrowing it, but never got round to it... Is that helpful?

Not frightened of Mike Well not about transducers anyway! He scares the sh1t out of me normally . To be honest, I could fit a transducer with my eyes closed...oh yeah that is the same as "Pin the 'ducer on a Shetland"! If I get the chance I'll pop round, I need to pop out some time today for a baseball bat, a tough bucket and some balloons , the thought of a cold squash doesn't quite do it for me, but I may come and say Hi.

Hey guys it really is no problem, more a pleasure to offer some help. I have something of a luxury of having access to a selection of boats in the right location. I am sure that any of you would have done exactly the same in my position. I would like to think that if it was me that my family were saying fairwell to other friends would do the same. Tom

Hi Guys Thanks for the offers of tackle, but I think we have the gear required (I used to do a lot of Big Game fishing) and to be honest 30lb class is really fine for Porgies on the South Coast if you have had a fish that really runs before. If a novice then up it to 50lb class, coupled with a bit of boat manouvering and the typical smaller pack fish we get in the central Channel (sub 300lb) should be beaten within half an hour. Reels need plenty of line though as the first run will be a realtively small 50 to 100 yarder, before setting the hook at the start of the next and this one has every chance of being 300 yards... hence we follow the fish at this point! We have still got to get a hook up before we make too much fuss and as anyone who has been before knows, getting a run is about the hardest part and staying attached for more than a few minutes is the next hardest. Charlie, my own scales will be fine for juveniles, but anything more than a handful for two men will not be oming anywhere near the deck of the boat. If we get any, they will all be measured and the weight formula applied to give an idea. We aren't interested in records, just a nice relaxing day on the water and to be honest, our drift may well be outside club waters looking at the tides as the ebb run will start at about 08:00, half an hour after our planned departure so we will be drifting towards and into Lyme Bay. Tom

I actually enjoyed the fumes and Kam... Very high!!!! As did most of Salterns

First trial prototypes were disastarous! Used a test piece of polystyrene to check the solvent effect from te paint I was using. No worries, worked a treat, but nobody had told me it was sealed polystyrene with some form of lacquer or PVA glue. So, full of confidence, the first prototype "eggs" are drilled as neatly as I can by hand, an area masked to suit the "cocking" centre section of the float and I get to work mounting each on a gently rotating drill whilst lightly spraying the flourescent paint in little puffs from the side..... ....went on perfectly until befoe my eyes the damn things start melting adn I get the biggest "lunch hour" high you could possibly imagine with the vapour of solvent abuse gently wafting through the Salterns Marina precinct . Next go coming up. Note to self: Either apply a lacquer to seal the polystyrene or use a non solvent based, waterproof paint. Tom

When we need to remove a stuck on prop off a shaft we heat the area of shaft around the prop and it's key way. Pops off a treat with a little extra assistance from Mr Mallet after that. Tom

Well done mate! You are doing better than me as the only two times I have been out it has been with the Float Fishing Demi Gods, Rup and Al and I have only managed one a time under their expert guidance. Great fun way of doing it, much more hands on. I for one can't wait to have another bash, bet you can't either. Tom