TomBettle

...Best I hurry up with a few more inane ramblings then Martin!

Despite not chatching a single one this season, I have been a "Cod Hauler" right through the Winter and really want to get moving in 2006 as a "Shark Chaser". How many more inane posts must I make, ramblings must I write and arguements must I cause before I am promoted to a full on "Shark Chaser". Tom Notes: No fish have or will be harmed in the search for this elite status as the likelihood of me catching them is extremely slim. If in the almost impossible event of me catching something it will either be released, slightly dazed, but otherwise none the worse for wear, promptly eaten by Abbie and me (if a tasty species) or possibly given to the nice old people in my flats who will then proceed to make the whole building smell even more like sheltered accommodation for the elderly.

Are you serious? Those bast**ds had all of us at Salterns Marina lined up on the wall pulling moonies thinking it was for research! Now I feel like an utter fool for believing them! Tom

Hi Nick Sounds like a good day! I saw the net come out once or twice on your first day (during my copious, almost constant fag breaks), didn't seem like you were doing so well on day 2? All the best Tom

Thanks guys I have pm'd Pete and hoping he is going to be able to give a positive response, however the offer of anglers is greatly appreciated. I shall let you know if it comes to fruition, please bare in mind these guys are novices and one is a brand new boat owner who wants to learn how to fish (please call or pm if you need me to explain what I mean!). Thanks chaps and I shall be in touch. Tom

Hi Phil No problem with space for two. Quest II will fish three in luxury, four OK and five at a real squeeze. I have to say I am not completely sure when I will be out next it is a combination of weather, work and tieing up with time off etc. It was pants last time I went, but the mid channel fish shuold be well and truly in by now. This is another part of wrecking, it can be a long day for hardly anything or day that flys by with loads of good fish. You just never know what is going to happen! I shall let you know when I have a better idea of time off. Tom

That is better! Thank you Mike.

Hi Phil You are welcome out on Quest II IMHO Neap tides are the only sensible option for deep water anchoring (on a wreck or rough ground). On a neap you can still fish sensibly light with no more than 2lb of lead. Anything else and it is a killer just getting your tackle back to the surface. In addition we drift a lot of wrecks for Pollock, Cod, Ling, Bass etc depending on time of year. Drifting has it's own set of challenges and both techniques require a little bit of mastering and I am the first to admit that you learn a bit more everytime you go out. If you join a crew on Quest II each crew man pays an equal share to the cost of fuel and bait. Tea and coffee are usually made onboard (so long as we remember the milk). I am hoping to get back out in the next couple of weeks and, depending on tide, we can either target a few snakes (fairly quiet compared with Autumn, but there will be a few down there) or head way into the distance for some Pollock to see if they have finally materialised in any numbers yet. Tackle: Conger, Typically a 30lb class or 20lb if you are brave (or foolish like me), balanced to the right reel loaded with braid. A selection of leads from 10oz to 2lb, weight carriers, heavy (200lbish) mono trace line and chubba hubba 8/0 hooks (I use Cox & Rawle Meat Hooks). A stack of mackeral for bait. Pollock, 12lb / 20lb rod (again use a 6lb class if you are a donkey like me), balanced reel and 12lb / 16lb braid. Selection of leads up to 10oz, long booms (either sliding or wire), amnesia or fluro carbon trace line of around 20lbish and 6/0 or 4/0 wire hooks depending on which lure or bait. Bait will either be a selection of Jelly worms, Shads, Storm Lures etc or Live Sandeels, Joey Mackerel etc if we can get them at the appropriate time of year. Tom

Not sure I agree with what Mike said here. Yes you do get additional windage from a Pilot House, but certainly not "enormous". The point of the particular pilot house in question is that it is just too top heavy which effects it's stability. I do however agree with Adam and Mike that at 16 feet the tried and tested open cuddy fishers are far more practical and safer sea boats. Everyone has a preferred style and IMHO if i was buying a 16footer I would certainly take Warrior, Orkney & Raider into very serious consideration. Again and personally IMHO if my budget stretched a tincy bit further I would look at Pilot Houses in the 17 to 20 foot mark which are still easily towed and launched, but provide a lot of additional protection from the weather. With rarely more than 3 onboard fishing, for me this style is perfect and with stacks of stowage too. Mike was right on the "You pays your money" bit though and you do get what you pay for so look carefully at everything on offer. Tom

Hi Alun March 13th has to be the day as he is paying for Cruise Control to give him instruction too. However, we may have a new club member from this and a very nice boat that will require crew beyond this first day. Reaching the Shambles will be no different from reaching an offshore wreck and the Targa is a QUICK boat that will go through almost anything. On the Targa I would say a journey time of an hour will get you to most marks and an hour an a half you would be mid channel proper. Tom

Guys I am busy and am sorry to say I cannot go, but I have just had a call from the sea school "Cruise Control" and they have a customer who wants to learn to fish. The Boat: Targa 31 (Stunning 4 x 4 of the sea) For those that don't know, this boat is the dogs danglies. Current Crew: The owner (Marshal Someone - tbc) Instructor (Steve Tyler of Cruise Control) In theory, no issues, but neither of them have ever held a rod, have no gear and the owner wants to try some fishing. Crew Required: One, maybe two anglers with proven wrecking experience and enough appropriate tackle between them to "share" (remember a net) with the owner and instructor" You will be required to show them / help them set up, explain technique and tactics. You will also need to have a "passage plan" (posh word for a plan of what to do and where to go) with a series of wrecks to try. You won't necessarily need to actually do it, but you will need to explain and help them find the chosen wrecks (The appropriate electronics are onboard) and then set up the drifts etc etc. Costs: Nothing to you apart from emparting your knowledge and sharing your gear with the possible loss of a few leads and jelly's etc. The date: March 13th is a Monday and we will be a few days off Springs. At a guess I would say the obvious bet on a boat like this will be offshore wrecking for Pollock, however there may be some early Plaice on the Shambles, but this could get complicated with the need to drag a "reversed" anchor etc. (The owner simply wants to be taken fishing). The boat is lying at Salterns Marina This enquiry is provisional and is based on a call I have just had, however please let me know if you meet the criteria and fancy a trip "working" on a top boat for the day. Tom

Phil you have a PM Tom

Phil / Martin I know Tiger Lily s full for Alderney, but there is still one place on Quest II. The fishing may not be quite the same as on Tiger Lily, however we will all hopefully "mark our cards". Cost with me will be the accomodation (

Errr let me think... General fishing at this time of year... ...Unless you can get out about 30 miles I would suggest on yer sofa at home with Discovery Home and Leisure watching Matt Hayes catch the same carp fr the 200th time. Sorry to be pessimistic! Tom

Great website!

Don't set your video's just yet. Due to distinctly sporadic sport out from Weymouth this month I have postponed the trip with Sky Sports until the Spring. I am tempted to try and get them to join me / PBSBAC for the Bream comp in May, but I will be more than likely needing one of the clubs top guys with me for some marks as I don't have a clue off Poole! (anywhere for that matter) Tom

I Emailed Chris Caines a week or so ago to get some pointers for a fairly important trip I have coming up and his words back were it is "Grim". He said that it was still patchy right through to Exmouth. I think the fish are there now, but not really shoaling up like they should be and not over the normal wrecks in numbers. Things may have changed since then as we are normally having top class sport with fish to 18lb by now. Give Chris Caines a ring, he should give a very honesy appraisal of what is happening. He's a top bloke and not one of those "you should have been here yesterday" guys. I have his number if you want or get it from www.deepsea.co.uk. His boat is Tiger Lily, but I guess you knew that! Tom

Signed Liked Kam's bit about sizes and capital. It all made perfect sense and someone needs to put it like that to those carrying out the slaughter.

The last two days has seen Nik Nak planted firmly 200mtrs wnw of Salterns. Apparently the net has been seen a few times getting wet, but what have they caught? Rmours abound of 10 flounder caught yesterday, but only they know the truth. It must be productive, two days in exactly the same spot. Maybe they will let us know.

....Ahhhh Alderney. What a wonderful place, but, yes you do have to be careful of the natives.

Charlie I am just one person on here who has his own opinion and there are many people with very valid reasons for recommending their own suggestions on here. At the lower / mid end I am a huge fan of Navman - And before anyone says it I don't get a bung from them. We fit Navman on 99% of our Merry Fisher and Cap Camarat models we sell and they are reliable, easy and well backed up. Incidentally I also use it on my own Cap Camarat 625 and have the 5500 and 4100 units on there. At the higher end (and the gap between them is closing) I am a great fan of Raymarine and exclusively have that on my Merry Fisher 695 as it is very high definition and pretty powerful stuff (eg: My DSM 300 fish finder will cause a Navman one to shut out if within about 50 metres and on high power). The adverse effect of this is that you either turn the power down (I forget) or the fish finder off (easier) if drifting an area for "spooky" fish. As with all the latest releases of technology, expect a few software glitches and annoyances until they get it spot on. You should find any hic-cups are rectified quickly and painlessly under warranty by the supplying dealer. Tom

Charlie IMHO Navman will be spot on for your boat and from what you have described you want to do. You must have a VHF (and you will need a license for you and the boat). A handheld will suffice if staying very local, but a fixed VHF will be better (both would be better still). The Navman range are practical, simple and easy to use. When choosing a VHF, don't for the one that looks the snazziest, go for the one that has the easiest buttons to use and the easiest screen to read. A Navman 7100 or 7200 should be great. Also go for a reasonably long aerial. The aerial length itself isn't the thing that gives better reception, more the height it is mounted above sea level. From my limited understanding, VHF waves work on simple line of sight so the higher it is the clearer it will be. If you are planning on doing anything in the harbour then you will really benefit from some form of depth guage and a simple black and white fish finder will do this plus give you the benefit of a graphical display of the bottomn showing you contours, reefs, banks etc. If you really wnat to go to the next step and start pin pointing marks for fishing or as an aid to navigation then a GPS chartplotter comes into its own. For around

Fantastic stuff Charlie & the boys. You must all be made up. She looks an absolute beaut and I bet will be 100% top notch on the water. Personally, liking a bit of comfort I reckon that superstructure looks perfect, you must still have a full 12 feet of open cockpit length there as well as a nice cosey warm interior. Well done mate and have great fun kitting her out. All the best Tom PS: .... those blocks and chocks look remarkably like the sort you may find "borrowed" from a local boat yard...

Have to agree with Shytalk here, that is unless your warrior has hydraulic steering?