TomBettle

If you are going Cod then I use 60lb to 80lb trace. Pennell rig with a 6/0 on the top and 8/0 (eg: Meat Hook) on the bottom. Load it up with 4 to 6 whole calamari. Expect a lot of tide so you may have to fish with more lead than you would normally hope and so where I would hope to use 12lb class you may need 20lb class (or even 30lb) just to cope with the lead. Don't be afraid to put a small bait down for Whiting: 6lb to 12lb rod with 30lb trace. 1/0 chemically sharpened hooks on a pennel (or use a paternoster / baited feathers). If using the pennel I have found that a black lug slipped on the bottom hook and threaded up to the top hook with a very small bit of mackeral on each hook works wonders. Marks: The needles is full of rough ground, gulleys, small wrecks etc. In variably there will be other boats there often not fishing a specific mark, but over a general "patch". Simply join them being careful not to anchor to close for everyone's comfort.

Hi Charlie Please don't think I am having a dig at anyone. The competition was a great success and all of you who oranised it clearly worked very hard and made the whole event brilliant. My idea (whatever the %) is purely an idea to show how committed we are to our sport and also to make things are bit more competitive. We had a great days fishing and enjoyed the whole day from sign in (Bacon butties were great) through to presentations. If I was knew how to keep an several angry conger alive and calm through the day I would be sure to have weighed in better fish. The little blighters were not having any of it and refused to go anywhere near my live tank and continued to "climb" out of my large black fish bin so I took the view that I wouldn't personally bring one to the scales that didn't look a clear winner. I chose to go congering wrongly assuming that a 40 would be a doddle so I personally chose the wrong species to win. I think it is tremendous that the club has such a great junior section and applaud they way they join in on everything so the last thing I am suggesting is to be a killjoy, but the very fact that the competition is just one day a year, in my very humble opinion, means to me that I, personally, would only want to weigh in a fish I was proud of rather than "something" I may get a prize from. As I say, it is my opinion and I was interested to see if any others felt the same way. If not (as it appears by the way my Poll is going ) I will respect the view of others and shut up, however I will fish the way I believe is right. Fishing this way will mean that I may not win many prizes in competitions, but if and when I do win it will be with a good fish that I am genuinely proud of. Ok, me of my box now and I promise not to make any more comments in this topic or my poll.

Tom, Thanks for bring this up, it's a good point and one i was reflecting on today. I will bring this to the commitee to discuss. Input like this helps us improve year on year which is our aim Cheers Paul J Thanks Paul I don't want to be seen as an interfering busybody, and the idea wouldn't stop people keeping fish for the table during a competition, it would just make the weigh in more competitive with only the very best fish being elligible. Eg: Yesterday, me and the guys had plenty of Whiting we didn't weigh in, but we did keep a few to take for tea. My crew also wanted a Conger each as they eat them. but I did limit it to one "nominated fish" each. No harm done and no wastage. The obvious difficulty is a descrepancy in scales: On the scales on the boat Martin's conger came in at about 34lb and on the official scales 6 or 7 hours later it was about 36lb, however the Whiting I weighed in was 2lb 4oz on my scales and only 1lb 15oz on yours. I wasn't worried as as far as I was concerned the competition was fun and on the whole I think most people would be happy. The other problem is if the competition was particularly tough you may not get enough fish weighed in for the prizes available. I don't think that their is an answer to that apart from maybe rolling smaller prizes over to another competition. As I have said in my Poll, it is just an idea that even if not officially carried over I would probably instigate on my boat for all fish not normally consumed. A final thought, although probably very tough to monitor in practise would be to have assigned fishing "zones" where competitors must fish. Within each of the zones a marshal boat is available with official scales and fish are weighed and released (where appropriate) on board with the marshals decision as final. The hardest part here is transfer of the marshals at sea. It isn't actually difficult to do safely, but does take practise and it may not be feasible for H&S reasons. Tom PS: Anyone who reads this thread and or the Poll, please input your thoughts, positive or negative.

Hi Sam I understand that there would be a number of issues and a few complications with a rule like this. Firstly 75% is an arbitrary figure and not based on anything in particular apart from yesterday I T-barred a number of fish of my own that I didn't want to harm (and don't know how to keep alive) that were easily over the 75%, but certainly not 100%. Personally I agree with Duncan's comment in the "Chilly Day Post" that I am loath to bring a fish in that I or someone I know is not going to eat and so Conger may not be a prime example as not many of us eat them (I know that some of you do). I only used the example and raised the idea as I saw a number of fairly small eels and other fish not normally for the table weighed in. Maybe I am a bit too much of a greeny and should take the "each to his own" approach? Anyway, I want to stress that I thought the comp was fantastically run, great fun and by far the most enjoyable of the fairly few I have fished in the past. The idea may be a bit tough to implement or not well received by competitors, but it would certainly help further with conservation... ...it is just a thought. Tom

Following my inane ramblings and thoughts in a previous post about the open competition (which I thought went excellently) I have thought about further enhancing the conservation idea of open competitions. The idea is to cut down on bringing relatively small fish that may not normally be eaten (eg: Conger, Smoothound etc) to the scales. For example: The Wessex specimen size for Conger is 40lb. The 75% rule would mean you would not even be elligible to enter a fish of less than 30lb. This poll isn't official in anyway and just stems from me having a great Conger session yesterday with medium sized Eels, but not personally wanting to weigh in a fish that wasn't going to have a real chance of winning. If I have filled in this "Poll" correctly, you should have a number of choices as to whether or not you agree with my idea. I would be really interested if you let me know your views. Tom

I am reflecting on yesterday's comp and from what most people have said we all really enjoyed the day and will return in even greater numbers next year! My only gripe ( and I promise it isn't a serious one! ) is that we saw Eels far smaller than several we hooked being weighed in. Personally I wouldn't keep an Eel unless I believed it held a good chance of taking the competition, but my crew assured me that "Dad" makes something very tasty from them and so they were allowed one each. I really hope that the other snakes brought to the scales go to good use... I am sure they will and why I am writing this I am not sure, it was just something on my mind. The competition was excellently organised and appeared to run like clockwork. In addition, it being a specimen comp was fantastic in cutting down on the wholesale slaughter seen in comps of yesteryear. I don't know how it would be viewed by the committee and the masses, but to enhance the conservation side even further would the club consider a minimum size to weigh in? For example: My crew were Congering (not dancing round the boat, but trying to catch eels ). Brian was only allowed to keep his strap, because it was his first eel and he assured me it would be eaten), but I would have been very happy with a 75% of specimen rule. Meaning we wouldn't be eligible to weigh in an eel of less than 30lb The rule would apply across the species board and would hopefully reduce even further the killing of fish that would not normally be for the table. Is a 75% of specimen size a good rule to introduce or do you think it would just make the competition less attractive? **** I have to say that after being in this "new" club for just a month the experience has been very rewarding. Loads of great people, collectively with tonnes of experience across the board. Everyone has made me feel very welcome and shared information. Thanks. Tom

Despite many saying the fishing was poor. Martin McIntyre, his brother Brian, and myself on Quest II had a great day's fishing even if we didn't get any record breakers. Dropped the hook on a wreck some 14 miles off at a few minutes after 08:30 and by 08.40 we had the first of quite a few nice snakes at the side of the boat. Number one to me at somewhere in the mid 30lb class, next also to my rod, a wee strap around 25lb or so. Then all hell lets loose with the three of us into fish at the same time and me wondering how I was going to play my own fish whilst T-barring the other fish, drink my coffee and smoke a ciggy at the same time. Martin hooks into something very solid, but moving. Not a Conger, whatever it was is just pondering up and down tide (and then back again). After 15 minutes he has the fish half way up and up and down tide it still goes. 25 minutes in and still no sign then his 30lb braid parts and we will shall never be any the wiser. Another half an hour on our wreck and the tide is meaning we require 2lb of lead and the bites are beginning to drop. On top of that the steady force 5 wind, right on the beam is making things a tad uncomfortable and waves are sending clouds of spray into the cockpit so we head in 10 miles on to Dolphin Sands where we spend the duration hitting dozens and dozens of Whiting up to and around 2lb. In addition, the prettiest tiny Blonde Ray of about 1.5lb. Nice meeting those of you I haven't before at the presentation. And although after seeing on or two of the sizes of fish that took prizes I wish we hadn't been quite so keen with the T-Bar we did had a cracking day out. If at all possible we shall definitely fish next year's open. Thanks Guys Tom

I like that attitude! I am going to find out what it is doing in Antigua and use that forecast!

Met Office Inshore Waters Forecast for tomorrow posted for 17:00 today: North / North West 4 to 5 all day. Sea State Moderate going Slight. Scattered Showers

Now you come to metion it, we may have a little something soon that can be used for club comps etc. No guarantee, but I have been chatting with Martin McIntyre (my colleague) who may have passed it by Martin (Maverick) and we are trying to persuade the big boss to "loan" something fun for comps in 2006. Tom PS: Please don't hold me to it as we are talking of an awful ot of monies worth and it will take considerable persuasion...

Gary If any club member is looking for a new boat then I will offer (over and above any other deal we negotiate) a 5% cash discount off the actual boat price. This is available on any new boat order (unfortunately I cannot do it on brokerage / used boats). All I ask is that the club member tells me they are a member when we start talking and also let me know what if anything they are hoping to part exchange along with their estimation of it's value. So you know, I sell Jeanneau power boats and am based out of Saltern's. If you are not familiar with the brand, click on the scrolling banner in the top right of this page. Alternatively, open your copy of this month's Sea Angler on page 56 and see what Dave Lewis thinks. Our boats start at 15 feet and go up from there. All the best Tom

Very simple: Stick whole box in a lobster pot, drop pot to bottom on heavy line and wait. No guarantee's of success and a cheaper method is to use a couple of smelly pout, but often ends te session with a nice fat lobster or crab for tea.

Does the bilge pump have a "float switch". This usually looks like a little white hinged thingy that lifts up and down. If it does, the second + that only runs for a moment should run continuously if the float switch is lifted (ie: It only works when required which is when the bilge fills with water). This second feed should bipass your battery isolator switch and have a permanent live so that if the boat is on her mooring and fills with water in your absence it will automatically be pumped out.

Thanks Martin Hopefully catch some hungry fiskies on Sunday with that lot. See you then Tom

Quest II is fishing with three on. Myself, Martin (soon to be new member) and his brother.

If it is for Bass and you will be live baiting (amongst other things) then I would recommend a small Shimano Baitrunner. Very smooth reel, plenty of power when needed and the ability to let a fish swim with the bait before you set the hook.

Hi Rich As you know, you would be welcome, but I have a full crew. If someone drops out I shall certainly let you know. Currently looks lke crappy weather so mine is probably not going to be the boat to be on (I haven't a clue where to go in the harbour... mind you, I haven't outside the harbour either! ). Someone must have space for you? Anyone got room on there boat for a little one (Rich)? Tom

By the little buggers teeth we were both convinced it was a Tope and somehow managed to completely miss the spurs which in the pic are pretty obvious! It is a definite chamelion though. At first glance it was 100% a smoothound, got it onboard and we were sure it was a Tope and now seeng the pics.... ahem... Spurdog, but a pretty good one at that.

I had the pleasure of Gordon "Manic Moore" joining me on Quest II today in search of some snakes. The original idea was to fish the Aeolian Sky a short way past St Alban's Head. The kettle on Quest II was hissing away nicely as Gordon pulled up at about 07:30 this morning and we sipped steaming coffee as we headed out of Saltern's towards the mouth of the harbour. It was a tad misty so I stuck the radar as I was zig zagging my way up the channel as I realised that the red bouy over there was in fact a green and so on. MISTY! more like pea soup and it stayed with us for most of the morning, clearing in time for a delicious brunch of bacon and egg rolls and more hot coffee. As we headed towards the Aeolian Sky, Gordon suggested we checked with the CG that there was no firing and it was a good thing that we did check as they confirmed it was a no go area today so a look at the chart and a quick rethink sent us Due South approximately 8 miles beyond Durlston. They were on the plotter, in the dive book, but I am bu**ered if they were easy to see on the fish finder, but what was apparent was plenty of fish marking on the sounder above some obviously rough ground. In went the hook with (for once) the windlass working fine and down went two quadrauple squid bates into 135 feet of water and a couple of knots of tide. Within about 5 minutes my rod bounced violently signalling more than a passing interest. A classic small Conger bite starting with a few short sharp tugs, nothing for a minute or so and then a few more sharp tugs with the rod gradually getting pulled over the side. The words of Chris Caines rung in my ears, "Don't strike you ***(Expletive beginning with C)*** lift and wind, lift and wind". I lifted and wound straight into a grumpy eel that spent the next few minutes doing it's best to get back into its lair. Several minutes later the eel had gone from grumpy to downright enraged and was spinning on the surface at the side of the boat. A sharp tug and we sent her back down to tell the others what the weather was like. Not a monster, around 20lb, but a good start. The same thing within minutes and another eel on the surface. Then it was Gordon's turn with a snake. The three could have been triplets, all very tough and scrappy at around 20lb or so. The tide picked up and the bites dropped off so we made a move to another "wreck" with very similar soundings to the first. Nothing for an hour or so, but just as the tide eased Gordon's rod bounced away. "Dogfish" we both said and Gordon lifted into what turned out to be a bit better than a Doggie. A beautiful Tope of around 15lb lay on the deck and after a quick photo session he was sent back down. We were very surprised to see a Tope at the end of November, but this little chap looked just like a Smoothound, spots and all. It was only the razor sharp teeth and rough skin that gave him away. (Edited - since then we now know why we were surprised - after seeing the photo we both somehow managed to miss the lethal, dagger shaped spurs on the Tope, errrr Spurdog's fins) Next drop down Gordon was straight back into something similar, but this time it was a cracking Bullhuss of 12lb. I then had a small Bullhuss and and a few small doggies followed and as the tide dropped to nothing Gordon hauled up a bootlace Conger. Last fish of the day fell to me, another eel in the 20lb class. A cold, foggy, windy (steady 5 by the end of the day) and lumpy day, but fun (if not spectacular) fishing and very pleasant company. Thanks Gordon, you are welcome onboard anytime. Tom

Very pleasant if chilly day out today. Anchored on the table top and was straight into some good whiting whilst Phil Dawson and Tony onboard "Fishon" had the same plus some bonus Bass of average size. As the tide turned I tried some manky old mackeral that I had onboard from the guys using the boat at the weekend and a muchy strip went on. Moments later a little rattle on the top and a brief struggle saw a nice 3lb Turbot in the boat. As the tide picked up I decided a move was in order only to find, yet again, windlass problems and had to haul the anchor by hand. That knocked the trip on the head as I needed the windlass fixed for a trip with Gordon tomorrow after some snakes. I give to the guys at Golden Arrow, one call and they were waiting when I came in. Half an hour later and a cup of tea and the windlass is back in good order. Well pleased with the Turbot! Tom

Well, whilst you lot were out enjoying a day on the water I was de nitting my daughter! Bloody things were the size of lobsters, but think I got em all. My better half on the other hand was being lovely and whilst I drove my little girl home to her Mum's in Oxford, she decided to give the flat a thorough clean. When I got home everything was sparkling and se proudly told me she had listened to my advice about using vinegar on glass. I asked a little confused, what vinegar, and she showed me the empty bottle of balsamic!

Whilst I would certainly not call myself a Herring expert I have now caught a few and also spent a few waisted hours trying. They seem to feed best at the start of each flood (first or second) and are caught in varying locations from Bouy 46 to Aunt Bettie. They also seem to gather from the centre of the channel to the north side rather than over on the south side. Method. Baby Hokkai's and 3oz lead. As light a spinning rod as you can to get the fun from it. Drop to the bottom and "gently" work the feathers each time bumping bottom and raising about 4 feet (no mad thrashing of the rod required). As you see a shoal on the sounder, expect a take as soon as it dissapears of the screen. Often you will think you have lost the fish, but it will sometimes swim up. Sometimes you do drop the fish and if this happens drop straight back down and you will generally get a second crack of the whip. On a 5g to 20g spinning rod they are surprisingly good fun. Or a 6 to 7 fly rod and heavily weighted line with a small bright fly. Excellent! Tom

Just a comment... And without wishing to be a killjoy or a smartypants... ...Further up in the thread it was mentioned that chanel 6 was a chat channel. Unfortunately, and despite listening to the constant drivel last Thursday, whilst fishing at the Needles with all the boats in the cod comp around, there is actually no such thing as a "Chat Channel". Despite the above and what you may be told or listen to elsewhere a VHF is for distress and brief information exchange only and is designed for use as a "working" / saftey device not as a CB. If people wish to use the airwaves for chat then they should use CB or mobile phone not VHF. It is perfectly fine and proper to use the VHF to start / end a comp, let people know where you are or that you are moving, but it isn't supposed to be used for chatting about tomorrow's Sunday Roast, what your getting your wife for Christmas etc. That said, all the above about low power is exactly right and if you do need to ask / talk more in depth then always use low power. As I said, I don't wish to be a killjoy, but during a VHF course you should be taught what you can and can't use it for. ...Mind you, I will still have a mini conversation with a nearby boat, just switch to mobile if it gets a little more in depth. Tom

Happy to help here if you would like. We do most of our technical and practical training with Cruise Control a Poole based sea school who run all types of courses. The guys are great and would probably do a reduced fee for a group. Let me know Tom