TomBettle

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

A bronze prop that hasn't had protection from an anode will fall apart in a year or so. Te same test with a hammer, a light tap should make a "tuneful" sound, but if you get a dull thud, you need a new prop.

PS: Just zoomed in on the picture! It looks horribly like you caught me having a pee! Tom

"Banging Herring" I was doing nothing of the sort! ...I may have caught a few, but I did nothing indecent to them.... ...promise Where was the pic taken from? All I can guess is that it was from a ferry or the dredger because I haven't got in the way of anything else as high as that... Well, you can all see where I caught them from, the little boat next to me is very easily recognisable on her moorings. Tom

OooooooH Watch those shards of fibreglass! If I was you i would stick to the vacuum cleaner...

I was out with my partner in crime (Martin McIntyre, soon to be a new member) from Southern Motorboats on Quest II. We had the pleasure of seeing Bliss II out from Poole. What a cracking boat she is! After a brief discussion with the boys on Bliss II, we headed to the ledge for the very start of the ebb. Doggie, doggie, pout, doggie. A couple of moves gained us a couple of mediocre whiting, so as Bliss II headed back west we punched tide over to the Needles and achored a couple of hndred metres from Wight Rebel at about 13:30. Doggie, doggie, doggie, pout. It wasn't our day, but what a beautiful day it was. I think the guys on Bliss II faired a little better as they had had a steady stream of Whiting by the time we parted company and we watched Wight Rebel T-bar a couple of medium Conger at the boat along with one whiting sized codling. I got the impression from the chatter on the radio that had it been a conger competition it would have been successful, but the cod were fairly few and far between. In hindsight I think we should have headed further south, but as bait was beginning to run low we stayed put around 1.5 miles south of the needles. Oh well, I have gained a few marks today, by "pinging" the charter boats with my radar and setting waypoints over their positions Well done on the Cod Adam! Tom

Hi Guys Yep, tiny hokai lures, 3 oz lead and very gently work them along the bottom. On the fish finder, great clouds were showing up within a few feet of the bottom (although I only ever hooked one at a time). I was drifting the last of the flood in the main harbour channel from bouy 44 down and then on the start of the ebb from bouy 48 up. Most of the herring were typical medium mackeral size, but I had one big one which I didn't even think about until I got home and then checked the NFSA record was 1lb 1oz. I gutted the fish on the boat earlier, but out of interest I weighed the big one on the kitchen scales and it was a tiny bit short of 15oz. Blimey! Could have been a record... It tasted nice for tea anyway! Tom

Well Billy no mates here was out again today all on his lonesome. Much more fun today drifting through the channel with a shrimp rig on getting stacks of Herring and gazillions of tiny Bass. Everything went back except half a dozen Herring which is breakfast for the next couple of days. Anchored at Baiter for a while, not a sausage. Same again apart from tiny weeny Bass taking worm on the float. Tom

I've just read the article in sea angler, one of my mates in Alderney said that the sea angler guys were over to do a boat test and it turned crappy. What weekend was that? Hi Toerag I was out there between 17th and 20th August. Reasonable fishing, but made tough in as much as we spent the whole time as camera boat whenever either of the other two boats caught fish. The fishing feature bit will be next month (so I am told) Tom

Thanks Rich I think I need fishing lessons! I think I know what I was doing wrong, but I need to get out with one of the experts for some guidance as it is soooooo frustrating. Tom

Got the boat round from Weymouth today and it was lovely out there. Fairly mild and little sea except for around any of the races which were kicking up nicely in the spring tides. With Rich's contacts I felt confident of hitting some double figure Bass on Storm lures in Portland Race around a mark we call "Lights in One". Incidentally this is a very good Conger and Bull Huss mark. Seconds into my first drift, bang, stuck in the bottom and on the light gear and five knots of tide, no chance. The same happened a further four times before I managed one tiddler about 2lb whch promptly went back. Oh well, an enjoyable run round to Poole and hopefully a few days practise around here over the next week or so. Tom

If you read next months Sea Angler you'll also see what we caught. This month was just the boat test. Quite pleased with it too! Autographs signed at the next meeting and please keep the Paparazzi away. Tom PS: Sam you are more than welcome, as is any other club member. By the way yesterday's trip went I could do with all the guidance I can get! PS: You are right, she is a fantastic boat. I own her with a few friends which makes it really affordable. Gotta get in a quick pitch: Discounts available for any club member on any boat in the range. People say that the Merry Fishers aren't real fishing boats and everyone says I need a cockpit the size of a football pitch... I used to say the same and owned an ex pot mans mitchell. The Jeanneau beats it hands down in all aspects and still offers plenty of space complete with comfort not even seen on some of he best charter boats. Personally I want a boat that gives me plenty of space for myself and the people I fish with (usually no more than 4), but I am too lazy and like my creature comforts so I don't like basic cuddy boats and want a decent finish above other pilot houses/ Mine is down at Saltern's until early December along with various other stock boats so if anyone wants to have a look round then please just come and take a peak. Likewise, not in the relevant section, but if anyone wants a trip out during this or next week then just ask. I just want your knowledge in return along with a smidge towards bait and diesel. Sales pitch over. Tom

If anyone can get hold of Rich would they mind asking if he still wants to come along as I am bringing my boat round tomorrow and fancy a spot of bassing on the way. I cannot get hold of him, but have PM'd him and tried his mobile which is off. Thanks for your help Tom

Martin Boat came as standard with lewmar winch which is great for al chain in shallow water. It takes up too much room in the rope locker and means only 100 metres of warp fitted, coupled with the fact that it is very slow and now has a minor fault meaning it chews the warp back into the winch unless you physically pull it down into the locker from the winch. Ever since we got the boat we have planned to remove the current system and replace with a redesigned bow roller and "side roller" system to bouy the anchor as we always used to on our old Mitchell. Haven't actually got round to this yet and although manually hard work, once the anchor is off the bottom it isn't really too tough a job just to haul it up. There is no way you could just pull it off the bottom, so you do have to drive up on the anchor very slowly with the anchor man taking in the slack with a turn on the cleat in the rope locker. Once vertically up and down the anchor "pops" out ofthe bottom and it is just a case of hauling. We haven't yet set a trip in the anchor, but may have that done over the next few days. Tom

Brilliant! Made me giggle al te way back to bed.

Hi Sam Assuming the weather is OK, I would be very pleased to have you onboard and to head out congering on 26th. I am thinking of ditching the windlass on the boat as it is not ideal for deep water anchoring so your muscles will come in very handy to help haul the anchor. Just a thought, but if your dad wanted to join us it may be a good practise session for the comp the following day. I'll need to check the tides, but we may be able to get one or two drifts with jellies before putting the hook down too? Check and see if the 26th works and let me know as I would really enjoy a day on the snakes. Over at Weymouth we have some cracking inshore marks where an average day would see eels topping 50lb with every chance of a 60lb+ fish (the best is mid 80's from a reef about a mile off the Bill) but I would love a crack at some slippery critters over here... As with anyone else who fancies a trip out, just let me know by giving me a ring or PM me. All the best Tom

I'll Have 5 please Martin Thanks Tom

Hi Gordon Sounds good to me! I have a bit of a problem with my windlass at the moment so cannot go much over 100 foot, but if there is a good wreck in that sort of depth then absolutely! However, anything goes so please call or PM to sort something out! Tom

Hi Bob You would be more than welcome. Stay in touch about it and let's see what the weather does. It would have to be very nasty not to go out in the harbour as I have a nice warm wheelhouse, but I will be guided by you and any other crew who fancy a bash. Tom

Well two weeks off and I want to go fishing. The boat (subject to weather) will be round in Saltern's from Monday 14th and I am free to go anyday except through the weekend as I have my daughter. So if anyone (up to three others on anyday) fancies going anytime from the 15th to 17th and from 21st to 26th then please PM me or call 07780687795. Up for anything, just want to get out on the boat so in the harbour through to wrecking and will even be happy with an evening session. All comers are welcome, just a contribution to diesel and your share of the bait. It would help if you know the area (as I don't), but flounder, bass, cod, conger, whatever tickles your fancy. Tom

I have a couple of weeks off and finges crossed will have my boat round from Weymouth so will be looking to get out too. Any tips on marks would be greatly appreciated and anyone who wants to come out would be welcome. Anything from the harbour to the rips is fine with me... Tom

Duncan I think this is a debate that could go on forever? We are all passionate about our boating and our fishing and those looking to get a new boat will be swayed more by their closest friends advise than by debate. If anything a debate is more likely just to confuse. I would love to be able to cruise at the speed you do, but only if I could retain the SD characteristics that I have at the moment and at my budget that just ain't going to happen. Likewise, I guess you would like the SD characteristics if you didn't have to forego speed? We all love our boats (complete with their niggles and idiosyncracies(spelling?)) and it is from the enjoyment we get from them that we get so positive that we are right about the comments we give. I have to say, I have read your posts on another forum (ybw) and always appreciated your remarks and you do clearly know more than most about your chosen subject!... ....don't know why I am being so nice! I seem to remember someone told me about a small local fishing club who is very active. Because of you I am almost living on this forum! So... after saying each to their own and how all styles have pros and cons I have one final comment.... ..... SHAFTS SHAFTS SHAFTS!