Fugazi

Alun, Due to the start timing coinciding with low water at Mudeford I'm launching at Baiter, instead of Christcurch, so will be well stocked with worms anyway. If your flounder hunt is going to take place in Christchurch Harbour you will need a lot of luck to beat the doormat sized super flounder that

Dan, Whatever free parking there was near Wick is getting less and less. I noticed this weekend that more yellow lines have appeared now preventing parking in the access road to the rowing club. More yellow and white lines have appeared in the nearby roads where there is now even less 24 hour parking. This is just more of the same that has occurred around Mudeford slip and car park and the associated increase in park and launch charges at Mudeford. There is no doubt that Christchurch council intend squeezing the pips out of us boaters in future so expect further above inflation launching and parking charges at these slips. It looks like we can all expect to pay for every launch at Christchurch in future the same as everywhere else in Hampshire and Dorset. If you want free launching and parking try Devon, it

Hoping for a repeat of Saturday

Fugazi will be out tommorow hoping for a repeat of today, mackerel still about and we managed to tease out 5 nice table size bream and one bass around 3lb plus the usual LSD's and pout. No luck with whiting, cod or herring but with the water temperature at 14.5 degrees its probably too warm. Saw Gastronaught on the way back in but don't know how Alun's session went. Gordon H

I also thought Lymington was expensive so where is this cheap launching slip located? Gordon H

Unfortunately I'll be overseas this weekend or I would be up for Weymouth, next competition for me will be the open. Absolutely gagging to get down there and try this squid fishing lark but need some decent weekend weather! Gordon H

The problem with me is forgetting to put the aerial down before trailing the boat home and reversing down the drive. The telephone cable from my bungalow to the BT pole gets it every time. Made a really strong repair to it last time but that resulted in breaking the telephone cable and a bill from BT for

Ventured out from Wick today and braved the Easterly wind for 6 hours with a few other die herds. Amazed that after missing a bite on the first drop the scrap of bait left on the hook was taken on the retrieve at the surface by a Mackerel. Encouraged by this Chris set up his Mackerel rig and proceeded to catch a bucket full. The bites continued and we had a constant small Bream action all day except for the 4 table size ones I kept. Gordon H

Rich, Thanks for the squid tips, armed with this information I'm now hoping to launch a squid hunt from Portland on Sunday weather permitting. Gordon

As I've had no tips from anyone on where and how to catch the Portland Squid, I will be launching at Wick this week end, providing the weathers OK. Gordon H

Alternative material that I used was surplus UPVC window sill section with matching 1/4 round beading for lip. No surface treatment required and after 2 seasons still looks like new, except for a few cut marks. Worth bin diving outside a double glazing factory for free materials, that's where mine came from. Gordon H

Arrived back in UK yesterday after a few weeks on the Costa Blanca where I managed to join a fishing club for a trip out after swordfish. The technique was a bit different from those we use in Poole Bay, with large Muppets being trailed behind at differing lengths out and the boat travelling at 8 - 10 knots for miles and miles and miles. There were only 3 of us fishing and the catch rate worked out at one fish per mile. Occasionally the Muppets would be breaking surface, flying from wave top to wave top but that didn

Paul, I hate to say it, but from bitter experience they may well be back to complete the job. Do absolutely everything you can to stop them, but if they do return you will have no option but to change the storage location, we had to! Gordon H

Adam, I'm sorry mate but I'll be in Spain from 20th Sept to October 6th. Gordon H

I've sent my letter supporting option 2. Gordon H

Alun, I've got one if you want it for

Spot on Fred, it should be for the fun of it, not to cover the cost of the trip by filling up the fish locker. Nice non slip decking by the way, the same swimming pool mat I tried to give away previously without success. Can't believe it all had to go down the tip and on the floor of my garage. Gordon H

A couple of weeks ago we were cleaning scallops on the way back in when my mate managed something similar with a filleting knife straight through the middle of his thumb leaving a really neat entry and exit wound. Luckily it missed anything important and healed without stitches. But Paul

As Alun said it was a bit lumpy out there, but early morning not too bad. After feathering a tank full of Mackerel we went out towards the end of the Ledge drifting for Bass. No luck, so anchored and tried dead bait for a bit and I connected with what felt like a conger, but with no wire trace a few shakes of the head and it was gone. Then as the wind increased we ran back inshore for some shelter from the offshore breeze. As we arrived near Alun J he was just bringing in a Bream so things looked promising and we anchored nearby to watch the Breameister at work. As we sat there watching him consistently pulling them out with what appeared to be almost analytical precision we could not understand why we had not had a bite. Then things improved as soon as Alun stopped fishing, he had to leave as his boat was down to the gunnels with the weight of fish and was in danger of being swamped. My father in law caught the first Bream and for the next 2 hours it was non stop action on Fugazi with Bream and some large Garfish. No luck with the elusive Trigger fish but Alun has given me a tip on where they might be, so must try next time out before they disappear. Gordon H

Alun, Now I know why you passed without noticing me as I was towing back from Wick, didnt think you would be going out again. You were obviously focussed on only one thing, get new boat, get new boat, and get new boat. Wishing you every success with her, Gordon H

Not sure about the weather because the forcasts I've seen are suggesting from NW F3 to W F6? Gordon H

Water in in my bait tank also flows clockwise and the stock stays fine all day, so I don't think it makes much difference. However, I never catch anything with them so perhaps they are too dazed to work. Gordon H

Brilliant pictures Terry, I now know what a Tub Gurnard is, something you don't want to eat. Gordon H

Paul, As soon as I saw the photo I knew exactly the mark where you caught your dinner and now I'm heart broken, no I can't believe it, you've eaten "GEORGE". I was so looking forward to catching him again. Gordon H

Dan, Congratulations, looks like you've got a Warrior lookalike for pocket money price. Now go catch that Conger! Gordon H