Paul D

Ah but it actually says lb 15oz ( as in no lb ) I'll edit it to remove the lb symbols though. Nice to know that the other bits of the site are being looked at.

Charlie, Feel free. In the meantime some more..... Theft of Yamaha 5 Outboard Engine www.stolenboats.org.uk/view.php3?q=954 Please click on the link above to view further information. Outboard Serial No. 302314 Theft Date: 15-May-2006 Theft Location: Keyhaven

Tom, No problem - the second and third spots were held by mine and my friend's Tope pictures, so just as guilty myself ( although 11% of the bandwidth was used by the one picture ! )

Was sent these today :- Outboard Serial No. 68V-1033708 Theft Date: 14-May-2006 Theft Location: Calshott, Hants Description: Stolen with RIB EYE 6m RIB & trailer ************************************* Outboard Serial No. to follow Theft Date: 15-May-2006 Theft Location: Broadwaters mooring Wick Lane Tuckton Description: Johnson 5 hp four stroke auxiliary outboard engine the cavitation plates have been sawn off the engine leg by the loser ************************************** Outboard Serial No. 0P401632 Theft Date: 14-May-2006 Theft Location: Bure Hommage Gardens Mudeford Christchurch Description: black leg silver hood value

Checked our bandwidth usage and was a little shocked. ( we have used 60% of our monthly allowance already ), so found the cause which was the large piccie of Mark B with his Alderney haul. I have shrunk the picture down and introduced a posting size limit of 512K ( which is ample for a decent photo ). If we get nearer out monthly limit then will need to put further restrictions but should be OK for now. PS; Thanks Rich for making me check it !

Looking at the current weather forecast, I don't think you will have a problem Rich - it currently looks truly appalling

Charlie, I will still be looking for crew for the Weds ( launch from Eastney ) if interested ( and if weather willing ).

Also there are some new tips on Utopia on this site ( plus a link to my recent catch ). Boat Angling

Rich, 23rd and 24th are Tuesday and Weds .

Mark, Were you the boat I was anchored directly in front of. Dropping ground bait form the bow of the boat ? ( I thought I saw Adam speak to you guys ? ) We were directly alongside Illusion ( although I only realised when I heard Tom's voice ! )

Helen's birthday on the 23rd and friend of ours coming down on the 24th. If it is an early start on the 24th ( ie. Back in time to see my friend ) then could be well up for the trip.

Dan, What is your boat name ( Currently the plan is to head west but weather might cause an easterly track to be made - in which case will give you a shout ) ? PS: MUDEFORD ( Alun J will have you doing a 1000 lines of Mudeford ... ) is as Kam says around 10:00 but is only a small tide, so should be no problem. PPS: Current long term forecast on windguru looks a bit grim, lets hope it changes by Sunday.

Did Daniel take his pocket GPS ?

Nice one Martin and Fred, sounded like the fishing was a little better than on the ledge. Great sized fish. we were fishing alongside Illusion and I think they had a slow day as well. Hopefully Dan is not going to be disappointed with the fishing next week !

Glad you caught Les, we noticed how many boats had disappeared before the fishing started, perseverence being the key. Must get some better rolls for the GM free, , corn fed, free range bacon next time ( but it was very good stuff - thanks to Christchurch Food Festival ! ). I actually caught my best bream on my 20-50lb Solid-C rod and it put a great bend in it. These rods really are amazing - you get a good fight with a bream one day and can then land a large tope the next.

Called James to see how he was doing. Very well thanks but need a photo and as it turns out an "on land" weighing. So off to Wick with camera and voila ! Here is the bream and I will leave James to report the weight ( I know what it is ...)

Allan, Excellant description of the carrier bag method of groundbaiting - I was just discussing this with Gordon ( the manic one ) before reading this. Off to get some bran now ;-)

Welcome aboard Rob and can I fully recommend joining the club to you. It will help to improve your catches dramatically ( well it did mine ! ). Seriously, it is the best way to pick up tips and learn how to make your boating safer etc. etc.

Only a small ship heading for us !

Steve also had a similar sized fish which I couldn't reach the tail and besides I am not sure I would have been able to lift in ( It looked as big of not bigger than the one I had ). I then lost a tope by the boat as we were in somewhat of a hurry due to a huge tanker steaming at us ( this was not going to stop and Valkyrie fishing nearby also had to move out its way ). Weather was roughing up a bit by now ( I was so into the fishing I didnt even notice ) so we moved back inshore. Great day, great fishing and we must have a trailaway over that way ASAP !

Sneaked a trip out this afternoon on my work colleague's boat Westray. Out of Emsworth and met by a flat calm harbour and headed out to Steve's "hot spot" somewhere near Utopia. Anchored down and rods out. 1/2 hour later smoothie is on. I forgot how well they fight, boated the fish and returned a nicely marked starry smoothhound. It then went quiet, so decided to feather up some mackeral ( good decision as it turned out ). Got 3 strings full and whilst going for more another smoothhound bite. Decided to switch baits on one of the rods and try for a tope. So wire trace clipped on ( thanks to Steve ) and mackeral turned into a flapper, reel on freespool + ratchet and in the rod rest. Called PJ back to let him know we were into fish and whilst on phone rod starts having line taken off. Let the fish take some line and then I hit it. Nothing - too early. Dropped mackeral back and 5 mins later had another run. This time I let the fish run for what seemed an age and then hit the fish. This time the fish was on ( first decent fish on my Solid C rod ) - it took off like an express train and then the line went slack, so reeled in as fast as I could and eventually felt the fish again ( Amazing the speed they swim towards you at ). Fish then went around all 3 other rods which were still out, cutting the line on two of them ( lucky me ! ). After what seemed an eternity this huge shape appeared and Steve grabbed the tail. Tope landed. No scales but estimated at 30 lb.

Probably, however, I find it more hairy going out on an ebbing tide as the current rips through the run as the harbour empties out and it is harder to control the boat as it is pushed out at 4 knots. ( That said and done, it is "do-able" just the risk of prop damage is higher ) Above of course is only my personal opinion and others may differ.

Obviously confusing me with someone else !

I would wait until around 8-30 at least before attempting the run - the depth ( by my dubious calcs ) will be around the same as when I managed to get in the other day. I suspect though, that your fun will start en-route to the run in the harbour , but at least that is a little softer than the hard gravel on the sandbar.

Of to catch smoothhounds tomorrow. Report to follow......