Paul D

I would prefer cancelled to a better day if needs be.

Very good

Welcome Rory. I am sure you have made the correct choice in joining the club. I have forwarded your details to the membership secretary and this time might even beat Martin to set your forum details to "Club Member". Welcome aboard.

Me too - Belated wishes.

Many thanks. I am actually off work today with a nasty cold So off work is good but not able to do anything like fishing is bad.

Craig, If you were fishing where you had your eel you won't catch any Blonde Rays there.

Craig, That big ray that Jackie is holding looks like a Small Eyed ray to me and a very good sized one as well. Anyone else agree ? 11lb 5oz Small Eyed Ray IMHO ( and I would report the catch as over 100% specimen ( although someones Eel is a bit bigger ! )

Welcome Ben, Martin doesn't hang around when it comes to registering people on the forum. The only way I can beat him to it is when he is on holiday or do you mean Paul J.

Same here. Look up U Bolts and that is what you are after. Dan, You can take a look at my trailer any time you like,

Very nice indeed.

Welcome Alan, Good to have another member from the Christchurch side. Look forward to meeting you.

First 10 places were as follows. 1 R Miller Red Gurnard 1lb 8oz 120.00% 2 C White COnger 40lb 15oz 102.34% 3 M jersey Bull Huss 9lb 13.5 98.44% 4 R Trickett Undulate ray 13lb 1.5 93.53% 5 P Dore Bull Huss 8lb 13oz 88.13% 6 D Whitfield Brill 4lb 5oz 86.25% 7 R vane Undulate 12lb 85.71% 8 T Mitchell Undulate 11lb 12.5 84.15% 9 K trim Undulate 11lb 8oz 82.14% 10 C Witheford Ballan Wrasse 4lb 0.5oz 80.63% I "know" Craig was lucky. but seriously you make your own luck and I must confess he was not the only one pleased to hear the lack of eels from Alfresco ( Sorry Charlie ! ).

I would just like to thank Martin and Neil for arranging the Open Comp. I know how much hard work goes into this and would like to express my appreciation Also thanks to Dean for putting us on the fish and to Martin for suggesting we could fish on AWOL. ( Conditions would have been rough for Neo I think ).

?? - Haven't heard this ?

Mike, I have the spreadsheet which will be used to score the fish and it matches that which was posted by Alun J. ( Havent checked against thoise handed oyr So feel free to catch the Cuckoo Wrasse In fact I think I can see how it happened on the one handed out as well. Last 2 fish on my list are Cuckoo Wrasse and Corkwing Wrasse. Both are missing and happen to be outside the "print" area. So missing are :- Wrasse Corkwing 0 8 Wrasse Cuckoo 1 4

Certainly looks a nice boat Brian. I am sure you will have great fun.

Glad to hear you got some fishing in the Middle East and getting to see all these different parts of the world. Have you "done" Muscat yet ?

Went for an early launch to avoid all the traffic ( which was bound to happen given the air show ). Slipway was empty - cluds were dark ( torrential rain just as we left ). Launched without incident and noted how the tide was HUGE. Reaching the run the tide was still flooding and had reached the concrete part of Mudeford Quay. Headed for the "mackeral spot", passing Marine Boy on the way and then spent some 1 to 2 hours drifting for a grand total of 3 mackeral. Decided that we ought to join the flotilla of boats watching the air show, so anchored up alongside Al Fresco ( and, unlike many others ! out of reach of the big steam ship ) Fished through the air show, first getting full strings of mackeral ( why did we not go over earlier ?? ) and then Starry Smoothhound, Tub Gurnard, Scad and bream. ( OK for species comp ). Vulcan and EuroFighter were awesome. At end of air show headed back and reaching Hengistbury Head noted that the beach was almost reaching the end of the groyne - Well low water. Passed the groyne close by ( deep water here ) and then headed for the run. Attempted to get up the run but no chance as water was around 1 ft deep in the middle. Decided to drift for bass for an hour while the tide flooded and then headed through the run and slowly/carefully up the harbour. Reaching Wick Slipwaya and the water was just over the edge of the dropoff. Got the car and trailer and whilst waiting to get to my boat watched the people alongside me retrieve by putting the trailer over the lip of the slipway and then driving forward at speed with the boat on to "jump" the trailer over the edge of the lip. This worked but the trailer now had one wheel at right angles to the other ( the axle just bent around 90 degrees ) - a new one to add to my "Wick Slipway Incidents" collection. We retrieved without incident, although was not easy with water so low. Chatting to guys with another boat and they had a somewhat damaged prop ( and skeg ). Turns out the Beerpan rocks had claimed another victim ( I bet there were a few casualties there today ). So Beware : Wick - deep dropoff ( it is better on the left hand side facing the slipway ). Beerpan Rocks - keep close to groyne to avoid these.

You will want a 3dB Marine VHF Antenna. ( Will be around 1.1 metres long ) You can get 6dB antenna ( these are 2.4 metres long ) but on a small fishing boat a 3dB is fine ( and can actually be preferable ). Something like one of these :- Glomex 1.2m Aerial

Spot on. It is no use now it has had its length changed. You will need to replace it.#

Slight amendment. 1.) Trev (Wedger) 2) Paul ( Neo ) 3) Paul R ( Neo ) 4) Neal (Court Jester) 5) John Young (Court Jester) 6) Oli (Sweet Chariot) 7) Nick (Sweet Chariot) 8) Tim (Sweet Chariot) 9) Alun J. 10) Bob F. .....either JV or Gastronaught

The Comp is open to all. I can't state exact rules ( I am sure Martin or Neal will be able to ) but it is basically along the lines of catching the biggest specimen you can ( ie. Catch the biggest fish ). 2 anglers or more to a boat ( ie. Cannot fish alone ). No Tope / Sharks.

Marine Protected Areas. Want to provide information / assist in planning these then read on :- Cutting edge web technology gives sea users a voice Finding Sanctuary today launches an online tool, the Interactive Map, so that people with an interest in the sea can get involved in planning Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) across the South West. This project is using cutting-edge web technology to ensure people across the region can get involved and have their say. Everyone with an active interest in the sea, such as fishermen, sea anglers, wildlife watchers, divers, leisure boaters and watersports enthusiasts, are invited to use Finding Sanctuary

Just realised the guy obviously hasn't thought of reversing down the slipway to launch ?!? Perhaps he was trying to get the boat deep enough to float off the trailer ?

1.) Trev (Wedger) 2) Paul ( Neo ) 3) Helen ( Neo )