Paul D

Crew space still available on Friday. Will be probably a mid morning start and return in the late afternoon ( fish either side of LW at 16:00 ). Anyone interested ? - If not I will "go solo" and take some good pictures of my catch

Duncan, We shall see about that - but I think you might be correct though regards Paul ( temporary holder of Alfresco Largest Conger record ) Fred, Cracking days fishing and a superb Eel.

Happy Birthday Adam and Fred

I am looking to get away from work on Friday and take Neo out. Will be looking for crew if I can get away. Any takers ?

I meant "Lets hope the weather when we go is better than it was on the 12th March this year ( when this video was taken ). Not very clear I must admit !

Lets hope the weather is better than on the 12th March

Welcome Dale. Hope you find plenty of use here.

I typed slower than you

Craig, Approx 2 to 3 hours from Poole if I recall. It is well worth going. First year I went we fished all the wrong spots and had no success. Second year, much better and we had plenty of action with Thornback's and Bull Huss, plus the odd strap conger. There is / will be plenty of advice on how to fish the channel ( If I can work out how to do it then anyone can ! ). Basically uptiding or casting as far away from the boat as you can seemed to do the trick. Launching is from the beach but nothing to worry about as the Burnham crowd have a tractor to launch us. On return last year the tide was quite well up adn I managed to retrieve off the side of the slipway. Adam will have more exact times ( and probably a more accurate idea of how long it took to trail up there ) but probably something like 6-30 AM / 7-00 AM at Tesco ? Neo will be attending.

That is about the going rate for a new Indespension trailer I think. An equivalent Bramber trailer SRG.175 is quoted as

I would be happy to crew if anyone is looking for someone. Not so keen on trailing all the way to Weymouth for one day in the peak of the holiday season, but more than happy to let someone nearer trail there

Anyone for a trailaway to Portsmouth again

Congratulations Dom.

Congratulations and I am sure the hard work will be well worth it. Wonder where that will be then ?

Sounds like you both had a reasonable time out and good to see the Bream appearing. All I need to do now is get some time off work when the weather improves.

I second Alun J's comments. The 520 is easy to tow and lighter than a Warrior 165. It is very economical being so light and also gets good economy at displacement speeds. Well built and I am well pleased with my 520. I would not recommend one without side rails though due to the low freeboard. Upsides :- Light, economical and only needs small powered engine ( up to 35 HP specified but many fit 40HP ) Easy to tow / launch ( not so easy to self centre on a trailer though ) Good at displacement speeds Forgiving handling characteristics Forward hatch makes reaching the bow a doddle ( although I side anchor ). Self draining deck ( whilst underway ) - but see downsides Double skinned ( was handy when I had a leak ! ) Downsides :- Does not self centre onto a trailer as readily as a warrior Slams more at speed ( but fine in calm conditions ) Lower freeboard Seats are not as good as a warrior Cuddy is not a strong as a warrior ( but then you might not want a cuddy - see Alun J's boat ) Self draining deck only drains when underway when stationary needs bung put back in. Rolls more than a warrior when moving from one side of boat to other Also be careful that the trailer the Orkney is sitting on has plenty of support along the keel, otherwise damage will be done to the hull. If you would like a trip out you are more than welcome.

Note this seller is not to be trusted. ( Has been discussed much on WSF forum ). Just in case anyone is tempted to buy :- BEWARE I would not deal with this person. He appears to be fraudulent.

Adam, First Bream caught last year was on the 15th March on Janski II and indeed one was caught on the 24th March from errr ummm - OOTB

Was thinking about Burnham and based on who trailed last year and who still has boats, I could have a lonely trip ! 20th April should be do-able for me, so pencil me in.

I was thinking more of looking for early bass / bream, but need to get the boat checked out first.

Stuart, When I first got Neo I ventured as far as the run at Christchurch and decided I wasn't going any further out there ! Second time we followed James and Adam on their old boat Tara and made it all the way to Hengistbury Head After that the trips have got longer and longer and now cover the whole bay. Also, the fish caught have improved year on year as lessons are learnt and put into practice. Look forward to seeing you out there ( I am usually fishing over the Christchurch side of the bay ).

Annette Brooke asked the following question of Jonathan Shaw :- Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole, Liberal Democrat) | Hansard source To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in the introduction of measures to restrict inshore netting in order to improve stocks for recreational anglers. Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) | Hansard source Last year I announced a review of inshore netting restrictions and bass nursery areas, for the benefit of both inshore recreational angling and commercial fishing. I am also currently consulting on a draft recreational sea angling strategy which considers a package of measures for the development of recreational sea fishing. Once this consultation closes on 31 March 2008, DEFRA officials will meet stakeholders to agree how to take forward the review of inshore netting and bass nursery areas. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) has been commissioned to conduct various studies to help progress these reviews.

Was amazed at the reply to the recent Gill Net Petition on the PM website . 13 March 2008 We received a petition asking: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Ban the use of gill nets within uk territorial waters and push for a europe wide ban." Details of Petition: "Gill nets can be placed in an area to fish indistriminately until the owner retrieves them. In bad weather this could be a week or more which means the fish is useless, also if lost they keep catching and killing fish needlessly. Most inshore illegal fishing is aided by the use of gill nets and so may help prevent this practise." Read the Government's response The Government appreciates the concerns of the signatories to this petition, but gill nets are in fact a very selective method of fishing, governed by strict rules on target species and providing they are appropriately managed, should limit the scope for discards and indiscriminate fishing. Where there are concerns about their misuse however, local authority Sea Fisheries Committees who have responsibility for fisheries management out to 6 miles from the coasts of England and Wales, can introduce appropriate restrictions through byelaws. The petitioners should therefore approach their respective SFCs to take any necessary action. So Southern Sea Fisheries can deal with them I guess ?

I presume you shan't be choosing Monkfish for your main course at the Dinner Dance then Paul ?

Maybe controversial but I am not convinced of the need for a Leisure battery on the small boats we use. ( Boats with fridges / TVs etc. excluded ) Leisure Batteries are fine for the slow discharge needed for items such as TV's, Fridges ? etc. and technically , yes they are strictly better. However, most of our boats have a radio and a miniscule ( as regards to current drain ) anchor light + nav lights. A car battery will drive these no problem - yes the battery will not be as efficient and a leisure battery will last longer and will accept being discharged deeper at lower currents, but they cost so much more. I use 2 car batteries and in 3 years had one battery which refused to hold charge, so replaced it with another one. No problems apart from this and that includes sitting at anchor half the night with one battery driving a cabin light + radio.