Mike Fox

Wonder if a cranking battery or a leisure battery? Perhaps the former? Guess running the engine keeps the voltage high for the windlass to have optimum voltage. So, the alternator would have to charge 4 batteries rather than 3 (1 starter, 2 domestics). Wonder if it would need upgrading. It might be safest on the "starter" circuit, so it's not drained running domestics, but then might reduce cranking revs (which I really need in winter). Sounds increasingly complex Mike

Have been watching this with interest. Frisky has a 16kg CQR anchor with 40m of 8mm chain plus 20m of anchorplait, weighing an additional 64kg. This is to securely anchor 6 tons of boat in almost any weather conditions, in the massive tides of north Brittany, where tides of 10 to 15m need care. I currently retrieve by hand, but a windlass would make sense. I'm thinking of one that can handle rope and chain, with either 10m battery leads or a dedicated battery. I wouldn't risk using this over inshore rock, except in an emergency, as it can't be easily tripped and trusted. I use a separate fishing anchor, a Bruce clone, with a short length of chain, and 110m of 12mm 3-plait nylon rope, which all fits in a mobile bin, with an Alderney ring setup, for fishing depths up to 100'deep, in calm conditions up to a Force 4/5. It breaks out in more, and I wouldn't sleep comfortably if it was in use overnight. From a safety point of view, I keep my main and fishing anchors separate. I also carry a 15kg Bruce as a kedge, or emergency anchor.

Damn....not as stealthy as I thought... Catch report elswhere Mike

Good luck Hooky! Frisky is off out from Poole to see if we can find something a bit different, in "stealth" angling boat mode. Mike

I'd heard that as well Rob...

Sounds like a useful start Ron! The Forum does have some members marks recorded, for which you'll need a chart plotter to get best results. They'll all produce something, at certain times of year, at the right states of tide. You just have to suss out how and when Lots about boats on the Forum, and Coddy has his own website with lots of member reviews. If your mind is not made up, it might be food for thought. There's also lots of stuff about safety, which is worth digesting. Finally, it's definitely worth attending club meetings, and chatting with as many members as possible, who might be in need of crew, giving you an opportunity to see different boats and marks, and potentially better techniques. Good luck, Mike

Well done Nigel, and snatched the right day too. Easterly 5-6 occ 7 tomorrow ? Mike

Thanks chaps, but now looking like a Sunday trip...which risks being windier

Planning to pop out tomorrow to the Sadler Banks, or end of the Dolphin Sands to look for an early whiting or two, with a possible lunking bait down for something a bit coddy. I could always pop back inshore then for a late plaice or something. Offshore will probably be too big a tide for comfortable fishing in an Easterly. Going to Christchurch Ledge is too far for me, as it will be against tide both ways. Anyone have any better suggestions based on actual experience this week? Happy to keep in touch on Channel 6 if anyone else is out. Mike

I took a call from the Microsoft Windows Team just yesterday to fix the fault they detected on my computer, and when asked if it was a scam they told me about their company, it's credentials and how proud they were working for them. I asked them how they were going to help, and I played along for quite a while. Eventually, I got bored, and asked how come they were looking at Windows when I had an Apple Mac....and the blighter hung up on me. Mike

Or maybe start off a second team Malcolm? Mike

Neal's been good to take me a few times for this comp, and one year I had a cod of 9lb 6oz. There was a minimum size of 10lb back then, so it wasn't eligible. Mike

I'd like to fish it, but day length and getting past bridges just compounds Frisky's lack of blistering speed. If anyone needs crew, please let me know. Mike

Ahhh, a Stealth angling boat.... Traditional angling boats do make a kind of sense Mike

Hope you have a great day Colin Mike

Heard the Coastguard's side of things only, and we were off Poole Patch. Guessed you were on a handheld. Glad all is ok, and great fishing both. Mike

Gorgeous September day today, so Carol and I loaded up yacht Frisky Fox for a spot of congering, in the neap tides. We left Cobb's for the 8.30 bridge lift then dropped down harbour into the first of the neap flood. Had a couple of drifts off Brownsea, waving to Tommy, as we went, but only had undersized bass and gurnard. The drift speed was a couple of knots in tide, so we cancelled ideas of congering in 100', and tried one of our Ray marks instead. Carol had a couple of doggies, then a decent fish, taking line on several slow but powerful runs. A bit of shuffling for space at the stern, and a PB of 15lb 10oz was netted. A huge fish, but lacking a tail, with a well healed scar. It would have weighed a lot more without the damage. Took a couple of pictures, and popped it back gently. Had 3 specimen undulates on Frisky this year, and this was the best. I took another undulate of 11lb 8oz, plus a smalleyed Ray of about 5lb. During the rest of the day on other marks, we had small bream, ballan, corkwing, baillons and goldsinney wrasse, pout, 5 plump plaice, 3mackerel including two jumbos down deep, and a solitary goby for 14 species on the day. Just the mackerel retained

or "No taking the P"...

Hope you have a good one Allan Mike

See here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3231370/Hooked-British-waters-75-000-notch-tuna-500lb-monster-caught-epic-four-hour-battle.html Looks spookily like an Arvor 25. Mike

Well done Tony and all. Some of us can't manage 7 knots, so nicely done, and hope you get sorted quickly. Frisky missed yesterday, and will try again today. Will try East still. Mike

Also... If America votes in Donald Trump, there'll be hell toupée...

Big yellow buoy, about half a mile offshore of the Poole Patches... Mike

Hi Stan, There are club marks listed, for members. Definitely worth putting all in your plotter, so you can check them out when in the area. In general, mackerel and squid work well as bait a few miles out, ragworm closer in. Anchoring a mark precisely increases catches compared to drifting. Keep a good mix of leads on board, and have traces or rigs pre-made, with a full range of hook sizes, remembering that fluorocarbon is least visible as a trace line. Keep changing gear, until you know what works. Mike Ps watch the charter boats for mackerel location, they were doing half day trips to the Sadler Buoy the other weekend, and keeping their punters happy.

Frisky will be out Saturday and Monday, hopefully. Probably going East, to avoid the biggish tides, and have a gentle session at Southbourne Rough, The Clan McAvey, X-Ray or the edge of the Ledge....unless anyone can suggest somewhere better! Anyone planning to go that way is welcome to keep in touch on Ch 6, and we can share good/bad news re mackerel etc.