Mike Fox

Thanks Colin! Mike

I was hoping to get some mackerel or pout in the comp, and use them as bigger baits for conger or tope....depending on where we go. I've made a bunch of 100lb traces up this evening just in case it works out. I'm just not convinced there are many mackerel out there! Mike

Thanks Stuie, you can only catch what's there after all, and maxing out while that species is present makes perfect sense. I'm starting to get the framework for a cunning plan, based around a potential 15 species from the list supplied. Any more for any more? Mike

Good idea Niggle, but alas, I doubt I can do this due to work constraints. The perils of being a bonded slave Current thoughts are to focus on the bigger species, and try to pick up a bonus smaller one on other hooks, while avoiding mini-species. I'll have to use my heavier match rod to cope with rays, smoothound, etc. Bait constraints will mean careful bait management, and smaller bait usage. Mike

Have a great day, and the odd glass of something appropriate ! Mike

All, Rules attached and score sheet - note no mini-species, and bait is provided (probably frozen mackerel and squid, plus rag). It takes place next Saturday, I'm drawn to fish on Piscary with 7 others. Also fishing will be Boney M, Random Harvest 2, and Strongbow. Total anglers will be 32 max. Ray Barron and Colin Searles from the current England squad are also competing, but not on my boat. I've never taken part in this comp before and I'd appreciate any advice! Based on last week's experience, I'll need 10 bream (worth 5x4 + 5x1 + 5 = 30 points max), 10 ballan wrasse (35 points max), 10 doggies (25 points max) and as many fish of as many other species as I can find - but I suspect I'm missing a trick, With a bit of luck pout, pollack, gurnard, plaice, or mackerel (!) could well appear, and with the extra 5 points per species, at least one of each would help. If I can squeak a bass, ray, or smoothound I would get 10 points for each (up to the first 5) but a bonus 5 points for an extra species - so one fish is worth 15 points. A single conger or tope would add 20 points. A focus on quantity as well as species variety, with emphasis on "big" fish seems to be the current Angling Trust approach for competition (as opposed to specimen percentage and dead fish at weigh-ins), and this might be something we could try as a club, to help develop the techniques needed to compete effectively at the AT Boat Championships in future years. I'll give a report after the event. Mike Wessex Region Boat Rules 2015.pdf score sheets Wessex 10 man 2015 (1).pdf

Well done both. We also tried Southbourne Rough, catching bream with a bonus plaice. We then dropped the hook on club mark x-ray, but only had doggies and bream, the bream taking whole squid on 5/0 hooks at times. When hook sizes were reduced, they were a bit easier to hook We had newish members John and Jane on board, who loved the return trip in the sea breeze, with the engine off. Mike

Steve, you have a PM. I was fishing next to a chap called Rob who had apparently been a former England international. We had similar tackle and rigs. I tried to match his workrate, tactics and techniques, and it was usually us two doing last drop, and first drop. We both wore full waterproofs most of the day for the wet trips back upwind, getting ready for the next drop. He kept his cool, didn't fluster, made the best of the day, and used various "buying a bite" techniques constantly, that I've only ever previously seen with George. Like the rest of us, he was frustrated by hours of blanks, but his persistence and professionalism probably got him the most fish of any angler on the boat. Angling at his level is not like a lottery. There is no level playing field. There's anglers that can, and anglers that want to. I had Baillon's, Cookoo, Doggy and Goldsinney that he didn't, but he got a Pollack, Garfish, and a tiny Bream, so I might have just beat him on species on the day. Other than that our species were the same - mainly Ballan and Corkwing wrasse plus Pout. Frustratingly, I didn't quite match his work rate, skill level, and his consequent quantity of fish...this time. He was the better angler, by quite a margin. I just hope I've learned enough for my next comp Mike

Well today was an experience. We fished on one of the local charter boats, getting on board about 7.30 at the fisherman's dock. My first time in there. Two of the opposition were late for departure. Maybe we should have insisted and gone without them After a wet start. we punched out to Swanage Bay, and fished a shallow rocky mark there, beloved by our kayak friends for mini-species. First drop a Baillon's Wrasse to me, and a succession of Ballans and Corkwings followed with Greg getting quite a few, with the opposition getting a Goldsinney, Garfish, and one tiny Bream too. After trying to re-anchor the mark 3 times in the stiff breeze and counter current, the skipper picked up a marker buoy on the reef, but species didn't really improve, and we couldn't find a Goldsinney despite them getting several. Honours were even, because they couldn't get a Baillon's. We then went to Evans Rock, but the skipper admitted he dropped the anchor on the ridge, and we were fishing downtide of the mark. No-one caught, so we dropped offshore to fish a 100'+ hole for cookoo wrasse. Well I had one first drop, but drifts were nearly 3 knots. Next drift the opposition had a pollack, and the next one I had a fat pout, followed by one to them. We had a few more high speed drifts then dashed across the back of Ballard to the wreck of the Leny. The first attempt at anchoring ploughed a furrow. The second attempt resulted in us halting nicely where I squeaked a doggy, followed by a few others and the opposition had one and a red gurnard and 2 smuts. The anchor stopped us in the middle of nowhere, but had found a snag, and had to be cut and buoyed. We were then restricted to drifting Patches, where Dave had goby, and I caught the elusive Goldsinney, followed by a few others, Neal had 4 more Baillon's wrasse to really annoy the other team, who retorted with a Tompot Blenny. We then went into Branksome, drifting over sand to no avail, then picked up a buoy in the harbour for the last half hour, again, with no result. Lots of messy red weed inshore and in harbour! Maybe it had something to do with the skipper keeping the engine running almost all day even in shallow water and at anchor, as his batteries were low. We had 8 species overall, but our opposition on the day had 12. They didn't get Baillon's or Cookoo wrasse. so 14 species on board. No mackerel still and no proper bream anywhere ! Mike

*winces

Neal, are the rules publicised anywhere? Mike

Thanks Steve! Mike

Thanks for all the encouragement to keep working.. Steve, the engine on Frisky is a 25 year old Volvo 2003, raw water cooled, so no system to add anything to. I can envisage flushing the system every year or two with a recycling bucket and hose, and something like that might work really well. Thanks, Mike

Thanks chaps. I know there are qualified marine engineers in the club who would find this easy, but I was way out of my comfort zone with this. I knew I had to sort it, in case I ever find myself a long way from help, and need to sort it alone one day. No-one ever told me retirement planning would give me black fingernails! Mike

Have had reduced water flow through the inboard marine diesel on Frisky, since an impellor ran dry and broke, last September. With a new impellor at medium revs, it managed a fair bit of flow, but a lot of steam, but at tickover, it seemed to produce none, just steam. Well, it got worse, and after a few days away in Yarmouth, it was clear I had to bite the bullet. I overhauled the water pump with new water and oil seals. Did it myself for the first time - I usually ask for a marine engineer for this, due to the need to press bearings out etc. That didn't fix it, so today I removed the exhaust elbow, again for the first time. The channels were a bit crusted up, so scraped them until clean, but apart from a bit of restriction on the water inlet, it seemed generally ok. I removed the water inlet pipe to the elbow, and found it quite fouled, so spent half an hour cleaning that out, but the real shock was where it was mounted to the side of the engine cooling jacket. The pipe internal diameter was about 10mm, but the engine outlet hole was 2-3mm at most, just enough for my small cross-head screwdriver. I chipped and chiselled away, with a range of screwdrivers until I could pop a 10mm drill bit down there, and gently pulled out even more debris. Reassembling with fresh seals all round, I then removed the thermostat (you've guessed it, for the first time), did the hot water test, cleaned it all, and replaced with new seals. Finally, it came time to test it. The engine refused to fire, but on the third attempt, it kicked into life, and after warming it, popped it into tickover, and there was water flow! Popped it into gear, and tried to motor the pontoon SW at 5 knots, and yayyyyy, no excessive steam. Hoping the wind drops for sea trials tomorrow. I've been dreading doing this for months, and having the day off, with too much wind to be out, meant it was the ideal opportunity. Down to the last 20 or 30 jobs to go now, and a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel Mike

Saw a Rodman on A-pontoon today, and thought "now I can see why Martin wants one as a birthday present". Have a great day. Mike

Thanks Sam

I look forward to this being agreed and published. Makes great sense from a conservation perspective. I'll make sure I have a tape measure with my PBM kit.... Thanks, Mike

There are some good points made about the bridges. The significant reduction in the number of yachts in Holes Bay now, compared to before the twin sails bridge is astonishing. It's not usually a problem leaving for a trip, unless you really want to leave at a specific time or at first light for example. I've found it easier at times to go out the evening before (against the flow/sequence which takes longer) and anchor or pick up a buoy, However, it's a good idea to have a "target" bridge in mind whenever you're out fishing, and if you get back early, or late, then you have a contingency plan. Mine is to keep a few worms on one side and try for a few plaice, or pick up a mooring buoy and clean/tidy down with a cuppa. The other thing I do is to try to tie up in the old power station "pool" if there's a lot of boats using the bridge. It gives the engine 15 mins of rest (and would probably save you a few litres), again using the time to tidy up or have a cuppa. Holding station is annoying and frustrating, probably cokes up the engine, and I get jealous of all of the Warrior 165s (and others) going under closed bridges while I have to wait. Oh, and to tell Jacob when he passes, that he's found me on my top secret Undulate mark.... Mike

Martin, it's also helpful tying up with your bows into the prevailing wind. It makes it easier berthing on a windy day if from the SW, and makes the cockpit a nicer place if you get stuck in harbour. Just a thought. Mike

Do we have anyone in the club who can repair a flat screen tv? Or are these a "bin" job? The was a small noise while we were eating dinner, like a quiet bang, and the picture's gone completely. The old trick of turning it off and on again didn't work. It's a big screen LG, about 4-5 years old, so definitely out of warranty. Mike

Good to hear it's still around. I picked up a 30-50lb rod in Alderney last year, which is paired with a TLD 15 with 50lb braid, specifically for a lazy line... Does anyone have suggestions for terminal tackle, bait and locations? Mike

Sometimes it all comes together. What a great evening. Well done all Mike

Great pictures Steve! Mike

Well done Hooky, it's a wise investment Mike