Mike Fox

I'm keen to get out tomorrow for an inshore trip on Frisky, but have no crew. If any club members fancy a slow boat trip, please drop me a PM. Likely departure time 8.15 a.m. from Cobb's Quay, and back to Cobb's Quay about 5 p.m. I guess. Possibly one or two places available. Thanks, Mike

Hope you have a great one! Mike

Ahhh, The Beast of Poole Bay perchance? Mike

I have a stainless steel hot smoker - think it was one of the old Abu ones. Have smoked mackerel, pollack, bass and and conger, and all have turned out well. It's a stainless box about 15" x 12" x 4" with a slide on lid. I pile the sawdust at each end, so I can do two separate smokes on the same day without a major clean out. The sawdust is covered with a tightly fitting drip tray. I have a wire rack on the drip tray that takes the boneless fillets. The lid then slides on. It's got a stand that allows a meths burner to be slid in from either end, and the sawdust can be heated in two batches. The meths burner wasn't stainless, and is now tarnished, but still works. It takes a few minutes for the sawdust to catch, and fill the box with light smoke. The heat builds quickly with the lid sealed, and mackerel fillets cook in about 20 minutes with a golden smoky glaze. I then remove the rack, store the fillets, and replace with a new batch. I then pop the burner at the other end, so I get a fresh, clean smoke for the second batch. I find if you don't, the second batch is a bit acrid. I usually do one batch of plain fillets, the others with freshly crushed black pepper and seasalt sprinkled on. Some websites recommend soaking the fillets in strong brine, then letting them air dry before smoking them. I've tried it, and don't find any improvement. Hope this helps! Mike PS I have to do this in the garage with the door open. The smell of smoke gets everywhere else! Even then, you sometimes need a change of clothes and a shower to get rid of the smell! PPS It's worth it

oh, and here too: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11096974/Great-white-shark-spotted-in-Cornwall.html

Found this and smiled : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2756191/Is-Great-White-coast-Cornwall-Fisherman-films-14ft-shark-swimming-alongside-boat-sparking-claims-man-eater-reached-Britain.html Mike

I asked for an inspection tank when my plastic tank was built, and was told it was a weak point. I have a sighting glass as a vertical clear tube from the bottom of the tank, with a ball valve either end with the bottom one permanently open - to check the depth of fuel I open the top one, and the level settles and is visible. The pressure element is critical. My boat was hit with a 3m rogue wave a few years ago, while I had a full tank. The concussive shock wave ruptured the seals on the "lid" . I have little doubt that an inspection hatch you describe would have failed. I'm not suggesting you'll encounter waves of that size, but falling off a smaller wave while travelling at speed could have some dramatic consequences. Could I therefore suggest you consider a sighting glass as Plan B? Mike PS The return diesel feed of filtered fuel, and regular filter changes should help keep the internals of the tank clean.

I winced.... Glad you didn't get additional hooks stuck during the removal process! Mike

Done

Well done Charlie ; ) Mike

Not sure about alive....but last weekend saw a small area off Bournemouth Pier "boiling" with mackerel. Not seen it for years, and they vanished as soon as they arrived. Mike

Welcome to the club and your recollections of how Poole used to fish...and could again if stocks are ever restored! There's been a few documented encountered with the Poole Bay Monster...but no-one in the club has seen it, despite being hooked by experienced anglers who have had blonde ray to 25lb or so on 30lb class gear... Do you remember any occasions when massive, heavy, tackle-straining fish have actually been landed in days of old? Some suspect common skate, but I have thoughts that there could be other species too that could do it...(monkfish, stingray, eagle ray...to name but 3). Mike

Found this online: http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/eight-plucked-from-sea-off-needles-63004.aspx We were out by Bournemouth Pier in the morning, and as soon as the wind switched SW, it started to build rapidly, as per forecast. Guess this was around 1.30 p.m., and then a succession of Maydays came over the air, including this one. By the time we reached the East Looe about 2.30, the wind was starting to shriek, and many boats were heading back into shelter. See here for other activities the forecast wind seemed to trigger: http://www.poole-lifeboats.org.uk/recent_launches.shtm Mike

You have a PM Charlie

Hiding the holes like that implies they didn't want them found... Mike

Saw Private venture (Lymington?) over in Cherbourg last week with a party onboard - guess they'd have used something like that for the whole crew! Mike