Mike Fox

Sounds like a cracking day Mal, lots better than mine! Your last ray might be a blonde or spotted - probably spotted! Worth checking for your species comp! I only know one ray mark that can produce all 3, and that's to the West of the Ledge. Well done - might change my plans for next weekend now! Mike

Frisky is planning a little trip tomorrow out to the Old Harry Spoil Grounds and beyond. Anyone else likely to be in the area to compare catches, or has everyone gone to Alderney? Mike

Will do ! Mike

For anyone going to Alderney, I have two old copies of Reeds Nautical Almanacs going free to a good home. They include hour by hour indications of tidal stream direction and strength in the Channel Islands area - but you will need an up to date copy of Dover tide tables for 2013, probably free on the net. With the Forecast wind strength, the wind against tide effects around Alderney, particularly in the Swinge and race itself can be interesting! Any takers - and should I bring them in to tonight's meeting? Mike

Wonder if we can get a full refund and a tunnel.... Mike

Geordie Brian . 1 plaice Lofty. 1 plaice 2 whiting Carol Fox 3 species: Dogfish,Brill, Whiting Mike Fox 2 species: Poor Cod, Dogfish

1) Court Jester - Neal + crew TBA 2) Wishin Too -Nigel + Mal -Sharky(non member) 3) Kingfisher - Chris + Alun + Stu (Non member) 4] Alfresco - Charlie - Dan - Will - Plus 1TBC 5) Frisky Fox - Carol/Mike plus possible space for a little one 6) AWOL Martin - Dean

It's looking like being a non-boating Saturday (Southerly 4-5 occ 6, and rain), so if you would like to take the opportunity to get your lifejackets checked over at the RNLI stand and learn how to check them yourselves, or decide to go for Advice Onboard (formerly called a sea safety check),or even have a few safety related questions, then come along and grab one of the RNLI team. Carol and I plan to be in attendance with a few others. Mike

Taking the helm works for me...and focussing on steering a safe line through the seas. Like many on here, Stugeron is needed when it gets seriously whumpity. I do like the old Arab cure for seasickness though.....go and sit under a palm tree. Mike

Hi Tomo, Is this a free trip for a club member.....a trip where expenses are to be shared (and if so how much).....or an advert for a commercial charter trip (and if so how much)? Thanks, Mike

I'll be at the next meet Nigel, if you'd like to chat it over? Mike

No point in thinking "small"...I'd vote for having one uptide and one downtide of each of the Navitus bay wind-powered turbines, so all you'd have to do is moor up to one of them and stream your lines astern.... Mike

Gutted to hear this chaps - hope your insurance covers in full and they get the culprits. Not just anglers hit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-20944392 Mike

Carol caught this as her first fish of 2013...a specimen Ballan Wrasse of 5lb 2oz. Also, a personal best and boat record. What a start to the year! Mike

Think I'd rather improve my chances of catching one by NOT entering

I'm keen to get out for a trip on Frisky before the annual antifouling season gets under way. A few whiting might be nice... If anyone would like a harbour/approaches trip in the slowest boat in the club this weekend, please drop me a note on here, or as a PM. Leaving Cobbs Quay for the 9.30 a.m. bridge, and returning for the 3.30 bridge. Sunday is looking marginally better than Saturday, but both look moderately tolerable ; ) Mike

Would you want to be out there in any vessel: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-22...-job-world.html Mike

Put the car into auction.....sold as seen Mike

Steve, All forms of boating are a controlled risk. You only go when conditions are suitable, inform others of your passage plan, routinely carry the safety gear that will help you avoid getting into trouble, enable you to contact help if needed, and to give yourself the best chance of surviving until you are rescued if you do make that call. That's good seamanship, in any vessel. If anyone in the club is unsure of what gear they should be carrying for the trips they make, particularly in winter when the margin for error is smaller, the RNLI Sea Safety Team is always willing to provide one-to-one confidential advice as part of the RNLI Advice Onboard scheme. Please contact the RNLI for further information (leaflets with Brian, the club Membership Secretary) or me directly. Mike

Well done Will! It was hard to find target species out there! Just to add to Neal's bit about "the one that got away...twice", it hit my slowly-lowered pair of 6/0s to 100lb mono with mackerel and squid bait and instantly took line. Comments of bass and pollack were dropped after long powerful runs, with the Avet SX on maximum drag. Twice it slowed and hung in tide, taking line slowly, and twice it ran back hard towards me, making me wonder if it was a massive tope. I managed to catch up with it twice, and when I did it kicked off in a different direction. The third run was the fastest and most powerful, and even with an estimated 20lb of drag it gave the impression of not feeling it at all. I guess it took 100m on the 3rd run, and this time came quickly back towards me without "hanging". This time I didn't catch up with it, and when I caught up with my tackle it had shaken the hook. The trace had a slight roughness, but not as if it had been heavily sand-papered, so no clue there. Shame I didn't get to see it. Dave's hook-up on the last retrieve was also mid-water. He only experienced the one run, taking 300m of new 50lb braid (plus some backing) in an estimated 2 minutes, but it was downtide. Even with his gear, he couldn't slow it, turn it, or stop it. Definitely the same characteristics of huge size and power. At the time, the line seemed to be "zizzing" off his reel at enormous speed, but 300m in 2 minutes is 150m/min = 9km/hour = about 6 mph. Unstoppable definitely, but not as fast as a tuna or marlin would have moved - and nothing jumped. Even if it was a 1 minute run, a 12mph speed suggests shark rather than tuna - though it crossed my mind at the time. His line parted (or was bitten) below the swivel, giving no clues. Thanks for a great day out Neal, with a PB Blonde of 18lb 6oz (returned), a bass of 3lb 6oz and whiting of 1.5lb or so, and a bonus edible crab that's now picked and ready for lunch! Mike

Looks like you've mastered the eco-friendly, low carbon-emission method of longer range kayaking! How big a difference to your range will the sail make, do you think ? Looks another great day for you Steve! Mike PS Might work for trolling plugs too!

I have a slim chance of taking Frisky out on Sunday. As the crew seem less than keen to get cold, there could well be a space spare, if anyone is interested in a short, inshore trip, please let me know via a PM. Alternatively, if anyone wants to get out further and would like crew, again, please let me know. Mike