Mike Fox

Other nearby ports where fuel can be found: - St. Petersport - Dielette - Cherbourg Have not personally needed petrol at any of these, but am fairly sure it's available. It might be worth carrying a documention pack (passport, SSR, VAT proof, bill of sale, E111, etc) in case you do stray into French waters, or need access to their medical facilities (say Cherbourg). Mike

Astonishing amount of drive from that small sail on such a slippery hull ! Well done for getting out and staying safe! Mike

Best of luck with the sale Chris - knowing you, it will be in tip-top condition. Mike

Due to the old settee having damaged leather, we replaced our three piece suite which we bought from new. As a result we have two very comfortable still tidy burgundy-red British-made leather armchairs for sale, will accept

See here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13...et-counter.html Lots of messages here, but I'll continue to try to catch my own seafood! Mike

Would love the chance of a decent pollack...my PB is about 6lb, and have always wanted a good one! Happy to crew, as Frisky is coming out on Friday, and will be ashore till the plaice return! Mike

Strange that around here, people are reluctant to make frequent sound signals in fog. As well as being good seamanship, it is actually required under the collision regulations. When caught out last summer in thick fog off Swanage, it was our sound signals that brought a small solo angling boat to find us, and follow us into Swanage Bay, which we could find easily with plotter and radar....but he couldn't! The worst thing that day was hearing the increasing volume of the sea cat engines, and not being sure where it was as the fog bank hadn't yet reached us! It also makes sense to: - put lifejackets on (if not already); - slow down or switch off engine periodically to listen out for other vessels; - deploy all crew as lookouts; - navigate at the edge of channels (or just outside of them where possible) to avoid the risk of larger vessels; - keep speed down to a level where you can avoid collision with another boat travelling towards you (at a similar speed!)...say 4-5 knots; - if at anchor, prepare to dump the anchor quickly by buoying it, in case something is running you down; - keep Channel 16 open, and consider letting Coastguard and other nearby vessels know of your situation, course steered, speed, (full power for Coastguard, but 1W is about 1 mile max, and useful if offshore to warn other vessels nearby!); - make frequent paper records of your position and course steered, in case of electrical failure. As for going out in fog? Carol lost her Great-Grandfather and entire crew in the English Channel when their fishing vessel was run down. We avoid it! Mike

Will be out on Frisky with crew on the 10.30 Bridge lift for a few hours, planning to go for the whiting and hope for a sneaky cod! Kimmeridge is too far at my speeds, but be safe! Mike

Happy 16th George !!! Guess this means you will no longer get "junior" status !!!!

See here: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/216902...sh-quota-farce- Mike

Have a great time Neal, and a Happy Belated Birthday! Mike

See here: http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/8720...nd_bays/?ref=mr Mike

Zero cod boated, dropped, hooked or bit on Frisky, but I guess we were a fair way inshore of most boats! But we did have half a dozen nice whiting, and a few dogs. Mike

Frisky will be out with George and I, weather permitting. Looking for a whiting spot with a chance of a cod within 4-5 miles of Poole entrance, as it will be a short day for us. I have this theory that a single Loligo on a decent strong hook to heavy trace can catch whiting, and a cod should be a possible bonus. Any suggestions as to where the whiting are? If not, will not stray too far, and seek to get back early. Have more time over Christmas (use em or lose em hols) so hope to get out more later, and will probably have a place free for crew most days. Mike

1) Adam F - JV 2) Graham - Little Sal (with Sprinter as crew) 3) Martin, Dean, Terry Bartell "AWOL" 4) Paul F - Imagine 5)Nigel,Mike-Wishin 6) Tony + Peter R(Snr)- Serenity 7) Tomo + Tubby + ? - Just Purfick 8) Charlie A + Rob F - Star Turn 9 ) Jim & Steve Davies on Small Fry 10) Dave - Wight Magi 11) Paul - Neo 12) Neal,John,Dave,Mick Burder - Court Jester 13] Charlie Sam Dan +1 Alfresco 14) Mike and George on Frisky Fox (subject to weather!)

I'm keen to play on Frisky Fox (slowest boat in the fleet), but have no crew this weekend. Happy to crew for another, or offer a (cramped) space or two. Please PM me with details. Mike

Am struggling with the Forecast this weekend. Hate East in wind...especially THAT much. Mind, they might just possibly have it wrong ? Mike

I am but a simple man (as many of you will know), but.... If 1 ton = 2,240 lb, then 1,000 tons = 2,240,000 lbs so, if the average mackerel was half a pound or so.... then one haul = 5,000,000 fish, in 30 minutes. If there's a million sea anglers in Britain, then that's equivalent to 5 fish each, if we were all fishing together in the same 30 minute slot. Now, forgive me for being simple.....but that was one boat. And it fishes until it's quota is gone. As do all of the other British and European boats it seems. Then the Faroese and Icelandic boats take more, beyond quota. Then all of the factory ships off the Western Approaches take more, beyond quota. Does this explain why I can't seem to catch mackerel even in summer sometimes, and why haven't even seen a mackerel over a pound for about 10 years? If this does go some way towards accounting for it, what practical steps can the Angling Trust take to make a difference ? Mike

They get a few in the Channel Isles, white tips to the tail fins is the clue apparently. Had something like that fishing in the Canaries years ago, but didn't get a piccie. Piccie next time Neal !!! Mike

I have a 35lb CQR (about 16kg) with 40m of 8mm chain (about 64kg) and 20m of anchorplait behind it as my primary anchor, with everything shackled and moused, and nothing set to trip, as this just has to hold in an emergency. With the Brittany tides approaching 15m, and wanting 2m at low water springs, this gives me a marginal 3:1 scope. If I had all rope, I'd need more. I have confidence this will hold 6 tons of boat in a Force 8 or above in any reasonable holding (heavy weed is an issue), and have done so. It's a pig to get out again mind, so if it ever does go in hard, I have to motor to above the anchor, and make fast on a short scope on deck and then REVERSE the anchor out...like using a 1:1 scope, it shouldn't hold, and doesn't. If I ever need to abandon the anchor, the anchorplait is connected to a strong point by thick cord, that could be cut quickly in an emergency. My kedge is a 15kg Bruce to chain and rope. I also have a fisherman's for when I go for the longer trip, where I might need to anchor over weed / rock. My fishing anchor is typical of the other boats in the club. A 5kg Bruce clone, with chain to take the chafe, and 110m of 12mm rope. The anchor is rigged to trip, with moused shackles and string not cable ties (6 tons breaks even large cable ties lies cotton). This setup lives in a plastic wash bin, and moved to the anchor well when needed. The bitter end has a loop leading from the base of the basket to go over a bow cleat to guarantee I don't drop it all over the side. I use the Alderney ring system using a large fender to lift the anchor, and at 6 knots under engine, lifting it properly is marginal, with about 70-80% working properly, and some getting caught on the rope/chain shackle joint and dropping to the seabed again. I'm going to whip a taper over this joint to make this easier. Now the bad news. It's horribly undersized, and will not hold above about Force 4, or in a moderate swell, but it is easy to manhandle when needed. The plotter has often showed a series of scallop-shaped tracks, where the boat veers in wind across tide situations, then lifts the anchor...which then resets repeatedly. The anchor is particularly poor in gravel, but is good in sand, mud, and even rock, where it has to be broken out. Yes, I know I should go to bigger, but it's not my main anchor, and if it's too lumpy to hold, we generally don't enjoy the fishing much anyway. I'd say that 7.5 kg anchor to chain would be much better than 5kg for Little Sal, and would suggest keeping another ready to use as a kedge or spare if ever needed. Mike

See here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-11633974 Hope they get them all off safely, but they're out of helicopter range. Lifeboats needed and shipping will have to be diverted to assist. Very scary stuff. Over 100 on board - so imagine the fish processing going on, and the quantity of fish needed to make this viable - probably 10s of thousands of tons per trip - no wonder the mackerel are diminishing if this is the size of factory ships out in the Western Approaches. Mike

Best of luck Gordon. Fugazi is a great boat, and will make someone very happy! Mike

Hi Adam, Carol and George had spotted rays. Mike

Results from Frisky Fox: George - 3 x spotted ray, largest 3lb 0oz Carol - spotted ray, 2lb 12 oz Mike - blonde ray 1lb 2oz Hey, at least we all had target species ! Mike

Sounds like a great day to me chaps! Well done all Mike