Mike Fox

This was caught in Cornwall: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7106976.stm Wonder if they feed on squid? Wonder what it really was I hooked a few weeks ago? Mike

The only solution I can see to the dead by-catch issue is to use a combination of carrot and stick: - Make it mandatory to land all sizeable by-catch fish; - Massive fines for dumping sizeable dead by-catch fish; - All over-quota fish to be sold and registered as over-quota at the time; - All over-quota fish sold to be for the benefit of the taxman, with funding diverted to fisheries protection/enforcement etc; - The boat/skipper of over-quota fish to be given a fraction of the market price - say 10% as a nominal compensation for fuel etc. - Skipper therefore incentivised to avoid by-catch; - Recorded landings will trend towards actual fish deaths, so better measure of stocks viability; - All actual landings, whether over a boat's quota or not, to count towards national targets; - Fisheries closed entirely to commercial vessels when collective quota exceeded. Oh, and you might get less fat seagulls. Mike

All the best Simon! Mike

Good to hear the dolphins are still out there - had a couple of other sightings in the last 2 months too. Wonder if they are taking up residence in the area? Cracking wrasse! It sounds huge! Mike

Hi Sean, Speed for me means 6 knots, as I fish from a yacht, but I never lose the bottom signal, unless going over a prop-wash. I find that fish finding is better at lower speed still, because the echos are small, and I suspect a fleeting return isn't "translated" as a fish very effectively at higher speed. I've seen some units such as Navmans that indicate fish at higher speeds, but that might also be a characteristic of better hull bonding. Perhaps some others on here could advise? It does show fish echos from over 200' down, as I proved on cross-channel trips this summer. The plasticine means that the transducer does lose a little in single strength and clarity, but it's a good temporary measure until I decide if (and where) I should bond it into the hull. Mike

Well done Charlie, looks like it has all been very worthwhile! Wishing you many huge fish in her! Mike

Some superb bass caught - well done Tom and Dean! Shame it wasn't a bass and cod comp! Now there's an idea for next year! Mike

In my simplistic mind, that's some interesting numbers! 170 people for 2 days = 340 rod days 78 cod / 340 rod days = 0.23 cod per rod day It means I need to spend 4 days over the cod ground with a rod to have an evens chance of a cod. Or if I fish with 4 rods, I can do it in one day.... Or if fish with 8 rods....etc Wonder if my lack of proven skill and talent at cod fishing might count against me...? Mike

Well done chaps for a sterling effort. Bet it was gorgeous out there! Just for the record Alun, were there really 78 cod caught? Mike

Show the value of perseverance! Very well done Alan! Mike

Wow ! Mike

Oh dear, are we about to have a round of jokes about cereal killers..... Mike

It has to be read to be believed.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7082600.stm Mike

Martin kindly agreed to take George and I out for the day, and we arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 7.20 down at Rockley, but Martin was there already, getting AWOL set up, and told us it was definitely to be a cod trip...definitely..! We trundled out of the channel steadily into the still, misty harbour, wondering if the gentle breeze would hinder our little trip out to the mysterious "Y-Bank" we had heard so much about. As the revs increased and we dropped down harbour, it was clear the breeze had a lot of East in it, and the mist was thickening. By the Swash Channel, we could only see a buoy or two ahead, but Martin was determined to plough the white furrow out to this elusive mark. After about 5 miles, the mist started to thin, and the sea ahead looked brighter, and suddenly out into glorious autumn sunshine, with an interesting lop with a bit more East in it than was healthy. We arrived at the bank, and Martin checked out a couple of the marks he had, and the uncharted underwater banks leapt into view on the fish finder, but other than a couple of bold red "X"'s there was nothing on the plotter. Indeed a genuinely new mark! Martin dropped anchor, and we baited up. Following Martin's advice, we rigged 7/0 pennel's, and used large squid baits (well 3-4 seemed huge at the time PJ!), which we dropped down slowly on the morning ebb. George hit fish first, and pulled in a lovely blonde ray of about 6-7lb, which was gently returned. Then Martin with one of 10lb or so. Then George again with a smaller one of 3-4lb....leaving his Dad green with envy. Eventually I got one too of 7-8lb (new prize rod duly christened!!!), and all returned to grow bigger - along with the baits which steadily went up in size! Then I had a strange bite. A knock. Then another. Picked the 30lb Ugly Stik up and held it carefully. Another, so leant into it, and all hell broke loose! Line screamed off the reel as something big down there woke up, and decided to go North at high speed...and didn't want to slow down. The TLD15 had been set in strike mode with a fair bit of tension (later checked at 10-15lb drag), but it just creamed off. Then stopped. I realised what it had done - come back towards me, so I wound in quickly, and leant into the fish again, starting another searing run. Another 50 yards or so must have come off the reel before it all went slack for a second time. So, wound like crazy, and caught up again, and this time continued pumping. This wasn't popular, and the fish was having none of it, and it continued back towards the distant Purbecks, but was definitely slowing. I resolved to wait it out, and tire whatever it was. I gave it a couple more minutes until the spool had slowed and started to apply pressure again...and then it all went sickeningly slack. Something had parted! I wound it in, and found the 40lb leader had frayed through, as if sandpapered. So, we never did find out what it was, but it was big! We stuck it out on the bank until slack tide, then returned inshore, fishing one of Martin's marks on the Slate Beds, where a few other boats (private and charter) were obviously trying for the elusive cod. Martin showed how it should be done, pulling in the first strap conger, then George had one, his first, and weighed at 4.5lb to establish a Personal Best, and well...I just caught dogfish! We upped tackle as the sun started to dip, and George was delighted that Martin popped him on the helm, and George took us back into the Swash, when Martin took over. I have a horrible feeling that George now prefers helming at 26 knots to 6 knots! He even slowed nicely for a pod of dolphins that he and Martin had seen dead ahead. Some interesting echos later, coming up through the harbour - wondered if the herring might be in? A cracking trip, with great company, and steady and intriguing action all day - but no cod to report. Thanks again Martin - a brilliant day out! Oh, and anyone have any ideas what I lost? Mike and George

Nice one Bob! It's a similar style to one I remember.... Did you hear about the human cannonball job vacancy?... Apparently the circus is struggling to find someone of the right calibre Mike

Great fish chaps, gives us all hope that we might catch some as well. Planning to try for them on Sunday. Any tips for bait, rigs, tides, please? Thanks, Mike

Hi Martin, Would you have space for George and I, please? Cheers, Mike

Terry, if you ask him nicely, perhaps he can tell you how much today's cloud weighs, and what's keeping it up there? Thanks, Mike

I bought this unit in late Spring 2007, selected as a compact combined plotter and sounder, which was needed for the restricted space on my cockpit binnacle. This unit has a 5

Another angling tragedy reported today: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgo...est/7066074.stm 19 foot boat and apparently 5 anglers. Three survivors located after 2 hours were wearing floatation suits, and two are seriously ill with hypothermia. Sympathies to victims and families, but let's all try to learn from such incidents. Simple suggestions from the RNLI include: - Wear a lifejacket - Check your engine and fuel - Tell others where you're going - Carry some means of calling for help - Keep an eye on weather and tides Think about what else you can do to improve the odds in your favour! Also, our club buddy boat system works. Use it! Mike Safety Officer

So much for my top secret ultra-confidential, on-the-pain-of-castration-with-a-rusty-penknife cod mark! Mike (otherwise apparently known as "old foxy")

Utterly idyllic! Mike

You might make more by auctioning photocopies! Mike

George and I often get a large spider crab or two on a trip. Very tasty they are too. Always best to pop the net under them before lifting, as they do like to let go on the surface! A bit less meat than an edible crab, but very tender and sweet. So, edibles, spiders, lobsters and squid? What other edible non-fishy catches are there? Mike

Great looking boat Alan. Well done on what looks like an experience-packed delivery trip! Mike