Mike Fox

Looks like a brilliant trip all. Well done on some cracking fish. Mike

Hi Coddy, Having caught a few Gilthead Bream in the past (one last week!), I remember that they have crushing teeth inside that look like tiny cobblestones on bony pads. See http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/x3980e/x3980e05.htm The Couch's bream piccie that Corky put up shows a set of dentures that Dick Emery would be proud of. When you unhooked it, what was the mouth like? This should privide DEFINITIVE identification. By the way, with a fish of 4-6 oz, it would still have had juvenile colouring, and this will be less of an indication of species than you might think. Mike PS If you were close to the plaice mark I gave you, that's where I caught my Gilthead!

Interesting comparison with this one: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/pics/gilthead02.jpg I'm still not convinced - Gilthead looks a closer match to me. Mike

hi Dave, Yellow bar over the bridge of the nose and eye would suggest a Gilthead bream. Lovely fish aren't they! Mike

Makes you wonder if the spokesman had to be pumped for this information... Mike

Thanks for the advice chaps, but I do have other cathodic protection in the form of a large pear shaped zinc anode, which is bonded internally to key items, including the engine, and hence the shaft and prop. The shaft anode was an "added extra", which I first fitted about 3-4 years ago, before I renewed the main anode bonding etc. I think the underwater metalwork had survived the previous 14 years of its life with no shaft anode at all, so I'm fairly relaxed that a few more months will be fine. Interestingly, someone else in the boatyard has heard of similar this year, and they craned out to fix it. The fixings on the anode had eroded away, but the bolts and main body of the anode were apparently fine. That was from a cheaper batch of anodes (rather that the McMurdo ones which seem good), and I think I might have had the same model - to save

Thanks for the offer to dive under for me Adam, but I thought it was something I should really do. Popped into Shell Bay this morning about 10.30, mask and snorkel ready, with unflattering (beergut camouflage) swim shorts poised, ready to pop on, when something happened. I realised the noise had stopped. It had rattled like a goodun coming out of the berth, and each time I had stopped the boat ready for a short plaice drift in the harbour on the way to Shell Bay, but now it had gone. The Harbour Master was nearby, and kept staring at us, as we motored around Shell Bay, in forward and reverse, turning the boat every which way, desperately trying to make it rattle...but to no avail. Whatever it was (probably the anode) has gone, dropped off, sunk without trace. You cannot believe how relieved I was. I really did not want to do it, but the threat of my swim shorts must have done the trick! Mike

Hi Paul and Paula, There's a huge amount of information on the forum for new anglers, those new to boating, and others who have been doing it for decades. Despite the sea remaining timeless, boats, tackle, fish stocks and fish movements continue to change, and in the club there's a great bunch of lads (and lasses) who enjoy their boating, and sharing fishing and sea safety information. I'd fished in the Bournemouth /Poole area for years without joining a club, and I can honestly say that I learned a huge amount through membership, and my wife, son and I have caught a lot bigger and better fish as a result. I hope you decide to join, it might be one of the best decisions you ever take, as as well as getting you better fish, it might just save your life at sea! Mike

Great fish, superb piccies, and sounds an eventful trip! Mike

Frisky Fox has the most horrible of noises coming from underneath the boat, especially in reverse gear. It sounds like someone has attached a bag of nails to the prop shaft. When in slow ahead, there's a definite clattering sound at low speeds, but fine at 5-6 knots. In reverse, there's a pause, then a loud rattling sound that is blood-curdling. Checking this carefully in the marina, it's definitely not the gearbox - the noise is further back. The arrangement is simple and conventional: - Gearbox straight to 1" prop shaft, - Through hull at about 20

I'd put your foot up and have a rest! Hope you have a great one Rich! Mike

Nice one Paul! Mike

We had the doggies and bass today! Shame they weren't a bit earlier to complete the 7 target! Mike

How did you celebrate? In the traditional stlye with an exotic meal, a glass of something mildly intoxicating and an unidentifiable gift wrapped in a manner designed to prevent easy guessing? However you did it, hope you had a great one Mike! Mike, Carol and George

Slight improvement to weather as well: Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis Inshore waters forecast 24 hour forecast: 1800 Sat 08 Sep 1800 Sun 09 Sep Wind Variable 3 or less with sea breezes, becoming southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Sea state Smooth or slight. Weather Mainly fair. Visibility Good, occasionally moderate or poor overnight. Outlook: 1800 Sun 09 Sep 1800 Mon 10 Sep Wind Southwest veering northwest 3 or 4. Sea state Smooth becoming slight. Weather Isolated showers during the day. Visibility Mainly good. Good luck for all who fish! Mike Safety Officer PS Due to unforeseen circumstances, Frisky Fox and crew will NOT be available to fish tomorrow. Will try to get to the weigh-in if time permits.

Latest weather info: Inshore waters forecast 24 hour forecast: 1800 Fri 07 Sep 1800 Sat 08 Sep Wind Variable 2 or 3 with daytime sea breezes. Sea state Smooth or slight. Weather Mainly fair with occasional mist patches forming overnight. Visibility Mainly good, occasionally poor overnight. Outlook: 1800 Sat 08 Sep 1800 Sun 09 Sep Wind Mainly northerly 3 or 4, with daytime sea breezes. Sea state Smooth or slight. Weather Mainly fair with occasional mist patches forming overnight. Visibility Good, occasionally poor overnight. No weather issues at this stage for Sunday. Comp remains on as planned. Mike Fox Safety Officer

Following Rich's kind invitation for crew on the Forum, I accepted, and took the afternoon off work and popped down to Hamworthy to meet Rich, who I had helped with the RNLI SEA Safety Check earlier in the year. Left my car at Rich's house, and popped down to Baiter with him before low water to launch, and we reviewed some of the safety improvements made in the year to "Warren", his Orkney 520. What a lovely little package, easy to tow and launch single-handed, and with uplifted electronics and safety gear to make it a good self-contained inshore angling boat, and loads of carefully considered personal touches to make it all work for him. Rich was keen on getting a tour of local marks, further uplifting his safety knowledge, and improving his fishing abilities, and I was more than happy to oblige: - We started off fishing a couple of plaice/bass marks in the harbour, getting two plaice in two drifts - both around a pound and a half. A nearby boat had another plaice of similar size, and a red mullet. - We then popped down to a well known wrasse spot, getting 3 or 4 quickly, and a solitary mackerel (in the harbour!!!) before the continual stream of ferries made it difficult. The occasional flats, bass and pollack were absent for the duration of our visit! - We checked out the edge of some harbour banks for bass, but apart from shy bites on rag (small bream?) none were found. - Popped down the Swash, pointing out seasonal marks for different species. - Moved round the back of Old Harry, pointing out interesting reefs and marks there. Eventually anchoring off Ballard Down to try for rays in 60' or so. Unfortunately, there were shoals of small bream attacking whole squid and mackerel fillet baits, with Rich catching a couple to positively identify the culprits. Was sure mine were doggy bites - but none showed up! One heavier catch proved to be a spider crab that let go just under the surface. - Popped out to the Whitehouse Grounds, trying a few intervening reefs on the drift, but the SW sea breeze and tide were combining to give 2.7 knots over the ground. Too fast for everything but snags it seemed, and anchoring seemed a little pointless, having seen the tide rushing past the crab pot marker buoys. - Headed out for the Sadler (now BT) Mark off Bournemouth, getting loads of fish showing on Rich's new fish finder. Mackerel feathers were dangled in vain, and eventually two small scad of 6-8" were caught, identifying the culprits. Interesting bites on baited feathers (gurnard?) failed to develop. We eventually called it a day, and returned to Baiter where Rich did an extremely slick retrieve up the slipway, proving that all of the practice over the summer has paid off. What a lovely afternoon and evening! A cracking break from work, and great to see Rich enjoying his boating so much. I just wish I had time to join him mid-week for further trips, and suspect anyone who does will have a great time, with superb company! Mike

Rich, Have taken a half-day holiday tomorrow afternoon, and would be happy to show you the local marks etc, if this is ok? Mike

Thanks for all of the concern folks and the replies. I still happen to believe that fishing boats have had masts and sails for many millennia, and who am I to buck tradition ! Trolling for bass under sail is a wonderfully silent experience, for example. Sounds like 1700kg including trailer is about my limit. So what would be the biggest fishing boat from the "patio doors" range that I could legally take home for winters? I have no idea of the weight of a braked trailer, so am still in the dark here! Cheers, Mike

Does anyone know the current regulations for towing? Couldn't find a thread on this when I looked. For example - if my car weighs 2,000 kg, what is the biggest load (boat and trailer combined) that can be legally towed on the road? Also, is it actually practical to tow a Category B boat such as a Merry Fisher 695 or Arvor 25 from place to place? Thanks, Mike

Dan, It's been grim in the Poole area for us for a few weeks now. The number of rod-hours we've put in, and the number of marks we've tried now is getting rediculous. Yes, we've had fish, but we've had to work hard for them, and as Alun says - if they aren't there, you really have to move. Have tried well over a dozen marks in the last 4 trips, and none have produced consistently. Keep changing your tactics when on each mark, different baits, hook sizes, rigs, etc. Eventually, you'll get one, then all change to the winning formula, get a few to take, then experiment again to see what else is there. It's easy to stick with a simple running ledger and mackerel bait, but try variations if it doesn't produce. Have had real problems getting mackerel in the Poole area this year, and wonder if the apparent increase in motor boat and commercial traffic has made the difference? The charter boats are no longer fishing together on the same marks, and I suspect they're also scratching, waiting for the autumn fish to move in properly, and the fish to come properly back on the feed again to fatten up now for the winter months.. Stick with it, and your luck will turn! Mike

Nicely cropped and uplifted Duncan! George and I are dead envious! Mike PS George is our resident photographer!

Caught the 9.30 a.m. bridge lift out of Poole, and having heard about the recent success on a favourite club mark with the small-eyed ray (in the members-only section), we decided to have a dangle. Arrived before high water, and checked out the mark, anchoring uptide of a fishy looking bit, just as another boat "Just Perfick" I think, anchored dead astern ( he must have heard the rumours about the secret groundbait recipe we thought). We started dropping groundbait , and started attracting the doggies to mackerel chunk and to whole squid. George had the best at 2lb 6oz, and we had 3 or 4 each (and Carol squeaked a solitary common smoothhound) before the wind shifted from NW to SW4 maybe 5, the white horses started, and we began to wonder if wind over tide might make sea state worse, so upped anchor (had to steam it out, snapping 3 cable ties on the "trip"). We had a look at a nearby mark, but decided against anchoring as the waves were now making foredeck work interesting, and started to return towards Poole, having a chat with club boat Sheila Marie who had had similar thoughts. We trolled a mackerel line, and soon had 5 nice ones, and as Bournemouth Pier came abeam and the wind died away again, we started a long drift in the rough ground inshore, getting our large mackerel baits savaged by small bream (we think!) that didn't take the hooks. We were getting a bit fed up, and lost a lot more gear than usual on one particular "tackle graveyard", but perseverence was rewarded when Carol hit a very spirited fish, which was eventually netted as a personal best bass of 8lb 6oz, which was a cracking way to christen her new 6500 multiplier. We managed one more on the same mark before we had to leave for the 5.30 bridge lift. We had seen club boat "Sammy" out earlier, and had seen them inshore, so suggested that they might like to check out our mark for future reference. Before they did - another boat had apparently nipped in! It might prove to be a good one, and will definitely try it again. Mike, Carol and George

Hi Daz, Fourteen foot is a little small, and might not meet all of your needs. Before rushing into buying, would suggest that you see a few, try to get a few trips out with others, and read up all you can. One of the club members, Coddy, has an interesting site with some boat reviews. I'm sure he wouldn't mind me posting it here: http://fishing_boats.tripod.com/ The club is a great place for safety tips too, and there's lots posted on various forums in here. I would strongly recommend a read, and also saving some of your funds to ensure your sea safety equipment is up to scratch - even if it means waiting to buy the boat. Happy to advise on safety matters if you have any queries - but boat/engine suggestions are best from the others! Mike Safety Officer

Every chance that Frisky and crew will be out and about, but I can't get within 100m of Baiter due to our 5'6" draft. Looks like we won't be able to play... Will all wave as you all come past! Mike