Mike Fox

Took Frisky out with George for a planned whiting session, using the new all-braid gear, but found the alleged NW4-5 a shade brisker (and colder) than first expected. Dropped down through Poole Harbour after the 9.30 bridge lift to find the passenger boats to Brownsea had stopped, and the newly returned chain ferry was still being attached to it's chains! We took advantage of the calm lee of Brownsea Island, and dropped rag into around 40' of water. I hit a reasonable fish first drop, that refused to give up on the way up, and made repeated dives. George thought wrasse, and I wondered about pollack, but as it was approaching the surface it dived beneath the hull, and it must have gone between the hull and P-bracket supporting the prop shaft! No amount of bullying or coersion would force it out, and whenever I gave slack, I could feel the fish pulling away strongly! Whatever to do? Waiting failed, twanging the line did nothing, and hoping for the fish to swim out by itself seemed pointless. After much pulling and tugging, I got the ledger weight out of the water, took hold of the leader, and tried to pull by hand - all to no avail. Eventually, I decided to start the engine, and the fish bolted - taking line yet again! I got it back to the boat, and again the ledger weight came just clear of the water, but no further. I desperation I put the engine into gear - and rapidly pulled my rod tip over as the line tightened round the prop! Putting it into reverse gave slack - but even these terror tactics didn't get the fish out! Eventually the line got into the teeth of the rope cutters, and the trace parted - the fish never actually seen, Less than 10 minutes later we were starting the drift yet again, when we noticed something bobbing on the surface. George netted a fine 3.25lb bass, utterly dazed and exhausted with gills barely moving. No trace in it to prove it was mine, and we popped it into a bucket of seawater to see what it would do. Not a flap or kick - and it expired within minutes. Only one other boat was nearby, and they denied catching any bass. To cut a long story, took said bass home, and checked it over carefully, and lo and behold - a fresh hook mark in the roof of the mouth suggesting it was a recent release of some kind. A brief autopsy shown nothing amiss (and showed that crab baits should pay dividends!), and illness was therefore unlikely to be the cause. So, whose fish? The rest of the trip was much less eventful, with 3 poor cod (tried one as live bait with no luck), 2 ballan wrasse to about a pound, and a magnificent long spined sea-scorpion of ohhh, maybe 2oz. George took a couple of pictures of my capture for the record, and if I can ever work out how to download them from my mobile, I'll provide evidence! In the best interests of sporting fish conservation, I returned the beautifully marked sea scorpion safely, and another club record remains unclaimed. Outside the harbour seemed cold, choppy, and bleak, and after a couple of drops into the "pit" just outside of the chain ferry, we gave that up as a bad job and returned back inside. No whiting caught or seen. One nearby boat later had a small plaice, and a few herring, but frankly, it was good to get out! Mike and George

Looks like Saturday will be cold, dry, and NW4-5 tops for most of daylight - but increasing later to silly winds again. If anyone is going for a cod/whiting trip or similar, and fancy crew, George and I are game! Mike PS - If no offers, might have a short session in Poole and approaches on Frisky. Any suggestions about where the whiting might be?

Wonder what the full implications are? Commercial fishermen likely to get tax relief on diesel, else going to sea becomes less commercially viable. If not - impacts to fish prices on the high street, small commercial boats squeezed out, less pressure on inshore stocks? Likely increase in the cost of charter trips. Motor boat owners already feeling the financial "pinch" drop out of boating. More boats up for sale (previously mentioned), and fewer new buyers. Second-hand price of boats fall (good news for buyers, bad news for sellers?). Brokers drop their percentage margin to attract more sellers (eh Tom!). People gravitate towards smaller boats where berthing/running costs lower. Running cost differential between diesel and petrol shrinks, making the power/weight ratio of petrol engines more attractive. People who can afford it can get bigger/faster/more powerful boat more cheaply. Less pressure on pontoon berths - gaps appear. Deals to be had - prices to start falling (about time too)? Trailable boats having a lower annual running cost become relatively more popular. Increased crowding at already busy slipways at peak times. Membership of PBSBAC increases, as Sunseeker owners "upgrade" to Orkneys, etc. Oh, and more anglers start being spotted on the back of sailing boats! Anyone got any others? Mike

Hi Jason, A great question, and you'll get a variety of replies, I'm sure. Do get out there and try boats - in as wide a range of conditions as you can - see the various posts on following seas and sea safety. I've actually thought of a boat that does much of what you want, but as you might expect from me, not in the conventional way. Does your ultimate "wish list" includes the following? - Up to 5 berths - Separate marine toilet and wash area - Galley and dining table with lounging space - Ability to take longer trips in comfort with family and friends - Small enough and easily managed even when out "solo" - Self-contained, space for full safety gear, no need for "buddy boat" - Good stability at anchor, and particularly when drift fishing - A boat that you can still use and enjoy when too windy for fishing - Option of heating for those cold winter cod trips - Phenomenal sea-keeping, and the ultimate in "get-homeability" - Incredible stability - self-righting if inverted - Plenty of handholds for ease of moving around - Low fuel consumption (see red diesel news) The model of boat that meets these criteria is a Contessa 32 yacht, which I have sailed, but not owned. These have done transatlantics, and circumnavigations, and is the only class of boat that survived the notorious 1979 Fastnet race unscathed - all vessels finishing. The downside to the equation is that 6 knots is about your limit under engine or sail in "normal" conditions, the draft of 5' or so limits your ability to go "creek crawling", the cockpit is smaller and narrower than conventional angling boats, and hence 3 rods would fit better than 4, they are getting a bit old now and you'll have a steady stream of maintenance jobs to keep you busy. You can pick them up for

Well, that's a bit of space back. Good luck with the frozen mackerel Dom! Mike

Are you suggesting that comments along the lines of "needs a 40' mast", and "shame it hasn't got a 5'6" lead keel" might be unwanted then Tom? Mike PS Looks dead smart to me!

Anyone need a small, front-opening freezer for bait etc? Going free to a good home, if collected. Mike

I'm itching for a trip too Alun. Plan A) could be to dangle and drift in Poole Harbour from Frisky for bass, flounder, herring, pollack etc or pop a mile or two off to seek whiting (any advice on where???). Probably 9.30 bridge to 2.30 bridge - maximum fishing time 3 hours, if so. Plan could be to offer to help crew on an angling boat less constrained by speed and the lifting bridge, if it's flattish out. Anyone needing crew, or even bold enough to offer a place to an enthusiastic (and safe!) 11 year old as well? George was so jealous when he heard about my recent trip on Enticer with Gordon, and is really keen to go out in a club angling boat. Mike

Some interesting reports about control issues when being overtaken by large waves particularly. As you might imagine, Frisky as a displacement vessel gets overtaken by large waves quite frequently, as have my other yachts over the years. I have only experienced real problems when the waves have been breaking as they came past. I put this down to having a large, well supported, rudder at the stern, which gives the stern section more lateral resistance, preventing the broach that has been described here. A full length keel, as on my previous boat, can give a similar effect. However, breaking waves aren't nice, as being aerated, do not afford the same "grip". I have seen some pilothouse boats with a shallow full length keel, and I would suspect they have better handling characteristics in a following sea. Does anyone have one, and could they comment? Mike

Good job it was your shoulder, Charlie! Mike

Broaching? That's scary. Mike

Sounds a great session Alun, and wished I'd seen your invite yesterday, cos I would have offered to crew. Shame no whiting, but you were able to snatch a few hours in the weather window, and avoid a blank trip. I popped down to Frisky, did a few jobs, and lamented the cold keeping the normall enthusiastic crew indoors. Am afraid the boat is a bit slow to squeeze in a decent session between bridge lifts at this time of year, so apart from next weekend (prior engagement), would love to join you for a bash soon. Mike

Well done the entire crew of Nipper. A great bull huss Rich, well deserved. George was well impressed....where's that mark again? Mike

Good luck all, hope the weather holds. Mike

Went out with Gordon on Enticer on Saturday morning, and what a gorgeous winter's day! Whisps of mist blowing down Christchurch harbour on the gentlest of northerlies, with the sun lighting up the dawn over the Isle of Wight, reflecting in the calm seas. We left around 7 a.m., and blasted out to a wreck in 100 ft or so of water a good few miles South. We rigged artificials for bass, for drifting on the last of the flood, and I hit a bass of 6lb first drop on a large blue storm shad, promising a brilliant day. Gordon had a pout of 1lb or so. Several drifts later, Gordon had picked up another pout per drift, and I eventually got one. It seemed the bass was alone. As the tide died, we went out to find another wreck to anchor for conger, but after searching hard, nothing showed on the sounder as looking fishable, and we returned to the first wreck, drifting the dying flood, then anchoring near Neo who had come to join us. No eels came to visit unfortunately, and after the ebb set in hard, and holding bottom proved difficult, we moved to try the back edge of some banks, to try to escape the Spring tide. After checking out 2-3 places, we anchored up, and Gordon had a pair of nice 3lb bass, which he returned, and I lost a mystery fish, that stripped line off at high speed, and felt much heavier than my earlier bass. It was only on about 5 seconds before the 20lb mono trace parted - or was bitten through. We also had a good few doggies. Our final spot was at the back of the Ledge close to Neo who had managed a few whiting, and we had 4 or 5 in an hour. Actually, it was Gordon that had 4-5. I had one. All were under a pound and were returned, but it was good to see they are in. We headed back in to Christchurch in the dusk, after a superb day out with great company in a cracking boat, which handled superbly. Mike

Gordon, I would be delighted to crew for you. If you're going to the meet tonight, perhaps we could discuss then? Thanks, Mike

We tried a few marks, and Frisky spent far too long travelling again. We tried in the harbour, waving to a few speedier members including Maverick and Coddy, the Poole Patches (where we think there might still be trace-crunching trigger fish), and a couple of deeper water marks off Swanage, including the Whitehouse Grounds, in the slack tides. George had his best ever comp with 3 spotted ray, including a PB of 4lb 8oz, wrasse, a doggy and a single late bream. Carol had 7 wrasse, a solitary pollack, two bream to prove it wasn't a fluke, including a beautifully marked male fish of just under a pound, her first spotted ray of 3lb, and 3 doggies. I managed wrasse, pollack, another spotted ray, a small pack of doggies and a lone bass in nearly 90' of water. I won't mention my magnificent black goby, or the fact that it was disallowed. Gorgeous day out, despite having been spined more times than I care to mention. Mike PS Charlie, the forms have been submitted!

Frisky will be out of Poole, fishing from 8 till 3, with Carol, George and I on board. Depending on conditions, anywhere from Whitehouse Grounds to Southbourne Rough, though will probably stay close to reduce travelling times. Have this theory that a whole squid might find bass, rays or cod.... A second theory suggests mackerel for gars. scad and pollack. The final theory is that the only the ragworm will catch, and then only black goby, long-spined sea-scorpion, and tompot blennies, all of which will be ineligible.... Hope to see a few others out there! Mike PS Wot, no herring on the specimen list?????

Hope to have Frisky out there, hunting for the ineligible, spiny, and inedible...as usual. Probably in the Poole area, with Southbourne Rough or Swanage as possibilities, depending on seastate. Anyone been fishing either lately, and if so, what's showing? Thanks, Mike

All you need for proper job is then a mast and keel.... Mike

Our house has an area of leaking flat roof, and we also need some fairly extensive UPVC work to the house. We will be obtaining quotes from some local companies, based upon suggestions from friends and neighbours. Carol suggested seeing if any club members might be interested in providing competitive quotations, on either a supply and fit, or on a labour-only basis, and I remembered Mad Mike had made similar enquiries to club members earlier in the year for conservatory work. So if anyone out there is interested, or could provide recommendations, please feel free to get in touch. Mike and Carol

Thanks Rich! I see from Fred's posts that cod are starting to show too. Will see what we can find next weekend for the species comp! Mike, I would be more than happy to drag you out and I will give you a shout if I can snatch a mid-week day. Yellow wellies not required, 6 knots is about your lot, freeboard is fairly high but with handholds aplenty, and there is a steep ladder to reach the interior and the loo. I'm sure you'd be fine! Nothing esteemed about the craft...it's still a boat after all, merely a style you rarely see fishing. However, my record for catching large fish has not been good (2 tiny codling, no whiting over 6", no pollack much over 2lb), hence offering myself as crew for someone who actually knows how to catch them, and can reach them faster in these shortening days. Mike

After the last two weeks of skulking in the harbour, I was hoping for a trip further afield this weekend, but it is not to be. Is it just me, or are weekends particularly windy this year? Roll on the comp next week. I have 7 days holiday left over...on a use 'em or lose 'em basis. Am hoping for the odd trip midweek (avoiding the weekend gales) in the next couple of months - anyone need crew on a pollack/cod/whiting trip ? Mike

Took Frisky for a jaunt, and found conditions unpleasant for drifiting in the Swash, and reckoned it would be worse further out, so had a dangle on half a dozen marks inside Poole Harbour. Scratching around a bit, and over half a dozen marks, we bagged 8 species, which bodes well for the next species comp. Loads of small boats fishing out of the Easterly wind, and saw a couple of club boats too, getting cheery waves from the ones that recognised us! Mike, Carol and George PS Good to hear that pan-sized bream are still around!

Hi Duncan, Have heard of the Sky, but don't have a clue where it is. Could you (or someone) PM me the numbers, please, with an indication of how far it is from Poole? Thanks, Mike