Mike Fox

Coppercoat can be applied by Poole Marine Options, at Cobb's, I had a quote last year, and winced, but it should last 20 years. When the current antifoul needs full removal, I'll be back to bare hull, and that's the time to consider it for me. You might still need to come ashore fleetingly for anodes etc.

If you already know where your waterline is, it should be relatively easy to do this yourself. Masking tape up to the required height. Get this nice and straight once, and you'll be able to use the line in future years. You'll need antifoul primer on a clean hull, to provide a decent grip to the fibreglass. Remove the tape just before it dries, to prevent "flaking". Let it dry, then a couple of coats of antifoul of your choice. We use cheap rollers for the large areas, and brushes for the few inches up to the waterline. Remove the tape before the last layer is dry. When the boat launches, have a roller, tray and dregs of the antifoul left, then do any remaining patches. If these couldn't be primed due to stands etc, then take care next year with stand positioning, and use primer again then. Hope this helps Mike

Traditional boat anglers you mean... tut @ relying on an iron donkey only!

Other bonuses are fuel saving, much less zigging and zagging, and that all important spare pair of hands while out solo Mike

Have heard nothing about silting either. The waters there are so muddy, I wouldn't be surprised if the volume of water in the lagoon gets replaced with mud in a very short time! Mike

It was a really good December day to be out. Neal took Court Jester out to a mark a bit off Ballard, and it was spectacular seeing a moored boat framed by the rising sun as we made our way out. Neal had a smallish mark that we stuck with all day. First three drops I took pout and whiting, and as the tide turned and we fished the mark properly, the whiting rattles seemed to go on all day, apart from when the tide was at its strongest. Neal had fun with monster doggies and some strange bites that produced a couple of conger eels that were the smallest I've ever seen at under 2lb. He had a bigger one later, that we both hoped was a cod, but at 8-10lb I guess, it wouldn't have been a prize winner. I used a combi rig to my 4.2m match rod to target cod on the bottom, with a flyer above using mackerel strip to try to catch a whiting livebait. The trouble was, they were nearly all at an odd size - too small for the pot at just under a pound, and a bit big for a livey. I managed a steady succession of whiting and pouting to the flyer, and a few bigger ones on the cod bait - over 20 in all. Some were a bit bigger so kept a few for the pot, with a couple over 2lb, with my best at 2lb 10oz which I think was my PB. I also had a monster pouting of 2lb 10oz as well, for another PB, which I kept too for some fishcakes. No doggies weirdly, but I did manage a mini conger too. Good to see club members win at the prize table, and well done Greg for first place A great day out, despite the lack of cod, with a flask of home-made Thai style goose Tom Yum soup to keep the cold at bay Mike

I don't what was weighed in Rob, but I might have discovered the location of the top secret club mark for flounders, otherwise known as The Holes Bay Carpark... Mike

The next round of repairs on Feisty are now allegedly complete. Will check things out today, and if Carol can shift this cold, we might even be entering. Mike

There's nothing wrong with flounder fishing with an 8/0 pennel and a bunch of squid

I'm getting fed up of everything being blamed on Global Warming. If squid are getting more prevalent, it's much more likely being caused by over-fishing of their predators at different stages of their lifecycle. The same happened in the Med and elsewhere. They're very tasty mind, especially with a Thai seasoning and crunchy coating

Have a great one Neal Mike

Charlie, I threaded the lug up the line, hooked the smallish squid and piece of cuttle through one end, and whipped them together, and to the Hook, and also to the snood with bait elastic. The total size was about 4-5" long, hooked one end only, with most of the Hook clear of the bait. The objective is bait presentation, and holding the rod in bare hands means you can diagnose each bite quickly. I only had one bite like this. Have had big conger mouth a bait, but this was more of a pickup and hold. With just 12" of trace, you can feel a lot. I knew it was different when I lifted, and the quiver tip bent as if I were hooked in the bottom. I felt a slight movement and leant hard, which set the Hook in the scissors of the jaw. The fish took line against a heavy drag, and I wondered at conger or maybe a good ray. It stopped backing away, and made no attempt to hold the bottom, so I wondered if it might have been a cod, but I felt no "nodding" so wasn't sure. The haul to the surface was slow and steady, with no plunges, runs or nods. I made sure the rod kept lots of bend, in case the Hook had torn a hole. It was coming fairly straight up, ruling out a conger which usually surfaces well astern, and ruled out a more lively ray. I was only sure it was cod when it surfaced. I backed away towards the bow, and Stuie expertly netted it. Thanks Stuie! Mike

Piccie below...could admin rotate please? Can't see how to do it. Many thanks Neal for a great trip, and finding the fish for me. For those interested, it came to a 3/0 circle hook to 40lb fluorocarbon, with a cocktail of lug, squid and cuttle, dangling from my 4.2m telescopic Kraken match rod, with an Alcedo fixed spool reel. The rod was held almost all day, and the bite was so light,I doubt it would have been detected on a conventional rod.

I agree with Derek on this one. It's a real blow for us. Other than protest, all we can really do is to ensure we have the right safety kit, the skills to use it, and effective buddy boating arrangements in place for every trip. Mike

The Cobb's Quay newsletter has been amended. The current 4.30 p.m. bridge lift remains present, and there will be an extra lift at 5.30 on weekends and Bank Holidays. Mike

I received a newsletter from Cobbs yesterday, that suggested the 4.30 Pm bridge lift is cancelled, and there will be a 5.30 Pm lift at weekends and bank holidays. If you need this lift to weigh in for the Poole Sea Angling comp, please double check. Mike

You're right Steve! Found this: http://www.pooleseaanglingcentre.co.uk/competition.php Mike

Quick check please - is the Poole Sea Angling Centre one a best Cod/Whiting comp or cod only? Is ours Cod only? Think there was a query over this earlier this year.... Either way, I could well be interested, but as crew, if anyone has a place Thanks, Mike

There might be a direct impact on the club here. Some members consider the RNLI a "get me home" service like the RAC or AA, but should remember it's there "to save lives at sea". "Home" for the Swanage and Yarmouth lifeboats isn't in Poole. Could I suggest members consider more "buddy boat" arrangements until the new regime settles down, particularly over the quieter winter months, and take efforts to check and uplift safety kit and arrangements. Mike

Carol and I popped down. Sad day. Mike

Jim, They normally dump off the Spoil Grounds, out from Old Harry. Over time, it contributes to the banks you find out there, which can hold a few fish. I don't know their harbour dumping site....thought it would have been illegal! The waters of Holes Bay have historic contamination from the sewage works, the old BDH chemical works, and other sources. It's probably too toxic to be used on land for agriculture. Mike

Feisty will also be out, with a full crew (excluding ship's parrot). Likely to be an inshore trip too - 9.30 to 4.30 bridges, involving such exciting marks as Boscombe pier and the Sadler Banks. If anyone has any better suggestiosn for the forecast light Easterlies, I'd be delighted to try where the fish actually are! Mike

Might be a long shot... but does anyone in the club have a bow thruster, and do they have any tips about models, fitting (cables/extra batteries), usage etc? Feisty has a lot of windage and zero grip forward, and is a bit of a nightmare berthing in cross-winds...much like many larger motor boats in the club. As a winter project, I'm bracing myself for the cost of a bow thruster, and am keen to avoid mistakes! Thanks, Mike

I've used a 450W greenhouse heater for the last 20-odd years. Cheap to buy, has a frost setting, where it only kicks in when it drops below 5 degrees.

Any club members been fishing out towards the Shipping Lanes recently? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3860506/Pictured-three-plucky-Brits-took-Putin-s-terrifying-flotilla-warships-28ft-motorboat-snap-perfect-photo.html Looks a bit like an Offshore gone for a peep, to my untrained eye.... So easy for a small boat to approach. Wonder if they'd shoot down Jim's drone? Mike