Swainiac

Welcom aboard Damon, we'll look forward to input from farther north!!!!Tight lines...... Rich

Martin, following comments last meeting, I may post in Club members section, re details of the day yesterday. Regulars to the area will know where these fish were taken, and what method they fell to. Rich

Decided on a crack at the Bass with Mark B yesterday, so an early start was in order to nab the last hour or so of the tide. Meeting up with Rocky at 0600, the boat was ready on the back of the towing vehicle ready to move. The road to Weymouth was still pretty empty at this time, so we made good progress, and met up with BB to grab a few bits and bobs before the launch. Enticer slipped in quickly, these roller coaster trailers make life a doddle, I nipped over to Asda, parked the car, grabbed some scoff for luncheon, tore back to the quay to find Mark chomping at the bit to get out there. We made reasonable time out to the chosen killing ground, and began to gather our bait. Mark set Enticer up for the first drift, in amoungst the small group of Commercials already earning their legitimate crust. The bites came immediately, with small nabs at the bait, although we didnt hook up on this the first drift. Set up again, same line, and BANG, straight into a what felt like a locomotive on steroids!! Slightly disapointed with the size of this fish, off again for another crack. This time, a double hook, my rod buckling under the pressure from a good fish, stripping line from the Penn 975 I'd borrowed from BB. After three searing runs, I got the fish to the surface, and it was a netter, I waited for Mark to swing his fish in, then he netted mine. What an awesome sight!!! Two fat Bass sat in the bottom of the boat, unhooked, into the fish bos, and Mark steamed up for a third drift, while I wasted no time in rebaiting. This time, Mark's bait was whacked in the fasion only a well conditioned Bass can! Line screaming off his ABU 7000, rod tip bouncing under the starin from another decent fish. This fish gave an excellent account of itself, making two more very positive runs, before succombing to the pressure from mighty Rocky!! I netted this fish, and round again for the next drift, again a double hook up, my take coming immediately as the bait hit sea bed. Marks fish, was another mid sized shoal fish, and to my surprise, following a far less brutish struggle, I pulled up a Pollack. Back again, this drifting lark is fun!! This drift was almost identical to the last, another Bass for Mark, but mine produced a small codling, my first cod for three seasons!! Cheers rocky, netted and safely in the fish box, up for another drift, another double hook up, this time both decent fish. With both rods bouncing away, the fish certainly didnt want to give in, and as soon as they saw the boat, they tore off like formula ones on a practice lap!! This sport went on for almost three hours, I am amazed just how hard these early fish fight, compared to later summer taken Bass, pound for pound, all I can say is that it was phenominal!!! We kept three fish each, I kept my cod, plenty of smaller fish were returned, much to the dismay of the commercials who seemed to be keeping everything. Even my Pollack went back to fight another day. My best fish went 7lb 4oz, then 7lb 2oz, and 3lb, my cod was 4lb 6oz, Marks fish went 6lb 12 oz, although this fish was the longest of all the larger ones, and he kept two others of 4lb and 3lb 8oz. A truly fanatstic days sport. the likes of which I havent seen in years. Cheers for a great day Mark, looking forward to our next!!!!! Rich

James, Rocky and I are out early doors today after Bass,as you see from the time of posting, I'll ring you during the day. Spot on Dan, Pm me any times that you fancy a trip out, I'll check my rota. Rich

T, BB down in Weymouth takes 'em to about two feet long, he reckons thats a biggun! R

If anyones thinking of an evening trip, this week, and needs crew, I think I'm available all week for crew. Good tides for mullet. Rich

Does that one count as a trip in hand Martin?? Rich

Simple remedy with that one PJ, open the reel, and remove the gears, then eat them.......they're delish........made of chocolate!! Rich

Guys, I'm currently working on a page for the site which holds diagrams and links for reel maintenance, having experienced diffs with my TLD 5 recently. If any member has a fave reel that they want included, or has a reel that gives them recurring problems.......like a slipping worm gear on the small ABU Lever Drag 6500's for instance, post here for inclusion. If the page is pinned when complete, I'm sure it will generate more visits etc for the site, and hopefully be of benefit to both Club and Forum members. Rich

Kim it looks an awfull place!!! Hope you and family are settling in well, and that the local garage doesnt hold the Brit style yobs like here.......mind you, they dont mind an odd baseball bat around the swede out there!!! Rich

Nice craft......is the auxillary a 75HP???? Rich

Alun, whilst in the Police, I once executed a warrant in my capacity as a Police wildlife Liaison Officer, at a Hotel near there, where they keep exotics such as greys, so maybe that one is an escapee. Parrots are poor fliers, and cant do distance. Rich

And heres me thinking your're off the "Sauce" PJ Rich

Dan....................how do you know I havent already been having an evening soiree in search of the club record fish?? By the look of the beach shingle in the pic, that fish was taken from a west solent shore mark, possibly Park Shore or Sowley. The beaches that way are made up of finer shingle/smashed up shells, but the beaches farther east, towards Lepe/Calshot are arge gravel, 30/40 mm size and upwards. I fancy trying for them on small bream livebaits, as that is what takes them in other warmer climes, I've had them in Florida on small Pinfish, not unlike a tiny Bream, but my reckoning is that fish taken on peeler wasnt the target fish, but larger Bass, as the time is about right for the bigger Bass to be congregating around the mouth of Beaulieu River area, and nearby. I'll call my Uncle and maybe get out one evening with him next week, before the tides pick up too much, as the weed in the Solent has been horrendous. I guess its about right for Smoothies that way now too, althougfh I havent heard of any huge fish being taken yet. Rich

Terry, fancy Weymouth next week???? Rich

Had an invite from Terry B, Plaicemat, to join him for a day out, whilst the weather is holding. The plan was to arrive early doors at baiter, and be in the water by 0600hrs, then head west to Dancing Ledge. All good plans are maleable, however, so we decided on a lie in, not together I hasten to add! Arriving at Baiter at 0750 hrs, still able to cram Percy into the TS parking space close by, I'd unloaded my kit at the slip ready for Terry, who arrived shortly afterwards. The launch went smoothly, and we were soon underway, out of the Swash, armed with 100 "fresh" rag, a box of squid, feathers set up for squeaking out a few mackeral for bait and the BBQ, easing around the untidy water off Old Harry, then on past Ballard to Dancing Ledge, setting anchor on our intended mark. We were soon joined by Josh Simmonds, on "Revolution", who hovered about looking for something.....perhaps we were on it?? Mackeral proved very scarce, but I'd heard that much from the 48hr comp, so we were happy with the few we managed, so half a fillet, slipped down on a size 5/0 was my choice of larger bait, intended for a Ray or two. Second light rod, my new Grauvell telescopic, coupled with the new larger fixed spool, and a two hook paternostrt style rig, tied with two way beads, and size 4 circles, was my terminal choice. First fish on for me, after a cracking bite on the light gear, came up as a Ballan to the top hook, and a Cuckoo on the bottom, former going larger than the latter, both under a pound. Then a bite on the mackeral, turned out to be a small Spotted Ray, not a weigher, but still good to see a target species caught. Terry turned in wrasse, small pout and poor cod, but still no bream. I squeaked out a poor cod, and mini pollock double shot, and was pleased with the way that these new rigs were working, allowing decent underarm flick casting of considerable distance from the boat, taking the baits to the bottom without tangles. Even remaining untangled after double hook ups from the dreaded Spin Fish, Pout. We decided on a move east, back toward Ballard, if that didnt work for bream, then maybe across to the patch. We steamed east, stopping along the way to look at some interesting ridges, which may hold mackeral, but they remained elusive, with me only managing one at a time. Finding our mark off Ballard down, we settled with me feeling far more confident with a fresh fillet of mackeral on the hook, and very soon, a cracking bite, producing another small Spotty. We both took small bream, but bites on the small baits were slow to say the least. With a couple of fresh mackeral left in the bait box, we decided on sitting it out for a while, untill 1800hrs, which paid off. Terry had a decent bite, producing a spider crab. With bites on the light gear very slow, I stripped down the rod, and stowed it away, concentrating on the ray. A bait change, some ground bait in the form of a frame chopped into small segments, produced another bite, with me hooking into a better fish. This one actually took line, so I was hoping on a better sized ray, and soon it was in the net, a fish of around 8lbs. We waited for a few more minutes, then decided on calling it a day. All in all a very pleasant day afloat on "Stingray" with target species taken, albeit smaller fish. Thanks for a cracking day Terry, hope we can do it again soon. On cleaning the fish at home, I decided that it was actually a Small Eyed Ray, not a Blonde as we thought, so not a bad fish after all. The day was generally slow, but we took Mackeral, LSD, Poor Cod, Pout, Ballan and Cuckoo Wrasse, Bream, Spotted and Small Eyed Ray and a small Pollack. Rich

Stonker..................nice report, nicer fish!! Rich

Al....................alcahol induced?? Rich

Kaptain, Garmin (Europe) have their offices in Romsey, very close to me, and are great for drop ins and advice over the phone. Mark beasant, Loyal Royal, has kit from the states, all Garmin, and touch wood, all seems spot on. Dont forget to grab some Braid and rapalas when youre in there......also check out their Bargain Bin for the week........last time I dropped into Orlando Bass Pro, I nabbed a bucket full of Rapalas, at $1.00 each!!! Price over here was almost nine squid. Safe trip, Rich

Excellent report dunc.......my advice......change the crewman.......oh, by the way, I'm free next weekend Great to bag more flatties, although as you said, some good flatties have been taken on the Shambles of late, kam reported some v nice fish sat and sun. Still, I bet they didnt have half the fun!!!! Rich

good news wedge.........we could do with it being a litte 'otter. Rich

Kam, the Turbot are apparently fishing on the ebb, and we could only fish till 1300 ish today, so that was out for us today. I think personally, that Bullhuss and cuckoo are far more prolific than Brill and Turbot out of weymouth, and I feel we made the right choice here. Rich

Mark B and I decided to pitch in for possibly the easiest 100%ers, Cuckoo, and Bullhuss, and decided that the better possibilities probably were by launching from Weymouth. An early start from saw us launching and on our chosen mark, just west of Lulworth, a little after 0600hrs. First fish was to Mark B, a Garfish, plenty of Mackeral, then finding ur spot to settle down for some serious wrasse squeaking. Fish came over the gunwalls steadilly, but we were inundated with dogfish, so we decided on a move closer inshore. About half a mile off the cliffs, we found plenty of wrasse, including the target species, finding the 100% very quickly, although we already knew that we needed a cracking fish to overhaul Paul D's superb Bream. Into the afternoon, I recieved a call from BB, local hero, asking me where we were............just west of Lulworth about a 1/4 to 1/2 offshore, came the reply.......can you see Atlanta????? yup says I...........Giltheads came the reply from BB. We make a mental note of the position, and as soon as he hauls anchor and leaves for home, we slip into his wake and settle down to see if we can squeak out a Gilthead or two. No gilts, some cracking sport from middle of the road Black Bream, a few Cuckoo's not exceeding 100%, then Marks rod gives a good knock.............fish on, and its fighting reasonably well. Unsure of the call, the fish is wrestled to the surface, result....a cracking Bully, which looked a good fifteen in the water. Safely netted by yours truly, onto the scales, but with wind over tide, she was hard to pin an exact weight to. We fish on untill duskish, hoping for a few more bullies, alas no more came, so we headed back inshore, happy with our haul for the day, which included two 100% fish, and some cracking sport from Tope on light rods, a shoal of monster pout from hell........which we were silly not to weigh, but hey. Back to the Sailors for some sherbets, kebabs, then bed. The bully went 11lb 8 oz in calm water, we were happy wih that. Next morning early start, straight onto the mark from yesterday, but a slow slow half day for us. Plenty of fish, but nothing huge, and no giltheads, which was a shame....next time maybe. Up anchor at 1400hrs, and a rabbit pace back to harbour to get us ashore in time for some fine scoff chez Short..........where else can you arrive covered in fish snot and get fed BBQ Scallops and king prawns, ice cold stella, and some snorkers to boot, thanks Billy, hope Sammy likes the rod mate. All in all, our plan was succsessfull, but not quite good enough.........theres always the return Burnham leg soon to squeak out that huge Bully Thanks for excellent company Mark, and some great fishing, well done on the Bully, it was a good fish mate, cheers for the food Billy, see you in a week or so. Thanks to the comittee for oragnising the event........shame not many more members fished, last but not least, well done Paul on a trully superb Bream. Top Drawer. Rich

Tough at the top you old shirt. Good to see that you took trouble to fish even the one day Dan....hats off to you chap. A five pound Ballan this time of year is a cracker mate.............I bet it only would have gone three and a half. Rich

There have been some cracking undulates caught recently too............40 mins steam from Poole Harbour entrance Rich