Swainiac

Tom, you won't need to be anywhere speacial soon for the incoming cod snaffling the sandeels on the bank. Good luck matey. Rich

Ive used a kite to train a Falcon to ring up higher and higher to get to the optimum hunting height, then release a lure from the kite for the Falcon to stoop on. Great fun, but as far as getting a live bait to skip on the surface, I'd rather go for a wedger speacial of magnet and watch the action close in!!! Rich

James, tgis time last year we had 11 species on the boat in the friday fishers league, so they should be there.......although it was warmer this time last year....if i can wangle the kids, I'm up for crewing if you need it. Rich

It didnt quite outfish the dream team on Loyal Royal. Rich, on behalf of Rocky Beasant.

Welcome aboard Pat, enjoy the banter mate. Rich

Mikey, if you expand the pic, you cn just about make out the tomato and Gala melon plants...............I think he'll have more success growing in it than sailing it!! What was it Shytalk once posted??? Designed by Stevie Wonder!!! Started my day nicely mike, I'm collecting the nippers from the airport in a mo...things can only deteriorate!!! Rich

My two sons fly in from Ireland tuesday, staying for a week, so I'm afraid I cant crew <sob!> Tight lines for the weekend lads. Rich

And there was me thinking Annette was the name of the girl stood between two goalposts!! Rich

We don't need folk like that in the club!!!!!! Show him Charlies speil at the end of his posts..........let fish live for tomorrow! Rich

Tom, still early days, let the fish feed up for a couple of weeks, and you will have table fish I'm sure, thats if BB hasnt blagged 'em all. Rich

Tom, we had a guy on the boat last tuesday who bagged a 5lb fish, the third over the gunnels for him, and the first was placed back by the unhooker......who shall remain nameless....and the captor was not amused!!! Even the largest of his fish idnt have too much in the way of meat on it, indeed my 4lber only had a pound and half of meat when filletted. Shame when these fish are getting harder and harder to squeak out. Rich

Nice one Adam, good to see the lads out at long last!!! Shame the Plaice aren't of table size yet. Duncan, its possibly just the size of launce, as the feathered fish we took last week were all in the 10" size range, and stormies are far smaller. These artificials worked well over the wrecks too, so they should work inshore, albeit in clearer, shallower water. Rich

Paul, I'm surprised at the length of trace suggested by the charter boys......we are currently having reasonable success with sub 3 foot traces. The fish are hard on the bottom, so it follows the less trace between hook and weight, the lower in the water the baits drifts over the fish. With winds as they are, the bottom is going to be churned even in small tides, so vision will be impaired. This is possibly why the brighter bead combinations were working better last week. I'll report again Tuesday if I get out with Josh and the lads. I was surprised to read only a solitary launce was taken, as BB and Thommo took plenty during the day last week. Strings of three mini shrimp rigs with either a brightly coloured ball lead, or a pirk of sorts as a weight seem to work for us. Reducing the number of hooks in the trace leads to less snagging up of launce when they do take, spinning up in the trace, leading to foul hooked fish which take ages to unhook. Good weights are a short lengths of chromed pipe filled with lead, with a loop of wire in the top, and a swivel employed too to sqeak out spinning. Vary the length of pipe to adjust weight. Top tip. Rich

I have one PROVISIONAL place on a charter trip on tuesday, Josh Simmonds' Revolution out of Weymouth. Cost will be around

Alun, the ball weight included in the trace is, I feel, and absolute must. ALL fish taken on both trips I've done this season have fallen to this method. I'm hopefully out again, this tuesday, with my ex colleagues from the Police, so will report again accordingly. The Turbot are being taken on a different area of the bank, but should drift to other areas later on. I expect BB will keep us informed. I have my kids over from Ireland all next week, from wed onwards, so should anyone need crew on Monday, I'm available. Rich

Cheers Adam.............................you said that without moving your lips!!! Rich

Thats great news lads......well done. I hope Rocky bagged up on my traces. I'm out again next tuesday, so hope they worked well, so I can try them again next week. Rich

Adam, what gives it that bit extra to increase the RPM?? Rich

Tom...................I wore the hat to avert the glare from the flash!!! How did the lads get on yesterday? Rich

Welcome aboard Ross, enjoy the best fishing forum on the net. Rich

Mikey....................silver eels are just slightly larger freshwater eels returning to sea to spawn, so it follows an abundance of freshwater eels in certain locations would lead to an abunance of returners in time. Dommy, a good time for eels catching is a really heavy dewy night, when its not too cold. Try tying a bunch of brandlings onto wool, they cant get their teeth out of the fibres. I've also used a POLO mint tied to a short length of mono, attatched to the trip on a mousetrap, anchored on the river bed..........caught loads!!!! "Boys wil be boys! Rich

Dave, I'm just hoping that my mug doesn't appear in the mag next issue, the Plaice pictured for that one was only a couple of pounds....well embarrasing!!! "Lets see the trace Rich..........hold it..........work that camera, baby!!!" Rich

Paul, I spent the whole afternoon on fish baits and not a snifter, take my advice and stick to shortish traces, one or two hooks, baited with worm and a strip of cuttle or squid, and stick it out for the Plaice. Ive given Rocky Beasant some traces, so give one of those a stab. Tight lines...will be looking for some Plaice in the book lads............. Tight lines, Rich.

Took a trip on Colin Penny's Flamer today, trying to bag a few spotties for Barney wright, from Total Sea Fishing mag, who was doing the ominously obvious article on Spring Plaice.........................that one hasnt been done in a while now has it???? With eight anglers on the boat, two local rods, one international, and one novice, (guess which I was!!!!!!), we began by drfting the beds on a reasonably slow drift. My terminal tackle consisted of the rig I had nabbed my last plaice on, namely an offset wishbone, with green and black mini beads, a size one hook and ragworm, tipped with about six inch strips of squid. First drift I had a typical double snatch, fed a few spools of line, then felt the kicking of the first fish of the day. Safely netted, I didnt bother to weigh it, my guess was a fish of about a pound and a half. That fish was photographed a hundred times, rigs snapped and stored, and she went back into the oggin to fight another day. I should have made more of a meal of landing that fish........it was my last of the day!!! Changes of position, drift speed, weight down, weight up, change of bait, etc etc, brought seven fish to the boat, the best going a very reasonable 5lb, caught by a solicitor from Lymo. He bagged three fish, but was disgusted when we threw back his first postage stamp sized plaice..............."I'd have fried that one whole", .......not on ths trip budweiser!!!!! Interestingly, Billy and Thommo were taking Launce steadily........so if the launce are there, are the Bass??? Also, reports were that the Wrasse were tight in on another mark......possibly breeding???? Water temp rising??? All in all a good day, better than other boats on the drift, the best colour combo bead-wise was orange and yellow, taking three fish, including the largest. Tight lines for the guys venturing out this thursday, just sorry I cant crew for you Mark, although cheers for the invite. Rich

Gary, go to your insurer and ask them which they recommend, then simply put that list on this thread and ask who has experience of which type. Try and speak to the Marine Crime unit in your respective area, and fire it past them. The telephone number for Hampshire police is 0845 0454545. Ask the nice lady to put you through to the Marine unit offices. I know the skipper of Hampshire Marine Unit, I'm sure he would offer advice. As far as if he wants it, the thief will take it is spot on. Dont give them the opportunity. Rich