Swainiac

Well, the seven P's certainly came to produce the fruits this sunday!! With the launch on friday, a few hours for the bream not showing up any clonkers, we decided to go to deeper water and try for that something a little more special during this comp. After arriving at Baiter, and seeing all the boats in the water, I was well chuffed with the turn out for the return leg of this, now hopefully, annual Burnham V Poole Bay specimen challenge. Collected the two buddy boats and decided a westward steam was on the cards, passing old Harry, the scene was more like the collection of the little ships on the Dunquerque run! With the makerel Meister in full swing on Loyal Royal, we soon had enough bait to share with our Buddy Boats.......was this the shape of things to come? Passing the car park some call dancing ledge...we found our mark, and set down the anchor in 175 feet of water. Baits down....and wait! And wait....and wait! Nothing except doggies....so I decided on a midmorning snack, of venison sausages, wild boar sausages, kidney, black pudding, goose egg...all atop a doorstep of frsh bread.....I do like to look after my skipper!! Mid fry, the rod tip goes burko.....off goes the gas...on slides the match winning Bully!! After a great scrap, Mark netted the Bull Huss, which we thought was close to 13lbs, when weighed at sea. A decent specimen, great eating, so he went into the fish box. Not a lot else showing, a few good fish dropped baits, a change of mark didnt produce a ray, so back to the weigh in. The Bully went 11 1/2 lbs, and won me the day...thanks to Adam for organising the return, and Mark and PJ for thier parts in the proceedings. Great to see the burnham lads collecting prizes with fish they dont generaly catch back in the murk of the Bristol Channel! Rich......prior preparation and planning DOES prevent pretty poor performance

Dave, further to your request, I've just read a write up on the Shimano Corvalus, its described as a palm sized reel, the 400 model available in L/H retrieve, it carries 220 yds of 17 lb line, this retails at around

Had a call from Mark B, early morning, and with both of us blagging a short day...launched from Cobbs at around 1530hrs, fantastic sun, flat calm sea.....letts hope the fish play1 Collected rag from Poole Angling, together with mini squid, cuttle, and hopefully macky, we'd have the tools to hit the fish. Steaming out towards one of the guys ray marks, we stopped to bag up on mackerel, and the Mackerel Meister was soon "Hauling 'em in!" Getting to the mark, around four thirty, we only squeaked out a few doggies, although smaller rigs were snatched by passing shoals of Mackerel before they hit thesea bed. No Ray, so we up anchored, and nipped across to the patch, where "Sheila Marie" was already enjoying some sport. As soon as the tide picked, we were into the bream, not huge, but excellent sport, with the odd micor macky coming to rigs with fleuro tubing on the hooks, as added atractors...they must have been about six inches long, perfect for the Bass, alas none of them showing. With bacon and sausage sarnies and a complimentary lager quaffed, we decided to call it a day at around nine thirty. Great sport, great weather, and some banter with a few other club boats to boot, why can't all trips be like this?? thanks Mark, looking forward to the Burnham Comp, this sunday. Rich

ive just read the post.....will ring you rich

Gordon, Ive spoken to a pal, who is getting back to me tomorrow......how did u fancy a stingray trip....the club record is a meagre 16lbs.....im sure we can crack a thirty between us!!! The low tide off sowley is around half nine ish....so a launch out of lymo..and an afternoon/evening bash is on the cards.....did u fancy it?? Rich

Kaptain.........if you get in touch with BoyBilly, via a Personal Message, a great facility on this site, he can advise you re Parking in Weymouth, he may also be able to guide a "tight welshman <gggg>" to some ares of cheap if not free parking. Give him a try mate. Rich

Adam..its the same as car insurance.....its whatever the insurance company reckon your boat and kit are worth......unless it is new for old on the policy, unfortunately, you will get market value, no matter how much you insure for. Rich

Dave, I'm sure that Shimano supply a L/h Calcutta, in the size you want...one went for

Hiya Kev...welome aboard. Rich

As per, I'm available to crew. Rich

Kam...if you still need crew, I'm available...as far as the smoothies go...they are being caught off Marchwood!! That far up the river at this time of year shows promise!! Ive not heard of any stingers coming in yet...although its worth a try. Kam, you have my mobile if u need to call. Rich

Simon, have you ever taken the Kayak along to portlemouth? The fishing in the river there is excellent, and I'm sure from a kayak, would prove even better! Rich

Hi Harry, welcome to the forum. There is another usefull forum that I use on occasion, called total fishing.com......click on the sea angling button, register, and ask away. You will get informed replies very very quickly....it can be a tadd political though!!!! There is a guy up that way, well north of the Watford Gap!!, called Davey Holt, who speciallises in Common Skate trips, I'm sure he will reply to your thread if you post one. Loads of scotsmen post on there regularly. Best of luck, and tight lines. Rich

Welcome aboard Harry, enjoy the exchanges..............both factual, and some not quite so! Rich

Hopefully, this cancellation will place larger numbers over the ledge....reports have been a little sporadic, although farther west seems to be fishing V well, closer in. Looking forward to it. Rich

Welcome aboard Jae.... Rich

...............Just like women Bob!! Rich

Nice find dave, although he certainly charges like a wounded elephant for his Crab!! A couple of years ago, I was supplying hand picked white crab meat for

Hiya Jack, we too, heard you on Loyal Royal, however, when Charlie replied to you, and he was close to us, and you couldnt pick him up, it seemed silly for us to try. When we had steamed closer to home, you had gawned!! Next time maybe. Rich

Far away just off the Stone pier in Weymouth, two prawns were swimming around in the sea - one called Justin and the other called Christian. The prawns were constantly being harassed and threatened by Bass that inhabited the area. Finally one day Justin said to Christian, "I'm fed up with being a prawn, I wish I was a Bass, then I wouldn't have any worries about being eaten." A large mysterious cod appeared and said, "Your wish is granted", and lo and behold, Justin turned into a Bass. Horrified, Christian immediately swam away, afraid of being eaten by his old mate. Time passed (as it invariably does) and Justin found life as a Bass boring and lonely. All his old mates simply swam away whenever he came close to them. Justin didn't realise that his new menacing appearance was the cause of his sad plight. While swimming alone one day he saw the mysterious cod again and he thought perhaps the mysterious fish could change him back into a prawn. He approached the cod and begged to be changed back, and, lo and behold, he found himself turned back into a prawn. With tears of joy in his tiny little eyes Justin swam back to his friends and bought them all a cocktail. Looking around the gathering at the Pier wall, he realised he couldn't see his old pal. "Where's Christian?" he asked. "He's at home, still distraught that his best friend changed sides to the enemy and became a Bass", came the reply. Eager to put things right again and end the mutual pain and torture, he set off to Christian's abode. As he opened the coral gate memories came flooding back. He banged on the door and shouted, "It's me, Justin, your old friend, come out and see me again." Christian replied, "No way man, you'll eat me. You're now a Bass, the enemy, and I'll not be tricked into being your dinner." Justin cried back "No, I'm not. That was the old me. I've changed....." Scroll.......... Keep scrolling......... Wait for it..... Wait for it....... "......I've found Cod. I'm a prawn again Christian". <gggg> Rich

Guys, one thing that concerns me on entering both comps, is the aspect of the biggest fish. Unless all boats have livewells, that are able to support, say a three pound fish untill a four pounder is caught, allowing the three pounder to be released, I can see fish that may not have yet spawned, being needlessly knocked on the head, for the glory of a tin cup, and a couple of quid. Is this what we are promoting? On a personal note, I won't be fishing this comp, and I would like to see consideration being given to staging this comp a little later in the summer season, to allow fish across ALL of our club area, to have completed spawning. I appreciate that we only have so many weekends to fit in so many comps, and that this biggest fish comp isnt organised by us, AND that club members have the choice whether or not to actually eneter both comps. It will be interesting to hear others views. Good luck to all PBSBAC members who chose to fish the second comp, but be mindfull of fish weights, and whether they are realistically going to attain a place on the prize table. Tight lines, Rich

Dear PBSBAC, had a great day out with MB, on LR, met up with AF at BS, at 0720 GMT, although BW was launched singlehandedly by AF, as BF was late. Heard CC on the DSC saying he was about midway up the Bay, so we steamed out, and eventually met up in The Swash, close to Old H. Had a slow steam out to the tope grounds, and fished the rest of the AM tide, only briefly stopping fishing to scoff Bs's made by MB, the FB's own fair hands!! Despite a lack of Tope, we stayed put, and fished on, while CC SC and PD on GW, and AF and BF on BW, moved to grounds farther afield. AF squeaked a tope of decent magnitude, the JB!! and the rest of the guys had a few conger, we, however, continued on the original mark, with not so muck luck. Meeting up with BW, we all steamed home, recovered at BS without incident, and had a merry ale or three in the BC, a very enjoyable and sunny day afloat! Thanks to all, appologies to CC for slight indescretion on my navigational skills, but I shall know for next time!! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the abbreviations...see footnote Rich * MB...Mark Beasant AF...Adam Franklin BF...Bob Fuller BW...Blue Warrior, Blue Warrior, Blue Warrior! LR...Loyal Royal BS...Baiter Slip CC...Charlie Chapman SC...Sam Chapman PD...Paul Dore GW...Great White Old H...Old Harry Rock Bs's...Bacon Sarnies FB...Fat Basst*rd JB...Jammy B*gger BC...Bear Cross

Like jack says, concentrate on the basic cast, and try it in inreasingly windier conditions.......double hauling does take a bit of practice. Out of interest, how many would be interested in an evening lesson? Ive promised Sam and Charlie a crack on the river, I'm sure if we get a few together, and ply Ron with a bottle of scotch, He'll give instruction. There may even be the chance of a few fish!! The venue would be Eastliegh, near to southampton airport. Rich

The Boots own brand of tabs aren't too bad either, although I'm blessed with the ability to keep my breakkie down, whilst all those around me are losing theirs!! Its the bumpy ride at 36,000 feet I hate!! Mainly cos of the drop, although Ive been told that its the stopping at ground level that does the damage!!!! Rich

.................and theres me thinking it was the meridian that had to be crossed by Royal Naval vessels, to qualify for the free rum ration!! Silly me!