Death Trap II

i went out on a charter in the bristol channel a few years ago. First fish up was a monster conger, the captain went "wow, they are really rare now, lets release it without landing in the boat to ensure it survives". Well that was the worst kiss of death i have ever heard because we ended up catching 20 more, and nothing for the table.

quick question guys, those protected wrecks. Are we allowed to anchor up near them? struggling to find the rules on the interweb

thanks. I was down there in August with the boat. Caught no legal sized bass, and only one schoolie. was definately down on previous years.

not easy to launch at baiter, way to shallow and you have to push the trailer a long way out to float.

good luck, boats are in demand this year. i feel lucky to get mine just as lockdown was easing. i always have an eye out, and the market is still pretty thin in your price range. I listed my 15ft salcome flyer earlier in the year and i sold it in a couple of hours! have barely seen any warriors or piscators listed this year

Thanks Ben, I am coming down and heading out tomorrow too. But i dont think we will be heading out as far as you and we wont be out before 10. I think this is something i would be interested in at some point too. I need to learn the skills of wrecking! WIll shout out on channel 6. Matt

boom many thanks all I would say i will try to keep a series of them, but first problem is that my youngest refuses to step foot on the boat after the immortalized trauma, and secondly I don't catch that many big fish!

ah yes, sorry, still getting used to all the members. Will keep an eye out in future. I am still overwhelmed by how friendly everyone is in Poole, compared to the other places i have fished.

Yes, we were out saturday. I called out on chanel 6. Were you anchored up fishing in studland bay?

That is a beauty. I bought a bella 500 br a couple of months ago from the same guy. So far, i am pretty happy with it. The only thing i would say its that they are pretty heavy for their size, but they tend to have pretty good equipment and comfort.

my version of rough stuff is if it is a bit cloudy

ha yes, the usefulness of those covers is all about relativity. I come from just having open centre console boats, so anything is an improvement! neither am i out in the depth of cold weather!

i have just plumped for a bowrider, with canopy for bad weather. Not purpose built for fishing, but good flexible boats for fair weather types (me included!) look at the ones from Finland, they have a better sea handling ability with more freeboard. Most have hatches in to the front that can be closed to shelter from the spray. Most have decent captains seats for comfort and a large bench seat in the rear. Yamarine, Silver, Bella all have decent, similar bowrider layouts. I think quicksilver noticed the trend and have even gotten in on the act.

ohgreatone, i am no expert, but i am on my third boat now and have had some experience. I fully endorse the trailer comments. That boat looks like it needs a braked trailer. Every boat i have bought i have found needs renewal work on the hubs, wheels, bearings and suspension. fact of life for trailer boats. These days i just go straight to remove the engine cowling and put my hand on the block to see if it is warm. If it is, without reason, walk away. They are trying to mislead you. Ask if you can start it quickly. if you get any instructions more complicated than making sure the fuel is primed and adjusting the choke for the cold, walk away. Check all moving parts that are exposed for pitting or corrosion, lift the tilt mechanism all the way up and down a couple of times, listen for a sign that it is struggling. this gives hints to the state of the battery. look for leaks on the tilt cylinder. turn the steering to both extremes. Does it feel tight? might need new cables. Look for hammer marks on the joint connecting the steering cable to the cylinder. signifies someone left the steering rod exposed for a long period and it seazed up. But most importantly, check the throttle. does it easily shift in and out of gear. Does it move smoothly. it is not always easy, but try to find out about the construction method of the boat. If there is a lot of foam under the waterline, be wary. Even closed cell foam gets waterlogged. try to find out if it has been kept on the water. if possible, check to see if you can move the trailer by hand to check t see how manageable it will be for launching. Look for a three inch strap mark across the gunnels at the rear. For a boat that size you wouldnt really have want to have a 3 inch strap holding it down to the trailer, it could damage the structure of the boat by bending it. You want two straps, one at the bow pulling it down and toward the back of the trailer and one at the stern pulling down and forwards. the comments about the extras are also useful. all of those extra things you need add up. spare tire, fenders, lines, and most of all COVERS - add up to a small fortune on their own. take that into account.

This photo is going haunt my youngest for his entire life

ha, i am all for controlled fishing, it is clear that left unchecked the fishing fleets of Europe would decimate fish stocks to the point of no return within a decade. Norway and Iceland have proved that you can manage fish stocks to a sustainable level with careful control. But on the other side of the coin, i can also see the complete frustration driven by CFP with actions like last years recreational bass ban, while at the same time increasing the commercial bass allowance of the trawlers

the best the fishing industry can hope for is the Norway model. that gets the UK out of CAP and common fisheries policy, but keeps single market access to sell into. If we drop out without a deal, we might be able to keep the EU fleet out of british waters, but there will be a 20% plus tariff to export to the EU, where most of the catch go.

i have a salcombe flyer 440 similar to this one. http://wowboatsales.com/sale/2000-salcombe-flyer-440-sport---mariner-40-hp--eloptt---trailer-27984/uk Sorry, you have to click on the pictures to see it. There dont seem to be any active listings for any 440s right now. But you can expect to pay up to £4,500 for a good one. They are about 14.5ft long and mine has a 50hp on it. Really flies and gets up on the plane instantly with three blokes in it. Really easy to tow and can be launched and recovered single handed by a beginner (with some coaching!). Good starter boat. Great for harbour/close shore fishing, doesnt really have the freeboard for open seas though, hence why i want to upgrade a bit. I am probably going to sell it at the beginning of next season as I want to upgrade to a 17 footer to go further out. You are more than welcome to come and take a look if you are in the London area and I can talk you through it, just to get some info. I started with my first boat about 6 years ago, (this being my second boat) so I have walked the path you are about to follow! Happy to share my experience!

A solar panel and charge regulator is probably one of the best investments i have ever made. Destroyed two batteries before i fixed the problem. Plus the cost has come down significantly in recent years. Now the battery is always full when i come back to it. one of these kinds of controllers works a treat, and can charge two battery setups. https://www.amazon.co.uk/FLOUREON-Controller-Intelligent-Regulator-Cellphones/dp/B075XL8F7J/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1535532805&sr=8-7&keywords=solar+charge+controller

Thanks guys, got out this morning. Was a bit sporty with the wind early on but had a successful trip. Thanks for the advice on the bass, i caught 4 today just off brownsea castle. Two were legal size and i would have kept them! Also picked up a gar and a sea horse! Yes a sea horse.

Thanks guys, could have saved me a lot of bother. Does that rule only apply in the harbour? or is it out in the bay too? My understanding of bass nursery rules are that you cant target them from a boat, but you cant keep any fish caught in the nursery area. Using live sand eels is completely prohibited as it turns them into lemmings. But catching bass outside the nursery area follows the usual rules. One per fisherman and a new minimum size of 42cm.

I thought that the ban on keeping Bass had been lifted, and you were now allowed to keep one per angler? or is this a self regulation rule you hold in the club? I am fine with that if it is a rule you all follow for the benefit of the fishery.

thanks everyone! will let you know how I get on

Thanks Stuie, Hopefully Poole will prove to be the regular fishing grounds i have been looking for. And this forum is amazing. I have been fishing in the Fal for about 6 years now, and the locals think that they have to guard their 'bass secrets'. Whispering about their catches on the beach etc. Locals their could learn a thing or two from this forum. Thanks for the beach and lure tips. Never had much luck with minnow lures, will give them a go though, along with my usual plug selection. Will post what i get up to. I have seen online that I need a permit to fish in the harbour, is that correct?

Hi everyone, Just joined. Name is Matt, Keep a Salcombe Flyer 440 with a friend. Used to leave it in Cornwall (the Fal) but keep it at home in London now to get more use out of it. Like to lure fish for bass, have experience of the Fal, Chichester and Bradwell. Never been in Poole before, but looking for somewhere to regularly fish and Poole looks like the ticket. Planning to come down Monday for my first outing this year. Fingers crossed on the weather. Looked at the charts (and the DEFRA bass nursery area) and a few locations look good for some trolling, anyone got any advice? Happy to head out in the bay if it is calm, but 440s arent built to take much chop. Also, if i bring the wife and kids, are there any good beaches where I can drop them for a couple of hours while I am out fishing?