alun j.

Sandeels are good for catching bass. [stating the obvious!!..]. ...........but are often pounced on by the smaller, school bass. I prefer a bigger bait ............ for a better spikey !!

Most of next week is looking good at the mo !!

Not been out there for a week.......and no chance this week. It's flounders for me at the mo.!

Happy Birthday Dave. Have a good day..........but looks a bit cold and breezy to get out ?? Alun.

Hi Lofty.......definitely a Dab........great eating !! Had you made it down the Ledge, using the tide, you would have found it a bit lumpy around the turn of the tide, with a stiff NE breeze for a bit. It did ease as the tide started to run..........but the tide did get up to 2.5 knots by 2 pm.

Sounds like a big fish lost !! Had you thought of buoying off the anchor and using the boat to get you over the fish ?? This has worked for me when a big bass has dived into the snaggy bottom here.

Should have taken my own advice !!! .....but the fun of bassing... and 'One last cast', made me 20 mins later coming back today. That was mistake 1 ; mistake 2 was going too fast [ trying to beat the falling tide] A slight deviation............ and crunch...... bump, bump, bump........ and a limp back in ! Question 1..... Is Propeller Revolution still the place to go to prop repair?? Quetion 2 .... Any suggestions as to a repair to the skeg.......which has lost a chunk off the bottom ?? Cheers, Alun.

Johnny.....if that link is what you are using .... switch location to Christchurch Entrance. The Quay is way up river.... and a fair bit later !! If anything, the Bar is a bit earlier , even than the Entrance !!

Be aware of the tides tomorrow and Weds. Tomorrow, with LW at 4.50, you will need to be well before 3 .... or you'll be out there in the dark till well after 6.30. High air pressure and Spring tide ! About 30 mins later on Weds.

I like both !! Although right-handed, I like to use LH multipliers for lure fishing and mackerel feathering..........esp with ABU reels with the thumb release...right hand holds rod and frees spool, left for cranking with no change - over. With most bottom fishing and heavier gear, RH multipliers. All my Shimano multipliers are RH , but last year I discovered the Avets , and now mostly use these. As they come in LH versions, I've tried these and like them the same as RH....so have a couple of each. One benefit I found......esp when wrecking with pirks and plastic lures.... it can be very tiring, with a lot of winding during the day. By have a set of left and right on different rods, a swap over every so often, evens out the strain in the muscles !!

Update........ Out today.........and the 'Channel' is hard to determine. Take care as soon as you pass the Quay....... the breaking surf shows you the much more extensive Bar that runs almost down to Avon Beach parallel to the shore. The big difference is that there is almost no channel inside ; it is very flat !! and shallow. With big tides coming next week with that better weather , allow plenty of time either side of LW I came in this afternoon about 3.45. LW was about 2 [ and not a big tide] . I only had 0.5m for a long stretch and could trickle in with prop trimmed well up; You can't do this if tide is falling. Alun.

Could Admin please update the Catch Report form so we can log in fish caught this year; it is stuck in 2011, with no 2012 option.?? I have some bass to log in !! Alun.

Hi Nige, I'll be sticking my nose out early........but expect I'll soon be back inside if wind gets up. I'll have Ch 6 on. Cheers, Alun.

.........and window now gone .....enjoy reading the crackers!!

I'll have a look as soon as weather allows us to get out..... not this coming week. I may squeeze a few hours in the morning tomorrow ... but will be staying well inside the harbour.

Just had a message from Adam, who asked me to post up here...... COMP IS ON FOR SUNDAY. Weigh in at BAITER : 4.00 pm I'll bring the hamper......... who's got the scales ??

I'll wait and see what the weather's doing.

Do we need to sign-in again for Sunday's comp.??

Today........... Propects are looking much better for this coming Sunday

Well done Nige........another cracking day for you!

Gastro will be out for the morning, with Kev as crew.........looking for an unseasonal target !!

Weather looking pretty grotty for Sunday....... perhaps Allan will have time to recover [ get well soon!!].... and Adam and a few others could join in if it's postponed ?? Another week in prospect when the forecasters barcharts lokk as colourful as a tube of Smarties !!

if you will the fact that by simply handling a fish you are condemning it to an almost certain death as you will have damaged its mucus membrane ........can't be true..........or tagged fish would never get caught again !!

.......contains ........seasonal........ meats, cheeses, wines,pickles, biccies, chocs., cake, mince pies, Christmas pud and tree decorations. Cheers,

Here's the hamper............as prize for Best Flounder. Hope this gives some incentive to get out in the wind and rain on Sunday ......