alun j.

and here's another....

Here's a glimpse of the Hamper for Sun's comp....... if the weather allows it to be fished.

It doesn't happen that often........or for that long !! What are they making all the fuss about ?? Most of the time the site is brilliant ! Well done Paul .

I don't know about sprats Charlie........ the two cod I had on Sat were both stuffed with fish and a few crabs\prawns. Most of the fish were small wrasse, pout, whiting and gobies \ blennies\ bullhead from the stony ground......we're talking over a dozen fish in each of a 11 and 15lb. cod. Interestingly, the roe in the cod was only half formed, so they could be about a good bit longer. Further to the great squid debate......... I've caught all mine this year on good old 'normal' calamari. I think my catches have compared similarly to other boats. My rigs are 5/0 Sakuma fine wire hooks tied as a fixed Pennel on 40 lb mono. I haven't dropped any cod on the way up! [apart from the one that T-barred itself on the net when I was solo] I did find a surprising experience last Sat......... I had a decent whiting on, that got off. When re-baiting, I found the hook had broken !! I checked the other ..... and very little force snapped it !! ........ similarly on the other rod. .......These were traces I'd used a couple of times and put away at end of day. Either corrosion or the effects of being yanked out of dogfish many times with pliers had seriously weaked the steel. Thanks to the whiting that showed the problem....... hooks changed and cod successfully landed shortly afterwards. Alun.

I called him up ............ and he was very secretive !! I told him we had two cod.......... but no response !!!

Look at that sea..........just as impressive !!

Sympathies Adam ... Thought I was doing OK with an 18 lber>> !! but much bigger ones caught by others.... Alun.

Nice smooth trip across to the 'Carpark'........where later in the day I counted 33 boats within a couple of miles........ Picked a spot on the edge, closer to the Needles , to escape some of the expected tide, later, on the ebb. As we settled into the last of the flood, I had a good bite on my second drop...... and into a headshaker that flopped om the deck and spewed up a medium sized pout [so a few ounces less!!!], but still pulled the scales to 18 lbs. ...[on cleaning later, it still had 3 more small pout and a load of crabs inside swollen stomach !!] ....... good start !!! Into the slack and it went quiet....... just a few whiting. When the ebb started, it soon got up speed and leads quickly went up to a pound and a half...... and weed was more evident. Action was slow, but a steady stream of reasonable whiting up to 3 lbs [ for Jon and Paul ] and another small cod for me [ about 4 lb.] As the ebb eased and leads went back to 8 oz, the expected improvement in fishing didn't materialised but good points were the super weather with sun and NO WIND !! and a relative absence of dogfish and pout.... so baits stayed intact. Thanks to Paul for another enjoyable day afloat....and a shame we couldn't all get a cod. Alun.

Happy Birthday Rob.......just in..... & just spotted it !! Many Happy Returns ........... Cheers, Alun.

I'll be out with Paul Frey on Imagine !! Alun.

all melting and washing away now !! hopefully not to return !!

and the other corner !!

Here's my garden yesterday morning...... about 9 am , in the gloom

..........or last Fri??

.....but how did you do Tomo ??

Mike , with the wind forecast, you could be one of the fastest boats !! Will it still be on if the stiff North-easterly stays in the forecast.?? Alun.

Rosie One will be going out on the 10:30 !!!! Crew on Gastro will be on their second breakfast by then !! Call us on 6 and we will give you 'Scores on the doors'!! Alun.

I find those big hooks are not sharp enough as the wire is so thick. 5/0 to 7/0 in the Vivaris \ Sakuma wide gape pattern .... not the extra strong pattern as they are thicker.

the problem of fixed dates !! Bet they wished it could have been Mon & Tues this week !!! Last year in the Solent did it for me !

Well this morning it is looking thoroughly confused ! The 4 websites I use are all giving different outlooks !! There may be lulls in the wind but there is no confidence over when , or for how long !!!!!

Cheers Terry............ Have a good day, despite the weather ! Many Happy Returns.... Alun.

only drawback [apart from cost !!]......is the coffee isn't that hot when you get it !!

Quote..... Like the Haddock off Christchurch!! laugh.gif YES !! Saw a few yesterday..... landed in nets. Not very big though!

Sunday's weather not looking so good now !! .......esp for venturing further out. Might just be OK inshore. ........BUT...... it could be all different tomorrow [???]

I agree with all above.......... but the confines \ rock and roll of open boat means..... more containers = more chance of spills and \or rapidly cold drink !! I make a flask putting cool milk onto instant coffee, then adding boiling water..... this warms coffee up rather than milk cooling it down. Good for the morning............ by later in the day all tastes pretty rank !!