alun j.

Who said this was a poor time of the year for fishing here?? Thanks to Tom, for an excellent day out on Illusion today, that resulted in two PBs for me ....... and some aching arms !! The day started well ....... with beautiful Spring sunshine and a flat sea......and barely a soul about. Following talk at last night's club meet, we converged on the idea of trying some banks south of Durlston Head, if the sea allowed, as the smallish tides might offer a chance of ray, late cod or possible conger [if less lucky!!]. Targets were soon met and exceeded!! Within 30 mins of pulling tight on the anchor warp, my rod was nodding and stiffened into the familiar [it has been this winter!!] thump of cod...... which went on to give a good account of itself in the swift tide until it came to Tom's deft netting and on to the scales which showed 11 lbs. 8. ... a good fat fish, stuffed with hermit crab. Next drop and straight into a bite....... missed !!...... but with a chunk bitten out the middle of the sqiud between the two pennel hooks!...very uncodlike [conger?? I thought........but no !!]. The culprit soon came back, this time hooked, but clearly didn't feel like cod or conger........ Near the surface it looked like a small tope\ smoothhound....... but as netter Smith swooped in, the shout went out "spurdog". I've not caught many of these streamlined beauties before [ so any sizeable one would be a PB ]; this one went 11 Lbs 5 on the scale before being slipped back. As Tom was telling me tales of how these used to be pests, with packs of them snapping up all baits [dogfish style !!], the other rod starts bouncing and another [slightly bigger one] was soon aboard and weighed in at 13 lbs. [another pb for me]. Not sure how big these sleek things check in at, a text to Charlie gets a reply that 12 lbs = 100 % .......shame we didn't get the camera out. By now the tide is fading away.... as does the action ..... save a few pout and small doggies. After an early lunch and a swing about, it's only as the tide picks up that action resumes.......... a few plucks and then I hook into something that wants to stay on the bottom......I'm calling ray, Tom thinks cod as it's staying right under the boat. In fact, it's under the boat 'cause the boat is dragging........ Tom says.. due to the fish!! Solid pressure from the Solid C eventually wins and the fish gradually starts coming up........ then back down......then up again.........taking some time to bring the big flat kite of a blonde to the surface. Tom just squeezes her into the net and she goes 23 on the scales [ a good fish, not quite my best!] Tom says we've moved 50 + metres......but that's OK as we are now right on top of the bank. After a few more little dogs to me and a small cod for Tom, the tide is increasing and leads are stepped up. Toms says....boats is on the move again..... and I reply that's 'cause I'm into another big fish !! ; this feels bigger than the previous one, it feels like I've caught Dorset......... only the boat is moving and this is straight down and occasionally pulls me over!! It takes at least 10 mins of full strain on the 30 lb braid to persuade the girl to move... and slowly she comes up. On the surface, netter Smith works out [after two or three goes], she is too wide for his net !! Within a trice, he reappears with a small hand gaff and cleanly lifts her out. Weighed and photo 'd , she slips back in and swims off seamingly OK whilst my arms recover. The photo shows she was quite a struggle to lift [with tired arms!]; my second [or was it third] pb of the day, this blonde went 27 lbs [min. steady weight] ........ and was too good to follow. The tide was getting stronger and the boat was dragging.......so we called an early [ish] finish after a quick clear-up. Who said early March was no good ??...... we had a cracking day...... Thanks again Tom. Alun.

Charlie, I seem to remember hearing\reading here somewhere that 'private\invite' trips were different to charters and could count for club info\recording. It would help to clarify this as I might get another next month; definitely in club waters, after some plaice.!! Alun.

Friday looks to be an improved weather day, with light winds [NW] and small tides. Only prob. is where to go in early March [???]...... my little boat won't be going as far I was taken last Sunday for pollack !! .... perhaps closer to home for some rays. Maybe someone might whisper in my ear at tomorrow's meeting ?? Alun.

Hi Charlie, I don't know about 'Charter'; to me it was an 'invite' & a free day out, with only 4 others on board. Looks like Alan, here, has given the exact Nos., so we were just outside, to the west. .........not that a few pollack would challenge the specimen level of your eels !! Good to get out on a nice day. Alun.

Thanks Alan...........about what I suspected but wondered if it was 'rounded-up' to a full minute of longitude. No monsters , but some good, fat medium size pollack [just up to double figures]. Alun.

How far west does club waters go in Long. numbers ?? I was out from Weymouth today....... and about 30 miles due South [??] of the Bill. We were on 02. 28 west .......is that inside or out?? Alun.

Belated birthday wishes from me ......... just got back from a week in the sun ... and catching up. Hope you're on the mend [albeit slowly]...... and planning a date to get out on the water [ soon??]. Cheers, Alun.

....not for a fight! ... but because it's warmed up a bit! Felt almost like Spring......no frost, just one coat and harbour water up between 6 and 7 C. There' s still large volumes of river water coming down the harbour {Christchurch}, enough to overpower the flooding tide, but it is a lot clearer now. Yesterday's question was 'Have the flounders gone now?'..........the result of over 3 hours fishing was just one [ albeit a fair one, just under 2 lbs.]..... so the answer must be .......pretty much 'Yes !' So what about the whiting ?? At lunchtime the fresh..ish NW dropped a bit ; so took the opportunity to change venue and whizzed out to Southbourne Rough for the afternoon. Almost no tide at this time, so took advantage of light tackle and threw out a selection of baits to see what I could tempt. Within a few mins, the first of a succession of whiting came aboard.....but all very small apart from one good size one for the box. All baits were catching, with the leftover ragworm doing best! After a couple of hours, the wind got up again, now pushing across\against the tide; .... so an early finish to a very pleasant day Two sizeable fish in the box .... not too bad a result for mid-Feb..... but time to put the flounder rods away until the Autumn. Alun.

No probs........ loads of water in the river\harbour. I came in at 4.45; shallowest was 1.4 m over the Bar [second buoy from the outside]. Alun.

Well....... just for the weather today.. it was a big YES !! Despite -3 C this morning at 7 when I launched........ 2 coats, thermal boots, hat , scarf etc.. flat calm and clear sky held prospect of some warming sun ... soon!! A slow thaw\warm up in the lower [Christchurch] harbour saw absolutely no action from any flounders with the first few hours of the flood. My bucketful of prime Poole rag, dug last week with the big tides, is lasting longer than expected !! [ I'll give them one more go on Mon., before being convinced they're off to spawn !!] So a change of scene mid\late morning.......... putting the float rods to one side and reaching for the whiting\cod gear.........it was a quick move on a flat sea out past the Dolphin Sands..... to find the end of a screaming tide... and the need for 1lb. leads!! Although it was really slow, the lovely [almost warm!!] sun, flat calm and clear air was recompense enough. Ch 6 was buzzing and mob tinkling showed others were about and also enjoying the late winter sun and just being OUT ! As the tide backed off a bit, bites started coming ....... and a few whiting came aboard. ... mostly small, but a few for the box, with the best going 2 lbs. 6 oz. All went dead at the slack.....and didn't improve much with the first of the ebb. As the flow soon got up again, I tried a move inshore to some deep water at the back of the Ledge;;;; much more fishable without massive leads.....but only dogs and pout showed here before a hasty retreat over the Bar whilst there was still plenty of water!! Late Feb can be tricky and unrewarding........ but not today!! Alun.

I'll be out Sat......... looks like being a nice day [after a frosty start!] Looking for some flounders first...... then, if not so good, a trip out for last [??] of the whiting \ late cod [!!]. Looks like I'll have a lot of different rods on board!! Alun.

or come in later, with the flood .......... and save diesel!!

Sunday looking calmer from here on some of the more reliable sites, esp. early on. Could be worth a last look for cod and whiting, though tides are getting bigger. Alun.

Just about all gone down here !!.........but still very cold! Alun.

Well done Adam...... .....but you know that even the fatest snowman shouldn't be out in this weather without a hat .... esp. when fishing !! Alun.

'Tempted' ? ........ yes !!, constantly!! Was planning on going this morning, with the forecast rise in temp. .......BUT...... at first light, it wasn't [light], as snow clouds and wind gathered. We had more snow today than yesterday, albeit warmer, wetter slushy stuff ......... so plan abandoned and now postponed till Thurs. Just hoping lighter winds materialise ....... anyone like to join me ?? Alun.

Happy Birthday Tom, A quiet day .... making snowmen ?? Celebs later ?? Alun.

Best snow I've seen down here was Feb 1978........ blizzards swept up from the SW, after a cold [half term] week, 3 feet deep drifts on the cliff top road [where I was living] and school was closed for a week. I had friends who visited Cornwall and couldn't get back for a week. I remember rolling a snowball down the zigzag that ended up 5 foot wide on the prom and then became a small iceberg in the sea! Only other decent, lasting snow was in the mid 80's when we had a few cold winters. Not too many of us on here remember '62-'63........ now that was a horrid winter. It started Boxing Day and lasted months......into March or was it April; snow that filled the lanes above the tops of the hedges. Give me mild winters any\every year !! Alun.

.........and not much in the garden either!...... a few flakes resting on top of plainly visible grass! Anyone want to come fishing tomorrow?? ... supposed to be a bit warmer!! Alun.

As Adam said, a few miles and a bit of altitude can make all the difference. Here's outside mine a few mins ago; although it's been 'snowing' all afternoon, there's nothing on the completely untreated road!

Virtually all gone here now [lunchtime]. Although still a few flurries, it is melting on contact and rate of evaporation seems greater than rate of precipitation. Looks like it might be warm enough to go wet a line tomorrow! Alun.

Only a light 'dusting' down here....... and the sun is out. Locally, roads seem to be clear and running OK. Alun.

All The best wishes for a HAPPY BIRTHDAY .....MARTIN Have a great day despite the freezing weather... cheers., Alun.

..........OR.......if you can afford it.........take it as good news; simce I took redundancy last year, I've had the most relaxed time, caught the most fish, found the best weather and had the choice what to do each day!! Best 'job' ever! But, as Martin noted, if you want to get sucked back in, you soon will [skilled professionals always needed!]. Good luck Bob.......and remember, there's often a mid-week space on Gastronaught! Alun.

Looks like it might fall calm[er] again on Mon and\or Tues.; anyone else feel like braving the elements?? Bigger tides and residual swell could confine efforts inside harbour.... but there may still be some whiting about [??]. Alun.