alun j.

Hi Craig & Jackie.........don't worry , you'll get plenty of offers from crew with experience........... and as we go as a group of boats, you can always buddy up for safety and security. Happy New Year to you both. Alun.

After Weds.' tough day, conditions seemed ideal yesterday with light winds and gentle tides. An invitation from Adam allowed the privilage of a trip on the all new, superb fishing platform that is 'Joint Venture' !! I convinced Adam that fishing over near the Island would be much better than Weds., so we headed East....... a lovely smooth ride at 20 kts. With far fewer boats than I'd expected at the cod park, perhaps others knew something [or couldn't get out in the cold conditions!]. We settled into the first of the [gentle ] flood ....but the bites were slow coming; the pout and whiting seemed to have deserted and left the place to the dogs! A slow procession of LSD all day was only briefly punctuated with one [smallish] cod about 6 lbs and a couple of small whiting to me and a pout to Adam... what a contrast to two weeks ago on similar tides! Yesterday we'd lost the horrid East wind, so the only thing I can think of has been the sharp drop in water temp. recent weather has caused [??]. Nevertheless........it was a good day to get out; Adam & Bob's boat is superb for the job and I couldn't think of a better way to spend a cold , grey Jan day!..Thanks Adam! Next trip out.........I'll be looking for a different venue. Alun.

Nice one Mike! I pulled the plug on today.......... saving all my calories for tomorrow!! Alun.

Mick, If I'm out {most likely!}........I'll give you a shout on Ch. 6. Alun. PS Not sure if I'll be W or E of you yet.... depends on breeze!

Although cold, it looks like it might be nice and sunny tomorrow!! Just thinking I may go out for a few hours after a late..ish start ?? [probably about 10.00] I'll leave it till the morning to decide, but would anyone like a short trip out for some whiting ? ....gentle tides, light tackle Alun.

Please add my name to list of potential crew. I am flexible to any date \ time ... but, like Tom, would like to have two days on the banks.. to make it worth the long journey. A smaller tide than last year's would be good. .......but I'll happily go whenever anyone offers a trip. Alun.

Hoping it's a 'Happy New Year' for both you and 'AWOL'. Alun.

Well the morning was, with the tide pushing us round into that biting wind. When the tide changed, it settled down and was a bit more cosy [ Rob might not agree now he's been spoiled a couple of times with trips on Alfresco!!]. Fishing was well down on recent form........ could have been the sharp drop in water temp., the murky water, the abundant weed and\or the packs of dogs... with one of those sat on your bait as it tries to stuff two or three squid in and not move, how can Mrs. Cod find it?? Nevertheless........I did manage two decent whiting [2 - 2.5 lbs size]... that are just on their way to my kitchen for dinner!!... so wasn't all bad!! Better luck towards the weekend, with lighter winds [??] and smaller tides ....I wish! Alun.

Let me repeat, and ampltfy the sentiment......... HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL ........have a good day and get out soon [too windy today ! ??] Little window coming up mid week....... will you be able to go catch a cod?? Alun.

Next one looks like Tues or Weds. [??] Only doing the cod comp if it opens a bit ! ....rather go Weds if it's calmer [ ..and a better tide time for here]. Alun.

Possibly a raymond ???

I will be if the weather plays ball! Alun.

Well done Andy.......'twas a lovely day to be out there. We were a bit closer in and had two cod [ total weight about the same as your one!] and a few good whiting. Amazing how different the day was from yesterday [ not just the weather]; then, it was non-stop action with loads of whiting [all sizes] and several crackers over 3 lbs. each........ today was slow, with hardly any whiting in comparison! Alun.

That is my 'Office'!! A.

Thanks Paul, Charlie and.......... ditto......ditto...ditto... Cheers, Alun.

First day of a double header window....... Today, I took Dave Penny out with me on Gastronaught as I went in search of a decent size cod to put on my Christmas table for the non-meateaters in my [extended] family. Forecast was just about spot on... just a bit more S than forecast. With a force 3 SW blowing into the ebb, I thought it might have been a bit lumpy at the Needles; so we started off at a little mark off the end of the Ledge that produced my best cod last year. Conditions here were fine and bites were quick to come [to squid, but nothing on the mackerel baited whiting hooks].........yep, you guessed it, the old 'Solent Salmon' were much in evidence... but I did drop two fish that weren't, after a few moments of strong tugging , both times they slipped off...cod or conger was my guess. Half an hour later, I got into one that stuck, but soon it had the distinct feel of a snake... and soon up came a spinning eel of about 15 lbs. After that, it was doggies all the way......so, after a coffee break, it was time to move. |A lumpy, bumpy trip around the Shingles brought us to the familiar area S of the Needles for the last hour of the ebb ..... and a blizzard of pout hit all, and every bait..........but this is not a bad sign. Soon pout were being replaced with whiting...... small at first, they gradually got bigger and bigger.... then a cod rod bangs over and up comes a fine 8 lber. ; then 5 mins later , the other one goes and up comes a 7 lber. Whiting are now coming in over 3 lbs. each....... and Dave is smiling as he now has enough to keep him well supplied. As the gentle flood increases, bites dry up and revert to pout. At last the wind has dropped..... so it was a quick gutting session [ No Gulls!!!], wash down and home on flattening seas at 20 kts + in my tiddler and back and out in the last of the light. A very pleasant day to be out [ in the much milder conditions].... good fishing, good company and a result in the fish box. Disappointed that Dave didn't get his cod... but he seemed happy with one of mine and the chunky whiting. Out again tomorrow.... with the prospect of a flatter day... looking forward to it already! Alun.

Windows, windows ..........??..........don't write off Mon. yet!! Early morning wind debatable, wind dying through the day.

That's where my pb cod came from a few years ago! Be prepared for lots of doggies though. I find it fishes better on the ebb. Alun.

Today's window was forecast to close up early afternoon with freshening westerlies, but I hadn't been out since Tues. ....... and Paul was keen to use his day off [despite being off sick the past two days!]..... the prospect of fresh [and much less cold] air and a calm sea was enough to rouse him from his convalescence at 6 am. A quick and smooth launch had Imagine pacing through a flat harbour before 8 and out into the Bay that had only a slight swell with the last of the ebb. With the forecast, we agreed a trip to the Island would have us bashing our [long] way back in the afternoon, so we decided to stick closer to home. First stop was S. Rough......but it was too ...on the bottom as the wind pushed us off the tide and swinging about...... so a bit further out .. to deeper water and smoother bottom. Here the tide had turned, the wind dropped, and it was like early Spring!! As the tide started to flood, bites materialised and a procession of whiting started and kept going all day!! Mostly small fish......but fit and fat, fat, fat!!.. going well on light tackle. Mixed in were a few better fish..... and the cod gear with big baits produced one cod each [ albeit rather small cod!!] and Paul also pulled in a lively conger. Today's forecast was spot-on!! The wind gradually increased to a 4 [ but blowing with the tide, it was OK]; it was getting up more as we pulled sticks and the trip back was a bit lumpy [ but short!]......so, a good call and a most enjoyable day.. ...and enough cod and whiting to tide me over the weekend!! Let's hope Mon & Tues's forecasts are as accurate!! Thanks again Paul, for another super day out on 'Imagine', the good company and excellent fresh-brewed tea! You should be able to sleep tonight........and hope you fell back to 100% tomorrow. Alun.

Mon \ Tues. Charlie...........still working then ??? Alun.

Bit of a bumpy weekend coming up .... but Mon and Tues next week look good. I'll be doing either or both!! There's a spare seat on Gastro' if anyone 's keen to go, and is flexible on which day. The tides look good, just hope there's not too much swell left after the weekend. Call or post, Alun.

Well done on the effort James..... and at least you got one! I agree about the food .... but that's why the fish are there. I only got whiting as I was targetting them over the slack... only two came on the cod gear. I'm hoping to get out in the Bay tomorrow [ for a comparison!]; then back to the cod park[??] next Mon\ Tues\ weather window of calm !!! Alun.

Kam, No dolphin near us.........perhaps we weren't throwing enough squid over the side [??]. Alun.

Hi Charlie, No fog our end when we went out.........just low grey murk. Thin,fog came up a bit later but Needles light was visible for most of the time. It cleared with the HW and we even had a bit of bright clear sky on the way back. Approaching land and it thickened up a bit more... but still not fog... just poor vis. Good to get out, esp as the sea was so flat..... hardly seen all summer! Now.......... where's that next weather window??? Fri. poss.??? Alun. ps... gentle tides by then!!

Not a great deal to report other than a very pleasant day out ...in flat calm conditions. Shame there was such a big tide pushing through, as it knocked the fishing right off! The 'gentle' conditions suited Dan [aka Gnasher] as he's nursing his broken\injured insides..... and he seemed dead keen to get out and in with a chance of a cod. Out on the edge of the cod park just before 9, the anchor dug in with a 'twang' on the warp... with about 3 to 4 knts of flow.. and it was quickly up to a pound and a half trying to hold bottom. That would hold, but soon the accumulating red weed formed a 'kite ' that lifts ... so frequent clearing was needed. A regular stream of doggies got at the baits and there was just one solid take on mine that was a good fish..... cod or eel was the call as it banged off in the tide........ a few lifts towards me [ and a few runs away] then off it dropped!! No breaks...and the hooks came in bare!........and that was my excitement for the day!! Only as the tide eased did action improve; a couple of hours of whiting teasing with light tackle for me , whilst Dan resolutely stuck to big baits for the all elusive cod! When the ebb started, it soon got up as fast or faster than the earlier flood and we soon realised it had tripped the anchor. As it was after 3 , we decided on a quick clear up and earlier trip back to the slip. I was happy with a few good whiting in the box, but disappointed for Dan who hasn't had a chance to get amongst the cod this winter yet. Another boat on the slip had been in the same area as us and had just one small[ish] cod. Is it the tides or have the cod thinned out a bit??? [ my results have been fewer cod on the past few trips]. Cheers Dan, for the company and crewing as I cleaned up. Hope today wasn't too tiring\painful\ stressing for you and your recovery proceeds rapidly. Alun.