alun j.

Hi Gordon, I've got no plans [yet] but looking at Saturday. Alun.

Happy Birthday........sorry it's late...... been out fishing all day....in warm sunshine on flat sea. Alun.

.....also says it's good to eat!!.....unlike 'common' wrasse .... and not 'vunerable' [yet!]

Well done Pete on your result! That's 2 out of 2 so far for you... it could be your 'wheelbarrow' year !! Alun.

Just get out fishing!!

Just put them in a bucket with very little water. I got one this morning

Charlie, Hope you have me down as 'Stand-by crew', able to go at a moment's notice?? Any time you want to fill a space..... and galley skills offered! Alun.

Gastronaught's crew had a lively and relaxing day's fishing in almost perfect conditions! Out to the Ledge soon after 8 ... where were all the other boats?? Found a suitable looking spot and were soon joined by Neo and Marineboy in close proximity. Action from the 'Off'.....and the better fish!!.;....... as the day went on, the bream got more numerous but smaller. Slack water killed the action [ briefly] but the ebb got more and more small bait - snatchers, with just the odd better one. Adam had the best bream at 2lbs 3 oz.; I could only manage 1 lb 14 oz......but numbers approx. similar.......[ loads each!!] As the ebb faded.....we both fancied a change......... so off to fill the bait tank. Not so easy!! Maybe it was the lack of flow ... or the strange brownish water closer in, but mackerel were hard to find. With just enough for an hour or so we started a few drifts as the tide started and soon got into a few bass.........not big, but 4 - 5 lbs size fish give a good tussel on light gear ...... and again Adam gets the better fish again!! All baits used by 4pm and early finish suits us both. Could write more about weird weather .....Paul is near Hengist Head in rain, we are a few 100 yards out in sun , applying lotion..........but this is Catch Report! Hard to believe every where so quiet for a Sunday....... very little boat traffic, no queue on the slip, no jams on the road... can't last!! Alun.

This household too......well, the older generation!! [ the younger ones are out!] Just gets funnier .......and ruder!!

Summer before last, coming back in from sole fishing with Paul F., we saw hundreds of fish jumping all over the place on the Bar outside Christchurch Harbour entrance ..... warm, calm conditions. Good luck sorting your engine Dan..... any idea what the problem is\was?? The one [ and only] time I experienced anything like that, was a brand new engine that had a loose \bad connection on the starter. Alun.

Wow!!, I noticed the river was up, surprised it went out that far this time of year.. ..........or were you just in the harbour?? Alun.

Giving in too easily Paul ??

Charlie \ Mike, If MOB was too weak to lift him\herself over the side * [with a pull], then I would use the hydraulics on the engine to lift to a 'step-on' height. * I've been for a swim from anchored boat and got back on OK [ like getting out of a pool]. Alun.

No !! Plan was......... Adam was going to have a dive off the back of mine; but a tiddler like mine doesn't have a platform............so the steps would make recovery easier. Plan now changing!

Good one Gordon !! Is that the response you got last Sunday?? [ You said you couldn't sleep!]

Thanks for the offers......so Adam can get back on board after a dive! I'll call in on Charlie tomorrow. Alun.

PJ, 'switching methods'?? I started this livebait fishing using a large single but found the point twisted round back into fish and I lost about half takes; switching to trebles sorted that but they are difficult to extracate if deeply hooked. Flattening the barbs doesn't make much difference if hooks go down. Gordon was using a big single and outfished me on Sunday...... but I think some of his fish were deeply hooked and may not fare well after going back. A few years ago I got a bass in really poor condition [ wasted\satrved] in mid-Summer; unhooking it you could see the end of a big hook inside. It went back but I wouldn't have given it long and was no good to eat. One of the problems of livebait fishing is the bass hit so hard this time of year, when mackerel are just here and bass are warming up and feeding better. Any suggestions on hook options?......maybe open a thread in Tackle Forum?? Alun.

Does anyone have a set of those folding steps you can hang on the side of the boat to climb aboard with that I could borrow ??? One day loan for this coming Sat. Will collect and return later Sat pm. Thanks, Alun.

Happy Birthday Sam; bit of a special one today ! Now he is truely..... ' Sam the Man' !...... despite being the size of one for many years. Have a good day........ see you in the bar next week. Alun.

Paul, I agree with the sentiment of your catch 'regime' [sounds better than 'rules'], but what would you do with deeply hooked fish? From a biological point of view, I doubt a fish with a damaged stomach is going to live long. My regime is :- two sizeable fish, then return what you can; which is why 2 fish between 8 and 9 went back [ in tip top condition] yesterday. Alun.

I think I've said this before........ but I'll repeat my observation\experience. The best eating bass are the ones in best [fat] condition and size is more about prepping portions \ cooking method. I'll take any sizeable bass [ as I love to cook bass]; once my supply is assured, I'll put back lip-hooked \ mouth-hooked fish [ like the two 8 lbers today]..... but if a treble goes in the stomach, it's very hard for that fish to survive; it may swim away well but it won't be able to feed and will starve. I agree about fresh..... not frozen! WE eat a lot of fish and my wife has a big family who also appreciate.........so none goes to waste. Alun.

Here's a pic of the best of this morning's seven bass weighing in at 10 lbs. 8. Others went 8 - 9 ; 8 - 5 ; 6 -5; 6 - 0 and two just under 3. Cracking scrapers on light solid C spinning rod. Float method = 4; Freeline =3; so not much in it when the bass are feeding!

Just got in from a last minute decision to go [just for the morning as I'm working !! later] Didn't look too good at 7.30 , with a breezier than expected S.Easterly. Slow getting mackerel on the last of the ebb.......so , when i had a dozen or so in the barrel, thought I'd better get started. Ebb had eased and wind blowing me across and back inshore was all wrong. It was nearly 10 and little was doing........but then the tide turned on and it started pushing more than the wind..........and the bass came on the feed. One or two fish each drift.... and each drift a different line as tide got stronger and wind eased down Best fish went 10 lbs 8oz. ; a couple over 8 went back easily [ lip-hooked] a couple over 6 and a few smaller ones and then I ran out of livelies. Returned to get some more..........but could find any mackerel ........several reliable spots all blanked.....then it wasn't worth trying any longer so finished early and back for lunch. I'll put a pic up later ...... and look forward to repeat this trip soon!! Alun.

Adam is with me on Gastronaught Alun.

Happy Birthday Dom............a much better day than forecast; hope it's a good one for you. All the best, Alun.