alun j.

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.

To anyone interested......... this is a lot of boat for the money!! Having fished on her several times with Simon, I can add.......... ...........easy to launch and retrieve ...........fast boat ...........large fishing area ............large livebait tank with pump, built-in under transon seat ...........rear 'door' in transom [would be useful for diving]. This boat won't be hanging about for long !! Alun.

Bob didn't want to show how his red face matched his red bottom!

Duncan, We had the anchor rigged for tripping [ like yours].......and it did!! The problem was that the shackle attaching the chain to [the back of] the anchor 'failed'; either it broke or came undone and so anchor and chain parted company!! Resourceful Paul opened a forward locker and out comes 'spare', so we were quickly back in business. Alun.

Good call Adam; it turned out too windy and would have made most bream spots too uncomfortable. We bumped round the corner and fished D. Ledge for a couple of breamless hours, where we we joined by about 6 charters [in close formation!!] who didn't seem to fare any better. The wind freshened and mover around from NE, through E and went SE for a while. Before then, we explored further west and ended up in Chapman's Pool; interesting ground, lots of water close in and sheltered in the sunshine. Fishing was lively for a while with pollack, rays and wrasse.......but no sign of any bream here!! Met up , briefly, with Duncan on Claret and Blue......... a nice looking Warrior 175 .......who had steamed up from Kimmeridge......... and joined us doing circles in the funny tidal streams in our sunny corner! Good day out..........but glad it wasn't the Bream Comp.! Thanks Paul....... Imagine is a great fishing platform........and breezed through that rough stuff under the Purbecks ........Great bacon sarnies and supply of tea!! Alun.

Well done Al !! Cracking start to the season !! I was just starting to think 'when to start bassing??' , when I was out yesterday. Finding a decent number of mackeral should have given the answer.... but they've only just come to the Ledge in reasonable numbers. I'll have to check out my tank now.......... .......you've got me all excited......and looking for some calm weather. Alun.

Well done lads..........great looking lines..... and a nifty bit of reverse parking there! Good luck with the build project and hope it goes smoothly ....... and doesn't seem too long before 'TBA' gets wet and christened with fish scales! Do you have an itinary?; where do you start.........in what must be a long 'to do' list??? Ahhhhhh..........those long summer evenings!! Alun.

All the forecasts I'm looking at have eased a lot for Sunday. Single figure mph. from E and NE. Hoping it's 'On'................ I have worms......and a trophy to retain! Alun.

Wind direction also important........if it's offshore then we can get the bream close in [???] Today........ I went out on the Ledge [bit of a roll] ...... but inshore , nice and smooth. Alun.

The film studio models just keep getting better and better !

Late call...... Deciding on a trip out tomorrow.......out about 9 back between 4 and 5. Happy to go on my own .. but there's a spare seat on Gastronaught if anyone wants to join me to find a few bream and early mackeral. Sunscreen seems redundant but rain shouldn't amount to more than a heavy dew!! Post here or phone. Alun

Well done !! Talk about knowing your spots !!

YES !!..... Well done Will ; sounds like a much better day than some of us on the Ledge had! ........but the weather made it a 'Cracker'. Alun.

Gastronaught fished the comp. and joined 20 + boats on Christchurch Ledge [ some were club boats and some were definitely in the comp as well]. The bream fishing was much slower than described above.... and mostly smaller fish. Our best went to Rob......... but only after we moved away from the throng at a certain spot and tried a few of my preferred marks. at the end of the day we had more lively action pulling up a few good size pollack, whilst searching for BBQ mackeral [ but they were thin on the ground]. Bonus for the day ....... a bass for Rob...good size 'keeper', if a bit thin.....Gastronaught awaits tasting notes!! Alun.

Let's see how Adam will be when 'TBA' is here.... all blue and white and shiny ... with lots of stainless steel 'bling' and a purring Volvo Turbo in its heart ??

Despite big swells and overfalls in the Swinge and off the Casquets, this was the time I felt I needed to wearing the lifejacket! ...... 2 inches off the water , sitting on a 'balloon' and 2000 tons of ship over my shoulder! Good weekend ...........looking forward to the next one ........esp. now I know what to expect....[ rapid learning curve!]. Thanks to everyone for the good company. Alun.

Where do you put it now??