alun j.

Just got in.........so I'll catch - up with late[ish] birthday wishes. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Tom. Do you get tomorrow off....to unwind?? Alun.

Thanks Charlie, Just say what time and where. I can give PJ a lift. Alun.

Shame it's a workday........ Shame the weather's so bad........ Shame the fish have almost gone...... BUT........it's still a special day!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Martin !! Hope you have a great day and lots of ways to enjoy yourself. Alun. PS . Is AWOL all fixed ??

You're right Dunc., .......and just like two of the past three 'windows'. Last Monday was the nice 'big' one we'd all like to see more often.... flat calm and fish filled. Fingers crossed for Sat., I think ther should be a bit of Feb sunshine to brighten the day. Alun.

Yep PJ., Confirm tomorrow.......looks cold but with only a little tide, we should be cosy with the dodger up! I might have to bring an extra flask of something warm......... but if action is as hectic as recently, you have to reel in to take a break!!

I'm not going so early !! Maybe it will get up to close to 0 C.. ...put hands in sea to warm them up a bit!!

Sat. weather window still looking fishable!

Lovely sunny day today, and not too cold [yet??]. Variation in the forecasts [what's new??], but most giving NW dropping and going W later in day [ wrong!] Rich had Warren all ready and off down the harbour we went in pursuit of Barfleur and into the [warming] sunshine. All calm in the Swash, so out to previously succesful whiting mark, East of Ballard\Swanage. Only a little tide running, so light leads deployed and only mins. sees us into first fish........and bang - on Target species........only trouble......about a pound too small! Fish every drop [ despite that little red trawler right up our warp!].... but getting smaller and smaller. Loads went back unscathed but 11 o'clock and not a keeper [ trawler had done two more circuits......out towards the Needles and back over the Dolphins......inshore to the Patch.....and back to us ]. Despite the breeze, we felt the need to move........so ventured further out..but kept the same gulls in attendance [ the same oiled bird we saw on Mon.]. Bingo!! Amongst the small whiting , we , at last, found a few better fish. The wind picked up a bit and a few white horses were dancing.......but with the small tide...we sat in them fairly comfortably ......but this was new territory for Rich and Warren...but he seemed to be enjoying the whiting hauling and escape from the office!!?? As mentioned earlier this week....... many bites were finnicky and hard to hit. Lift and drop of bait often helped but many fish slipped off. One that didn't, turned out to be a much better fish!! This was no whiting........and the hard pull was familiar as Mr Spikey!!...Yes , another bass!; not huge......but a fat 3 + lber! that topped my day. Thanks again Rich for a most enjoyable day in the sun. Despite the rolling about, a succesful haul with some more plump whiting........and proof of what grand little boats the Orkneys are! If I get out on Sat., I reckon it probably will be the last of the winter's whiting...and the start of the seasonal lay-up Alun.

PJ, We'll keep our eyes on the weather [looks to turn cold!!] and confirm Fri. Alun.

Could also be the last chance to stock up with some fat whiting. I'm looking to get out again........willing to crew or be crewed. Alun.

I thought they were just meeting up for tea and fresh whiting! ... .....having heard the skipper mentioning catch earlier.

I love it like this!!......when a cup of tea stays full and it doesn't matter where you put your cup! Mind you a nice boat, like Paul's Orkney 20, helps enjoy the day even more. Out to the mark at 20 + kts, we soon settled on the anchor in a gentle tide and were expecting bites to come quickly......; they did , but not the whiting expected!, a slow stream of pout [ with some big ones ] a few doggies and the odd small whiting ........not the plan!! The tide started to build and , with heavier leads on, a few better whiting showed, but not in number............so we moved out a bit further.....and after a short while found our target.......decent whiting, in fair numbers. As the tide eased, and lighter tackle deployed, fishing was a real treat and the fishbox filled steadily........... and the hours whizzed by!! No sunshine on the outside for us today...... but the condition were so nice, the 'sunshine' for us was on the inside!...... a warm glow of satisfaction.!! Thanks Paul for another excellent day on Imagine. Alun.

Dom, You should be OK, esp. if you come back along your plot out. The entrance and Bar have changed.......and there's only one yellow buoy to help. Biggest change is the loss of the big gravel bar at the end of the Run. The 90 degree turn is still there at the yelow buoy, then it's mostly straight out using the wave shapes to find the deeper water......it is dead shallow everywhere...but tend to go left\east a bit. Coming in...... go fast, get up on the plane and head for the yellow buoy ..and round it on the east and northern sides. Let us know if you find the whiting down our end of the Bay !! Good luck \ tight lines, Alun.

Sorry Mark, I'm out with Paul F. on 'Imagine'. If you get out give us a call on 6. Alun.

Mon? .....moi!

Jack, Just make sure you put plenty of bait into the water.... keep them there, feeding until I can get out on Mon. [on a calmer day than Sun.]. Groundbaiting works ....... I think you have a big baitdropper, don't you?? Good luck ......and have a good day. Alun.

Sorry, can't do Sunday ! Alun.

Rob, Nowhere near........we were out from Poole......in the deeper water just past Ballard Down. I've not had much success for the whiting from Mudeford this year,but haven't tried for a while. Alun.

Hi Charlie, Not really that close........similar line, but about 2 miles west, closer to Ballard. We saw 3 or 4 other boats , they were broadly scattered..........and with a trawler in between! I think the whiting move about quite a bit, following the sprats. Little bits of bait in the water seemed to keep them close. Good luck when you can get out, Alun.

Sunday should be OK weatherwise........but there's a big tide running.

Tiny window today and quite a big tide; I was worried more about big swells than planks of wood. I met Terry at Baiter just after 7.30 and conditions were beautiful. Stingray was back in the water after a long lay-up but fired up first turn. 20 or 30 mins out to the mark with an hour or so of the tide still building. It didn't take long for bites to start....... slow at first, mostly with pout....but then the whiting arrived and it soon got hectic!! .........and they continued as the tide eased, all through the slack and into the ebb. A variety of size, with many nice 'keepers' and along with these I picked up a 'bonus' cod[ling] just under 5 lbs. By lunchtime the wind was up a bit and blowing into a strong ebbing tide, so it was getting less comfy. With the coolbox nearly full, it wasn't a hard call to finish early and get out at Baiter well before LW....stopping en-route to clean the catch. Thanks Terry for a great trip out; I'm glad I was able to put us on the fish. Complements on the soup [ add it to the recipe forum]; not just the yummy taste but also it's non-drip consistency! Lovely whiting fillets for dinner tonight ; and many more [from the freezer] for the empty days of Feb & March coming up. Alun.

What are they going to do with the stuff cleared off the beaches?? They are trying to keep the wreckers off it. Alun.

Neal, Moulds are coming to me; if you are coming to next meeting, I could pick up wire \ lead from you then. ??? Alun.

Happy Birthday Jack .........happy to have you park your boat nearby anytime! Have a good day, Alun.

But you'll only be able to fish it at night.......due to the numbers of surfers that will be there [almost permenantly]. Even on Weds., when it was almost flat, there were 20 or more of them in the water near the pier............ but, oddly, none further down at Southbourne, where the residual swell was throwing up some nice breakers ! [Herding creatures??] Alun