alun j.

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

You bet!! fingers crossed for weather .....but.....not too hopeful! Alun.

Looks like Mon. or Tues. .........but that's 5 or 6 days for it to change!!

A weather window, that was! All forecasts pretty much wrong for here today! Windfinder got the closest, BBC had sun all day!![ and we got wet on our bikes!] Just a little chop on the water today........it would have been 'well-fishable'! Back to decorating and Brownie points.......and looking not to miss the next one! Alun.

There was a glimpse of another [tiny] window for Weds this week [up until last night!]. By this morning, it has shrunk and slid off into Weds. night!! Next sign ??? Mon or Tues next week, when winds swing around to the North Can I get a third day amongst the whiting before they go?? Alun.

Rob, I don't think so! We were doing about 20 knts.

Keen as ever.......looking at around Thurs this coming week for the next chance to get out .......or I be chasing flounders again! Alun.

Well done Paul! Thanks again for taking us out there; a good day, in part, down to your excellent boat.......she handles those conditions brilliantly and gives a great and comfortable fishing platform. Interesting ......... how the fishing action seemed more focused on the time rather than the spot .......... with the top of the tide and first of the ebb being best.......just like last week. I wonder how long the whiting will be around for?? Nearly all were absolutely bulging fat! [ and almost 'pout-shaped']. I thought this was them being full of roe and about to spawn ....... but no!, they were stuffed with food [ mainly half - digested sparts] and roes were in various stages of development, with just the odd 'full' one. Great sport on light gear......I'm now with Adam.......I like whiting fishing! I'll be back out as soon as this weather allows [ and I have enough frozen mackeral for several trips!] Alun. Oh Paul........whilst hauling up your big eel, you forgot about the January bass I slipped ino the fishbox........a bonus fish just on 3 lbs. [same size as the whiting!] to give some variety in this week's menu!

Fresh whiting for dinner this evening!! Nice ones too! Busy cooking for dinner party now.......report to follow later. Thanks to Paul for a great day out on Imagine; a much better day than envisaged yesterday [ when I persuaded him to go out!] 19 whiting to 2 lbs 8oz in the coolbox, plus a bonus bass for me and a big eel for Paul..........Great!!! Alun.

Looking at next Weds. ???? ....next respite??