alun j.

In this weather chaos..........all change....and now appears to be no window of calm in sight!! I'll have to hatch a different plan to get out [somewhere!] Alun.

Constant checks on weather websites has been so depressing recently, but [perhaps overly optimistic!] there might be a chance in the next few days [if you don't mind getting a bit damp!]. Going North tomorrow and dropping......Sat may be calm enough to get out? Anyone else keen to go? Alun.

Would you believe it?? Look at forecasts for FRIDAY......... another [tiny] window of relative calm!! [ like Sunday ??] If it materialises [??] , I'll be looking to take advantage. Fingers crossed, Alun.

Dom, It sounds like last winter 'infected' you with 'cod fever' [ long incubation??]. Good luck......no cure.....even long periods of abstinence doesn't stop itching! ATB., Alun.

How flexible could arrangements be re. date\ short notice?? Good weather almost essential for part 2 ! Alun. Looking forward to it already!!

Happy birthday Gordon...........hope you are all better now. Monday's not the best day for celebrating ........but hope you're making the best of it?? Here's to meeting up on the water again [soon??]. Alun.

I'll happily repeat the session [ anytime] using in-season fish. Paul Frey suggested a session at PYC combining prepared fish with a BBQ. Just bring on the nicer weather. Alun.

Hi Dom, Glad your trailer is repaired. You may be raring to go.......but weather looks pants [ for ages!!] Good luck getting out Alun.

Having eaten half the whiting in a big family meal.......there won't be many for the freezer after a few diners asked for a fillet or two [ enjoyed so much!] Best whiting for years!! I have to repeat soon!! Weather Gods..........please open a window soon !!! Alun. Gastro tip.........they go particularly well with NZ white wine, esp. Sauvignon.

Yesterday evening the window of calm weather forecast for today had shrunk rapidly.........and only due to last till lunchtime. At 8 am conditions in Poole were ideal, with a flat calm and gorgeous sunrise over Sandbanks. Adam was almost on time despite 40 min delay getting OotB on the road...raring to go but realised electrics were still safely at home! We had a radio and handheld GPS [ but no marks!]; fortunately Alfresco was just on her way out, so we tagged along .......and 30 mins later joined a mixed fleet of boats and charters about 4 miles out. A gentle swell was running with the tide and [light] breeze......all nice and cosy ...and what little tide, dying towards HW. Bites started in quick procession [ well for Adam they did......I got my gear all in tangles as we swung around!]. It was great to see some nice whiting [ missed these last winter and, so far, this year as well]. Adam's cod rod went over.....a good fish.....but soon evident it was a snake not a cod. Great fish, good tussle and weighed in the net at mid-thirties before slipping back. Having got my tackle back in order, I made some headway in catching Adam's tally of whiting.....but today he was Master of the Coolbox , getting by far, more and better quality whiting; these were excellent fish, prime condition.......some excellent meals ahead in the dog days of Feb\March when I'll remember these beauts. coming aboard. We knew the weather was going to close in.........the wind and waves got up as forecast and we made an early exit and bumpy trip back [long time since I've been home in the light!!]. Thanks again Adam for great day out; we saw and heard of a few cod.......it would have been nice to get one.....BUT.....a box full of fat whiting is as good [ and possibly better in the kitchen!!??] I'd love to do it again [ soon ] ......but the weather prospects look dire; next trip will be in the harbour for me mid week. Alun.

Hi Paul, Just checked Sunday's tides ; could be a bit awkward from Christchurch! May need another plan? Alun.

Some sites are showing Sunday to be relatively comfortable ??? I'm up for crewing ........or to be crewed ........if anyone knows how to avoid the plagues of dogfish and the chance of a few whiting?? Alun.

Hi Andrew, Come and have a few trips out with some of our members, who ,like me , will point out the key points for and against their boats......and you can find which compromise suits you best. I'm lucky enough to have lots of time to go fishing but my little Orkney is one of the smallest boats......but suits me to the ground [and catches lots of fish!]. Rapidly coming to the leanest time of the year........but you're welcome whenever, Alun.

It's probably a good thing that radios don't convey smells as well as sound as the sizzle of breafast cooking on Enticer was enough to make us feel like joining them.................. ............but we didn't as we were too busy dealing with bites.........unfortunately , only from a plague of dogfish. The only consolation was there were a lot of big girls in this pack [lots over 2 lbs.] and tempting to take a couple if I hadn't had some nice bass in the fridge and cod in the freezer!! The nod,nod........drag of doggies was punctuated by a few spells of more serious action.......hefty bites that screamed-off in unstoppable fashion. Alas not cod, nor another bass!!, but conger of good , middle size [15 - 25 lbs.]; good, arm-tugging sport......but not my cup-of-tea!![too serpentine and un-fishlike for me.....backwards swimming\spinning..weird!!!] No whiting [ where are they this year???], just one 'Jumbo' pout for supper, but still a good day to be out; mild air with great vis.........peaceful and quiet; where was everybody else, were the thick heads that bad??? We stayed out a bit longer than Enticer......until the dogs finished the squid.... but no 'last drop bonus'!. Plenty of water all day, so no 'issues' with the Bar \ Run at Mudeford ..........and, as a PS to Coddy's question, fuel tank shows we used about 4 litres, so I don't think I want a bigger boat! Alun.

Nice pics.!! Happy New Year to you both.

Thanks to ALL of you for the congratulatory remarks.... I'm quite touched!! There had to be a big slice of luck [unlike fishing the Bridge in Summer when you know the 'Target'] and it could easily have gone for Rob's bait as mine. If skill was involved, it was mostly about putting us on a mark I've been working over for the past 6 weeks and knowing when to stay or move. We're off to give it another go tomorrow but the tide is different, so will be interesting to see if that will work .....Target.... more Cod !!! We may have close company......in the dogfish action!!!! Alun.

rarer than big bass...... ...and more difficult to fillet!

Why???

Here's another of Rob's pics [resized]

Before the fish came along yesterday, Rob and I were discussing the relative balance of skill and luck. Luck .....would have determined which of us got the bite We both hit, and lost, big fish during the day ......that got off the hook Skill ......choosing a suitable spot; guessing when to stay\or move; how to deploy suitable bait. Luck .... if the fish are there. A good dollop of both are needed ........to be consistent......plus putting in the hours [ Gastronaught has logged up nearly 100 engine hours in 16 months]. Alun.

Hi Trev, Kept some scales for you. Should be interesting as fish was [relatively] short, fat and full of food. Alun.

Catering arrangements came after cleaning down boat and tackle. Big meal of fresh pout fillet [don't knock it!!] plus bottle of wine and social interaction with her who hasn't been seen since before dawn.........so I'm late reporting a rather good catch! But not the Target species!! I had been confident of getting a couple of cod today and so joined in the comp. Conditions were much better than expected after yesterday's blow ....except there was very little water in the harbour, even at close on 9am. ... and the route out was a bit different, if you could find a way through the [almost breaking] waves on the Bar............mostly due to 'residual swell' The swell was running much bigger out at the end of the Ledge, but , with no wind, it had little effect on fishing. All manner of muck and rubbish in the water [ most disconcerting was a great big beam of 4 x 2 timber] and the water changed colour every hour. Fishing was non-stop doggies, punctuated by occasional more interesting fare : congers of varying size up to 20 + , pout [dinner-size rather than 'jumbo'] , a couple of small [very small] whiting and a few monsters [ that remain unknown but seemed most likely big\very big conger] that got themselves off the hooks!! [No break-offs!] Just when I most anticipated a cod.......a charter boat from Poole turns up and plops itself right alongside !!! ...and joined in the doggie haul. They only stayed half an hour and, just as they left, a decent, and very different, bite had me shouting 'COD -ON'......... it felt 'typical', 'thump- thump' !! give a bit, take a bit!! Good old ABU lever drag worked a treat with every lunge and a good fight brought the fish to the surface. What a shock!!, instead of seeing a golden fat round belly and white, here was a blue/grey beast!! At first glance, 'Oh No...conger'!!, but NO, NO, NO.............Mr. Spikey!!......and I'd never seen one so big!! ...and off it went again. A few more goes to get it up, by which time Rob was ready with the net and, very deftly, scooped it up first go [ only just getting it in!!]. In the rolling swell scales jumped from 16 something to over 20 !! Not just a PB, but something special and sooooooo fat!! Weighed on the slip with two sets of scales it went 18 lbs. 8 oz. I've sent a few pics to Paul and I'll try to put one here.

Now going back to looking like Tues may be better!! Just hoping it calms down for Tomorrow........at least , the bit I'm planning on going to! Good luck to others in the comp tomorrow, Alun.

Now looks like Weds. might be better........but it's all very changeable Grab it when you can!!

Rob F. is now joining the 'Gastronaught' team for Sunday. Looking further ahead, Tuesday also looking promising!!