alun j.

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!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PJ A nice bit of shopping, to top off yesterday, should go down nicely!! Have [another] great day............All the best on your b'day, Alun.

I'm fishing Sunday as the forecast is looking good. Not sorted for the comp. yet; if anyone is looking for crew [ or would like to crew on Gastronaught]........it's the trip to\from Poole that would need co-ordinating. I could either come west from Christchurch and book [us?] into comp, or someone coming the other way could book us in and meet at mine or Mudeford. If nothing fits......... I'll go on my own.........or take someone not bothered joining comp. .......... any takers?? Alun.

Well done Paul, looks in fantastic condition! Now.....to repeat that on Sunday??? Great pics. I looked [longingly] seaward from a walk at Avon Beach around noon today; it looked idyllic. How far did you go for it?? See you soon, Alun.

Only four of us made the weigh-in; six if you count the Burt duo just offshore! Despite threats, Rob didn't turn up with last week's flattie fattened up with captivity in a tank for a week ! Too many last minute Christmas shoppers to get out on a smashing day. Will they be kicking their heels as it blows all this coming week?? I'm not complaining! Alun.

Another cold, calm and beautifully peaceful days in the harbour today.....the fishing was incidental to the scenery.........but, nevertheless, a few good fish were caught. Gastronaught, as keen as always, was ready to launch before 7.......but sat in the foggy gloom at -2C......there were no lights at Baiter and the big full moon was behind the fog!! So we proceeded slowly and set off in the first twilight. Being an open [most of the time] boat, it was the wind-chill on faces that slowed our trip up the harbour......but still got bait out before the first signs of sunlight. No one spot produced well, we fished some reliable marks and accumulated fish slowly and steadily........with 3 fish close to 2 lbs. and one of mine just over; this proved to be the winner and a super hamper came on board Gastronaught! In fact, the hamper and scales came aboard 30 mins before weigh-in as AWOL was in shallow water about a mile from the slip! Martin and Dean did well, with the best haul of flounders ........but defered on looking in Gastronaught's fishbox. Neal and John Young met us at the slip and helped retrieve Gastro onto her trailer from near zero water! They each had a fish but were a few ounces short. [Perhaps if they'd started earlier, they may have had more??!!]. Paul and I both had an excellent and very rewarding day.........fish and hamper! Thank you to those who put the hamper together and brought it along....it is being enjoyed already...... MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone, Alun.

Can I 'Book-in' here?? Gastronaught will be fishing with Zed joining me as crew and trying to improve on last week's catch. Good luck to others fishing, Alun.

Thanks from me as well....... to all those that helped with organising and running the comp. .........a smooth and slick operation! Well done to Rob on that cracking fish........ what a scoop it provided! Alun.

I think he is banned!! .......but not by the club.........by other [social] committments. I intend fishing but am not sorted yet re. crew\crewing. Weather looks like it might be on the turn next Sun .......to give a wet and windy Christmas. Alun.

Well done on getting out Paul........and finding those [so far elusive] whiting. Sorry I couldn't join you ......I was a bit wrecked after all my bouncing about on Weds. ! Domestic jobs now done, and recovered ready for Sunday. Do we now have more options.........or will the wind be stronger Sunday?? Confer Sat. Enjoy your whiting fillets ......... I had some last night ........and was great......so we'll need to get out and stock up over Christmas........if you can get out! Alun.

Good to be out and four 2 lbs plus pout for the table. Best 2 lbs 12 oz.

Just got back in from another trip to the end of the Ledge. Wanting to repeat yesterday's success, the tide, colour and temp. all seemed the same.......but the wind made it all very different! An Easterly early on, although not strong, was enough to put up a 'snotty' sea with the strong flowing flood. AS the tide eased, wind went round to South, freshened a bit and kept the snottiness going. Then, blow me down, as the ebb started, it went to SW ............so I had wind over tide all day!! At least it was easier to cope with the rock and rolling being on my own, with more room to dance about in! An endless procession of doggies munched their way through a box of squid, with the only notable exceptions being half a dozen 'jumbo' pout [i must go and weigh the biggest......possibly getting close to 3 lbs!]. No cod today......I wonder if it might have had anything to do with those two trawlers that went back and forth several times yesterday?? It was very quiet out there today.......beautiful if a bit bumpy! Alun.

Rich, I've been inviting him to come catch a cod or two...... ........but he seems to want to refit his kitchen instead!! Me....... I think I'd have left the kitchen thing until Feb. \ March ?? Alun.

Over the next hour, we had plenty of action with loads of 'Jumbo' pout between all the dogs; a cod for me that 'topped' Paul's [ about 5 lbs and fat,fat, fat!!] ...... then it all died with the top of the tide ........or was it those two trawlers trundling around ?? As the ebb started, so did the bites......... the inevitable....but then one, solitary whiting [about 2 lbs] and a 'screaming' bite that nearly pulled the rod over. The kicking and bucking reassured me this wasn't a conger!!........... another really fat cod.... a shade under 10 lbs. More pout and dogs finished off the bait on cue....... just time to clean the catch of 'table fish' before the blast back to Mudeford in time to come in easily as the ebb was belting out! 2hrs. 15 mins before LW. Any later would have been tricky; the gravel banks were already dry and by the time the boat was on the trailer and up the slip, the Bar was just a line of gently breaking waves! Such a nice day, I'm intending to do it it all again tomorrow........ .......there's still an invitation if anyone would like to join me!! Alun.

After a cold and breezy start, today settled into one of those beautiful sunnny winter days, where the warmth in the sun was [just] felt through the many layers of clothing [gradually shed throughout!]. The wind dropped and the sea was much calmer than expected given the big tide pushing through. Paul [aka Zed] was feeling more confident after our success two weeks ago and brought with him some special additions to the bait tray to complement the box of squid. First drop ..... straight into the dogs ..... but not for Zed.....No dog, it could be a cod!! ......... and it was; not big [ about 3 lbs ], but a first for him that put this big smile on his face!!.....

Neal, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Have a good one.............at least the weather's on the mend...... ...so fishing soon!! ATB., Alun.

I'm planning to catch up a bit next week......as soon as weather allows. Weds. looks good [on some sites] and although wind comes up a bit Thurs, it goes SE, so a Lymo trip could be on the agenda. If anyone would like a seat on Gastronaught, drop me a PM. Alun.