alun j.

>>>>>>> and I was introduced to the pleasures of onboard catering with warm bacon sarnies on that boat ! ....... and am now interupting my fishing to emulate this..... ......Thanks, Adam.

Adam, Shouldn't you be house-hunting ?? ..... or can you combine both ? Alun.

Not a great scope for a trip today..... and the wind and rain when I got up was trying to put me off just like my blocked up head and nose. The forecasts were all confident of it brightening up albeit very windy........ so I went off to try and repeat the trip 2 weeks ago, down the bottom of Christchurch Harbour. Today there was more wind and even more brown river water coming down but , tied to two buoys, fishing was comfy ....... with the dodger up. Slow start, then increasing crab attack.......no bites until the tide started to run off. Two flounders in the boat and two more lost at the net [ hook full of big worms doesn't get wolfed down so easily when float fishing] Good size fish, 2 lb. each and in fine fettle. I wonder if anyone else was able to do better on yet another blowy day.? Alun. PS. Whilst watching the windsurfers whizzing about in the wind, I wondered why one stopped so quickly and surfaced shouting and swearing......... standing waist deep, just off the channel he picked up the middle of a floating, fixed gill net. I could then make out the string of small floats, almost lost in the rough water; about 80 to 100 m between two small buoys parallel to the main channel on the North side; apparently fixed nets are legal here until Feb. 15. I didn't want to go too close but did see a few mullet?? like fish [or sea trout ??] Watch out down there for next few weeks. An Orkney Day Angler 19 motored past me and came back over there and must have been close but didn't see the net.

There's still a seat available on Gastronaught if anyone would like a few hours floundering in Christchurch tomorrow morning. Weather forecast now not so bad as given earlier in the week, the rain should have passed over and a bit of sunshine promised around midday! Paul, if you come down the harbour, give us a call on the radio...... I might be hidden amongst the boats. Alun.

Gordon, Make sure you enjoy that sun......... as we start to shiver next week ! Alun.

With my usual need to get out fishing [as antidote to school], Sat. will be my only opportunity this weekend. Again weather looks pants [ better Sun. but no can do ]; prospective trip to Hamble looks a non-starter this week due to reverse situation re Sat./Sun. So plan to try and repeat / improve on previous success in Christchurch Harbour. There's a spare seat for a short trip down the harbour [ early morning - to - early afternoon] to a sheltered spot in the expected strong breeze, calm enough to get the kettle on. Don't expect furious action........but the flatties can be good ones if they come along! Lots of ragworm needed to cope with crab attack! Alun.

Rich, Not launching this time; I've sort of got an invite on a boat moored in the Hamble, but hope to check out possible spots if the fishing is worth the travel. Alun.

I'm hoping to get a trip after flatties up in Southampton Water, probably in the Hamble [ or nearby ]. Looking at the map, this area would seem to be on a longitude close to St Catherines Pt. If so, does that put it in the range eligible for club reports etc.? If there is a specific eastern limit [ numbers ], I can check when afloat. Alun.

and a bit more Mike........... Poole tides are predicted up to at least 2.4m. eg. next Sunday.

sunrise Mike ! Earlybirds...............missing the cod!

Only takes 3 or 4 Mudeford launches [ April - Oct.] to make the annual pass worthwhile...... whereas you need to exceed 8 at Lymington. What's the score at Baiter? On balance, and esp. if autumns and winters turn out to be as windy as this year's been, ......... I'll also be looking at the extra season ticket. And if the cod fishing continues to decline , I'll be exploring the flounder marks inshore and save the bumping about. Alun.

Ooops !! I missed an 'm' accommodate !!

I asked two keen 15 yr olds at school today ...... they'd jump at the chance and seem to have no probs. with transport. Of course, I'd be keen to help and have the appropriate clearance [ having been in teaching for 33 years !] I don't think there'd be any problem finding suitable youngsters....... just say how many you could accomodate. Alun.

What a disappointment!, esp. after all your hard work and research........ to have it 'snatched' away at the last step. I wonder if you'll end up at a similar choice after the next round of hunting ?? On the slip yesterday was a brand new Warrior 175 being given its maiden outing by a very proud owner. On the back , a gleaming new Honda 130 !! I bet that will fly ! The only upside [ apart from the money you are not yet spending ] is you won't be short of fishing trips in this club........you're always welcome ....... and there soon won't be much fishing about for a couple of months! So , back to a drawing board packed with ideas ?? Alun.

Cheers Terry, Looks almost like a summer's day [ and it was early on ]; an hour or so later you could hardly hold the camera still ......... and cooking the second round of bacon sarnies was a bit more tricky! Alun. PS, We enjoyed our pout fillets pan-fried in lemon olive oil [ a real 'find' for fish cooking]...... how was your calamari pasta ?

Good call Adam, 'Twas lovely in the Solent first thing.........but the breeze got up , against the tide, by late morning........so was rock and rolly to catch dogfish by! I'm trying something different next weekend! Alun. PS> It was good to be out in the sun; company was good, with 4 club boats out together.

Hard to believe the wearher forecast........ and the promise of a calm[er] and sunny day ! At the mo. the wind is bashing all the bushes about here and it's still damp and horrid!! I'm always keen to get out........ and glad I don't have to travel as far as some tomorrow! Alun.

Hope the swell isn't too bad for you Martin. Gastronaught will hope to get out about 8. I bet the slipway ticket man will be out with all our boats there. Alun.

Paul, Billy's post says ' under 16' I could put some feelers out at school; bound to be a few takers; but I'm not sure how they'd be able to get to Weymouth mid-week. Alun.

Mike, Simon [ britboard] is keen to bring his Raider 18 down for a trip, so he may have room. Terry.......are you coming with me on Gastronaught ?? ........ now weather is looking OK. Could be 5 or 6 boats ?...........and sunshine..........Gordon, just show us where the cod are! Alun.

Forecasters starting to agree a bit more on light[ish] winds for Sunday.......YIPEE! .......so I'm on for a trip in the Solent...... as there's bound to be a big residual swell running out past the Needles [ it could be 30 + mph Sat. eve.] How about meeting up about 8 am. at Lymington slip ? Alun.

And Simon [aka Britboard] is keen to bring his Raider 18 as well. Fingers crossed for that calmer weather..........and it should be sunny! Alun.

Lots of groundbait available then.......... I'll bring my Berley Bomb ! ........unless you've cooked it all up and re-frozen the meals! ..memo to shopping list : buy an adaptor/ socket extension for d.i.y. power tools. Will we see you Sunday, Gordon ??........ You are the Lepe Cod Man to follow !! Alun.

Sorry Paul, I meant sort out tomorrow or Sat .... for Sunday. Sunday is likely to be the only bearable day for wind/waves. Alun.

Can we put a little 'fleet' together tomorrow or Sat.? Could be 3 or 4 club boats ? Looks like the weather won't be too bad; not ideal, but good enough to try Lepe or nearer to Lymo. Neap tide, with midday low........but big leads still needed up there. Alun.