alun j.

I think I've had too many glasses of wine.......... I'm losing the thread in terms of English here !! Rather talk about fishing and weather !! Alun.

Just the Force 6 forecast for Friday !! Have fun ! A.

Just a quick note before going out for the evening; Today turned out much better weather-wise than any forecast foretold...... a lovely calm and mild start at Baiter at 7.30 ish. and a smooth ride up the Wareham Channel at 20 + kts. I was expecting bites from the 'off' as we fished the top of the tide ....... but it was slow; bites were few and far apart and very tentative. The water was very brown and the pondweed floating by prompted me to taste-test .... no salt at all !! Crabs were present, so it must be a bit more saline on the bottom. After a couple of hours, just one flounder to me and a few bass [ schoolie ??] bites. Gorgeous warm sun and flat calm made up for slow fishing. Further down the harbour was a bit better with a couple more flounders and several bass up to a few inches short of sizeable. Thanks for the company Gordon........ pity I couldn't put you on any of the fish! I think you need to use more bait!! Cheers, Alun.

That's why I'm having to get out tomorrow. AJ.

Terry, Those Lowrance symptoms sound similar to the first unit I had; it kept turning itself on, flashing and beeping [and not working] . After about 4 disconnect and reconnect tries, it died completely. The next unit kept losing its fix and wasn't sorted , even with a new antenna. So, after many frustrating hours at the dealers, I took the offer of a swap to a Garmin. Although the screen is not so big nor as clear, it's much easier to use, quicker to get going and seems to work well but hasn't had much use yet with this weather ! Looks like Sat will be the better day ...... but not sorted yet. Alun.

Hi Terry, Well done on getting out; first report in ages and a couple of nice fish. Could the 'nose-dive' be anything to do with those trim tabs? If they were down too much or pressing too hard, then they'd lift the stern and push the nose down. Are you fishing over the weekend; weather will determine my plans ...... but I will get out somewhere!! Alun.

....or special seaweed?? Withdrawal symptoms might set in if I can't get out this weekend [again!] Forecasts keep changing but Sat. looks better.......but still a bit bumpy to venture out. Are there any whiting in the bay? Has anyone tried for flatties in the harbour yet [ with any success] ?? Alun.

Not where I am, in Christchurch.......... all fuzzy and in the dark !

Rich, Is there a bunch of flowers as well ??; that would impress the other half... esp. if it was tasteful yellow roses. See you there...... Alun.

Terry, Prayers not working ......... having to abandon any plans , as :- i)...... wind seems set to stick in the SW for Sun. morning ii) ..... I'd forgotten to check calender and found there's a family event based around Sunday lunch .......... so I'll save some Brownie points and await a nice big anticyclone to calm down this weather Simon, As you are getting good at coping with bouncing about.......... hope you get a good day; let me know how you get on if you try that 'anchor-grabbing' mark. Gordon, You're on....... if the weather machine is off. Alun.

Hi Simon, Thought you'd be busy , packing shorts and sunglasses! Let's see what the weather gets up to ........ if someone else fancies a trip, we can buddy - boat ; I fancy that mark in the Solent may hold a few cod and whiting as well as bass, ray and inevitable doggies and pout. Tides look good, with a 'gentle neap' flooding all morning after a 7 am low.; no probs. with launch / retrieve any time.

I really look forward to getting out this time of year but am finding the weather always trying to stop me . Last w.end started fine but soon turned stormy [ again] despite forecasts. This coming one is forecast to be rough ...... so let's hope for the reverse. Already Metcheck is flagging Sunday as being better and BBC is all over the place! If winds are in the South and not too bad, I might try to get out of Lymington and fish the Solent on the neap tides [ so might be able to use less than 1 lb. leads]. Anyone like to join me on Gastronaught ?...... subject of course to the better weather arriving. Alun.

Hi Gordon, With the weather as disturbed as your power supply I think anyone will be lucky to get out this month. I'm as keen as mustard to get out any weekend I can manage; you are welcome to join me anytime you fancy a trip in more confined / exposed conditions. I will definitely be getting out somewhere on the w.end of Dec. 9 / 10 as Debs. wil be out in Spain ......... I might do both days !! Alun.

Simon, Hope you've had a good day and enjoy the rest of it ! If I don't see you before............ have a good trip to sunny Florida, catching lots of rays and finny things !! All the best, Alun & Deb.

When I woke at 5.30 to see the stars in a clear sky, as I made a cuppa, I guessed there'd be a frost on the car and gloves and wooly hat might be needed for a daybreak launch. -1 C at Mudeford but loads of 'warm' river water pouring down put the harbour at 7 C so generating a thin misty fog wafting out to sea on a gentle Land breeze. The Yamaha 30 suffers none of the quirks of the 15 and jumped into life unaffected by the cold; super smooth whizz out through the Run [ full of water]. No probs with the new Garmin unit, clear display and easy to use......but it didn't tell me where the whiting might be. Weather forecast was not good, so decided against trip to 'cod park' near the Needles; at best this was going to be a short trip, and didn't fancy a long , bumpy ride back. First stop......... Dolphin Sands, near the 'Table Top' ; not a touch, from anything. The tide was non-existent and the wind was already picking up from the SW. After an hour of this, time for a change.......... a short hop over to the 'Clan........'. With no marks on new plotter, I circled around but didn't find much sticking up; a few buried lumps showed on the sounder, so I practiced anchoring up tide/wind and let out warp to get on the spot. Still no tide [ a long stand of water] but pout soon evident; then something much more substantial [definitely not whiting !]...... could it be cod, bass or ray?? ....NO..... up comes a smallish conger about 10 - 15 lbs.; then another two.....each managing to tangle up the other rods into lovely braid nests !! Now the tide started running east into that further freshening wind ...... too uncomfortable !! An hour on X-ray to finish the morning.....I've found it fishes well on the ebb in the past. Found a small bank and used the the bucket technique to pull the stern round with the tide, bumpy but more fishable . Inevitable doggies but the bonus was a very spikey thornback.........who'd been taking lessons from congers; it kited across the tide, used its thorns to pick up the other braid lines, found a big lump of passing weed and knotted the whole lot together.....AGAIN ! By the time I got sorted it was time to get back before the Run emptied; impressive breakers over the Ledge required some careful boat handling to get an appropriate speed. Quite twitchy but Orkney always feel a safe boat. So........ no sign of any whiting for me. A friend was further out towards the Needles and found two sizeable ones in an even shorter session. If / when the weather relents........ I'll be looking forward to trying over that way. Looks like squid for dinner, Alun.

Last minute change of plan due to weather; Spare seat on Gastronaught for a morning after whiting. 7.30 from Mudeford , back for lunch about 12.30. Alun.

Weather 'window' has changed shape and moved forward; so plan has changed to an early morning session and back by lunch before tide drops too low and wind picks up. Terry B. now unable to join me.........so if anyone fancies a short trip from Mudeford in search of whiting [or a late bass !].........post or PM before 10.30 [early night ]; launching about 7.30 back about 12.30. Alun.

Terry, Both the 'head' unit [ the screen part] and then the antenna were replaced with new ones from Silva......... and still didn't work properly; even the plugs were wobbly. I'll now have to re-learn all the buttons on the new Garmin. Give me a ring if you fancy a trip Sunday ......... late morning til dark. Alun.

After 3 frustrating months, I am unable to get the Lowrance 332C plotter to work properly . The first unit completely packed up after 6 hours use; its replacement couldn't find and hold position. A replacement antenna was no different. Last weekend the temperature sensor [ or connections] went and / or gave odd results [ as low as -11C !]..........and still no reliable GPS. The dealers I bought the boat from have been very helpful, trying all combinations to find and solve problem.........with no success. At this moment, they have rearranged their workshop rota and putting a new Garmin unit on for me. Thank You.........BHG-marine. I'm hoping to test it out on Sunday, as there seems to be a little gap in the windy weather coming through. Alun.

Hey ho! Looks like a tiny little weather window might open for Sunday. Anyone else fancying a trip out?? Whiting ,in the Bay, or flatties/bass in the harbour? Tides aren't co-operative, with low about 3.30, it'll be coming in in the dark; or early start- early finish. Alun.

You could also try the hole at the end of Peveral Ledge; Paul F. and I had an hours fun teasing squid with dead pout ther on Sunday. The one we netted went 3 lbs 4 oz. and 'lost' several others. Two meals for Debs and me !! ......... Zapped, stir - fry yesterday; ... and the rest got stewed in tomato and forest musrooms today......SO SWEET.... with flounder goujons and garlic chips on the side ! Alun.

Well done !!........ to all those who organised and helped out yesterday. A very smooth, efficient operation,,,,,,,,, allowing us to get off quickly .......and on return.....the weigh - in and prompt sorting out the results. Congrats. to all involved. Alun.

Gordon, I'll be in the queue at Baiter; only question is whether to turn left or right ??? Perhaps the flapping pennants will provide the answer. See you there! Alun.

........and now it's changed again !!.......unsettled or what ?? and I'm confused about plans.........it'll have to be 'lastminute.com'.... .....to a decision to go out the harbour....or hunt flounder ?? Anyone else similarly perplexed ?? Alun.

Oh Dear!!! Too good to have hoped for.......overnight BBC have changed their minds about Sunday................ from 2mph W .. to .. 17 mph NW This will mean a complete change of plans for little boats like mine.....I was hoping to get out, out, out !! Good job I dug some good worms. Alun. PS. but could the forecast change back again ????