alun j.

Sorry ! Some of us are at work on Mondays [ but only for a few more years! Join you then .]. Alun.

Definitely looked very 'bassy', and a few locals were also there.......... but didn't see any caught. They must be there soon as there were enough launce and mackeral to keep the gannets busy ......... it was amazing watching those 'bombers' plunge into the water , almost alongside, with a huge splosh !! , like someone throwing a brick in ! Their success rate didn't seem high though, unless they swallow underwater but seeing one gobbling down on the surface, I think not. I suppose if they get one or two a day , that would be plenty of food?? Great place for many interests; there were plenty of dive boats too. Alun.

Whilst you lot were fighting for position on the Ledge, I was away in Cornwall as a guest on board a Merry Fisher 805........ cruiser luxury plus enough room to fish. My host was a bit of a novice to fishing but keen to learn. After a bit of sightseeing of the Cornish Riviera and Daphne du Maurier country, we headed for the Manacles. New to this area, I was amazed at how much the depth varied, with deep water [ 30 + metres] close inshore.......... and the Manacles really close in. A good job it was calm, there are rocks everywhere, with no obvious pattern / topography......... eyes peeled for 'boiling water'!!......rocky, snaggy peaks and a few reefy edges. Got the hang of a few drifts, watched a few local boats and 'professionals' in tiny open boats.......... most used launce on float tackle........ but didn't see anything caught by them. No launce, only mackeral came up on feathers/hokkais. Tried freelined livebait but kept getting snagged ; so switched to shads. Although I lost a few, I felt more confident and could feel the bottom........ straight away into pollack of various sizes, the best was between 7 and 8 lbs.; then a bonus........ a cod!; not big, but at about 5 lb. made my host dead chuffed as he'd only ever had mackeral previously on his big expensive boat ! As the tide died , so did the fishing............ so we eased away from the rocks and tried to find the Coverack banks where turbot and brill were the target........ ......... more local knowledge required !!!........ all we could find was hard bottom, more rocks and snags ......and no more fish! Sunday; tried to repeat and improve on Sat. A bigger tide was pushing through the Manacles and more boats were out; strange eddies occur between the rocks; one minute you're drifting quickly, then you slow to stop; found the launce here, so put one on for bait ; only got one take [ a cod ?? that came off at the boat......not mine !] Plenty more pollack on hokkais had the other guest hooked on this fishing......... but Mr. Bass wasn't showing up! A look on the chart showed varying depths, like banks, further up the coast, offshore from 'The Bizzies'........so, keen for a turbot we went off exploring! Passed several boats fishing and found interesting looking area........but......... again.......... rocky, snaggy and pollacky. More research required!! A thoroughly enjoyable trip with good weather, excellent company and superb food; I'll be there again if / when another invitation arrives. Alun. PS. I pointed my host in the direction of this site as a source of help and information; we'll soon have another registered member!

Years ago , when I went mullet fishing further up the harbour [ Christchurch ], I had loads using a Mepps [ size 1 or 2 ] with the treble loaded up with maggots, no weights or other tackle. Alun.

Sounds like I missed a busy weekend ! Well done Martin and Fred ............ Martin deserves to win a gong or two...... reward for all the hard work on our behalf. Hope the bream fishing continues into next weekend, though weather doesn't seem to be forecast as so good ........ but we know how reliable these aren't at this range !! I couldn't fish this comp due to prior commitment in Cornwall [ will post in catch reports]..... Did you have a good day Mark ?, sorry I couldn't join you. Wel done on your 2 - 10. Alun.

Well done Paul, saw you in the distance. More purposeful than my efforts........... with little sign of mackeral; just a few pollack providing some action. Will have to try again next week.... and try to get out earlier. Tight lines, Alun.

I had three lovely hours drifting around the Ledge last evening but only got one mackeral. Four small pollock was a consolation, with one big enough for supper tonight. I heard Paul J. had fun with the bass in Christchurch harbour. Alun.

Hey Dan, Are you local ? ......... it's MUDEFORD . How far are you going to walk there? You must be talking of parking in someone's drive...... roadspace is miles away! I've got a season ticket ..........

You might have a long walk then Dan, they seemed to have put up some new posts with 30 min. time on them all around Wick... you'll have to get in the carpark and help support my council tax payments ! Alun. PS> Is Baiter going to be free to PBSBAC members that Sun. Alun.

Don't know yet Tom, ....... I'll report next week .... [ if I get to go !]; Mike,............ I think the skipper knows the area , and the dangers, it's just the fishing he's new to......... and called me in as 'The Expert' !......... I'm not confident in this role in an area new to me....... but hoping to transfer a few skills / methods that work up here........... ............and casting out for help into our wonderfully knowledgable membership... PLEASE>>>> Alun.

Can anyone give me a few tips on the area first ???? I've got an invite to go out on a big new Merry Fisher with a novice fisherman who'd like to catch a bit more than mackeral. Hints about going to the Manacles and / or sandbanks off Coverack........ could this be bass at the former and turbot at the latter ?? Lures / shads / mackeral ?? Drift or anchor ?? [ biggish tides this weekend , I expect]. Shambles techniques for the sandbanks ??? Any info. gratefully received [and could be rewarded with fresh asparagus !!] Can I get excited by prospects from this invitation ? [ I usually do !]. Alun.

Cheers Gordon, Thanks for the company and supply of extra bait [ and did we need it?.... cleared out by 3 pm ..... and no mackeral around to top up supplies for those hungery bream]. Thanks also for the thoughtful comments / questions that kept us on the fish; the use of coloured beads was a top tip from you........... and I think we learnt a bit about the 'Rough'. It's been an excellent weekend.......... despite yesterday's unforecast blow in the middle of the day.......with plenty of good bream , able to give a good account of themselves on light tackle with the small tides. Good company, good fishing and improving weather.......... can't wait till next weekend, for the next trip !! Alun.

I just love turbot......... [ and brill ]....... and couldn't go on the Alderney trip due to work [Grrrrrr........!!] BUT....... I do have a nice flush of asparagus from my garden. Anyone with a surplus of fat flatties , who likes the strong flavour of fresh English asparagus [ don't confuse this with that thin, weedy, tasteless stuff from Spain ], then I'll happily do a swap ............ rate negotiable, but market price is similar Kg. for Kg. Only available for the next two or three weeks !! Alun.

Well done mate............. just a little bit jealous !!! Alun.

Hey ! Stop this ! It's just about having some bait out in the water..... and 'sensing' when you're in the wrong spot......and when to move. ..........and it doesn't always work .......... does it James ?? Looking forward to this weekend........ fingers crossed that it turns out as calm as forecasts indicate ........ then we can concentrate on the fishing. Plenty of spots to choose from...... Tight lines, Alun.

Happy Holiday .......... BIRTHDAY boys! All the best for a good day ........ today , you should decide what you want to do. Enjoy ! Alun.

Isn't iit nteresting how we all get different experiences / catches even though being in fairly close proximity ?? James....... yesterday those bream on the Rough had a huge preference for lug; [big , fat , juicy fresh lug , dug on Fri.]. When we were on the bream, they hit the lug within secs. / mins. [ esp. tipped with squid ]; with rag, the wait was much longer [ and peppered with with wrasse ].

Ditto , cooking - wise .........buts fillets in squid and mussel sauce.... .......and now........ extra guests for dinner !! .....an extra plate sir !!

Thanks to Gordon for a trip out on Fugazi, a super day with flat sea , a bit of warming sun and the first of the summer fish showing. Launched from Wick , with Paul and Les on Neo , and crossed the Bar with plenty of water under the keel....... crystal clear, you see every stone on the bottom and the way out is clearly marked [ looks a bit narrow ; when it gets busier , boats are going to be getting very close together !!]. Rounding Hengistbury, the bay was completely flat [ I hadn't seen that for a while], so we sped across to Poole Patch ...... in search of a few bream. Lots of other boats were already on station near / over the rocky outcrops but there was little action [ tiddly pollack and pout] and the rough bottom was claiming lots of tackle. When Paul phoned over to say he'd got his first bream, that was enough temptation to up sticks and join him on Southbourne Rough [ but nowhere as rough as the Patch !]. Plenty of boats here too , but didn't see any action from them as we settled on the anchor.............. but within minutes we were into bream action ..... catching steadily through the rest of the tide. I lost count, but had five , blue, boy - bream in the coolbox and returned a load of others [ and all the females]........ Gordon took the prize for the specimen [ awaiting confirmation from the scales] , a good 3 lber. [ but I think more !]. Best bait of the day ......... undoubtedly, lug, tipped with squid; but all baits caught fish. Several good sized wrasse briefly came aboard , and many little pollack. Finished the trip difting the Ledge looking for bigger pollack [ unsuccessfully ] but did hit the first of the mackeral ........ not a one off, as Paul had a few over near X - ray. Gordon's boat, Fugazi, is an excellent fishing platform, very stable, fast and comfortable. Not only a superb skipper, the on-board catering has to be complemented ........... any time you want crew again, just give me a call. Now let's go fillet those first bream............!! Cheers, Alun.

Hi Paul, Never need to be 'gagging' to get out fishing; you're always welcome, if you don't mind the squash on little old 4 40............ and you're welcome to take her out on your own if / when you can escape midweek when I'm at work ! Bream coming any moment now......... what a good time to sell ! See you soon, Alun.

Hi , I'm going to try a few marks on Sat.; weather seems best on that day [ and leaves possibility of other trip !] I expect to have some of Poole Harbour's finest fresh rag [ digging Fri.] to target bream but will also try Hokkais along the Ledge for pollack at the top of tide [ midday]. I will happily buddy up with anyone new to the area.......... or will crew for you Gordon , if you'd like to share. Looking good weatherwise............ but only briefly !!! Alun.

Me too. I'm sort of penciling in Sat + Mon. from Mudeford. Worm digging Fri eve. Ledge , Patch or Rough ?? Good tides......... just what will the wind gods blow ??? I think those big , blue bream could be here then. !!! '''' dreaming '''zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Alun.

Home PC, supported by McAfee, seems to be A OK. after Scan and delete. Hope work situation resolves tomorrow !! A.

Has anyone else received an email proporting to come from PBSBAC offering to forward communications to their mailbox ?? I inadvertently opened this [ being in a rush at work ] and out pops a Trojan virus ; this was seized by the Anti - virus system but has left my access screwed up in a tangle so that, at present, means I can't get to this site! When I got home and tried again, the Trojan pops up as soon as I click on pbsbac and then gets deleted by my Mc Afee Security. All seems to be well at home; will try again at work tomorrow and see what happens there. Alun.

Well done Paul ! My 'terrors' yesterday were more of a watery sort *; you clearly had a very different sort of day weather - wise............ but fishing sounded similar ! * [ but no real terrors ............ just lots of aches today !! ]. Would have loved to join you today ...... but had some decorating to do , and emergency Brownie points to earn [ not too sure of the score yet, though !!]. How's your score on the Species comp. league table ?? Alun.