alun j.

Such a nice calm day, just had to get out. 7 am. out from Mudeford, crept over the Bar and onto a flat calm sea with very little tide. Tried X - ray area first [ on the last of the ebb ] .......... but the predictable dogs and pout were in residence / tour de force !! Took the opportunity to venture out to the 'Table Top' on the Dolphin Sands to try for the whiting Tom was catching a few weeks ago........... but not for me !! biteless after an hour......must be wrong spot....... So a move across to a small wreck........... and bingo !!.......... on the first of the flood the whiting arrived with fish to 2 lb. 12 oz. and plenty of them, and in between, two COD !!!!, peas in a pod ............ just under 10 lbs each. Then the murky water arrived from the dredging............ and everything went quiet! The cloud cleared and a light breeze riffled the water but still a lovely trip back, with enough fish to last the holiday catering !! Paul D. ; you went to the wrong spot ! Merry Christmas to all , Alun.

Thanks to Adam for a trip out to the Needles on board BW, on a day [ the shortest of the year] of ever changing weather...... beautiful sunrise colours in the light cloud; a bit of swell and chop on a windless sea. Arriving in good time for the start of the flood, big baits went down in anticipation of a big cod or more............ Well , we watched those rods as we enjoyed my fresh coffee and Adam's on board cooking........., we watched those rods as the mist came and went.........., we watched those rods as we marvelled at the multi-coloured clouds............. and said what a good day to be out But Mister Cod never came [again !]; consolation with a few whiting and good company. Thanks again Adam........... nice boat, handled with consummate skill........better luck tomorrow; weather looks set to be much the same, hope the fishing isn't. Merry Christmas, Alun.

Well done Adam ! Us , older guys , can't keep up with specimens or speed......... but us two on Neo did bag a good meal [ or several] with whiting and Jumbo pout that make good eating. With a sundowner bite to match yours, the thump - thump that wasn't dog, pout or whiting turned out to be a feisty ray in the tide rather than the hoped for cod that you bagged. Thanks again Paul, for an interesting, enjoyable and relaxing day out in your good company. Several classes will enjoy investigating the dogfish !! Off to do some late evening filleting . Alun. PS. We also launched from MUDEFORD ......amazing how many different spellings of this local spot come up! The little stream you cross as you turn to the quay is the Mude brook/ stream

Thanks to Duncan for a day out on 'hyper drive' Phaeton and Dave's good company............ what a cracking good day for mid-december....... Christmas shopping??.....bah! Humbug! Beautiful start at Rockley......... bass or cod ??........west or east ?? It's winter......as Adam said.......something odd about bass fishing in winter woolies and bobble hats ! So............east to the Needles grounds..........past the 'car park' [ empty today] and south about 4 miles or more [ off my chart] to one of Duncan's carefully selected marks [ he has hundreds up his plotter-sleeves]. Last of the ebb brought predictable dogs and pout as tide dropped away. As the tide changed , so did the wind........ all to plan..... and comfort......... but the movement created those lovely tangles that only braid can generate, spiced with a few stonking bites that got lost or broken off ........ even though this Christchurch fisherman had stepped up from 18 to 45 leader......[ I blamed the rough patch on the bottom]. First of the flood brought the best action of the day...... first me, into .........typical conger action......... fight , run , fight, run then up for a spinning scrap on the surface..........for me a big eel.......and all tangled up so had to be brought in ..... Duncan's net's abit too small........ but balletically he scoops it out [eventually], with eel half jumping out on the way in [feisty eel!] [[ Why don't I like these maniacal, slimy fish ??]] Quickly weighed in the net at 32lbs. [a 30 + is the best I've avoided for many years!] it happily swam off leaving me with 1/2 pound of slime over hands, sleeves and gear........yuk! Duncan soon into one a bit smaller, but his circle hooks allowed T-bar release alongside. Dave hooked or not hooked several monsters that didn't reach the surface............ but he did have some nice big pout that I had my eyes on for supper...........BECAUSE............ the cod didn't come to our lines [ nor many others judging by radio reports] Shame the days are so short this time of year......mid afternoon and you have to start packing up. Gorgeous trip back in............and us lucky ones are planning a different tactic tomorrow! Dave, where are those big pout??..........Oh! ....... I chucked them!! Never mind............ squid supper was probably better!! [ chillies, garlic, passata and 55 seconds!..........and nice bottle of red] Thanks again Duncan............ super boat..and company. Alun.

Paul, With the wife off on short break in Spain over next weekend, I'm hoping to get a trip out on both days. If you are still looking for crew, I'd love to join you and see how 520 compares with my little 440. Post or phone me on 481556. Alun.

Or............ GREAT WHITE ONE ..........for confusion! Alun. PS. Is there some ' I've got to get a new boat ' FEVER going around ?? Think I've got a few symptoms too!!!............a bit like being seasick but on dry land!! ........... queasiness at possibility of spending lots of money [ then trying to justify it]. Perhaps it's just the short days, miserable weather and too much work. A.

Well done Martin; that must have taken a while to put together. Alun.

All I get is the club logo top left, the name in the middle and a blank box on the right on a plain grey background. Odd? A.

No it doesn't! Will have to talk with Paul on thurs. A.

My sympathies also went to those results separated on the toss of a coin. As these were with the smaller fish, on scales designed for bigger weights than the 2 lb. calibre of flatties, pout etc., could the club invest in scales to descriminate to a finer tolerance than 1 or 2 ounces?.......... perhaps a set of those pan-type digital scales in shops [ like those for ragworm].......... I,m sure those to separate 5 - 10 grams, or 1/4 oz. would have sorted the prizes fairly . The wegh in could have two queues....... BUT......... congrats. to Charlie and the other weighers/ recorders working to be fair ........ in the cold, under lights and wobbling spring scales. WELL DONE on the day. Alun.

I 've got a few more new reels for sale: 6000 and 7000 size I'll bring them to the meeting Thurs. or PM me if interested Alun.

When I log in, the links to other parts of the site seem to have disappeared recently. Is this something on the site or my computer?? I'm talking about the boxes that used to be at the top where you could jump to home, forum, members area etc., but is now just blue bars with pbsbac 2005. Alun.

Many thanks to all committee members and helpers for making yesterday successful and enjoyable........... despite the chilly weather. Organisation, atmosphere and company was brilliant.......... well done! Being fairly new to competitive angling, I learnt a lot......despite not being on form with my fish - finding calls for the day. I'll definitely be giving it another go next year. Thanks again, Alun.

I'm still using my ancient Mitchell 300 / 400 s....... I think I've got 5 of them!..... they do the business with everything from trotting the river with 3 lb. line for dace and grayling .......... to bass and flounder in the harbour .......... and coped admirably with the feisty salmon in Canada last summer. Even though they get washed every trip they don't like the sea and paint lifts off the spool.......... but they still keep going 'Seagull' style, due to simplicity.... ... and I've even found websites for spares , in the States. I don't think the reel is too important.......... if you are happy using it, confident and it works properly ! Alun.

Sinbad will be out with Paul F. and Alun J........ ......but still not sure where we will be launching from. Thurs night and the weather webs are all different for Sunday's wind speed. A.

........and I went to Needles area in my little 440 .........but did slow to 15 mph with the tide against the breeze. .......easier coming back........[and prettier!] A.

Hey Martin, Where's your report, weren't you you out today with Dean and Rich ?? I thought you had smelt cod in the colder air?? A.

............ but the fishing , for me, was not up to last week's , or Adam & Gordon's result! About half an hour behind Adam leaving Mudeford.......and it was still fffffreezing, -2C but 7C in the water........... and 10C + as the sea water surged up the Run..... temp. difference being the cause of the thick mist for a metre above the water.......eerie...... esp. when pushed along by the offshore breeze. With the sea just into double figures, thought it warm enough for another go after the bass on the Ledge. Dropped anchor close to last week's success spot....... and straight in......... to frisky dogs......5 in 5 mins!!..MOVE..50 m,further onto the rough........ one more dog then nothing apart from a few pout for an hour. 300m move to similar spot........... same result........... what's wrong?? ....... the water looks different........ murkier/ lost its green sheen! Choice to make....... X-ray? or Needles? Not confident of whiting at x-ray and expecting wall to wall dogs......... ......Needles...........and the calm sea just makes it in range for my little boat. Pass a huddle of boats near the end of the ledge........ but its a bit choppy here with wind over tide.....so press on.......... to the boat park about one to one and a half miles south of the white rocks. Just settle on the anchor....... and up pops Blue Warrior...... with tales of cod and huge eels...... on route for change of mark. Their lack of whiting had me worried; and so it was.......... lovely sunshine, scenery and fresh air [ now feeling warm]. Action slow......... dogs, pout...... then one massive take and a scrap for ten mins. that was so typically EEL.........why don't I like congers???........it wasn't coming aboard but somewhere in the common 20 - 30 lb. range . One solitary whiting made it to the fish box.......... and I'm just off to cook it for supper. Played Mr. Helpful on return ,after 20 min whizz back into colourful sundown; two chaps on first outing on their new Raider 18........ with no waders ; then found Adam's wheel clamp on the slipway, keen to get his cod home ?? Better luck next week ?? Alun.

For my 'sixpenneth'......... I will suggest.......... Mackerel is the bait for a few more weeks.......... there are sprats and herring about and mackeral press the same cues. I rate X-ray for whiting............ but not just yet, this year....... can't get past the dogs. ............... look at these dogs............ there's a lot of big females there now ; are they getting ready for something biological........ if whiting are hitting the sprats then they should outnumber the dogs soon........[but when??] I'm off to the Ledge.......... water's still holding enough heat to try for bass....... and the mackeral will take cod , if they are about............ had two tiddlers in Oct. If plans fail........... two options.......... X-ray ON THE EBB.............or whizz across and join boat park south of Needles ; where I reckom your chances are about 20 : 1 ............. 40 boats .......2 cod . I've no idea how good the whiting out there are yet. Will post tomorrow, Alun.

And I'll be over on the Ledge............ but completely silent........ too busy fishing or will it be keeping warm ? Alun.

Just clicked on to Metcheck......... as they try to look further ahead than BBC.... and shock/horror........SNOW....!!! I know they ham things up tabloid style and exagerate extremes....... but they are pointing to an icy northerly blast at the end of this week. Wonder what this will do to water temps.? If the harbour cools , at least it will put a slowdown on the bait robbing crabs [and give the flatties a chance?]. Now where did I put my gloves from last winter [and not been used yet]. Alun.

Hi Martin, We could have our own little comp. on Sun. Poole v. Christchurch....... ?? One for bass and one for a cod ?............. a couple of boxes of squid for each?? Alun.

See you there Paul.......... .......I plan to go earlier and be back in earlier with the look of the tide. Alun.

Well done Adam ! Worth the trip when you get a good fish like that. How far south of the Needles did you travel ? Did that 'armada' of boats spread out........or was it close company? Are the tides big..........meaning big leads to get bait down. Looks like the weather will continue into the weekend , with Sun. forecast with less wind...........I'm trying to decide whether to try Needles grounds or stick to the Ledge where big bass were last weekend. Water temp. may be the decider; last weekend it was 13 C............ into double figures and I'd think of bass. Have these colder days had much effect?; what was it out there today? Back of my mind is the rminder that my pb bass was caught at the very end of Nov. , a couple of years ago. Are you out again this w.end?? Alun.

Hi Tom, Well done on being able to get out on what seemed to improve into a lovely day [looking out the window from work]. How big are the herring? I've tried several times for them and never succeeded! Were you inside the harbour......... and the 'channel', the main shipping channel, e.g. around the Aunt Betty buoy ?? Herring would be a change from bass for dinner !! Cheers, Alun.