alun j.

Adam, Don't give up yet ........... it's still only October........ the water is still warm..... and the bass are fattening themselves up before the long cold spell. I think there's a few more big ones around ............ if you can get out after them. This weeks windy weather has put paid to my half - term plans , but at least the warm air keeps sea temp. up............ 14 C + Sat. looks posslble......... might see you out there?? Alun.

Tried to drag Sinbad out with me today , but he was busy with family...... ......as were most other folk , judging by the scarcity of boats over here in Christchurch; a few were out at the end of the Ledge and a couple on top of the reef . I headed to my favourite ' drop-off' area [ as tide and wind were all in the right direction ]. .... and action from the 'off'. I hadn't appreciated how tired/ exhausted I'd become after a hard 1/2 term at work and no proper fishing for the past three weeks ........ but in the first half hour I lost three fish !! a big bass at the net and two others half way in { never before !!].... could have been the unexpected swell? A strong coffee and increased concentration....... but had I 'spooked' the bass? Looked like it as nothing for 3/4 hour...... then a pollack [ consolation for tea ?] . a bream ........ and then !!!.... a 5 lb. COD ! Then the bass were back...... every 20 or 30 mins........ 'sreamming reel' bites; then a real tussle on light tackle with 3 or 4 oz. weight [ enough for the tide]. Seven bass from just over 2 lb up to 6 lb. being the best [all different sizes]. All fish took slices of frozen mackeral on Pennel rig..... right in close to the rough ground [ lost lots of hooks but not the anchor]. Freshening wind and change of tidal flow put a premature end to the day at 2.30. Looks like Paul D. out with Paul J. found the weather equally uncomfortable as we met up in the Run on the way back in ..... but not as productive !! Hope others had as good a day as I did ?? Tight lines, Alun.

Spelling seems OK......... probably not this club !!

What a difference a day makes................. Mon. the tide was there but not big; a stady flow at Barton but not the warp - wobbling a good spring creates. Commiserations Paul ........ that sort of experiential learning can be tough ! It's an odd patch..... about 80 - 150 m. out...... interesting / frightening to see it in different weather and tide states........ often with breaking water. Notice the way the macky trip boats keep close in to the groyne....... or go way out near the sailing club's yellow marker buoy. I've been there on calm summer mornings and heard passing sailing boats banging on the bottom. If you creep around in that weather , when the water is clear, you see how shallow it is .......... and the weed breaks the surface. For future reference, if you do cut in close to the groyne at low spring; it's deep at the groyne but be careful where you turn to head out........ there's another shallow reef a couple of hundred metres SW of the groyne...... look out from the top of Hengist. Head on a rough day ! Power tilt is so useful in our area ....... the best advice I got when I bought my boat; even on a tiddler like mine . Alun.

What a nice evening ........ and antidote to work ........ calm sea, light land breeze and millions of stars to wonder at when the cloud cover pulled away. A nice tide running, not as strong as anticipated but not too much weed [ a thought when you see it piled up on the beaches !]. Armed with a bucketful of Poole's finest I expected to challenge James' record..... ....but it was slow going ! ........... just 3 sole and nothing bigger than 1 lb. 3 oz. James , fishing within a few hundred metres, did no better ....... but did handicap himself in being without lights. Afew other boats close by were similarly quiet....... perhaps it was too dark !! I've had more success on moonlit nights........... but sample too small to be valid. Good luck to Paul D. and any others out there tonight. Alun.

and an addendum.......... an oddity............ one of the good bites I pulled up wasn't a bass or a doggie.... ,,,,,,, but a COD .........!!!!........ ling !! Only 3 or 4 lbs. but baddly scarred ; a big , fist-sized gash on its side and marks on the other; thin but feisty........ had to put it back [ and it zoomed off!]. Hope it recovers and grows ........ but has already allowed me to equal my cod catch score from last year !! Alun.

Every one seems different to me. With FPO away in Spain for the week......... I was looking forwad to to total fishing action all w.end. Windy forecast sent my spirits dipping but still went and dug a bucketful of rag on fri. after work.............. and , if nothing else , try another method of long - term keeping. First surprise.......... an invite to go salmon fishing on sat..... rain in the river raising prospects made a drive to Wales an exciting prospect.......... and BINGO, a pb salmon [ atlantic variety !] albeit under 8 lbs............ thanks again Terry. Today.......... wind still blowing........ but at least it's gone round a bit; stll a late start after packing younger ones off to uni.............. so fishing a falling tide [not my favourite]. First stop.... Ledge drop-off , high water slack.......... took a while to get the bream feeding........ but got 6 and a bass before doggies took over [ wind stiff but off-shore] Next ventured out to X-ray area, to fish the ebb [ any whiting yet ?? in my mind ]. Much bumpy.....er .......... bad call ............ tripped anchor and tried slowed drift.............. dog dog dog and more........ that spot is a nursery zone for puppies. Back to Ledge edge................... where tide is running , swiftly South in 15m. of water [ last of ebb / first of flood ???] but soon into BASS ACTION........ 5 fish about an hour of action.... as the sun went down and the wind dropped, twas MAGIC !! All five 2 1/2 - 3 lb. size on mackerel slices on light tackle. Then the pout arrived........... so I sped home on flat sea [ and warm !!... over 15 C]. If work isn't too exhausting tomorrow........... and forecast is accurate........ a sole session could be on to use up the worms [ keeping really well] [ weed / water / 'fridge]. Anyone like to join me 6 - 12 Mon. eve. ?? Alun.

Common sense = EXPERIENCE Advice, rules and regulation try to make up for lack of experience. Problems arise when lack of experience is catastrophic. Best response = more experience and less bravado ! I think the direction of the club at present is spot - on :- Loads of advice and many opportunities for increasing experience with 'seasoned salty dogs' 'He who fights and runs away.........' recipe for learning. A.

N to NW wind ......... fresh and cooler. BIg [ish ] tide....... I'll stick fairly close inshore and find some end of season bream and bass near the Ledge. Wind drops in the evening........... so might try a sole trip now its dark earlier. Tight lines, Alun.

Hope you had a good one !! Happy Returns, Alun.

Also have a Shimano TLD 15 [ new ] to add, if anyone interested.

Duncan, Funny you mentioned squd rigs........... I'm hoping for a trip or two to Weymouth in the Autumn......... a friend lives there and have asked him to research where / when; I know they get them off the pier wall at night. Alun.

Well done Adam .......... what does Rachel think about the new look ??

What a lovely day........... did anyone else get out ?? Little bit of tide. lots of warm sun [ not too hot], and only a light breeze............ so it wouldn't have mattered if there weren't any fish .......... but there were loads!! Basically , a day of consistent bream action..........still lots of small ones but a few better ones amongst............. a dozen fat 1 lb. + ones for the table [ stuffed with green weed] Between the bream action [ Ledge area] a few bass , gar and mackerel added variety and interest ............. and two unusual pb s..... * first........ a 3 lb + lobster....... properly hooked in the mouith on mackerel strip. Landed after a good fight in the tide........... my culinary imagination had already invisaged a lobster supper......... until.......... on unhooking...... I saw it was a 'berried' female............. so back it went ! * second.........a pb squid!.......... again, fairly hooked.......... this two pound, squrting big - eyed tube had supper written on its side [ Who wants a good recipe ??]. Lots of 'screaming reel' bites......... from energetic bream meant a busy day, plus a few ' mysteries' of big fish that take off........then ' pull-out'. leaving hook and line roughened / blunted [ back of a ray?? ..... or conger ??]. Lots of other boats out on the Ledge today.......... too busy to see if they were in to action [ but not much when I looked.......... they all seemed to move off too soon]. Fingers crossed the weather holds a bit longer...... I've got a 'full pass' next w.end!! Alun.

Like Dan comments........... no right / wrong answers. If these chaps have paid a lot for a charter and enjoy the meals [ or pass on to others to enjoy]......... it makes sense to take several fish [ esp. if they don't do it often] I take a lot of fish ............. but eat fish most nights every week. My 5 soles from tuesday night all got cooked up tonight , with visitors around for a meal ; the bass and bream gave meals on wed. and thurs. !! I'll have to go out again tomorrow......... or I'll have to look in the freezer. Alun. PS. Last weekend......... no fishing, so took ray from freezer one day, pollack the other ......... tip top condition / good eating even though they'd been there since June.

I have a few more brand new Abu multipliers for sale........ 5000 , 6000 and 7000 size. PM me if interested . Alun.

Well done Adam ............... you certainly have the measure of this type of fishing. Perhaps I could tag along one time and pick up a few tips. If live mackerel are hard to find , and trout expensive and less available, perhaps you could have a go with live smelt......... I'm told there are plenty to net up around Mudeford Quay ........ and providing sizeable bags of bass to 8 lb. !! ???? James ....... don't give up yet! The relatively warm water stays a couple more months. I got my pb bass on the Ledge two years ago , near the end of Nov. using squid [ 14 lb. 4 oz. ]. Alun.

Adam. ............ brilliant article, ; thanks for posting........... may influence future choice of boat ........ big enough for a string of pots,,,,,, ......... problem is...... where to drop them as the Ledge area is so busy........ but sounds fun............. and we both loooooooove the shellfish so much Alun.

Could I join Adam as next in a line of members keen to try some of the crayfish 'pests' ....... for use in the kitchen ?? Perhaps we could cook some up and bring them to the club meetings . Rich........ when I visited Two Lakes with Soton Uni. in the 80's, they were looking at farming the crays ....... perhaps they escaped from there ?? Adam........ have you tried the crayfish with dill [ flowers...... rather than leaves], the Scandanavian way...... on the radio recently ?? Alun.

Come down to Mudeford instead........... esp. now the summer crowds have gone. A. J.

Are the rsults of last Sunday's comp going to be posted? Shame the plaice we got were after the comp. closed for us. Also....... shame the timings don't allow for a sole session to be included!! Alun.

Hi Terry, I think the 7000 BG NLD is well matched with that rod .............. and has plenty in the gears and long handle to cope with big weights.......... as I found with the rays last w.end ........... just up the line strength a bit !! Alun.

Your 10 -20 Solid C rods are dainty wands, that bend through to the handle. Most reels seem too heavy; I team mine up with 5000 or 6000 size Abu s. Rather than writing loads......... you are welcome to come and try a few and talk through pros / cons. ........... if you are in the Christchurch area. Alun.

Martin, I agree in general.......... but it wasn't 'grinding pads' ..... line parted at swivel knot. Too much welly........ with impatience......break at weakest point.......... where expected as I was using 20 lb braid. When I upped the trace later......... and got hooked up in the bottom........ it was the braid that broke then. The solution would have been the buoyed-off anchor....... as we quickly concurred on !! Alun.

Day out on Maverick with Martin [ what an impressive skipper]! Not only does he take you his best marks [ very quickly] but then lets you catch most of the fish !! After pulling up a few mackerel for bait.........bumped out to the SW.Banks in a fresher than expected N. to NE. breeze [ 3 increasing to 4 and later 5 ??] Arriving at slack water , I hooked into a fish first drop, using light tackle. A 10 - 15 minute tussle heaved up a pb. Blonde, that just squeezed into Martin's net. The acrobatic ballet of digital weighing at sea followed [ with me trying to hold his arms still]........... Taking that minimum 'steady weight' principle........ Martin called it at 24 1/4 lb. before we slipped it back. As tide started to flow , Martin responded with dogfish, as I upped the weight of lead on the trace......... but all was quiet apart from unhit bites. My turn next just before a move was called for......... and I was in to a ' beast' that I could hardly budge in that tide. Lack of experience caused me to 'up the welly' as my arm was tiring; instead of asking to buoy - off the anchor, and pull it up on the drift ................. I pulled harder ...... until the inevitable...... and line parted !!! ****** A good fish I'm sure.......... and I was well impressed with the muscle in my solid C rods. Following moves inshore and out of tide and wind were fruitless and comp. time elapsed. We finished off drifting the Swash........... I was not expecting.........on the basis of past experience........... but Martin did it again !! ......... some fine feisty plaice for supper tomorrow! and a gurnard Thanks again Martin ........... I enjoyed my day on your super boat and your relaxed good company........... esp. with another pb. to add. Alun.