alun j.

Looks like a few others got out this afternoon and enjoyed the change in weather. Although still a bit fresh when I went out of Mudeford just after 11......... negotiated the the swell and ebb on the Bar.....then ran into the breaking surf near the Ledge, so steered clear and went further out.......looking to get to X-ray area to fish the last of the ebb [ whiting ???] The reality was limitless numbers of dogfish...........30 secs. to a minute was all that it took them to find the bait ! ............ so I went back to the Ledge, had lunch and waited for the tide to change....... and appreciated the surroundings as the sun came out and the wind dropped..........and no one around. More doggies told me I was not close enough to the Ledge; by the time I'd repositioned the tide was starting to flood and action from the 'off'. Pout first.....getting bigger with each fish........a few 'monster ' doggies [ easily over 2 lbs ......but not weighed .........they went straight back]...... ..........then BASS ACTION....... six fish over the next hour or two....all sizes but two crackers............ best was a 9 lb. fish............ my best this year.....what a fight ...........taking at least 20 m. on each of three runs. No doziness on my part this week..........played out it slipped into the net and before I could plan the recipe another was on the line !! Next best fish went 6 and 1/2 lbs. and what a fat fish [ with a real 'cod belly']; this is the one we've [ 6 of us ] just enjoyed for supper and I found it was so fat as it had in it's stomach the following :- one of those ' jumbo pout', a good sized crab and several bits of mackeral [ groundbait]. Packed up just after 4 and whizzed in on flat calm sea........ covered in smoke from bonfire [steamer point ??]........not wanting to do the Bar in reduced light; swell still running ....... this place can be scary in winter with swells, few buoys and shallows everywhere. Tips for anyone out tomorrow............ get close to rough ground, use mackeral and avoid the doggies. Tight lines, Alun.

Well done Martin, ..... that sounds good; I'll have 12 boxes [one case?] at that price.............. and will collect for anyone else who lives over this way {Christchurch} if it helps. Alun.

Don't forget the CHEESE.........

Hi Charlie, Only just weighed the flounder......... typical size for the harbour..........and just the one. But I have added to catch report............... if this weather continues [ and there seems no break in the stream of 'lows' forming in the Atlantic] , there will be very few November fish in your book ! Get out when you can !! Cheers, Alun.

Had hoped to get out onto the Ledge today.............. Terry B. phoned earlier in the week having seen a 'weather window' for today........... by yesterday all forecasts had changed and gales were in prospect.............. so zoomed off from work to dig some rag before dark......... to allow fallback into harbour and a few flatties possibly??? An early start this morning was unbelievably beautiful.......... flat calm and clear; was it worth risking a trip out??........ all forecasts were even more pessimistic; I didn't want to run home after an hour.............. so harbour it was........ ............... and what a good call............ ....up the Wareham channel on the flooding tide............. and straight into a bass or three before Terry got a bait in the water !! A steady stream of bass of all sizes............ float, bottom or baited spoon , all caught............... in between battling the ravenous hordes of crabs. Great sport on extra light tackle.............. 3 1/2 lb. bass able to show their mettle. Seven good size bass to share, several returned, one badly net-damaged but recovering and a few thin and out of condition fish [ surprising at this time of year]. Only one flounder.......... but a good one. Then the snotty weather kicks in..........ebbing tide, foamy surface and waves and no more fish. Thanks Terry for a good day out on your super boat.........I think you might be going back for that sport ..... on another day soon?? Cheers, Alun.

I have a couple of brand new red 6000 's for sale at

Smoking............... is the best thing I've had done to eels......... In previous tears, when eels were more abundant, I've taken them to the Dorset Smokery near Hurn Airport........you get them back a week later.......smoked and vacuum packed. Costs a bit but well worth a real treat. Alun.

Well done fellow club members !! Everyone contributing here has sound, considered arguments and , in our own, individual ways, shows we care about our environment and our impact on it. I was out with Paul F. [ Sinbad ] today on a blustery [ but warm and thoroughly enjoyable ] day .......... in the harbour [ after declining the Ledge]......... and got through a pile of rag.......... feeding the crabs and baby bass !! But we did get two sizeable bass and two flounders......... which we took.......... and carefully returned at least 30 small bass....... all in fine condition ......... fighting much better than similar size dace in the river [ similar tackle !] We also had two good sized eels......... one lightly hooked and returned; one came in deeply hooked and bleeding, so kept it and had it for supper. NB. ........... culinary failure !!!! ........... nice sauce, but no one liked the eel; tough, greasy [ perhaps undercooked !!] , not a good texture. Next time I'll try the slow stew in red wine !!! I trid the 'pan-fry' after listening to this weeks edition of Radio 4's food prog., all about eels. Bass tomorrow will be appreciated better. Alun.

Duncan, Conger's quite good to eat .......... but very bony....... esp. towards the tail end. A small bit !! is very filling with a sweet flavour and very white meat. The texture is unusual....... the opposite of flakey.... soft but firm at the same time !!{ I know this sounds contradictory......but try it and you'll see what I mean !} Cutlets from the shoulder end are best ....... the rest is mostly used for soup, to which it adds good flavour; the basic fish in those wonderful Frech soups. Any help ?? Alun.

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.