alun j.

Desperate to get out...... but pinned in with this wind ...... I went exploring launching sites on this side of southampton water...... what a variety !! Eling and Marchwood looked OK for my little boat to fish the top end for flatties, but I haven't got any worms, the water won't get down in Poole to dig, and they're so expensive to buy [ enough ]. Calshot looked by far the easiest slip [ big concrete ramp, loads of space, parking etc.] and the clean, clear water looks nice and deep close in on the western side. Q. Is this area any good for whiting, rays or others, fishing with squid or mackeral baits ?? Never fished the area before..... but the water looked calm and inviting on a wild old day like today ..... wet but still reasonably warm !! Can anyone pass on any tips ?? Cheers, alun.

Hi Eddie, I have a TLD 10, which is excellent despite being over 15 years old and plenty of use. Even though this is smaller than the 15s and 20s available now ...... I find it a bit on the biggish size for the inshore fishing around here [ esp. using modern braid]. I find I'm using my TSM speedmaster reels more; even though designed as a casting reel for beach fishing , they are tough and rugged. Coming to the point, these reels have a Stardrag .... but ....unlike Abu style drags, they have a rapid , clutch-like action..... full to min. drag in about 3/4 turn; this almost like a lever drag action when 'tuned' to setting required. Only down side I've found is the disengage lever gets clogged up with salt deposits and grime after a year or two and needs a complete dismantle, clean and regrease. ........ but they go back together easily. Alun.

Good fish Charlie; did you get those swells 5 miles out ? ....... or is the water too deep?? ........ probably i t's the steep slope on the ledge that pushes them up when wind and tide conspire. Alun.

At last...... wind light enough on the weekend for a fish.....[ JUST !!!] Crawled out , bleary-eyed at 7, to see the trees were still and metcheck sticking with light westerlies ....... so quickly got the boat ready....and out on the Ledge before 9. Hefty swells coming in [ hope no one tried Kimmeridge??] and a freshish force 3 out of the shelter of Hengistbury. Anchored up on the drop off and straight into doggy [but this was the only one !!!, couldn't believe it!!] After a quiet hour, whiting started to arrive....... a few smaller ones first.... then the bigger ones [ haven't weighed any yet .... but 7 or 8 between 1 1/2 and 3 lbs. would be my judgement] ....... a couple of fat bass [ similar size ] ..... a lonely mackeral and several scad...... before the tide swung round and all action stopped. Tried moving a bit to be able to fish back into the drop ....... but nothing except a strange feeling in my insides in response to the tide pushing into those swells, despite the wind disappearing !! Had to pick my moment to come back across the top of the Ledge as those swells and tide were breaking with the bigger ones !!! ...... but it looked worse than it was and the trip back was fun ....... whizzing down the wavefronts like a surfer !! Now, lets go sort those whiting out !! Hope this is the start of a good autumn / winter for them. PS. All taken on mackeral strip ; only the doggy went for squid . Stuck to fishing one of each all morning ....... but only mackeral scored !! Tight lines to those trying tomorrow, Alun.

Thanks again Martin, for getting all that squid. Looking forward to putting some of it to use soon........ to catch some nice fat whiting.... and possibly a cod [ or several]. Tight lines, Alun.

Paul, Thanks again for the trip......... enjoyed myself.....and your company. Well done on that brill. bass !! and your first sole. Must recommend sole baked in cream on the culinary stakes ...... perhaps we could extend a fishathon into a cookathon with the catch. How about another sole session before the end of the month .... if weather, wives and jobs allow ?? Cheers, Alun.

Weather looked good; tides were cooperative........ and an invitation from Sinbad to crew up for an evening session [ him being a sole virgin ] sounded unmissable; so rearranged work commitments.....and met at 4 at Mudeford.....off to Barton to see if sole were still about ????? Warm, cloudy and near flat sea seemed promising........... Wind freshened and dropped, freshened and dropped several times....cloud,rain, moon, waves.....and many other things came and went in an interesting and different evening [again !] ....... another species hunt ..... what variety from a shallow inshore mark !!........in order of arrival ........... bream [lots], mackeral, red mullet, gunard, smoothhound, sole, scad. Paul got his first sole...... all wriggly, rough and slippery..... but a tiddler to mine just over 2 lbs. ....... and 4 in total. Lots of bites ........... but slower than last time [ a couple of weeks ago] I wonder if Paul will post about his big bass he caught earlier in the day..... out on the Ledge?? Was it 8........ or 12 ??? [ as his mum says !!] ..... a PB in either case. Well done Paul , and thanks again for the trip; hope you managed ok this morning ??? Off to fillet some bream for the freezer........ can't be much longer for these?? Alun.

Hi Martin, Confirming my 12 boxes / two cases [ however it comes]; will come straight from work ....... what's the earliest you could be available? Could you remind me your house number [ PM it to me perhaps] ? ....... Would you like some beans and peppers from my garden [ organic] ?? Alun.

Have just read in horror these reports of the Kimmeridge trip..... those pics. of swells would have seen me making for Lulworth or Weymouth...... even if it meant using the oars. Only managed a few hours out of a peaceful Christchurch yesterday morning [awkward tide] to fish the top of the tides. Pleased to find a few mackeral still around ...... but all quiet around the bream spots [ too late in the tide], just a few gars and pollack. Moved to the edge of the Ledge but the tide was already running west...... making a very uncomfortable pitch into that warm breeze. Took a little while for action, but then got my first blonde ...... just squeezed into my landing net after a spirited fight on my uptider......went about 10 lbs. Next a fine trigger [ 2 1/4 lbs.], some good size mackeral and a few pout. When the dogfish arrived..... it was time to go...... and get in for lunch before the water ran away. Looking forward to an evening session on Weds. ....... if the calm weather holds; don't want any swells thank you ...... can't cope with those in the dark !! Alun.

Peter / shytalk ....... or anyone else ........... can you say more about those big atlantic squid..... are these the 'quiddies'..... ??? How / where to fish for them ........ am I right in thinking it's night fishing ????? All ears ........ for monsters for the b.b.q. !!!!!!! Curious, Alun.

Hi Martin, Thanks for PM; looks like my enquiry coincided with this squid posting! Thanks for the 'run' ; can you put me down for TWO CASES please. Mike, The squid are fished for human consumption .... the boxes from California have detailed info. on nutritional status. I think they are great, if a bit small ; they make a super , tasty sauce if you have just a few left over from bait or a meal in a rich / spicy tomato one ........... just remember to remove the 'plastic -like' pen inside the mantle. Tight lines, Alun.

How about Salterns?? There's a slip at the end of the car park area ............ is it ever used? .......... I 've never seen anyone on it!........... not a lot of water I know but only dries on lowww tides. The car park area's reasonable and only seems busy at peak summer weekends and special events. Could it be a little start ........... to other facilities there. Alun.

Went to the Boat show last Sat. ........ taking the ferry from Hythe. It was a blustery day with wind topping Force 5 from SW. yet here was a good long stretch of water with barely a ripple on our side. The chart shows how the shallow shore quickly drops into the deep shipping channel. Anyone know anything about the fishing potential ?? As these windy days continue...... it would be good to find a few alternatives to be able to get out and expect more than a procession of crabs and tiddlers. On Sat. there were a few shore anglers on Hythe marina wall [ not much action!!] and a few guys in a very small dinghy on the edge of the main channel [ catching small bass as we went by on the ferry]. Hythe has a useful looking [ free ] slipway....... but charge to park ; and there are a few more between there and Eling [ according to the boatlaunch website]. Solent fishing guide website makes no reference to fishing up in Soton. water; is this a relection of poor potential ??? Any comments / info. gratefully received....... Tight lines, Alun.

Hey Mike, that legend......!!........... half empty or half full ??........ sounds like the former ! .... us fishermen have to be optimists..... or there's little point setting out [ vision / expectation ] ........ I'm not jammy , I make things happen !....... I wish.!! Alun.

Sept. fishing can be the best ....... if the weather allows ! After missing last weekend, due to those winds [ and the prospect of another windy one coming ...... thank you hurricane Frances ( as was ) ]..... itching for any opportunity to fish in this water as it retains its summer warmth ..... I saw Metcheck's promise of a tiny 'weather - window' last evening, with winds in the northwest and falling light into the night. With loads of big fat rag from Poole, I wanted to repeat the sole catching experience I enjoyed two weeks ago down off Barton beach ...... but no two trips are ever the same ! The sea surface was nice and calm ..... but the swell was surprising... getting bigger and bigger along Christchurch bay ...... at Barton, a good 4 - 5 feet; this , together with a fair tide caused the anchor to slip ..... so a bit like fishing the Shambles !! ...... move closer in ...... bigger swell in shallower water !! Nevertheless ....... ace fishing....... fish of all shapes and sizes ..... but no soles nor smoothhound !! Lots of bream..... [ to about 1 1/2lbs. ] bass ...... but only schoolies, some good rays [ thorny close to 10 lbs.] silver eels ......... and lots of dogs [ some so small they seemed like little eels coming in !!] No moonlight....... but mega starlight..... and still some phosphoresence in the sea. Strange how the swell on a dark night robs your sealegs! Good old GPS steered me back....... but so much water on the top of the spring tide you could go anywhere ; Christchurch harbour was full to the brim, so the boat came back onto the trailer at the top of the slip ........ and home by 11. I wonder how many more evening sessions I will be able to fit in this autumn ?? and still get to work the next morning !! Tight lines, Alun.

Well done James ; something special when using light tackle. Was the sun shining too? Alun.

Took advantage of a rare opportunity....... with wife away on a course, the gorgeous weather and favourable tides to fish both morning AND evening of the same day ......... Early morning, out with the last of the ebb...... fishing the ledge by 7.30 ...... but where were the mackeral ??? ...... one in half an hour !! ..... tried drifting, trolling; in close, further out ...... then bang , bang.... two strings of fours and off to go for the triggers.... anchored in the deep hole half way betwwen the groyne and the lookout , close to successful spot last tues. ....... nothing but bream, and more bream..... mostly bait robbing tiddlers ..... but 10 or 11 bigger ones between 1 and 2 lbs. plus odd mackeral and pollack. As the tide eased, moved out over half way along the ledge to look for bass ....... but still getting pestered by the tiddly bream and usual dogfish; a couple of 'screaming - reel' bites produced one trigger 2 + lbs. and a bigger one I never got to see as the hook pulled out. Back home for a late lunch after picking way through crowds on Mudeford slip. Complete change of tackle for evening session ..... spinning rods , little leads and small hooks and a bucketful of ragworms + a few lights and torches and flask of strong coffee. Went across to Barton with setting sun painting beautiful sky and warm breeze off the land flattening the sea. Three other boats were fishing the area ....... really close in ..... I bet they could have cast onto the beach !! I explored the area with the sounder and saw the fascinating shapes of the bottom contours......flat sea helped with this..... anchored in the 'groovy bit' and, as the tide started to push, soon got loads of bites. Wow! what a variety of species...... and yes ....... a few soles !!! [ thanks Adam ] ......... smoothhounds and bass that fight like something else on this light tackle ; tasty plaice, sole and gurnard ..... even bream and mackeral and didn't mind ol' spotty and mates........ and tiny rays that come out like big butterflies!! An excellent evening I must repeat...... if weather and tides oblige again [ soon!] Other boats had lots of little bream and a few soles .....[ in close].... and packed up about the same time..... about 12.30.... when the tide stopped moving so did the bites. [ thanks again Adam for the advice ] . Used GPS to steer straight back in at 20 mph. ; retrieving boat was a doddle and was home and in bed at 2. What a good day, Alun.

Must try again soon; I think there could be quite a few as I got my four in about an hour...... or perhaps they go around in groups. A boat nearby had ten the previous day [ don't know what size though ]. I think they like ...... rough ground, a bit of tide [ incoming...... running east], and some sunshine [ don't we all ] ........ and I think they move about a lot...... stay put near the ledge for a couple of hours and let them come to you. But....... I could be completely wrong !! ...... isn't fishing great like this!!..... the mixture of hope and expectation ........... then surprise when it's all different !! Cheers, Alun.

Hi James, Lovely day to get out .......... as I watched out of windows at work......jealous! ....... but I was out yesterday......... and was also scratching for mackeral....... and surprised as they were so abundant last Sat. out of Weymouth...... they came yesterday in 3's and 4's but huge gaps of nothing in between. Perhaps this settled spell coming with give a few more chances to stock up with winter bait. Well done on the rays....... the ones I got at Weymouth cooked up lovely on Mon. [ black butter sauce is the tops with poached ray wings ]. Alun.

Just had one for dinner this evening ....... absolutely gorgeous !!!!!! ; yep..... better than bass ...... firm sweet and white [ bit remeniscent of perch .... both should be on the fishmongers' slab ]. Anyone want to see one over three pounds .......... I've still got two in my 'fridge till tomorrow , when they'll get filleted ......[ that's the tough bit !!]. If I can repeat the question ........ how big do they get??...... have heard over 5 lbs. Have rapidly become a trigger convert.......... a combination of bass and triggers would be result of perfect day out !! Alun.

Bob, Good luck tomorrow....... looks like the weather could be perfect... will happily swap a trigger for a sole !! If you remember ..... could you nudge Adam to PM those GPS nunbers to me; I'd like to give it a go again on the weekend ......... Sat looks as if it might be calm and settled. Tight lines, Alun.

Had a very enjoyable morning on the Ledge ........ partly due to the lovely weather [ could summer be staging a swansong ?? ], and partly due to tangling with some brutish visitors [ ie. these increasingly common triggers ]. .......... this I don't mind ...... and , on reviewing previous comments, will add that these fish do go some !! Between the hordes of little bream....... that rob most baits in a minute or two ..... you will get a few good runs ...... sometimes a bigger , takeable bream [ a few two to three pounders ] or one of these feisty triggers [ fight like bream but pull like rays !!]; I got 4 this morning. two of them were between 3 and 3 1/4 lbs. [my biggest yet!] ........ heard of one of over 5 lbs. taken recently...... how big do they go ?? ....... shame they don't eat dogfish........ though with those jaws they'd be able to munch through most things...... even dogfish sandpaper skin ?? { too much wishfull thinking} Finished the morning with a nice , fighting bass [ about 3 lbs.] and returned for lunch as that sea breeze got up !! In all, a good end to the summer holiday....... but hope to be back out on the weekend !! Tight lines, Alun.

What a difference a day makes! I went out from Weymouth on Sat. ....... a beautiful morning; calm, sunny and warm after a chilly start...... Whizzed over to Ringstead Ledges ...... loads of mackeral for bait and some whoppers to keep for the grilll. Fished several spots on the rough ground and the deeper sandy bottom......... milllions of doggies interspersed with a few rays...... kept 5 medium size thornbacks........ but no bass..... just cuttlefish and crab to add to the culinary distractions [ great starters for our seafood supper ]. That freshening breeze...... against the tidal stream..... made for a bumpy second half.....that changed the day but didn't spoil it !! Alun.

Hi Adam, I have a Garmin 160 and Sinbad's boat has a 100 [ much the same]; both work fine , it's just that when you are rolling about in a swell and the boat is going up and down about a metre with each wave the bottom line looks wavy when the bottom is flat ....... also , as the boat rolls, the transducer will be pointing in different directions down towards the bottom, so giving different readings . Must try again when it's nice and flat...... and see if I can find those ridges. James didn't give anything specific like GPS numbers ...... he gave me directions to X-ray ...... but I'm not sure , again , if I was in the right spot ! Do you use small hooks and end tackle for the sole.?.... we caught some real tiddlers amongst all the species using mostly 1/0 hooks [ and nothing smaller than 1 s.] ...... and equal catches on running ledger and paternoster booms. If you could PM me the numbers I would be grateful and confirm if we were in the right sort of spot. Thanks, Alun.

Hi Adam, Sounds a similar experience to my trip last Sat. [ waves and all!!] except our lack of soles. When you say you anchored on the mark, did you have a specific spot in mind or just that general area between a 1/4 and 1/2 mile offshore where it's about 6 metres deep ?? We found the swell too big to spot small differences in the bottom with the movement of the fishfinder. Any details / info. much appreciated....... esp if I get another chance to use it !! Alun.