alun j.

Got out at last.....on what seemed a beautiful spring morn....with the sea warming quickly [ it's gone up 1.5 C in the past week] , it's now close to double figures [ surface water about 20 cms. down]. Stopped briefly on the Ledge and jigged a string of large Hokois whilst the tide was slack ...... and quicly found pollack....... masses of tiddlers in some spots... and a few larger , takeable ones in the deeper spots on the edge of the ledge...... a good start! Wanted to try Poole Patch by coming from Mudeford....... just under 6 miles from Ledge...... about 20 mins on a gentle sea..... but [ sods law] , just as I get close, up comes the wind and out goes my Garmin [ fish finder / depth gauge] { i feel blinded!!}....... wind over tide / very uncomfortable !! but I stuck around longer than all those trip / charter boats and picked up a few nice [blue / boy ] bream before the increasingly freshening wind started pushing disconcerting waves into the side of my little boat!! So I retreated [ slowly] back into Christchurch Bay, with a bit of shelter from Hengistbury, I used up my juicy ragworms hooking loads of small bass..... alas nothing sizeable [ whatever that might be these days ??] but it is good to see healthy stocks of little ones for future sport ?? Had to wait for enough water ,as I was gaugeless, and will now spend Sunday sorting out my electrical prob. Cheers, Alun.

Thanks for the welcome and rally call ; will leave plans until weather prospects are callable ......... not being a fan of bumping about !! But I do know I'm free all weekend as my wife's off on an art course and kids are away !! ...... come on SUN !!!! Alun.

Cheers Martin, I'll see how you and the fleet get on !! I have a friend with a larger boat than mine in Weymouth harbour; armed with some evidence, perhaps i can persuade him to take us out there ! What are the most productive tactics ?? ....... anchored or drifting ..... baited spoons on long traces ??..... with beads etc. ?? Alun.

Looks like quite a fleet steaming out..... in search of the plaice....... is the fishing there good / reliable ?? or does it have the 'Chesil' factor, where experience seldom matches expectation !! How do you reckon it compares to Poole ?? Could you tell me how far out of Weymouth the Shambles area is ? Is it very exposed ; or in other words could it be a consideration to be able to fish it , out in my little Orkney 4 40 ?? Given a suitable calm spell, I've been out off the Needles and regularly go out to the end of the Ledge ....... but quickly scuttle off if / when it blows up to 4 or 5 , when discomfort outweighs fishing pleasure.!. Roll on Spring, Alun.

Sounds like a true...... sea fisherman at heart ...... salty dog ?? Also prefer shorts, bare feet and the warm sun on my skin !! But DO NOT want to move to Spain / France like the missus seems to !! Blue water = poor fishing ....... I'll stick to our green stuff! Alun.

Hi Adam , Did you stick a thermometer in the river?? Bet it was cold as well as being much clearer than of late . The river water tumbling out of Christchurch harbour was only just above freezing this am., plus remains of snow / ice on margins. You did well to catch anything !! Did the afternoon sun thaw you out; what aspect was your swim facing ?? Could have been pleasant/ sun trap ??.......unlike at sea! Alun.

I've been stocking up with a selection of line [ braid and mono. ] bought through ebay. Be careful..... know a sensible price [incl. p&p.] and you can get what you want at around 1/2 price ! eg. 300 yds. whiplash / fireline...... around

Not at all Spring - like yet !! ..... possibly the coldest day I've been out this winter, due to that windchill..... force 4 N...... 3-4 C feels like -4 C ! Water temp. at its lowest....... 1.4 C at Mudeford 9am.,,,,,,,, out in the bay , just above or below 5 C.... [ this is the 'surface water' ..... about 1/2 m. down where the sensor is] ....... coldest I've recorded all winter Out all day.......escaping the chores ..... tried 4 marks...... with similar lack of success: * Ledge - doggies.....slow but steady........dogged action.....soon bored !! * Barton ...... wind - assisted drifts....... baited spoons/ beads..... 0 ! * Lookout ...... " "" "" "" "" 0 also ! * dropoff .... last hour.... scorpion fish.... interesting tiddlers !! but the sun came out , the wind dropped a bit and everything looked wonderful ; feeling the increasing warmth in that sun ......... washing the boat down at 6 it was still light; spring can't be far away and this cold snap will soon be gone !! Wonder why I didn't see not a single other boat fishing !!! Next week..... must stick to gardening... [ that's why I went out...... ground was frozen !!]. Supplies of frozen whiting fillets rapidly depleting..... will I have to buy fish soon? Alun.