Graham Nash

Thanks for the vote of confidence Mark ... you have more faith in me that I do Anyway, its going ok, I have completely cleaned the hull and cut out the old floor and rotten braces. I replaced and strengthened the braces and have fitted 2 electric bilge pumps; one high volume one with an auto switch towards the front and a second one at the transom that will be switched manually. I intend fitting a manual pump too but haven't done that yet. I have laid a new floor of 18mm marine ply. My job this weekend was to fibreglass the floor and it just reminded me that fibreglassing is a trade of it's own and i know why! I have put 3 layers down and although it may not be that pretty, I hope it is functional . During the next week I will be painting it then cutting inspection/access hatches into the new floor. Then I will work out what is next.

As a boat fisherman I am often disgusted at the crap that some shore fishermen leave on the beaches for someone else to clear up for them. Today I was walking my 3 dogs along Holes Bay Road in Poole Harbour and although I always try to keep my dogs away from the path and seats that the fishermen use because there is normally so much of their crap lying about that my dogs like to sniff through. Today one of my dogs found a complete 3 hook rig on the grass behind one of the seats, one hook stuck in his mouth and another in his foot! To say I was angry at the inconsiderate 5h1ts that left their rubbish is an understatement. I am also a considerable amount of money out of pocket because some 4r5e couldnt be bothered to clear up after himself. In short ... please consider others (and the wildlife) when you leave your spot. Take your tackle, macdonalds wrappers, beer cans and unused bait home with you.

Over the past 5 years I have bought 3 boats as "projects" and each time I have realised that boat building is not the same as aerial rigging and I have said NEVER AGAIN. Anyway, some of you will be aware that I recently did it again! If any of you EVER see me say that I am going to do it again I ask you to please give me a kick perefrably around the head area and get me to just throw the money straight down the drain to save me the trouble! Thanks

s thats September & October blown out then Rob!!!

You have no excused Dom .... you were out recently unlike some of us!

ha ha ... I actually did it too !!!!

Nice trip .... and once again top marks for returning some nice fish.

sounds like an excellent trip Chris. And top marks for returning the bass

Many would have given up at the first hurdle (especially with a 2 hour drive before you even see water). Well done for persevering and great result (so long as you dont mind doggies )

Fishing is a funny old game isn't it Lofty. The anticipation during the build up. the planning, the preparation and then the event. Often the event doesnt come near to the expectations or hopes but we still love it and we still keep going back for more. It's a little bit like the lottery in the early days. Well done on the dab tho'

Is Jim on holiday????

not at our age Charlie

Nothing better than grappling with a big blonde Peter

Incidentally Matt, we caught some pretty decent Blonde rays last year, many between 16LB & 20LB most were caught on 20/30LB gear but one of my crew caught an 18Lb'er on an 8Lb class rod. It took him forever to get it off the bottom and even longer to get it aboard. They were both knackered by the time he got it into the net

I buoyed my anchor rope at a wreck off the Isle of Wight Rob. Big buoy and left some slack in the rope but it just disappeared in the tide. I would have been better just cutting the rope as short as I could, instead I lost extra rope AND a big buoy!!! Have not had the chance to ghet back there at slack water and to be honest it would cost me more in fuel than the cost of a replacement anchor & rope anyway so I'll put that one down to experience!

looking very nice. I hope you have many happy trips in her.

not me

Having been watching the weather reports since Christmas this was the first time that both favourable weather and a quiet day at work coincided so it was off out on the boat for me and my usual crew. I had decided on a mark before we left but as we neared it we noticed that there were lots of boats in one area a little further on so against my original plan we decided to act like lemmings and follow the pack. Found a little spot but it was too close to another anchored boat so we motored round a little to see if we could find anything else of interest and decided on a little lump showing on the sonar. Within minutes my mate was into a small whiting, minutes later it was my turn for a slightly better one then there followed a steady stream of whiting to 2lb 5oz for most of the rest of the afternoon. Once the tide changed my mate hooked the obligatory doggie then as the tide ran stronger I got something a little heavier. Excitedly I told my mate to get the net but was a little disappointed (and surprised) to see a small Blonde Ray of just over 5LB curled up using the tide to make me work to get her up. Lifted the anchor around 3ish and headed back for home. Was lovely to be out but my sea legs seem to have been left somewhere in 2011 as my tummy was doing some strange things every time I concentrated on anything like tying a knot or untangling a mess. Was also nice to hear a few other club boats out and hopefully we will get their reports in due course.

Ha Ha .... well somehow I have managed to beat the odds and it would seem (so far) that I am getting a day off to go and play!! Still about 10 hours for something to go wrong but I have my fingers crossed :-)

You only have one back Nigel so look after it mate. On the plus side, it gives the rest of us a chance to get to the top of the leader board for a very short while

I have booked Wednesday off too (but some bu66er will spoil it for me). Same as Charlie i'm staying West. I don't expect to catch much but I just need to get out!

Is Mr Shotton invited

what a salesman Terry .... wanna job?

Sssshhhhhhhhh