Graham Nash

nice Turbot Nigel.

I agree about Covid and our politicians Greg. But I wasn't asking him to do anything other that come out and have a good day. If he didn't want to, that's absolutely fine, but the excitement and texts in the days before, then waiting until 12.40 in the morning (about 6 hours before we were due to go, and obviously too late for me to arrange an alternative) showed a complete lack of responsibility or respect. Maybe I'm just old school? Anyway, my post was really about the sea weed, it made the harbour completely unfishable. The grandson preferring to spend the day in bed is his business.

How did it go? I hope you didnt follow Martin, because it sounds like he went to all the blank marks

and breathe 🙂

good plan.

I arranged with my oldest grandson to have a bit of a "bonding trip" today. He's 20 years old, doesn't work, doesn't have any intention of working and doesn't see why he should work! So grandad offered him a day out fishing free of charge! Thursday was chosen as the day (not that it makes any difference to him, but that was the day he chose). I rearranged my diary and ordered the bait. Its been arranged a week or so, with excited texts going back and forward all week. Good (small) tides so should get us out into deeper water. Plan was to get the boat in early, motor down to the quay, he'd jump out and pick up the bait from Mike at Poole Sea Angling and we'd be out of the harbour by about 7.30. 12.40AM this morning I get a text, "don't worry about fishing grandad, I just remembered I'm going to Bournemouth this morning! PAA! So plan completely changed. My normal crew were all at work, and the one who wasn't at work had broken his ankle last weekend! After exhausting all (2 or 3) friends I have, I ended up putting the boat in the water on my own towards the end of the tide, (at Ridge Wharfe slipway that can be a scary exercise) and decided to stay in the harbour for a few hours. I think I must have beaten the club record for seaweed. Every cast resulted in a huge lump of the stuff covering the weight and the hook. A couple of moves just brought me more weed. I had a couple of possible nibbles, but no fish! After my worm supply was exhausted I gave up and had a very slow motor back through the harbour towards Wareham. I had a red and white lure trailing behind me at 3 knots and had 3 small bass take it. I'm not sure of the legality of lure fishing in the harbour at this time of year, but I wasn't intending on keeping anything (to be honest, I wasn't actually expecting to catch anything after the trip I'd had). Anyone wanna adopt a 20 year old grandson?

Unfortunately I had today off and had a short trip out (ended up on my own) and moved all my work to tomorrow. Good luck getting out (one way or another).

And the beauty is, Ginger nuts taste ok on the way back out too. .

Well done for getting out. I still get a little green around the gills if i've not been out in a while or if there are any lumps in the water.

Its definitely not the Cod father

I've just had a chat with a new/returning member from Fordingbridge. Nigel and his son Harry. Theyre off fishing on Silver Spray tomorrow but they do have their own boat as well. Join in Nigel, don't be shy and we look forward to plenty of pictures, reports, questions and input. Graham

Ahhh. I just back up a bit before motoring off.

I must be honest, Ive never tried a shorter rope and I dont have any "triangle"? This ring just travels down the anchor line until its immediately above the anchor, then it lifts the anchor and I carry on running until we feel the chain travel through the ring. Once the chain has gone through the ring, its someone elses job to handball it back in 😉 I like the length of line because we can drop the anchor into the water with the buoy on the deck, then just chuck the buoy in once the anchor is on the seabed. I can reverse a bit to get it to the right side of the boat for retrieval. Ill have to look at others set ups next time i see anyone.

Alan had some Southern IFCA ones at the meeting last month. Im not sure if he can get more? I have PBSBAC stickers that were passed to me by Brian. Ill bring a few to the meeting

Unfortunately I didn't, and I've just seen what the specimen weight is 🤔 !! Lesson learned i suppose!

We made our way to the 6 mile banks and found congers, dogs, gurnard and a solitary toothy one of 13lb. I lost a heavy ray at the boat. The water was mirror flat!

Im looking at getting out tomorrow. Im expecting to be somewhere around the Dolphin sands area. Is anyone else about?

I carried an aux a few times, but (like you) i couldnt see how Id steer it easily if needed. I purchased a tiller extension, but it all seemed a bit of a faff, so it now sits in the garage and i pay seastart instead.

I must be honest, I put my boat in the water today just after low water and pulled it back in with the new winch. That would have been almost impossible with the old one, but it was no major issue using the new manual winch. Having said that, it looks like Im getting my old finger berth back again if i want it so the trailer will be used once or twice a year again after that.

ha! While I was at the boat yard this afternoon looking to swap over to the the electric winch, they came over to me and told me my old pontoon berth was likely to be free again in a couple of weeks!

How do/did you ensure the winch wound on evenly? There's no "level wind" so i imagined a big mound of rope in the middle of the spool. Thats why i ended up opting for another manual one.

seeing these comments about the electric winches, i might revert back to that plan and keep this as a back up.

The strap runs between the rollers. it doesnt actually touch them.

Im with Seastart. Its better to have it and not use it, than to need it and not have it.

I think I could be doing with some of that stuff on my elbows and shoulders!