Graham Nash

great report and pictures ..... the video shows that you guys really do know your stuff. How you manage to drag that fish onto your yak without going over is amazing!!

I didn't know what to do to be honest. I obviously couldn't leave them there and would have felt a bit rotten dropping them off in the pouring rain somewhere safe but far from their trailer. I also remembered last year when a yacht made a detour and helped me out for which I was very grateful so I couldn't not help. We did put our blinkers on when we actually got to the harbour entrance for the second time so I hope there was no one else out there needing help

well the wind died as was expected so we shot down to the boat at 1pm and planned to head out towards some numbers in the Southbourne area that Mike had given us. Slowly trundled through the harbour in the rain and had just started to throttle open when I noticed a small RIB drifting towards the chain ferry with a guy frantically trying to pull start his outboard. I have been in that situation before and have been very grateful of a friendly face so I decided to see if they were OK. A very wet young couple were obviously embarrased but very pleased to see me. I offered to tow them to where they were from and would you believe it they were from HAMWORTHY!!!!! Where we had just taken half an hour to come from!!! Threw them a rope and towed them back to their trailer then headed back to the harbour entrance again. Got out of the harbour at 3PM some 2 hours after starting off!!! Headed out towards Southbourne but saw 3 charter boats just about 500yds short of our intended venue, one of them was just moving so we decided to anchor in their place. 5 minutes later BREAM ON 5 minutes after that another bream, then pout, then wrasse, doggies more bream more pout in fact more fish than I have ever boated in one session!! We dropped some feathers over and took probably 50 mackerel too so we started using fresh mackerel flappers, strips & chunks and pulled a fish up nearly every drop. Decided at 6.30 that we would leave at 7 but at 6.55 I got a bite that was completely different to anything else today, which transpired to be a 4lB BASS. While unhooking it my mate picked up a 5lB one then withing seconds I got another smaller one on my second rod (around 3lB). Tried to use my new found Alderney retreaval but once again there was nothing doing, so we ended up pulling the b*gg*r in by hand AGAIN!! But nothing was taking our smiles off our faces. We had Doggies, mackerel, pout, bass, bream and wrasse today plus one of the biggest crabs I have ever seen!!! Great day!

Diverdave, the whiplash stuff is much thinner than that. You could get 80lB of whiplash for the same thickness as that 20lB.

Looking at the forecasts it looks like the wind will be dying slightly in the afternoon. Is anyone else planning on trying to get out? I think I am owed a half decent trip, I've had some dire trips just lately!

I assumed the leader would be similar strength to the braid, or possibly lighter (as it is much thicker for the same strength) but looking at t'internet it would seem some use 60/80lB mono as a leader . I don't have all these different mono's so was just looking for an idea so I can pop down to the local tackle shop to get the right stuff but alas once again it would seem its not quite as simple as that . I have 150lB as my hook length (just in case we go looking for tope).

I have now set up 2 new reels with 300 yds of 30lB braid on top of plenty of 20lB mono (as backing). I also have a couple of reels with 150 yds of 20lB braid (again on 20lB mono). What weight/size leader should I be using?? Many thanks.

well done for getting out. The wind MUST die down soon, there cant be any left!!

I have a POLISH Raider Wheelhouse. There is much written about the differences between the newer Polish and the older English ones. I would be interested to hear/see a REAL like for like comparison. I am game Tom, and I dont mind constructive criticism either

half price ......bargain!!

This could be a possibility but most unlikely. I cannot imagine anyone switching the isolator switch to on, lowering the engine ready for removal then re-isolating the switch when they realised they didnt have time to complete their task (or once they saw the locks). Surely they would have left the isolator switch in the on position?

I was rather hoping to catch something a bit bigger too Graham but the point Adam is making is that if I catch a 40LB Tope and a 12LB Turbot on the other side of the channel, it wont come close to beating a 3 1/2 Bream just outside the harbour (which I did about 4 or 5 weeks ago).

Exactly this

I have a friend coming down from London for a trip out tomorrow but he really does not "do" lumpy water If there are any white tips to the waves we will almost certainly stay inside the harbour and try to find somewhere out of the wind.

Although I am hoping to get over to Alderney Mike, I have had my 3 best fish (so far) very close inshore. A 13lB 8oz Pollock just off the Needles, a 9 1/2lB Bass INSIDE Poole Harbour and a 3lB 9oz Bream just off Ballard. Of thise I think the Bream was the best specimen. I will be entering the comp, but more to add to the winnings rather than in the hope of winning it myself.

hope you had a good day. paint balling

I have booked a trip out on True Blue for the middle of July. I am sure I saw on his website that you dont take masses of fish home, we limit it and you put the rest back. It was for that reason I booked with him.

Looking at the link in my last post I think my problem is the angle that I motor to lift the anchor. I am pretty sure I motor just to the left of the rope, certainly nothing like 30deg.

My understanding was that the chain travels through the ring and counter balances the anchor preventing it pulling the chain back through and sinking back to the bottom. http://www.fishing-boats.info/Anchor.htm Makes it look so easy!

Charlie i look forward to gaining some of your experience in skippering and fishing in a couple of weeks time and am praying the wind blows it's self out by then. On a recent trip around Christchurch Ledge, we were attempting the Alderney retreaval method and the buoy went under but didnt pop up, instead the front of the boat dipped and felt like it was trying to turn back on it's self. It would be fair to say that it was a but-cheek clenching moment . Anyway, we ended up turning the boat round and drifting back towards the anchor while retreaving the anchor rope. We then manually lifted the anchor and noticed it had tripped our cable ties (we assume that was US manually trying to free it that had tripped it). I have not attempted the Alderney method since

Ha Ha ... I see he managed to come second in the bream comp and didnt know anything about it!!

Thanks for the offer Nigel & I would have loved to take you up on it but I have arranged for a friend to come down from London to come out for a days fishing. I would have loved to see some of your tactics too, you seem to have got it right this year.

disgusting and pure greed

Maybe we can arrange a day out Coddy and you can give me some pointers?