Adam F

Well with no reply from the Burnham guys, and a worsening comp it was with some trepidation that I readied the boat last night. Waking at 1.30am this morning to heavy claps if thunder and teaming rain I was fully prepared to cancel in the morning. 5am came and the rain persisted, and I must admit to not being 100% up for it when I pulled out of the drive wth BW in tow!! But upon reaching Pete R's house the sky was beging to brighten with the morning light and the rain stopped. At Weymouth the sky still looked grey and the wind fresh - only confirmed upon us all reaching Grove Point where a fresh breeze against a strong spring flood heaved up a big sea. Splash out, BW, Maverick and Nipper were the only boats to turn up - and we scarpered to the inner harbour to asses our options and catch bait. Come 9am the sun was poking through and the wind eased, so off east to some banks it was. On BW we had constant Bullhuss action from the off - nothing massive, but good fun and better than doggies - a reasonable bass also put in an appearance - Bonus!! After lunch the tide eased so 5 miles further south to another TS mark, and we settled in for a big ray. We didnt have to wait long and my big rod was firmly connected to what was obviously a big ray in a big tide with a big lead!! A good 30 mins to battle the brut to the boat had my arms aching and a decent blonde went into the net - a little skinny - but a new PB nonetheless - 18lb 8oz. Next drop is a decent conger pretending to be a tope and then a smatering of 'bits'. Back into the Spyglass for a swift beer and home for 7am - we made the best of what looked a poor day! Adam

We are going regardless!! I have sent several emails and made numerous calls without any response so I'm not sure. If Burnham dont turn up we will be having a PBSBAC awayday anyway! See you at 7am!

The forecast is right on the edge at the moment - Southerly 4-5 with light rain. I havent heard anything for the guys at Burnham - I have lost thier numbers, so emails only - but silence!! I guess we will need to make a call later today. Adam

OI!! Leave it!! Looking on the bright side, if I get another invite next year to fish with Crazy at least I might get a chance to sleep in a seperate bunk area and not have to put with the grizzly bear in the next bunk!!

Sounds like a plan to do another training session one weekend whent he weather is crappy?

IMHO handhelds are only useful if you only ever venture 1/2 miles offshore in the regular company of other boats close by (less than a mile) I have had mine for 4 years and only found it useful once or twice. A fixed unit is better valuable, more useful and when you need it most (Mayday?) will be the kit you rely on, even on an open boat the ariel neednt be an issue - a simple foulding mount is all that is needed. Adam

Yes, a window has appeared!! As for tactics on the day - I'm a little unsure until I get down there. The tides will big springs so the overfalls on the race will be sizeable even if the wind is low - in this instance smaller boats or more unsure skippers may want to give this a miss - 5 knots + of tide, plus 10 feet or more standing water can be pretty daunting and dangerous. On the slack the banks to the east of the Shambles will be worth a look, as will the Lulworth banks. If anyone wants inshore wreck numbers I will give them out on the morning. The reefs inshore around the Bill will produce Wrasse, and the mussel beds will still have Bream. If you do fish the race - live macky on a Portland rig, 6-12oz of lead will be the tactics. Anything else?

Well done guys - sounds like some good catches. I was gutted not to have been able to get out - Rachs' birthday unfortunatly... Looks like the big blondes are aorund!

Well, will we ever get a comp against the guys from Burnham?? After having the last two comps cancelled, the long range is giving it nasty again this weekend - stong winds from the south... Fingers crossed for a change.,..

Happy birthday you old fart! 31 Today!! Have a good trip tomorrow and catch the winner for me. Adam

I have one name in Alan, provided we go later, and myself. I am therefore 6 places short, 7 if too late in May as I cant go. I will leave this post open until the end of the weekend - if I havent had any other serious interest by then I'm afraid that I will have to contact Chris and decline next year. Adam

Onslow, Their is no way that your mate is getting 28 knots with a 50hp engine on a 165 (stand to be corrected now! ) I have run my 165 with both 50 and 60hp EFI 4 stroke engines and downhill, light with the wind behind the best Ive ever had is 27 knots (thats also with the tabs fitted) Are you sure he doesnt have his GPS set to MPH - the usual explination. I would rekon about 32/34 knost on a flat sea with your set up. Adam

Julian, As is the policy aboard BW - both the biggies went back and swam away powerfully to fight another day. Rule is that any doubles go back - no question, all other bass are fair game priovided sensible numbers are taken - I think the most I have ever bought back is 4 fish in a session. Maybe next time she will be even bigger - they both had the potential and now is the right time of year!! Adam

Here she is - Nokia piccy so not the best...

Correct ...and be warned - OK if the wind is offshore and light, but anything with S in it is not good IMO. Is is a crap drive down the narrow lanes, a steep awkward slip not acessable at dead low and faces striaght out into open ocean. 10 mins longer in the car and you have the Town Quay slip at Weymouth where not even a gale would stop a safe harbour passage, and the best public slip on the south coast. Having been there in bad conditions, Weymouth gets my vote everytime. Adam

It made a nice change getting BW today - its been a good 6 weeks since the last trip.... Anyway, plan was to stay inshore and out of the tide and have a crack at a few species. Gordon decided to up the anti today with the culinary delights aboard BW - gone were the bacon and egg butties - and in was 'Jerky' from Australia from Crocodile, Emu and Kangaroo!! Bl$%

Kam, What are you fishing for? I may be interested.... Rich - good idea, I would second that..

Hi Reg, I have a v. busy week at work that week, but their are on or two gaps Monday or Friday at the moment. Will meet up regardless as I have your rod and reel. Regards Adam

Charlie, Can I book BW in with me and Gordon onboard. Launching late from Wick due to the mahosive tide! Cheers Adam

If James and Gordon are taking their boats, BW will also need crew. Adam

Best = catches most fish!!!

Guys - please dont hijack this thread off to a tangent. I am very serious in that I need names ASAP, can we get back on track with anyone who wishes to come on thr trip? As for dates, well we may be limited now as we are late in the season, but it is up to you lot. We usually go at the begining of May as this is regarded as the best time for the flats, but we could go later (although this would rule me out) Thanks

Sunday 24th will see our final attempt at fishing the Burnham vs PBSBAC friendly competition at Weymouth. We will meet at the Town Quay slip for 7am with the aim to get away by 8am and back for the scales at 4/5pm. Please support your club...the Burnham guys will be likey to bring down a decent following, so lets do the same!! Format will be

Right chaps!! I need to get moving if we want to do the trip again next year. As we now know it seems the hard work from the charter guys looks to be paying off and the proposed bag limit restrictions are now under review again - I suggest that even if they do impose some kind of restriction it wont be for a while. Anyway, it is no secret that we struggled to get numbers this year. For 2007 Chris will have his new boat (so he says....Peter??.. ) which will fish 8 comfortably. The schedule is likey to be similar to previous years - 4 day trip leaving from Weymouth, a mixture of mid channel wrecking and reef / bank fishing with turbot and brill the main target - this of course is very flexibale, but why go later in the year for say bass and tope when the fishing is so hot this side of the channel... ...I digress..I am looking for 7 names to build the trip around. Costs are yet unconfirmed, but somewhere in the