Adam F

Or better still - Tbar them off at the edge - boats stays clean and the fish stays safe.

Well done chaps - its a great experiance, and some cracking fishing can be had at night. I find a large net alot easier for the eels, esp at night. Gaffs damage the fish, are hard and fairly dangerous to use compared to a net, you will be surprised how big a fish will curl into a boat net when netted tail first. Maybe see you out there later this year.

Duncan will be your man with re. Rockley - as far as I know, the slipway is pretty slow gradient, but the costs are not too bad - it also leaves you with a long steam to the sea. Baiter is the public option, but again fairly shallow, so hard to launch a big (18'+) boat and cost

Mid Channel wrecking in 28 mins, or Alderney in under 1 hour - about once a year when its flat enough - an awesome machine - great in the Keys i imagine, but off the Needles on a sub zero, raining day waiting for a cod bite - I would rather be in our 'english' boats with the kettle on and shetering from the rain

All depends on what your after Paul. I would recommend strongly going for a brand spanker this time with warrenties etc - it gives you a huge piece of mind I must say. I would think that at 75hp would be a big ask for your budget - you may just find one if you look at the real basic 2 stokes, or go for one of the less popular brands - ie. Tohatsu. My money would be on a 4 stroke - 50/60hp. I think you will find that this will be plenty for you boat. The 60hp on BW performs nicely, and being as yours is a hell of a lot lighter this should be fine. Found these few after a quick search: http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/BHM497/ http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/DEA139/ (not new, but cheap) http://www.billhigham.co.uk/billhighammarine.htm (pretty good mail order - good prices on Tohatsu's and mariner's) Also it is worth calling around and matching the prices online to those from Select Marine, Holes Bay Marine etc - you may need to factor into the equation fitting and commisioning (which is required to keep the warrenty) Adam

Crazy Fred will tell you exactly what it is - it moors alongside Cyclone. Its an awesome boat, but hard to see exactly what is is used for in UK waters. Fred tells me he can get to the IOW from the chain ferry in 14 mins!!!

Sorry to hear that Paul - its gutting, I know I was there 2 years ago when BW's gave up one night on the way home - big end went. Their are some cracking deals around at the moment, just have a look through boats and outboards - I paid over the odds really as I panicked and impulse bought. Also - make sure you keep the old one and flog it for spares - I belive they sell easily. You are welcome to come out on BW anytime - in fact Ill call you now! Adam

Ill try and get a crew, failing that we will go with the 3 on Maverick. Ill let you know by tommorow eve. Adam

Nope.....beer battered cod and chips last night - the best Ive ever tasted, even if I do say so myself and thick loin of cod tonight (off the 20lber) sat on buttered mash with homemade warm tomato and red pepper relish MMMmmmmm!! - oh, and we had pan fried red gurnard fillets to start!

Thinking of possibly Friday evening this week - will keep you posted. I could pick you up on my way home in the afternoon and drop you back later to save you getting a lift....

Plan - Launch about 6am from Christchurch - and head round to the south of the island on the ebb - fish the ebb until lunctime (ish) and then head back inshore for the flood, with the aim to be back home by 4/5pm. I have PM'd Dan - so will confirm later if all OK. Weather looks good Adam

Sam, I will be out next week, weather, work and tides depending. Ill put you on the list - failing that, we could do an evening session? Adam

That sounds like a plan. I dont mind taking either. Ill PM Dan.

Paul, We came back striaght over xray, and the round the head looking for you to boast with our catch but we didnt see you - mind you, twas busy out there!! Adam

Thats where the tabs come into their own Kam - OK, so we had decent conditions on Sunday, but with the boat loaded so heavy - the tabs work to keep you on the plane even at low speeds (BW now planes on a calm day at 8-10 knots and 10-12 when a little choppy) meaning that even if it was lumpy, we could back off to 12 knots and still be on the plane riding efficiantly. They also improve the ride further on the 165 by lowering the nose, and presenting the sharp part of the bow to any oncoming waves - we bashed through several sets of wake on the way back at full bore without too much issue.

Interesting to note that last year on the mid channel trip we did much the same miles, but I used 75 ltrs of fuel, give or take a few. On Sunday we used 2.25 tanks - 56 ltrs - a massive difference. That was with a fat bloke ( ) onboard, 60 ltrs of water (livewell) and 2 big lead buckets plus 80 ltrs of fuel. They also ensured a smoother ride - even enough to allow the cleaning down and fish gutting on the way home! They just keep proving their worth. Adam

Planning to head out thurs - bassing most likey. Have a few irons in the fire re. crew - but nowt confirmed yet. Post here if you fancy a trip out. Adam

Just to add a few more details to Gordon's earlier quick post and to detail BW's day alongside Martin and Dean on Maverick. Decided on an early start as low tide dictated, so after hauling out of bed at the ungodly hour of 4am, we were in the water ready for the off at 5.30am - blood red sun just creaping up over the IOW, a silkly smooth sea and full of expectation! The plan we to head mid-channel - quite a feat I feel in a 16' boat, but we did it twice last year and provided you are well prepared and do alot of research it can be done - safetly and succesfully. With the aim of an economical cruise, we settled in at 4000 RPM, giving a comfortable 18-19 knots with the ebb time on out chuff and soon were out of sight of land. The trip out always drags as were are keen to dangle our rubbery things in the shippings lanes, and the 1 hour 20 mins seemed to take forever as the navigator ticked the numbers off..... 1st stop was a wreck, and 1st drop, 5 winds off the bottom a crash diver hits the shad - result, and a good start. Gordon then takes another, but they are small summer fish and not what we came for, so another 4 miles and we arrive at the target. Its a slow start again, and even the superb 4" baby joeys are failing to produce......Maverick then shows up and proceeds to show how its done with 7 nice cod to just over 15lb - we just looked on - stunned! Slack tide, and a new wreck mark produced just pout, so off to another mark for the start of the flood. The wind has now gusted up, and I comment to Gordon that we may be cut short and have a bumpy ride home at this rate - it was a good F5 for a while , but then as soon as it started, it stopped and became F2 First drift and wollop! Cod on!!, same 2nd drift, and 3rd and 4th.....etc!! This is what we came for, and for the rest of the afternoon we proceeded to catch fish on almost every drift bar the odd one. It was 2pm and we were leaving at 3 - so only a few drifts left. We had travelled way past the main mark as Gordon played his cod - I continued to work my shad, but was chatting away, then a fish hit my lure so hard I almost lost the rod! The fight was awesome on 12lb class gear - taking 30 yards in its first run! . A full 20 mins later and having drifted 1 mile off the mark, a huge white shape apperaed 30' down - its a beast we shouted....before Gordon slipped the net under a lovely, fit 20lb 6oz summer cod! RESULT, and the end of a superb day. We left at 3pm, with the fish box full, both of us shattered and a long run home. Back on the quay for 4.30pm and met in the water by Alun J with 2 cold stellas!! what a bloke! A great trip, that goe down as one of the ones to remember. Forgot the camera, so you are all spared the pics of me grinning with the cod, the flat calm seas and the sunny conditions! Adam

Mike, Club waters are St Catherines point to Portland Bill, and any water due south of these, so restrition on distance - its a good fair ruling I think and includes a lifetime of superb fishing water. Good luck on the other side. PS - must be a drag drifting a wreck, having to tack back around at the end of each drift!! (tounge firmly in cheek!) Adam

I had bass last night too!! New recipie..... Scale, head and tail the bass and gut it - nice and clean. 3 deep slashes to the spine on each side and dry the fish. In a blender - handfull of walnuts, smaller handful of pine nuts, 3 garlic cloves, decent pinch or 3 of basil, salt and pepper - blend all up and mix with extra virgin olive oil to make a pesto. Smear this all over the bass and in the cavity and slashes. In the oven covered in foil for 20 mins on a medium heat (keeps it moist) and then 10/15 mins on full whack to crisp it up. Tastes amazing!! Served with roasted medateranian veg and buttered new potatoes!!! MMmmmmmm!!

Just 1 tank - 25 ltrs. I struggle for space with 3 tanks and the livebait well (and of course weight) Lets keep an eye on the weather and it obviously needs to be pretty flat (for me anyway!) Speak at end of week. Adam

I see Raider UK have now mixed the Quicksilver range to come up with this: http://www.raiderboats.co.uk/models.php?boatsid=5 The smaller one (495) also looks like a small Quicksilver copy.... Will it work??!?!?!

Anyone fancy joining me (and carrying my spare fuel!) for a trip mid channel on Sunday - weather permitting. We did the Rips last year and it was a good trip, so keen to try again? Adam

Use the place I got mine from - they deliver for not too much.... Failing that Im in Bristol next Tues, so could collect. Let me know Adam

Great trip Al, We saw you on Sun morn not hanging around and watched until you were a spec on the horizon, thought you had somehting special up your sleeve and glad it paid off! We also had a good morning, the fishing was electric until everyone got out of bed and scared the bass off - 3.30am was well worth getting up for!