Adam F

Realising I may be tempting fate here - but dont worry about anchoring the ledge - I have done dozens of times and apart from the odd slightly snagged one havent had too many problems - if your anchor is tripped correctly neither will you. Adam

Well done in getting out Tom. The last wreck can be a little fickle (like the others I guess) their always seems to be fish their but the tide needs to be spot on to get takes - all out fish came to either storm sandeels or live launce BTW. Adam

I work for Plumb Center so no probs in getting the gear. The reason I ask is that I thought it would make a great frame for a Parlour Pot for lobsters. A selection of fittings, a few lengths of 22mm copper tube and fill the lower sections with lead - cover in nylon mesh and bingo. Is this not a good idea then?

Trev, I had to do the DIY way last year with BW - did a bit at a time over 10 months - what an absolute bas%$rd of a job it was - kinda wish I had paid for it to be shot blasted clean.... I used Dilunet A/F remover - about a

How will copper react underwater (saltwater) ?? Thanks

Same as Bob. Trev - I would suggest the same as Jack and Andy - Otter is a pretty heavy and powerful beast - she should have no problem snapping to ties. I find ties are neater and more importantly quicker to chnage and replace - cheap too if you pick them up at the right places - i.e -not B&Q!!

Ref the post I made on our Sunday trip after the mayday call... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/4912546.stm

We were planning on heading out from Weymouth again, possibly tagging along with Quest II offshore, but the forecast has put paid to that. The Met Office now giving F4-5 increasing 6 is not my idea of fun - esp after yesterday. We postponed the trip until later in the week, or next weekend. Good luck to all those going out. PS: Mike Y went out onto the Shambles today - a few plaice, a 5lb turbot, loads of Pollock and a couple of cod - result!

I forgot to mention the Mayday which came about 1pm in the afternoon - the dive boat from Castledtown - Maverick radioed in a Mayday after a diver came up not breathing. Whiskey Bravo was launched an airlifted the guy to hospital, whilst other nearby boats collected the other divers in the water. I heard today that the diver died on the way to hospital. Very Sad.

Steve (lookfar) has one on order to replace his 165 - so we will see. My interpritation is that it fills the gap between the 165 and the 175. For those who dont want, cant have the bigger boat but want the few extra features?

The forecast looked ace today - F3-4 max winds, high temps etc - been looking forward to it all week. A nice early start and not a breath of wind in my 'wind tree' - expectations high. Met up with Terry B on the Bypass and decided to change plans and launch from Castletown for a change....well I wont again Its not a bad slip when compared to some - but it is a million miles from the Town Quay - launching onto shingle, nowwhere to manouvre the boat and rig up, boats on the shingle, no parking - it isnt good. We managed - just - but had to rope the boat out - the road was packed with other users, divers EVERYYWHERE - it was one of the only bad bits of reasonable day. Anyway, Rant over - the conditions on leaving the harbour left a little to be desired - the huge tide against the wind left a very lumpy sea - and once on the banks it was only on the verge of being safe for a 165 - we rekoned the swell to be about 15' with overfalls thrown in. We headed to a wreck to start with the view to getting a few early pollock, but besides being difficult to stand up, the wreck seemed empty. Back on the banks it was touch and go whether we stayed put - Stingray and Sammy headed back in about 11am - didnt blame them, it was truely misserable. Maverick had taken a couple of small plaice, and I hooked into a decent plaice only for it to turn into a dogfish halfway up... The tide then slackened at about 1pm, so we plodded off through the slop to another mark. First drop - pollock. Second drop - bang, doesnt feel like a pollcok this one......COD!!! Blimey my first spring cod - not a monster at 6lb, but fat and plump all the less! Chuffed at this we sat out the slack whilst Tango dropped in a few divers. Must say how polite he was - Phil Corben I think the skipper is - he came along side in his huge Offshore 125 and aksed if little us minded if he dropped on the slack - no we said. He then came back 10 mins later, thanked us and chatted about the fishing - makes a change for dive boats to act like this. Maverick then joined us as the flood tide started - first drift - fish on again....another COD!!! We then had another 12-20 pollock between the two boats up to 5/6lb. We tried the banks again for another hour but nowt, so headed in. Grove Point was very rough and we were down to 4 knots at one point as the overfalls broke around us - pretty scary really Total tally for BW - 2 plaice, one each to Gordon and I, best 1lb 4oz - Gordon. 2 Cod both 6lb to me and 12 pollock to 5lb between us. A swift pint in the Spyglass rounded off the day! Adam

Will start a thread soon - but the first few weeks in June, medium tide with flood and a sub F4 forecast are needed. Adam

Dave, Dont know about the Pirate bit - but Old Harry's Rock is the Tall pinnicle rock which is the first headland you come to as you steam out of the Swash channel and head around to the west - the smaller rock next to Old Harry is known as Old Harry's Wife. Info here: http://www.virtual-swanage.co.uk/page.aspx?p=oldharry Or a photo here:

Sorry for the late response chaps - access to this webpage is now restricted from my work computer - webpages are monitored.... Gordon and I will also be out on Saturday - we may also try a launch at Portland? or may stick to town quay - time will be 7.00am whatever. Weather is looking OK - wind from the East though.. Adam

Tom, I may be up for one of them - Ill discuss tommorow when I call you. Adam

Yes it is. Its also Crazy's bithday and the boat jumble. Next trail-away will be the Rips....

Al, I reckon you are correct - I think the smart tabs are rates up to 2 ton (ish) and 25' - your Ok there.... Bennet Trim Tabs are the way to go IMHO for an Aquafish. Hydraulic and adjustable they would make a big difference - speak to Tom, Im sure he has just had a set fitted to his 25' Jenneau. Must admit was so tempted by an Aquafish or similar this year - in the end just couldnt make my mind up and justify it - so am sticking with what I have - main reason is to be mobile and fish different ports. Would love a trip out sometime though....(subtle hint!!)

Weather is looking good for Friday and Sat at the moment. Tides big this w/e - whos planning what? Im thinking of another foray to Weymouth? Anyone fancy joining the convoy? Sun and Mon looking a little windy - may try for an early bass on the fly on Mon early morn? Adam

Nice one Al - how is the boat - pleased with it?

This is the chap who was angling to tag along with you to Alderney this year Tom?? From Worldseafishing by any chance?

By the look of it I reckon it is a skin fitting with the main body of the unit outside of the barrel - if so I would be very interested in one.

Billy - your right. The launce were huge - a good 8" plus, the pollock takes were very plucky, requiring several hits before they found the hook. The smaller 4" Storm lures did the business every time - I was a bit reluctant last year abiut these - but an 100% convinced now. No, you would know as much as me then! Adam

Alan, Mine ended up this way as I am a victim of the measure it once, cut it once and then regret it! I didnt really think, it was only afterwards I thought that the inlet should have gone low. In hindsight it was the correct choice. The 360 isnt powerful enough to bottom feed a 60l head of water - In the top it creates a nice load of areating bubbles and flows srtongly. All of the charter and commercial models I have seen are also rigged this way. As Tom says a few have a ring of hose, with holes around the rim, but Im not too sure this makes alot of difference. I am 100% happy with mine and would do it exactly the same if I did it again. Let me know if you want anymore advice. Adam

and mine...

Gordons plaice...