Adam F

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...

First trip of the year today for James, Gordon and I. Forecast was good, so off to the Shambles it was. A nice early launch at 7am and soon zipping across to the bank. Noticable today was the trim tabs - much better test conditions than last week - bascially they do what they say on the tin. We had over 25 knots on the way out today - faster than usual by about 1/2 knots. The ride was so much better and we cruised at 18 knots all the way out, despite it kicking up a little offshore. Chatting to Chris on the quay before we left it appreared the bank has not been fishing - it looked perfect - water was amazingly clear - we could clearly see the bottom on the shallow areas of the bank under 30' - water temp was also near the magic number - 7.8 degs. Our perfectly presented baits remain untouched all morning, the radio was deathly silent and we tried all areas - nothing. We feather up a few fat launce on the morning slack so decided to mouch off about 11am to get a bend in the rod. 1st drift on the mark and BANG! a crash diving beauty hit hard - this is how it continued for about an hour with a pollock take evry cast - great fun....the best went 6lb 8oz. Fish came to live launce, but the storm sandeels out perfomed even the live bait! 10 turns slowly off the bottom on a 6' trace. We lost count in the end of how many! We headed back over to the bank to try and catch the target species - ol' red spots. A bacon butty and tea later and Gordon bags the first of the day - at just under 1lb - followed by me next cast with a similar sized fish. Dawn Raider then added another to the tally and things looked to be improving - short lived Im afriad - that was it for the day. Weather was superb until abotu 4pm when a few sqaulls moevd in so back in and home for 6pm. A good start to the season - roll on easter! Adam

Trev, Their is a set-up procedure - you need to tell the GPS to talk to the VHF. Their is usually a menu section on the GPS that lets you select the NMEA output from the GPS to the VHF. Have a look at this - failing that - Bob 'mr electronics' Fuller will be long shortly. Adam

Yeah....see the catch reports section from last weekend '1st trip for 2 months' I have done a pretty detailed report on them - but ask away if any Q's.

Alan, Try Pete Trew at Quay West Chandlers down at Mitchells - he is a supporter of the club and will usuall give you a bit if discount. Adam

Andy, I have a 14 on at the moment - prior to fitting the tabs the max WOT i could get was 5200 rpm - now with the tabs fitted - I can get 5800-5900 so I reckon that is about optimum. Adam

....Or read this forum!!

It is unlikey that the weather is too bad to retreave - if it was that bad then you would never get back in the run - Wick is very sheltered. Adam

Reg, I didnt bother - I have a SS transom step on the boat and that hasnt been effected in 5 years... Adam

Showing 2 transducers and my livebait pump.

Full transom view