Adam F

I'm sure Bob F or one of the other electro wizards will do the calc. for you - but.... I run a 500 GPH bait pump along side by electronics (x4 units) all day long of a pair of 110AH batts and never have a problem with the voltage dropping - bearing in mind that when using the pump I am 99% of the time drift fishing and therefore starting the engine or leaving it running every few minutes - also a new efficient engines helps - my old beast used to drink power - crap alternator I guess? I would recommend a double battery set-up regardless - somewhere on this site (someone will find the link) their is a full wiring diagram for this system, which is simple to follow....their is also a full section on setting up a bait tank. Adam

Well done Tom - good init! Next time - 1/4 salt, 3/4 brown suger, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder - rub this over the fillets and leave for 3-4 hours (dont disolve in water) when you come back you will find the fillets have shrunk as they water has been absorbed by the brine mix - which will have gone a stickly brown syrup. Wash them off and then smoke them - they should come out even better! Adam

Good result Steve! Havent yet fished the Nab - just refresh me on where you launch, areas you fish and how long / far it is to run out to the mark - I also presume it is similar to fishing the Needles? Adam

....All fish found in British (and club I think) waters....

Crazy Fred's recent thread caused me to have a think, and Ive come up with a set of clues for a list of fish - these are much easier than Freds - so you should get them quicker! 1.) Bottom Bowline 2.) Syrup & ? 3.) 'The Artisitic Fish' 4.) Low frequency fish 5.) Not a short back and sides 6.) A fish that likes it the latin way 7.) Melting Metal 8.) A fish made from a cow 9.) Child's food catcher 10.) The fish that is the friend of a nun 11.) Dark magic fish with pointy hat 12.) Leather bottom foot dressing 13.) Shortened slang for fantastic Good luck!

Well done us!!! Need the next clue now - who can think of one?

Well done Tom - dont you just love it when you try something different and it works! - Also a long way to go to blank.... Something I may do in BW this winter when not a lot else happening - we did a few long hauls back in the summer, but hadnt thought of winter Pollock - I feel a trip coming on - maybe we could swap number for smoking recipies!!! The pollock would be good to practise on, but personaly taste wise I like it either in a fish pie or thai fish cakes. Ring me if you want any info on how to smoke it -07957 829902. Adam

Superb cross word clue - my guess is a type of Rockling, but I'm stumped on the rest. The Dinosaur ref. is this linked to the latin name of the fish?

.....did you brine the fish first? Basically you need to cover the mackerel in a suger and salt mixture for a few hours first to draw out the water - the smoke then flouvers the flesh and not the water in it. Do a search on the site for more details - or give me a call tomorrow - I dont have the inclination tonight to write a full run down on smoking - a bottle of red hasnt helped!! Also - use meths not parafin - and you should aim for a smallish constant flame The chips should smoulder gently, it is a balance of not too much smoke or you end up with raw fish that tasted too strong, or too little smoke and plain baked fish. Hugh Fernley Witingstalls book has loads of fantastic advice in getting started. I also have the same smoker have have produced hunderds of top quality fillets this summer - so dont give up - it is a very rewarding hobby. AF

One of the guys I often see launching at Wick uses boilies for cod...he said he tried it last year on a spare rod, just whacked on a string of 8+ 32mm fishy boilies and wedged the rod up near the wheel house....they forgot about it all day and after using countless pounds of fresh squid and cuttle were astounded when just before they left for home, they hear a screaming drag...look round to see the spare rod doubled over - 20lb plus cod! Never got round to trying it myself though....

Try also Tony @ Select Marine in Poole - Mariner dealer, he has lots of broken engines and may be able to help, tell him PBSBAC sent you...

NICE ONE!! Great result Paul - and as others have said, what a time to do it! - It only takes the one!

1st day back at work for me, but I did here of 5 cod caught - between 180 + anglers, I also understand that 2 of these were caught on club boats! ...Im sure we will get a full run down later!

Dan did you have a recovery buoy on the anchor warp, or where you just motoring it out?

Nice one Alun! A great early xmas prezzie! Merry Xmas to you all! Adam

Cheers Alun, Never mind - it seems the IOW cod fishing has really taken a nose dive - wasnt one charter boat out today - and the radio was silent! Maybe BW has taken her share this year! Anyway as you say - company was good and it was a lovely relaxing day...yep out again tomorrow - congering I think! Merry Christmas also!

But what did it say??? Give us the goss!

Martin, My last one came from Towsure in Southampton - www.towsure.co.uk It was one of the Orange lesuire batts...cheap as chips AF

Doesnt surprise me - I too havent purchased SA for over a year now - yes, loads of adverts, but also - guess the headline every Nov - ' Top 10 Tips to Catch a winter cod' etc, etc.....its the same inane drivel every month, at least BFM rings the changes and listens to its readers.

Where did you get if from Terry? My main use would be to cover the trailer in it? How you you do this? AF

Off all this week so going out every day the weather allows! NICE!! Bob F and I launched BW at 7am this morning with the aim being 4 cod in 4 trips - odds stacked against us with the current catch reports!, Fast run out to the mark (22 knots) - 20 mins, but HUGE swell and stiffening NW breeze All perfect as the hook went in...morning flood, plenty of flow, sun just breaking the horizon, warm(ish) and a 12 squid pennel dropped to the bottom! ....and that we how it stayed!...we fished the whole of the flood with nothing more than 1 doggy, on the slack we managed 3 decent sized whiting (1.5lb plus) and then the ebb bought a couple of pout and another dog. Anway - the wind dropped and it was an idlyic day to be afloat (again!) Back out again tomorrow and Thursday weather permitting.... AF

Hi Fugazi, Good news that you have joined the club - look forward to meeting you. Interesting that you seem to have done the research also, and would love the chance to have a ride in the R 18 ? At the moment I am still looking for a 175, unless something changes my mind! Where are you based? Adam

Interesting thread chaps - lots of these at this time of year!! Paul: I dont think you will go wrong with any outboard to put it simply. I went with a Mariner when I changed as I was in a rush, knew loads of people with them and got a good deal - BUT it is louder than the Susuki and larger than the Etec, but is has good fuel economy and starts at thr touch of the key everytime. If I did it again I would go for the Susuki having used James' ....Warrior also claim that they are the only 60hp (4 stke) that they fit to a 165 that will plane with 4 up. If I was in your shoes then quite simply I would go for the best deal I could fine with either Suzuki, Yamahar or Evinrude...etc, etc - the technology is so goo nowadays you will be chuffed with whatever you choose. Adam

Bob, Sorry - it was a bit last minute. Thye are doing another session next tues, again FOC or can arrange them to suit. They run courses to suit - I say next summer as that is when we are likey to do ours - plus the water is warmer. The course is the PADI Open Water, and costs about

It has been one of the things I have always wanted to do in life, and when a mate of mine did it this summer it made me want to take the plunge even more....the oppertunity came last night....when I spent an hour at the bottom of Canford School Pool....yep, thats right Scuba diving! It was a 'Try-Dive' night and FOC it gave you the chance to experiance it before taking the plunge with your PADI course, rach and I went along, and as no-one else turned up we had 2 hours of 1-2-1 tuition! I have snorkelled loads in the past but this was much, mcuh better - even in a pool, it is just a sureal experinace. Anyway both of us will be doing the course this summer with a view to having a joint hobby and something to do aboard - I may even do a few dives in the UK. .....So when you see BW anchored on your favourite wreck next year minus the rods - you know whats happening!!