Adam F

2nd Duncan Mackie - 19lb 15oz Blonde Ray - Phaeton.

Winner - James Parker, 38lb Eel taken on Blue Warrior..

People await to check in - during the early morning darkness!

Just a few snaps from Sunday's open comp...

Blue Warrior's Day: I too awoke at a stupidly early hour - 4.30? to load the car and leave in time to get to the slip to help out. As Martin said, many hands made light work this year, and very quickly people were signing in and departing. As the forecast was for winds to increase to F6 later and I had to be back to help with the scales the plan was to head offshore in search of eels, that I felt would give us the best chance of a specimen round and heaviest fish. A good run out at nearly flat out saw us anchored and fishing by 9.00am. A big tide meant at least 2lb was needed to hold. No doggies was encouraging...I soon had 2 fat pout onboard at 2lb apiece. James that had an eels take, but his line parted upon striking (thought the National Boat Champ would have known better! ) It was then my turn, and the nod nod fight had me convinced Mr Cod was to blame - no such luck as a small double strap came aboard. It was then an hour or so before Golden Balls hooks his winning fish - a cracking 38lb eel. We sacked it and tethered it to the boat for the rest of the day - but as he caught it at about 10am - it was a little too long, and unfortunatly it didnt survive. So apart from the 1 big eel, we had only 5 bites between ourselves all day - pretty poor. The 6 mile run back to Old Harry wasnt fun into the teeth of a F6 - struggled to make 6 knots all the way. Well done to all involved - personally I was knackered afterwards and getting up at 4.30am this morning for work was even harder!! Roll on next year!

....Im lost!....where the hell does he get the strange piccies from???!!!

Just checked all the forecasts - now looking like 4-6 NW, sea state moderate - !!!

I was after something a little newer and waterproof - thanx for the offer though - I had a little serach on google and one website was selling the same unit for

And you just KNOW who's gunna catch it on Sunday.....lip hooked on a size 4 hokki, 6lb spinning rod....need I mention any names???

'Look at the girth on that!! - the eels not a bad size either!!!!'

Paul J and I both had holiday today, so at 6.30am we launched BW from Muddiford for a change - 2 mins later we are out across the bay! When Paul and I left home not a leaf was moving...on arriving at the slip a slight SW breeze was evident but it was still pretty calm. After we crossed the bar en-route to the Cod grounds a lazy rolling swell made its way from the SW - crossing the ledge into the deeper water and out past the lea of Swanage it was pretty lumpy!! The cod didnt show - but boy the whiting did!! We only fished half heartedly for them - but took a bucket of about 20 good 1lb+ fish for the table and returned as many!! We called it a day at 12.30 as unusually for me I was feeling a little queezy?? Not a bad day, a few fish, a bit of sun - much better than stuck at home - roll on sunday!

3-5NW is what the majority of the sources are giving - UKHO, Online, Coastguard. Should just be fishable.

Ill have a few Kam - is 10 OK, how much do they cost??

Sorry matey - didnt mean to offend, was just havin a joke!!

Hmmmm might be tempted to stick a live 1lb whiting on a set of 10/0 circles under a balloon.....I too would LOVE to take a shark on my own boat! Weather: Online gives 3-4 NW from Sat 1800 to Sunday 1800 at the moment. As do the other sites.....

All depends on where you fish mate!! The deep water marks off the Spoil grounds can need 1.5lb - 2lb on a big tide and 8oz on the slack, can go lighter for the whiting possible 6oz. If you fish closer in (unlikely unless weather is bad) 12oz will probably be the max, with 8-10oz the norm. The harbour for flatties, then anything from 1/4oz to 4oz. Take a selection - but dont go mad. Ill have 2x1.5lb 2x1lb 4x12oz 4x10oz 4x8oz and probably 1 each of 6,5,4 etc... Hope this helps - I would have though your helpful skipper whould have called you by now to advise you on what you need!!!

Trad - What HH is it? I may be interested it it as a back up? Adam F

Its called the Shingles - and at low water springs the minimum depth is about 12' - it makes the ticker go though - when you are planning at 25 knots and have 90' of water under the keel then it jumps to 12'!!!! The bigger boats (liners and tankers have to keep clear) it is the overfalls that can be a problem to smaller boats. Just take care.

Kam - Id love some cuttle. Im happy to come and collect them?? Could you get me some?

Hi Plaicemat, welcome to the club. I fish from Christchurch about 80% of the time and have been for a few years now. I find that the variety of fishing available outweighs other areas. Wick slipway (Chistchurch): This would be a lovely slip if they repaired the lower section, therefore launching with at least an hour of water either side of low is v. advisable, although as Alun J says, it depends on your type of boat. A 12' open dingy is no probs at all stats, whereas a 21' vabin cruiser would need most of the high tide. This is a river slip and therefore is tidal. I have a Warrior 165 and use an Astra to launch and retreave no probs except when really low water. The entrance to the sea is about 1 mile from the slip through the Harbour which is v.shallow and you MUST follow the channel. Muddiford is a slip I use rarely. It is very close to the entrance so it saves a long slow (4 knots speed limit) run through the harbour, but the slip itself is very shallow and requires most boats to me unhitched and waded out to deeper water. The Car Park here can also get dredfully busy making parking and manouvering a boat a little tricky. Probably a better winter slip when the tides are right - you need high water here. If you want help any day Im happy to assist, or you could tag along with me one day - let me know. Adam

Ill miss Spooks!....

Was a little dissapointed on Sunday when I got my lifejacket out to get in the pool. I used a new one as the one I use each trip is a little grubby. I bought it from an online trader about 6 months ago, and although I got it a little cheaper - it was still

Well I was at the Sea Survivor Course all day, but sitting in Parkstone Yacht Club starring out the window at a glassy sea - I bet all of you were out hauling cod?? So where's the reports??!!!

I have - and Im just about to throw the diagram away - PM me if you want it. Adam

Charlie - See if you can collar Paul D, for a pint Im sure he will sort out the gremelins - he has done for me twice - all from the comfort of his living room. If you have MSM Messenger, he can remotely take control of your system and have a look. The guy is a genius and better than any download....