Adam F

Will you include how to gaff a conger?

Fair play to you for trying Alun! I also went out today....but not to sea. Had a river match against Ringwood and Test Valley. Drew a cracking peg at Thoop, looked well fishy. Well,

I'll find out for you. Shouldnt be a problem, if we can accumulate a few orders, we may get a decent bulk discount. Adam

Hi all!, Just to let you know - Bournemouth Fishing Lodge in Moordown, Winton (915 Wimborne Road) is under new management! Neil Cooke, previously asst. manager, has bought the business from the former owners. Neil is a good friend of mine, and we have discussed the area of sea fishing recently. Although not recognised for sea tackle in the past, Neil has pledged to change this, and had already re-stocked the sea section with almost every type of rig component you could imagine. He has also just achieved an Okuma account, and has stocked his freezer to the limit with peeler, hermit, mackeral, sandeel, lug, etc, etc. Neil will also match any mail order price where possible, (most cases!) so you get the value for money - and the local service!. If you havent been into the shop before, pop on in. I know it may not be as handy to Poole, baiter etc, as some of the shops, but I believe it to be one of the better shops in dorset. I have also been negotating with Neil for some better sponsorship prizes this year for the open in return for a link on our main page. Adam

Hmmmm something I was going to ask....How can i catch my own eels?? Where do i get a trawl? Can i get a smaller trawl for a 16' boat? Can I make one? I have seen people 'fishing' for them in the sand at low tide in cornwall, can we do this anywhere? Or do I just have to buy them???

I know that Roger Bayzand uses the inside SS part of the washing machine also, i suppose you cant really get a better method of filtration and areation than the sea itself! When travelling, you are correct you will need a source of areation. Hmmmm not too sure on this one, the battery opertated ones would probable not provide enough power. I would look at th pumps and air stones made for the fish keeping industry, these can be quite powerful. Only porblem is they run on 240v, so either need a convertor, and a 12v version. Maybe send Jimbo a PM, he works at Southern Aquatics, - what he doesnt know about keeping fish alive isnt worth knowing!

I'm no expert, but what I do know is that the most important thing when trying to keep sea fish alive is enough aeration, especially with mackeral and sandeels, and that the water they are in is replaced very frequently. The areation speaks for itself, in that both are fast swimming fish, and therefore use alot of energy, pass alot of water over their gills, so plenty of bubbles is needed! The water needs to be on an almost constant flow as waste from the fish builds up very fast, and the organisms in the water itself will die, causing the water to become polluted, thus killing your bait - by having a constant flow of sea water in and out this slolves the problem. Hope this helps? PS. Did you see last month's BFM? Graeme Pullan detailed 'tuna tubes' they have on tropical big game boats, and suggested these could be used on british boats...worth a look. Also - another cheaper alternative, and to those of us with small boats...how about a coarse fishermans keepnet hung over the side??? Solves all the problems in one go! - Cheap and effective, plus requires no permanent instalations. Adam

On the topic of VHF's, just seen the new Navman offering in BFM. At under

Bad news!!!! Been fishing today, and was waiting to get home to confirm to the guy in Carlise that I will be up Tues to buy my warrior......anyway get home, and hes phoned.....sold it today! I am gutted!...will I ever get one, thats 3 boats now, all have sold within 24 hours of the ad being placed!

This was a topic I noticed in BFM this month, and have seen it discussed elsewhere prior. Rubber rollers on the Indespension and similar trailers can 'flatten' causing them to stop rolling, and loose support for the boat. The solution apparently is to replace then with nylon jobbies, they last forever, and apparently, the boat rolls off the trailer without even having to give it a shove!! Something I will look into if I get my new boat? Anyone have any opinions on this? Adam

Typical, been scouring the net for Warriors for sale for over a month now, and not one has popped up in my price range, or that is any decent. Then I go away on business for a few days, and along comes one. So I ring the fella up, and great sounds just what I'm after....going to see her next Thurs. Anyway, get back home and there's one on boats and outboards!, almost identical in spec, in the same bloody town Carlise!!!!! How freaky is that! Anyway long and short is, that Bob F has very kindly agreed to drive and trail my new pride and joy home, so next Thursday we are off to the North to see these 2 beauties, and fingers crossed, they will still both be for sales and one will be what I'm after!!!! Wish me luck!!! adam

Just found this...am thinking of bidding on it? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...item=3078705494

Just seen this on Boats & Outboards...a little differant from a Warrior, and a little tatty....good value or not? http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/AIN027

Paul, I started off with handhelds...and soon realised that fixed are the way forward. They dont bounce around in your hands, the batteries dont run out, and the screens are bigger. My personal (baised) view for you: VHF - I dont have a dsc, just a std VHF (but can be upgraded later) Mine is a ICOM M140 - which I think Martin has also. It is a cracking little set. Fully waterproof, small, easy to read, loud, and just really, really solid. Paid about 150 for mine, if you look around a little. The Silva unit you mention is a good set also, this is just my personal view. GPS/Plotter: I have the Garmin 128 fixed GPS. This is my favorite piece of kit. So easy to use, screen is big and easy to read when bouncing around. The features are a-plenty. This unit has a 'basic' plot function on it already. This is what we use to navagate Christchurch harbour in the dark. It basically tracks/plots your routes. You can then go back to them and follow the lines. As I said it is a very basic plot, but it does for what I need to use it for. I am considering a plotter for the new boat, as they are better by a long shot (but bloody expensive!) I have narrowed it down either to one of the cheaper Garmin units, or maybe the bottom end of the Navman range. Hope this helps, as I said it is my own biased view, based on 18 months of using them, and the superb service I have had from Garmin. happy hunting!

Good tips bob!...nice to hear how people get around the problems that the manufacturers leave out. Whom is this guy?...wouldnt mind speaking to him about a few things!...ie how he fitted the keel band? Adam

Just read on another forum that the rumour is, the National Federation of Anglers, the National Federation of Sea Anglers and the Salmon and Trout Association are planning to merge into one super group named the AFA - Angling and Fisheries Alliance. Interesting, could mean more power at Goverment level? maybe people will sit up and listen..makes sense to me, after all we all have a similar interest. Adam

Does anyone know about these? Mariner Marathon 75hp 2stroke. The boat I may be looking at has one fitted, I'm not too familier with them. The guy says it is an ex RNLI unit. Are they as good / better than the std units? Whats the differnce? Also if a boat is anti-fouled, can this be removed and the hull bought back to original clean gel coat? - if so how easy is it? Adam

Like it!!! Found the manacles easy! - not quite as clear as a paper chart, but not bad. As you say good for planning a trip. Adam

True... so is this a possibility or am I just best looking for a chartplotter here in good ol' blighty? Incidently there was a Garmin 230 Colour plotter on Ebay yesterday - I bid until

I agree Charlie. The Garmin sercive post I entered a few weeks agop just highlights it...easier to drive to Romsey than to USA!! However if I could get something seriously cheaoer in the USA I'd consider it. Adam

....if Paul can arrange it, and we can all order together - it will make it worth while! I do fancy one!

Speak to Paul Dore boys!....he works with guys who are back an fro to the sates all the time...he has even offerd their services!

very good Bob! - just cant get over how calm the sea was! - great piccy! - really nice looking fish! I take it you didnt get any last night?....wheres the catch report then??!!

Nice fish James, wish I had been there to see the moment!

Ahhhh.....poor bobby!! Bob, there's nothing wrong with being a cod-virgin, as my mum used to say 'nothing wrong with saving yourself for the right woman' ....the right cod will come along soon bob!! Anyway....we are going to get you one Sunday....and not coming back untill we do!! Adam