Adam F

I cannot believe that you took the time to post that on the forum......!!

OOOOOHHHH!!! last minute cancellation - famcy a trip on mine Monday james?

Double WOW!!! Sounds like the posts I make when we are land bound in Feb from F8 gales..... only this time they are true! Well doen that man!

The key lesson for me was whether to carry a trolley jack and other kit each time you go. I used to, a trolly jack, chocks or wood, a 4 way wheel brace etc and then I got fed up of loading it all in the car. After Friday I'll start carrying it again, esp with the bigger boat and the longer distance I now trail. If you havent tried it and you trail it is worth checking to see how easy you car jack lifts you boat - and how safe it is. Adam

Well - what an eventful day!..... Gordon and I had planned to take advantage of the weather window yesterday with a trip out in search of Mr Cod. We decided to take Enticer as we were entertaining in the eve and I didnt want to hastle of taking the boat back. With the late low tide we decided on a late start and after battling the traffic I arrive at G's at 8.30am. We are soon of chatting away with Gordon telling me how pleased he is with replacing his breaks and servicing the trailer as we cruise down the Avon Causeway....when....BANG!!!! G looks in the side mirror and calmly exclaims - ' Oh SH#T my bloody wheels come off!! Apparently he forget to nip the bolts up! Youve all seem the cartoons where the wheel comes off a car and bounces rolling down the road.....we you get the picture! Gordon shoots off home with me diverting traffic around the boat and returns 20 mins later with tools and a trolly jack (note to all trailer boaters - will your car jack lift your boat?? Many wont) Problem # 1 sorted. Anway we stop at Texaco in Mudeford and fuel up only for me to notice G has a flat car tyre - a bit of air sorts this as a temp. measure. Problem #2 sorted. We get to the slip and a slick operation has the boat in the water. Whilst G is parking the trailer I'll warm up the engine.....or not!! She wont start - flat batts! Problem # 3, now I know why they say things happne in 3's!!! Anyway long story short(ish) we get out and decide to fish inshore after the late start. We feed 3 boxes of squid to the hoards of hungry dogs with not another species in sight. The prime flood dies and we swing with the wind into the slow ebb. The weather is glorious though and we pass the time by eating copious 'heart stopper' bacon and egg triple deckers and messing about. The day is salvaged slightly when I get a half decent bite that quickly stops and continous to tap away like a doggy....so I leave the rod and re-bait the other. When it's time to wind in I'm met with a solid resistance and the glorious tell tale 'NOD NOD - says MR COD!!!' In the net 1st time and she goes 8lb 8oz - my first cod of the winter - perfect size to go with a few chips. No photos though as the camera battery was dead - not that this surpised us after the way the days started!!

Nice one Charlie - I'm really pleased for you, you and your family should be proud - and I bet you are!!

WELL DONE!!! Top work charlie, you deserve it. Hope all goes well, look forward to seeing her on the water. ATB Adam

Yep - equally slow on Ocean Lass for Neal's party. I had a few small whiting, pout and a solitary jumbo makerel, but was fishing small to be fair, nothing on the cod front. Many thanks to Neal for organsing (and sponsoring!) the trip, a great day out nonetheless! Adam

Maybe Al, I'll PM you.

Neal, You have a PM. I'm up for it. Adam

Nightmare! Sorry to hear that. Lets hope Sam gets this sorted for you. All the best Adam

Hi, Ive never done it - as I tow (car fuel is cheaper per mile and is free!) However - I'd say you would be looking at 2 hours depending on where you were in the harbour and how fast you can run... I do the Sky (wreck) from Poole regulary and launch from baiter - it takes me about 1 hour, so I'd figure about another 30/40 mins depending on where you want to go - the bill is probably 40 mins. I'm sure Martin or Duncan could give you a better idea..

As others have said - personal choice....but its a hard one. A big fish has had a good life and done its fair share of re-population, however it is big for a reason (avoiding hooks!) Personally, I like to take enough food to feed me and I like to take 'pan' sized fish, so for example, 3-4lb bass. I try to put the biggies back for someone else - I have returned half a dozen double figure bass, as rich said I tried to put my 32lb cod back and I NEVER keep any rays from our shore line as IMO they are pretty thin on the ground. I also enforce this rule on my boat - I'd never let a Blonde ray be killed for food for example. Adam

Good to be back out!! Went over to the Needles with Gordon as crew - well out of practise and even with the late start, the longer tow from the new house, and having not fished for a few months meant I forgot kit etc. A slow day for us - I had a 4lb 4oz Spotted Ray, and a few doggies, Gordon wasnt any beter. Anyway - the engine ran well - pretty tight and a little noisy (I guess due to it being new?) but stil smooth and powerful. Good luck to those who get out tomorrow. Ada,

Hi Dean, I would have been up for it, but OotB came back today so I'm dead keen to get her back in the water! Where are you thinking of heading - I may buddy along?

Finally got OotB back today! PMS very kindly delivered out to Shaftesbury for me, which was a nice touch. Even better, they washed her down, and I got a free prop bag and new PMS key rings - a small touch, but appreciated after the long wait. Anyway - a big thanks to PMS and to Honda - worth the wait in the end and saved for a fortune. Adam

Looks top notch - I bet you saved a packet. Just goes to show what can be achieved! Mine comes back tommorow, maybe we can do my windows next week? A

I replaced two Shimano Charter Specials with 7000 NLD's this year as the Shimano units were turd. After 1 season with careful use they sounded like cement mixers - even replaced the bearings. Even when new the shimano's are rough running compared to the Abu's. My 7000's are only 6 months old, but bearing up well and I'm pretty impressed. Shimano's do have a place - but for me, only heavy duty conger / cod fishing when finese isnt that critical. IMHO Adam

Another Update: Well it's been 14 weeks since I first dropped the boat back to PMS with the engine trouble and I'm still waiting to get the boat back. PMS tell me that Honda havent covered them that well with the claim, so it isnt taking priority. My engine is still in pieces at PMS and my boat has been sat here at home for 4 weeks minus an engine. Phoned PMS this morning and still no news - the engineer looking after the job is off on Friday for a week so little chance of getting it back in the near future. Adam

Ohh!!! He kept that quiet! Nice boat - another Alderney candidate?

Sorry for the delay guys, been offline all week. 14th it is - I know its not ideal, but with the weather this time of year the next best fit date wins. If we get blown out on the 14th - this gives us a back-up. ATB Adam

The Flatfish / Ray comp has been re-scheduled for the 14th Oct - this is the next weekend where the tides will be small enough to target the offshore marks (weather dependant!) Same format as before - please post up here to give us an idea if you are fishing and remember you must book in with either Paul Dore, Mike Fox or myself prior to fishing the comp. Adam

Its a Couch's Bream. The Giltheads do have the gold bar, but they are more like a black bream - a rare catch dave. Well done!

The odd one will turn up, but I wouldnt waste my time specifically. During the winter or on very overcast days they seem to appear more, but they need it dark to feed really. My best bet for getting on during the day is on a 100' plus wreck.

I still think that you'd be OK with a leg Mike. A shaft would limit you, but at least you can trim a leg right out? A small price to pay IMO for a more offshore capable boat. Are you going to the Southampton boatshow?