great white

Does that mean we have to have a look tonight? to see if we can snare a few bass and do you need any mackerel for the BBQ? Charlie

Hi All You are right Backing off to keep the buoy in view is our normal way, on Sunday we finished too close to the other boat and I was very concerned about fouling his anchor warp. It was a mistake that had nothing to do with the kit used, all down to driver error. I will be taking more care tonight Charlie

Graham you can get tidal info off of a lot of plotters now , which helps during a trip. But a better source is a tidal atlas, that shows what the tide is doing hour by hour. but Toms rules of thumb are correct, flood tides run towards the Isle of Wight, ebb towards Portland. 60 degrees and 240 degrees, rather than east west. Mid channel slack water is about 6 hours after HW Dover. Ask me over a beer to explain the rule of twelths, regarding the tide strengths. Charlie

She seemed OK yesterday, although teh port steering ram has a slight leak [parts on order] we will give her a short run on Friday evening to check all is OK Charlie

Thanks Guys for the positive responses and the teasing As Adam says this is the second time in 4 years, which is two times too many. Ist time it was a close rock that distracted me and this time a boat. Problem caused by the close proximity of Dave's boat and his anchor warp, I could not do my usual reverse manoeuver to keep an eye on the buff. No fault at all of Dave's as he was at anchor first. As Adam says using a triangle to stop the buff may have helped. But I would probably have run over that as well. in hindsight I could have shortened in with my windlass to make more room first. Rope is off now, leg repainted and I will have to keep an eye on things to check that the seals are OK. Thanks again to Dave and his crew, they saved us a call to the RNLI and a wait for the boat to come out. WM towed us like a dream, not sign of any problems on a long tow Charlie

Well after much anticipation and weather checking the trip was on for Sunday in a forecast of a breeze in the afternoon. It needed an early start as we had many miles to cover, so we met at the boat at 6 to RV with Dave who was under the 6.30 bridge. Thick fog had all of us talking on the radio and the Radar in full use. For a change we were out first and feathered a few Macs as we waited for Dave and a decision to go ahead with the trip. We followed them as the vis came and went and at 0900 arrived at the first wreck. The fishing started well with Cod Bass and pollack on both boats. while not as frantic as previous trips it was good. Fishing eased and we tried some other marks, the intention to anchor more this time,to use the small tides. We let Dave anchor first on a big wreck with the intention to slip alongside as we have done several times before. No problem for Dave but my anchor would not bite. On the third attempt it went in but the breeze pushed us far too close to Dave for my liking. This is where the wheels came off, a communication cock up between Dan and I regarding the whereabouts of our warp saw me run it over we swang around stern on to sea and tide. We tried all we could to free it, but could not. Dave came to assist and took some of the weight [towed us backwards a little] which allowed us to transfer the warp to the bow. We asked him to fish again while we tried our best to free the rope. Unfortunately even though some turns came off the last one would not, and by now completely soaked we had to accept a very long tow home. We used the windlass with the engine running in nuetral, to lift our anchor [when as tight to a boat as we were, we should have done that the first time, lesson learnt] Dave past us a long tow line and off we set at just over 7 knots Dave and his crew of Kev, Ben and Jim seemed to be in high spirits even if our cock up shortened their fishing day. We would like to send a very public THANK YOU to them and other friends who offered us help yesterday. I have deliberatly put this in an Open area because more can read it, maybe even learn from our mistake, but more importantly see why, when we can, we go with other boats for company and safety reasons. It was one of those days, spoilt initially by fog and in the end by our own mistake. However we returned safely with some fish, owing a huge dept of gratitude [ and Diesel money] to Dave and his crew. Great to see that the crews took it in such good faith and kept smiling. We all learnt a little, for another day THANKS Charlie

Hope that you had a good one Charlie

Nice one yet again Steve. Yesterday True Blue popped up out of the Fog on a wreck a long way from home, seeing that we had company on the mark by using radar Steve radioed to ask if we minded him joining us. It was slow for him so he moved on to find fish slightly west of us. But he gave us a call on teh way back to check we were OK, on hearing that Dave was towing us with a fouled prop, he offered to come and help Top man, an excellent skipper and friend to PBSBAC. Charlie

Sorry Simon,Now fully crewed for Sunday I am sure we can do it another time, its better to call my mobile when you read that I have spaces. Tight lines everyone we will be on channel 6 Charlie

Wendy is on call on saturday for work and the lure of the tides for fishing is too great mate. But weather permitting we will share a glass or two in Cherbourg with you and Lorraine soon Have a great time in Lymo, I hope that it is not packed with Yachties. Charlie

Hi all Unfortunately one of my crew will not make it on Sunday and possibly even two depending on how Sam's shoulder is. Therefore if anyone would like to join us please get in touch. Plan is 0630 start to go wrecking again, but with an alternative to try tope or eels at anchor a bit nearer to home. Charlie 07887 794716.

Have pass stamped for either day at the weekend Weather currently pointing at Sunday being the best day anyone else thinking of going out? Charlie

In Club talk there is a list of the 2011 diary dates. On that list is "July 10th-12th Cherbourg Cruising/fishing trip" I had originally hoped to make this a fishing trip, but when Gary and Amber said they were coming, Wendy became interested to stay a little longer. Therefore as I have taken holiday and we do not need to be back untill Thrsday that is when I hope to try again to get over there. If other boats do come over, I may be able to jump ship [leave Alfresco in port for wendy] and come out with one of them for a days fishing. I would love to use some of the research done already. I will start a thread to see who is interested In usual Form, I will start the list 1. Alfresco Charlie and Wendy 2. Prodigy Gary and Amber Charlie

In Club talk there is a list of the 2011 diary dates. On that list is "July 10th-12th Cherbourg Cruising/fishing trip" I had originally hoped to make this a fishing trip, but when Gary and Amber said they were coming Wendy became interested to stay a little longer. Therefore as I have taken holiday and we do not need to be back untill Thrsday that is when I hope to try again to get there. I will start a thread to see who is interested Charlie

You should get some good fishing Nigel, so tight lines. I am hoping to get accross channel with the Cherbourg trip. but if we can not go and you have space | will call you.

Well done Mate I hope that Jo and Baby Isabelle are both well after the arrival enjoy the nappy changing Charlie

Welcome Karl Come along to the meetings to say Hi Join in with as much as you want too and take advantage of the training on offer. Meetings are a good way to meet other Members, but also the social functions We are approaching the summer BBQ [2nd July] and the first summer rendevous of the boats at the end of July, both are really excellent ways of not only meeting the Members but also the better halves over a drink or three. We think its a great Club, I hope that you enjoy being a Member. Charlie

Happy Birthday all Have a good one Charlie

Bugger that Interesting narrative "Once we were committed we had to keep going" They ought to be committed To St Annes My brother had a slow boat simular to that but a little smaller, caught in poor weather against tide in the bristol channel it took 45 mins to get past the end of Brean Down headland in big seas [nowhere near as big as the ones shown here]. He laid the boat up after that and never got his enthusiasm back.

Interesting thread I have seen 200lb nylon biten straight through more than once, by what was almost certainly tope. As the idea of circle hooks is to let the fish take them then apply pressure so that they hook into the corner of the mouth on their way out, these must also stand a good chance of a bite off. Kam we try to hit our bites early nowadays, so the chances of a deep hooked fish are minimal, a lot of fish are landed chewing on the hook or the single strand wire very close to it.

Thanks Adam I had not realised we were rocking about that much I enjoyed the fight from that one 13lb 8 and the biggest on the first day

Thanks Adam For some reason I did not use my Avet last week so it is yet to be used/christened. Oh well will just have to go again are you getting the same ones for your 12lb class? Charlie

we use wire biting ends about 9" long, on fairly small very sharp bronze hooks with small barbs on our tope traces. the traces are in about 100lb mono. I do not think it would take a tope long to get rid of one, or for the hook to rot out.

You are a true tackle collector [tart] but they are good Adam any chance of the video of my 12 kensaki loaded up last weekend? Charlie

Perhaps we could get the beam trawling banned to protect our area. I see he does not state how much easier it is to find scallops now that the dredgers do not get them all. Charlie