great white

If it is electronics I would back up Tom and recomend MES you may get a good discount on the replacement equipment as well if you get it all done together, he may charge fully on the re-wire and discount the removable items as for the re-wire try Kevin Dixon on 07816 629915 Best regards Charlie

happy birthday lads Have a good one Charlie

I was only asking the question out of interest but after 15 years running a boat that cruised at 10-12 knots and we limited to ranges up to about an hours steaming, I would never rule out the inshore fishing in a specimen comp. I borrowed a boat last year and we never went more than 2.5 miles offshore and Dan was runner up I came 3rd with a bream caught at Dancing ledge. The differance between bigger and smaller boats range is cancelled out by the fact that small boats can be trailed to more productive areas such as the solent and weymouth both for the fishing and to avoid strong winds. Mike I believe you spend as much time in and around the channel islands as anyone, I know Alfresco may get their faster, but you certainly get their cheaper. If all the reports from Alfresco etc seem endless it is because we are so pleased to be back fishing after nearly two years ashore building her. I read that Dan was not the only Member to catch a large eel on Sunday, it appears as if the other Member had not entered the comp, I wonder if Jonathon is regretting that decision. You have to trust your ability, and must to be in it to win it. PJ not sure why we should select certain species to omit [sure it was tongue in cheek] but if we did why pick on huss, from my 5 years as fish recorder we do not get many recorded and on sunday the best went 75%. As for banning Alfresco, Paul Get your hat mate 1 last point, I posted that I intended to go and needed crew, the only ones that replied got a trip and I believe they enjoyed it. Tight lines Charlie

Looking forward to seeing her at the Club on friday Tom and having a look over her before she departs Charlie

Hell mate you must be gutted I take most of mine off it is a pain but I feel happier to have it at home I hope that you are wrong about the insurance or it will be a very expensive loss. Bas~~rds Charlie

Thanks all that helped organise the Comp It seems a shame that more Members were not able to take part I struggle to work out why not, with a full 48 hrs to chose to fish anywhere in Club waters for any species. Yes we had good eels offshore but only just beat others catching mullet and rays inshore. Perhaps others have been lucky enough to do more fishing than us recently and just did not fancy it. If you have time to post, I for one would like to know why this once popular comp has lost some appeal. Charlie

Is this the thing that will sort out the fish conservation issue Fuel so damn expensive that the commercial boys and us RSA's can not afford to go to where the fish are. Inshore fishing will suffer and offshore?? Charlie

We can but hope Peter.

Now have crew both days Gordon and Alun with Dan and I Sat Bob and Adam with maybe young Rob , Dan and I on Sunday. I also believe Gary has crew on Prodigy, but I am sure they will book in soon Tight lines Charlie

Nice fishing Kam Well done mate Maybe someone should also move this report after recent comments Charlie

I was at the Seawork show today, and there was a new cat there that was rigged to go tuna fishing, fighting char and outriggers etc Apparently the owner is moving it to the scilly isles to run out to the warm water on the edge of the gulf stream after a tuna. Of course it could be a wind up and it may be going further afield Charlie

Weather permitting we will be out in that area on Sunday but may not be at the rips untill the end of the comp times. for a few drifts on the way in We will be on channel 6 or 72 if you need safety cover Charlie

Hi All well to start let me say that like Martin, mini species have no interest to me, and I would find it hard to motivate myself to spending a day scratching for such fish. So we would probably just give it a miss. That said I have fished a lot of charter boat competitions in the Mob and Conger Club. The most succesfull anglers seem to be those that put the effort and preperation in. They have done their homework, bring a huge selection of rigs tackle bait and tactics and swap from one to another at the slightest hint of a differant species showing. Having fished with James P he uses these tactics even on a pleasure trip, which is probably why he was so hard to beat in our Club comps and won the BFM national comp a few years ago. I believe there is no need to adopt these guys competition rules, it would be better to adopt their ethos to our comps, better preperation and more flexable tactics and chase the fish that are there not just sit it out for what we hope to catch Glad you all enjoyed the comp Charlie

Nice fish Dean and a nice tubby too Sorry to hear of the electrical problems, well done for the calm way you dealt with it all, a very good example for those with less experiance/training/preperation. I used Cribbs tyres and batteries for my last one a big saving on the previous ones and john lives close to you. I hope all can be sorted ready for this weekend. Charlie

Weather permitting Alfresco, Dan and I will be out I have crew for one day, where we want to go offshore so that will be the best weather window. but if anyone fancys a shorter trip or needs a ride on the other let me know. Charlie.

Tight lines chaps have a good day Charlie

Neal Can I suggest you check the voltages[ engine running] both at the battery and both sides of the isolator switch. If the switch is playing up a new one should be cheaper than a battery, and if you have not done so take the connectors off and clean them up prior to tightening Good luck Charlie

OMG Gordon What a school boy error sort it out man right I am off to finish tidying the garden, then drop Dan at schol for an Exam, do the shopping, cook wendys lunch. Fishing tomorrow??????????? Charlie

Thanks Martin That one certainly does not look like it will slip. BTW I thought the other one tom refers to was called the Knotless knot, is that correct? Charlie

I spoke to Kev this afternoon and as you say he is very busy If you want him to assist I would book him in mate, with the opportunity to cancel if it gets fixed. One of the lads at work has a contact who repairs alternators I will get the number for you, but I am not sure if he will come to the boat. You may need to take it off and drop it up to them. But I will find out Charlie

Hi Trevor Mine could be coming to the meeting, if they do you are welcome to borrow them I would not mind the use of the leadheads and the 8oz Can I take the opportunity to remind you about the netting CU Thursday Charlie

I think BB recent advice is very sound, you can catch big fish on small hooks but will struggle to catch small fish on big hooks it sounds like a scratching type comp, so a choice of premade multi hook rigs to small tough hooks sounds the way to go. Cut down feather / Hokia rigs will be a good starter, baited for many species bare and worked bass,gar,mackeral scad but your idea of two up one down is also a good one, maybe use the hokai/feathers as the two up. If you use clips to hold the rigs on, a second rig can be prepared and baited. If fish are caught and landed, unclip the rig, clip on the new one and get it down. then sort out the first one. [Double Patting we used to call it} Tight lines Charlie

Hi Neal Try calling Kevin Dixon 07816 629915 He helped me with installation advice on Alfresco and a couple of electrical snags over the years on Great White If he is not available Des Brace 07870 455054 Both are good 12 volt electrics men Charlie

We had a bit of a problem on Sat Due to a very long floating pot rope at slack water we picked up a rope on the leg, although we cleared it easily it left a blade bent and a vibration which had us running at a slower speed for the rest of the trip. On the way back the other boat developed a fuel fault that meant we escorted him at about 12 knots, until his engine died and we took him in tow 15 miles out. at about 7-8 knots The tow was very slow and due to our prop a bit worrying, so I jumped ship on to the other boat, grabbed some tools cleared some room and started to strip the fuel system as much as I could on the LP side. after bleeding and starting the engine she seemed OK and we dropped the tow. After 10 mins at about 14 knots I transfered back and we continued home Lessons learnt: 1. Give small buoys lots of room especially at slack water 2. Its also good to do these trips in company. 3. If you have tools and spares you can always try to do something to get yourself back. 4. An auxillery engine would have needed a lot of fuel to get a starfish 8 back from 15 miles out. In fact we must have used a lot more fuel than planned so its a good job both boats were filled before the trip. although filling from the barge may have been the cause of the fuel fault. 5. If all else had failed and both boats were U/S we would have called the RNLI. Charlie

Well done mate a very good estimate She is obviously quite good on fuel as it didn't take you long to get home You used a little less than we did over three days, do you think it was the calmer weather on the Friday run ? When are we going again Charlie