great white

My contact checked and he definatly stated comercial registered fishing boats under 10m as private boats are not registered then we are not included. As usual I doubt we have the manpower to enforce this especially as it extends all accross the channel. Charlie

I have just called a Member who has the contacts to check these things I have been told that this area extends from Dover to the 002 00 00 latitude line and goes all the way accross the channel Our friend is going to chech if the ban covers landing of fish within that area or catching them. I am sure that would be a grey area considering how easy it is to fish outside the area when running out of Poole. If I get more info I will pass it on Charlie POST NOTE I have just had the reply call, after they checked with the MCA The Ban is currently for commercial vessels under 10 metres and NOT for private RSA boats

After the great weather we had last April followed by a poor May I am determined to use the boat as much as I can in all nice patches of weather. Other commitments like Sam's joining up , Dans exams and some work events will get priority other things like decorating and gardening will not. In fact I hope we get another good April because I have more free time then, than in May and June. That flooring looks very nice Duncan, what a good job well done. Charlie

Hi Tom If I had still been in the area I would have given it a go, I usually carry at least one 50lb class outfit on the boat and always have a shark trace in my rig wallet a 1 1/2lb whiting would have made a good hookbait if that is what it was feeding on. Strange how things change, we now catch more cod in the summer than in winter and are talking of shark fishing in Feb Charlie

Glad to hear that its sorted Andy See you on the water soon I hope, Please come over and say Hi if you see us , as we see so many Club boats that we do not recognise flying the pennant its getting embarrassing. Charlie

I have just talked to the other skipper andhe says that his crew yesterday reckoned the shark to be a porgie of 8 to 10 ft It surfaced by the boat slashed about with the dorsal up and then dissapeared. His mate [A very experianced skipper and angler] was spooled by a fast fish in the same area weeks ago while playin g a whiting so we must have a cold weather predator out there. Gordon I am glad you enjoyed the day out, we really enjoyed your company and the catering was first class. We know that like us you are a fan of the eels so we must have another go soon [very soon perhaps, better get back to your decorating and brownie points] I think I had us down as 14 eels Best 40lb [42 minus net] I have emailed the dive boat skipper to thank him for moving If he had not the ebb tide would have been a waste of time. Charlie

What a great weekend Sat Pm saw us bathed in warm sunlight a couple of miles out, haveing a very nice afternoon. Yesterday we had returned to the chill of winter and had to put the heater on to defrost while we awaited Gordons arrival, then slip the moorings in poor vis, that was bad enough to need the plotter and Radar on the way out of the harbour. a couple of miles out and we suddenly had sun and good vis, looking back you could see the bank of Fog dissapearing in our wake. We had a short session inshore, a few whiting and a wonderful breakfast supplied and cooked by Gordon Then off out to a wreck for the eels. The fish started almost straight away. Not huge fish but certainly better sport than whiting. Then OMG a very large dive boat approached are they mad it must be bloody cold at 34 metres in feb]. I was playing a fish so Sam politly asked them to think about diving somewhere else. The skipper said he would ask his punters. By the time Dan had T Barred my eel and I spoke to Rich he had decided to move. [That was before he knew it was me honest ] A very nice gesture that may have been influanced by the fact that both Sam and I know the owner of Sharking. He went off to another wreck, that I knew someone was on route to so I called the other angling boat over to join us. I called up another friend on the phone [who was having VHF snags] to let him know about the divers and he had just had a 10ft Shark on the surface by the boat while he was on the whiting marks. Is this global warming ??? Divers and Sharks in Feb Charllie

After finishing work at noon we popped out with Wendy to enjoy the sunny weather, I too could not raise anyone on the radio having decided to try a new inshore mark out of the tide. we were pleased to see a steady stream of fish in the middle of the tide and only needed 8oz lead We had dogs, pout, loads of whiting and another Dab, the only down side was that all fish were on the small side but they all went back to swim off. Will try a full day tomorrow further out Charlie

Well done Alun nice to know a few good ones are still about. If your newbie is keen after such a day imagine what he will be like after a few summer trips on the bream and bass LOL Strawberry sarnies, Ginger nuts, wrist bands I can just imagine the conversation Charlie

Not sure what works best in the fresh water of the river, It may pay to talk to Owen in the boat shop or the lads at the yacht Club at wick. I am using Black International interspeed extra, but its too early to know how good a choice we made. [although I used ten years experiance at work as a guide ] darker colours seem to work best. If you are rubbing well down it may pay to use a primer or tie coat such as International Primacon or the Blakes equivilent, prior to applying the anti foul. If the river has a strong flow and considering the speed of your boat I would avoid self polishing soft antifoul, they will work well enough but get washed off by constant tide flows. Charlie

One of the reasons we can not be certain is that Sam is joining the Navy on June 8th. and has now started a job untill just before he joins up at Royal Motor Yacht Club. Wendy will be keen to see him as much as poss before he goes, but he is keen to get at least one trip accross. Now we have the problem of organising time off for two of us from yacht Clubs in the summer. We will keep everything crossed to get a chance. Charlie

Nice one Rupe Some good info, hopefully my bathing platform will be fitted soon and the large tank will not get in the way. I am already enjoying the benifits of the deck wash system, I have fitted it with a second outlet and shut off valve for the bait tank. Tight lines for another good bass season on Aquafresh, hopefully we may see you afloat Charlie

The barrel does not get to be full The overflow is 2/3 to 3/4 up and larger than the inlet so the max weight will be 40 ltrs or 40kg Charlie

We are very Keen to get across the other side and try the fishing around the Islands on Alfresco. Timing will be the hardest part, as a newcomer to this areas fishing I do not know what the best times are. Or any of the many other essentials like where to fish, how, where to fish for bait etc etc etc. Adding that to my work commitments in the sailing season, Dans GCSE's and other family plans All of this will make it hard for us to be sure of when we can join others to go accross channel. I think I will have to leave others to sort out dates tides etc and join in as and when we can. But do not get me wrong we are very very keen to go. I have an ariel photo poster of alderney on the wall in my garage workshop for inspiration during the long hours we spent boat building. Please remind me when is the 48 hr and the trip to Weymouth? Charlie,

Happy birthday Paul Hope you have a great day and get what you wished for Charlie

Not quite the gorgeous forcast that it was showing two days ago But lets hope the Sat Sun forecast stays as it is on windguru at the moment Its a bigger tide but we will be trying to get afloat Charlie

Very tight lines It looks like a usable window, you will of course thinkof all of us at work Charlie

You are right Paul The prize was an excellent selection of these rigs which I am looking forward to using as more species arrive in the spring. Once the boys and I have used them I will as you say do a review for our Members Charlie

You are more than welcome Alun glad to have you onboard. Thanks for the message and the PM yesterday Dan was well pleased, he loves his fishing and the uptider and ABU 7000LD he bought off you last year. Really glad that you enjoyed the flat fish, we are looking forward to whiting for supper tonight. If that weather window stays as forecast for next weekend, I hope that Wendy will come out for a short trip on Saturday, [i had better check that we cleaned everything properly ] CU Thursday Charlie

Hi Dom Glad you got out we tried calling you on the VHF but heard nothing so thought you may have stayed in the warm. CU in the Spring Charlie

Sam and I are both working next Sat So I do not think we will be out, although I am only working AM We can discuss where to try on Thursday. Charlie

Happy birthday Tom We hope you have a good one Charlie

Hi All well we went for what may be the last trip before the fish depart The forecast was for a brief lull in the weather on a small tide. Alun and PJ accepted the offer to join us in the cold weather and the Plan was to try and start at one of the inshore wrecks then come in further to try for whiting later. To be honest I tweaked my back a bit loading the car so I was a bit concerned that fishing a wreck may be a bit ambitious . and on the way out the already building seas had me change the plans to stay inshore. We anchored at the start of the ebb and there was just enough tide to hold the boat against the wind, fishing was a bit slower than recently but we did have a steady flow of bites [ well everyone but me did to be honest, I could not get a bite most of the day no matter what I tried] The whiting were smaller than of late and still stuffed with sprats, so a lot of bites were missed. We did get two new species on board yesterday, Alun had a lovely little brill and I had my first Dab in years with a 13 oz fish [3 ounces under specimen and Club record size] Alun reports that they both tasted wonderful so thats great It was good to be out in the Cold fresh air, everyone had a good time a few fish were taken for the table a lot were returned to grow bigger and even my tweaked back copped with 20knots of wind and a steady force 5 so the confidence in the new boat and the way she handles the weather is growing. Apart from two charter boats we were alone out there yesterday, CU out there soon in calmer weather Charlie

Happy Birthday mate Hope you have a good one and the boat is all go again Charlie

Hi Dom Tight lines mate, we will listen channel 6 for fishy reports from Dat Dam Boat. Charlie