great white

Happy Christmas all I hope you get what you want for Christmas and stay happy and well. heres to a very fishy 2008. Also hope we get some good weather over the holidsay and to see some of you on the water, I will be monitoring channel 6 on the days I can get afloat Tight lines Charlie

Rich If I can go I may have a space but it depends on if Sam is working and if Wendy likes the weather. It may be a late minute decision after Christmas, are you OK with that? Charlie

Thanks Martin for the info I was in the shop yesterday and discussed this with Andy Just to make sure all are aware you can only weigh in flounder or cod and only one fish of whichever species. Andy says he will be doing a deal on squid if you pre book bait but please if you book worms through him cancel early or take them . he was

Can I ask again if there is a time and place agreed for the weigh in and presentation of the Hamper. Big ebb all PM was intended to help the Flounder fishing Charlie

I am going in to see Andy later and will try and get an update on rules times etc for this one Weather permitting we may be able to take part Charlie

I hope he has more luck using tried and tested old fashioned methods and a solid boat , than he did with the state of the art wind assisted racing machine. It was designed and built to order and fell apart on its maiden voyage

Another reply from the people who know reads: Just spoken to my product developement contact and here is the 'truth'. There will undoubtedly be some 'rationalisation' due to duplication of certain products. Penn rods are currently being re-designed but will remain Penn rods, reels will be reviewd next year with a few new and improved models introduced but most will stay. Shakespeare will lose a few beach rods and ABU will remain about the same. All brands will eventually go to a new, bigger centralised warehouse at Redditch. Put that on your site if you wish, cheers, Norman.

Hi all Just received this from Norman Berry, who as the editor of the Sea Fishing News has his ears to the ground on these things Charlie I'll ask Shakespeare what's happening but I doubt if it's what you heard as they are their best lines. I do know that they are 'rationalising' their lines due to duplication but that was to be expected but I can't see them ditching their best sellers, Penn make superb reels, not all of them but some of them but most of their rods are not up to a lot, better ones are made by Shakepeare and ABU. ABU make some good rods and reels but not all of them are good and Shakespeare make some good rods, tackle boxes etc but no really good reels. I think once it's all sorted and a bit of 'cherry picking' has gone on what's left will be the best of the bunch. Regards Norman

Paul I sent one yestyerday and a small file today Did you get them Charlie

Hi Trevor Norman who was fishing with me in the Open seems to know about this he said that the take over of these companies into one made the range of tackle very large with a lot of simular rods. So some were being discontinued. It sounds like they are discontinuing the top end of the range to me. I will email Norman to try and get more info Charlie

Hi The lads are correct most problems come from the cables or linkages connected to a linkage under the engine that pushes/pulls a rod up and down. some engines have a connector just above the gearbox that can come undone so that you can not pull the rod back up to disengage fwd gear. The gear mechanism in the leg works on a sliding dog clutch. in the central position it is disengaged [nuetral] it slides fwd to engage into the fwd gear wheel and aft for reverse. Not much to fail down there but if coxn engages slowly top often the dogs can round off until eventually they burr up and it will not go into gear. It is not usual for the dogs to break as they are fairly heavy duty. Charlie

Gary apologised for missing yesterdays open comp I am sure he would have loved to have been floundering He was fishing with a mutual friend in the Bay of islands New Zealand This is a long way south, but is it in Club Waters If so he wants to claim a record for yellow tailed kingfish This 20kg specimen nearly pulled his arms off and Amber apparently lost a bigger one that nearly had her overboard, before snapping the line Dans only comment this morning was that he would have swapped places and Gary could have frozen yesterday up the Wareham river

Not sure that I can talk the crew into another day floundering We will see what the weather brings Adam, Is there a time and place for the weigh in and prize giving Charlie

Hi All Well done all 103 anglers that fished yesterday and especiallly to PJ and all his sub committee who worked so hard leading up to the event, and during a long day yesterday It is a testiment to a lot of hard work to see a rescheduled event run in marginal weather go so well. Better weather would have seen more anglers joining in, but not even PJ can change the weather. We would have loved to have fished outside with the big boys, but as it was Alfresco's first trip decided that discretion was the order of the day and the Harbour was a safer bet. I am sure with more miles under the hull we would have gone out further and at least tried at anchor. we settled for a mark at the top of the harbour and ten flounders [most under 50%] Well done to all that maneged to get to teh Prize table and especially the overall winner on an excellent flounder of 3Lb 3 Charlie

Paul I too would be interested to see where you were After Sunday of course [ I resisted the use of your spare keys and a glance at your plottor ] Tight lines Charlie

Alfresco Charlie,Dan,Sam and Norman Berry

Tom Will you be monitoring channel 6? and if so have you a call sign? I could try "Bessie Vee" but do not want to upset my old mate Spike Some shots of the new boat would be appreciated if you get any Charlie Duncan like you we only do accidental floundering but if needs must I suppose we had better give it a go.

As Pete says only Time will tell if the claim that the Nidaplast does not absorb moisture and gain weight is correct. I am not sure that older offshores on stern drives would have had any more boat in the water. and it will take a few trips to see what she is like to anchor and drift Gaffa if you can PM me the details, after Christmas I may chase that up Thanks Charlie

Well done Neal Nice to hear that a few fish are about I hope that we can get out on Sunday Charlie

Well done Alun and Paul Looking out of the office onto a flat calm harbour I spent the day wondering who would be out there. Charlie

Thanks Paul faor asking and Paul for the answer

They bring back afew memories I have been stuck in Alderney many times because of the weather and have seen the waves crashing over. It is a hell of a sight and it sounds awsome. There was a photo in the moorings hotel of one such wave crashing down on the lifeboat on her mooring, it looks like she is now a little further from the wall. I have self draining decks and auto bilge pumps but I would not like to be moored under such waves Charlie

Another shot

The new boat is ashore for the work underneath the water line. I am very pleased I took the opportunity to get her into the shed at work, without the shelter I would have had no chance. It has meant that I could mark the water line from the scum mark, Clean the hull, abrade the gelcoat and apply the paint 5 Coats of Gelsheild 200 in alternating colours and the first coat of anti fouling have gone on since Friday. I have had enough of rollers and fumes, but need to crack on if she is to be available on Sunday. Sam helped yesterday but was feeling full of cold so escaped after lunch. I hope that I can avoid the cold/Flu he and Wendy have or The boat will be afloat and the crew out of action. At least we had the compensation that we were not missing an oportunity to fish on her, winds here were just under 40 knots Charlie

Happy Birthday Neal I hope you get a few nice presents and have a great day Charlie