great white

I certainly do Bob

Hi all, Had another encounter with a dive boat over a wreck yesterday. I had taken Wendy and the boys out to a wreck 10 miles out to try again for a couple of eels for the boys. Although the forecast gave a breeze and some late rain the weather was good for the trip out and we arrived in good spirits. After a couple of drifts I anchored uptide and got three rods out to fish slack water. just as we started a Poole Dive charter boat came steaming up. I was hoping that he was just on route to wrecks in the area but he stopped and started to prep his divers. I started politly asking the skipper to pick another wreck, and even sarcastically asking him if he would like some numbers to choose from. all of which fell on deaf ears. I then noticed that our boat had moved during the debate and I had missed it. I thought that as 8 divers were about to enter the wreck I had better move to another, but Sods Law as usual came in to play and the anchor was in the wreck. Trying to bounce it out with the dive boat and a shot buoy from the dive boat in the way was tricky to say the least. So much so that after bending the front of my Stb'd pushpit rail and swearing a fair bit I still remained anchored into the rusty bit. The dive boat came over to check if he could help. I then had to start eating a large portion of Humble Pie and ask him for assistance. I tied a fender to my warp above the alderney ring and cut it free. We then spent a long hour or so in increasing winds and waves drifting around the area waiting to see if they had got the anchor out. Of course we had to wait for the divers to be clear of the wreck before trying to lift my Hook. even though divers are a pain I would not like to harm one while retrieving the anchor. The skipper eventually gave me the good news on the VHF that the anchor had been moved inshore of the wreck and his divers were clear. A very quick pull under the alderney ring and all was onboard. After a brief thank you to the divers [ through gritted teeth] GW departed back to her mooring. 6 hours at sea, 15 mins fishing at anchor and two drifts 1 dogfish and 1 Mackerel. The kids did not seem to mind even though Daniel was feeling a bit rough and had a kip, but her ladyship was not impressed. I could see all the hard earned browny points dissapearing faster than they came. What a way to spend fathers day Wendy said see was still rolling at tea time. Lol Can laugh about it now, but I still have to go onboard and splice up the anchor warp raedy for the weekend. I hope others enjoyed there fishing at the weekend. Charlie

They make good photo's but in my experiance are far from nice. Its been over 20 years since I was last in that sort of weather [RN destroyer in South Atlantic] but I still remember it very well. Tryig to work when all you want to do is curl up and sleep is not good Charlie

Now James don't you go catching too many of those Big Bass or we will all be Sick With envy of course. Hope the throat recovers quickly tight lines Charlie

I think I suggested earlier in the year that you may want to take a look at Selsy area> When I lived in Pompey it was always a great venue at this time of year. usually much better than the Nab I have just picked up the latest Sea Angler and see a very good article giving a break down of the 10 best marks. that sort of info may make a trip to the area more interesting to you. It was always worth a trip for Big Bass smoothies and Tope. You need the weather to be fairly kind, and have a choice of where to launch from. either Langstone Harbour slip that you were going to use earlier in the Year, or slips on the other end of Hayling Island. I may be up for joining you if there is space on one of your boats, but that depends on when you are going. Tight lines Charlie

Was that a Charter trip Rich ?? Or should I be putting some more fish in the book? Charlie

Some interesting points I find that looking through the glass makes it harder ,but the worse thing is the amount of lights that take away night vision. I have my electronics set dim and deck lights off, but the reflection off the pushpit from the nav lights does not help. when I used to go further up the harbour at night I used to turn electronics off and use night vision and background light to see the way through the buoys it seemed easier that way. Charlie

Who knows how SA look at the winners? Answers on a post card please?????? The Kids have caught some cracking fish that have been added months later and win an ABU Cap, But see that the winner was a tiny kid with a fish that they could not have caught without help, or a nice picture of a kid holding a dead fish ashore that is not even a specimen. You would think that the Editor would have some system or formula but I think it just depends how they feel on the day. I should not really gripe to much as I won a reel from them on the Mission accomplished for a 55lb Conger, It was obviously a slow month [Feb 2002] Hard Luck Rich Still a great fish mate Charlie

I would still contact the Mag and ask if a Fish Caught then Weighed onboard and photographed prior to return can be entered. You have witnesses so I see no reason why you should not try Charlie

Nice one Paul Thanks for the Photo's Can you get rid of the old one? If its not to difficult Cheers Charlie

Perhaps its time to spread the load a bit Bob and ask James or Rich to do one on Bass. It looks like they already have the photo's and I think that the methods in Alderney and on the Ledge would be totally differant. so thats 2 methods covered. Just a thought Charlie

Hi Paul Any chance of updating the boat pictures with some of the ones taken for the BFM article. The picture of my boat on the site is awful Thanks Charlie

Well done all for organising the comp Some nice fish were caught and I will add them to the book tonight when I see the full results list. Then I will send the results to the BFM for the suzuki comp. Nice Bass JP a Cracking couple of Tope, with Tom's just pipping Pete's Several nice Rays were caught The best being Duncans 14lb Undulate Humphrey and Neil had a couple of nice Blondes 20 and 21lb's And while on the subject of blondes Helen had a very good smoothound, nice one girl still showing Paul how easy it is then. We went out into the chop on Friday night to Swanage, only small wrasse and mackeral in the bay. As dark approched we moved out to the whitehouse grounds, Sam had an Undulate of 13lb 8oz, Daniel had a Pout of 2lb 8oz and I had LSD to 2lb 8oz after midnight I managed 1 eel of 29lb before we called it a night. Back out early on Sunday, started badly when I could not find a wreck given to me by divers last week on OSBG36 numbers. ( I had converted them on the BSAC site ) but it is small and I could not find it, I have a choice of 5 OSGB 36 on the Lowrance and did not know which one to pick, Any Ideas???? We changed plans and ran to the banks, Sam had a small Blonde of 10lb As the tide was raelly running on the ebb we tried Dancing Ledge with no Luck then went out to a wreck on the end of St Albans Ledge. There were so many pout that we could not keep a bait on the wreck for more than about a minute before they ripped it up. a small bait lasted seconds, the pout were to big for bait and to small to record most about 2lb. We baited with them to make the baits last. Sam hooked a few large fish that either got back to the wreck or came off 1/2 way up. the cause was probably small eels and large baits . eventually at the start of the flood we had one of 19lb Nice day to be out, shame that more big fish did not appear. I had told the boys that I did not think it was worth targeting Tope or Bass because of the specimen weight for these species, 1st a Bass 2nd a Tope shows what I know Charlie

Nice one James and a great start to the 48hr comp well done for returning them, I must come over and fish your way before the Bream Go. I will add all the fish at the end when the comp committee give me the results I expect by now you have had loads more. Sorry for the sluggish response this morning on the mobile, but I did not get to bed before 2.30 We too had been chasing the nocturnal fish. Charlie

John please check that the Ray was a Blonde and resubmit the report. 100% sure it was not a small eyed. Have you a photo? Nice fish, we had better get the species right. Charlie

The boys are up for it So thats Me Sam and Daniel Can I pay on Sunday? We hope to venture out this evening and another trip probably on Sunday. Charlie

I agree with you mike about the killing of fish that are not wanted for the table just to weigh them ashore. This is what is required for a national record claim, I know people who would rather put a record fish back. My Mate Spike Spears caught a british record smoothy, on Bessie Vee while filming John Wilsons Go Fishing. It was well over the record size [28lb +] but went back in after a few pictures. I bet Spike enjoyed the fight though. and the Tope record has been beaten several times. Well done those anglers I say. Our Club does not require any fish to be killed, we will accept weights taken onboard and reported to me prior to or at the next monthly meeting. The Club and its fish recorders log book is run on trust. The one thing we ask is that if a fish is being recorded it is weighed and not estimated, if the fish is to be returned please handle them gently and return ASAP to minimise stress to the fish Charlie

Thanks Paul Martins advice works when I have finished reading all the posts. But when there are loads and I have only read a few it is better when the ones read are easily recognisable Any good tips? Keep them simple, Ta Charlie

For the blonde rays on the deep banks off weymouth we used to make nose grip weights like those used on the beach but made in a 1.5lb Bopedo mould. They stick to the bottom like s**t to a blanket, but you have to use fairly hefty gear to get them up out of the ground. Then again you need hefty gear fishing for big blondes on those banks anyway, and you must fish on the bottom. Charlie

Hi All I have checked the NFSA site and extracted the following S 2 Equipment. An angler is permitted to have up to three rods set up with reels, lines and traces attached but can only have one line in the water at one time. Reels must be operated by hand (Subject to Rule G 5.1, Electric Reels); ratchet handle reels and reels designed to be cranked by both hands at the same time are prohibited. S 3 Terminal Tackle. Spare baited traces are allowed and no more than three hooks may be attached to any trace. A treble hook counts as one hook but no more than one treble hook and two single hooks may be used in a rig, with the exception of plug type spinning lures which are permissible when used alone. S 4 Baits. All baits, feathers and / or lures may be used, unless notified otherwise by the Organisers. NOTE We seem only to be following these as guidelines. It was decided through committee and AGM to allow the use of two rods in competitions as long as no more than 2 hooks were being used. A pennel to count as one hook as per the rule for trebles above. But I believe that the number of hooks [Max 3 per trace] should be in place at all times. but appreciate that most feather rigs are in 4's. Perhaps we need to discuss this at the next Meeting Martin? As we all use more than 1 rod quite a lot of the time when at anchor. are we happy with no limit on rods but a limit on hooks? [when not fishing competitions.] Is there a point on limiting one without the other? All thoughts on the above will be appreciated I have opened the can of worms, so get in there MnM. Go for it Charlie

Bob Thanks for the clarification about the juniors and prizes. Charlie

I will have to check later Bob Charlie

Hi all thanks for that I will now add to the book as the new Club Record. On the other point of hook numbers Our competitions are run on the rule of a maximum of 2 hooks over one or two rods. However we follow the rules of the NFSA when not in competitions, which I believe state that no more than 3 hooks should be in use. Therefore if you are using 4 feathers, no fish caught on that rig can be counted. you can of course use a set of three feathers, or even a set cut in half for comps. I prefer to use the set of 4 but cut the hook off of the top one with pliers, [it leaves the feather as an attractor] I will check the NFSA rules at home later, and post again if this is incorrect. Charlie

Bob I believe the rule is that there must be 2 onboard during the competitions,[ For Safety] the second person does not have to be a Member or even fish. In the case of the 48 hr comp, only Members fish will count. So ensure all entered are paid up Members. Mini species do not count for any of the Club competitions Please confirm that juniors are entered for the main prizes even though they pay a reduced fee. I can not confirm the boys entry until I check the weather forcast this evening. Thanks for all the Competition Committee's hard work, it looks as if you have got everything under control and have a very good entry list. well done. Tight lines everyone Charlie

Hi All I caught a lovely bright Red Gurnard on Sunday that I am sure is a Red. my PC will not open the Aquarium Project on the website so I have looked it up in my books. It looks like the one pictured as a Red and the description fits: A Deep Red fish with a paler underside and a snout tipped with 3 or 4 spines. British record 2lb 13oz. The Tub in the book has a blunter snout and is browner with blue fins Description: Red to reddish brown recognised by bright red pectoral Fins marked blue and Green and a smooth lateral line. British record 11lb 7oz The Club record is vacant for this species so I would like to be sure it is a red before I add it to the list, especially as it was me that caught it. There is no NFSA size listed on thier Spreadsheet for our area so I have emailed them to ask if there is one. I have added a photo and would welcome you comments Sane one please MnM. Thanks Guys Charlie