Neal

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Bit previous boys on the start of the 2012 Species hunt - still a few days left this year! Neal

I had the same problem last year. None of the new brackets I found had the same hole centres as the old model and I didn't want to drill new holes in my cabin roof. I went to Pete at Quay West Chandlers (now in Parkstone Yacht Club) and we went through all the types of Arials and brackets to find the right bits so that I could put it all back together. He is extremely helpful and will often let you take the parts away and try them first - so that you don't end up wasting time and money! He's a top bloke and a club sponsor! Neal

Great fishing Kev. What a monster of a flounder. Don't just send to BFM - also Sea Angling News and Sea Angler. It should net you a few other prizes! Neal

I would like to share an experience with you all, about drinking and driving. As you well know, some of us have been known to have had brushes with the authorities on our way home from the odd social session over the years. A couple of nights ago, I was out for a few drinks with some friends and had a few too many beers and some rather nice claret. Knowing full well I may have been slightly over the limit, I did something I've never done before - I took a bus home. I arrived home safely and without incident, which was a real surprise, as I have never driven a bus before and am not sure where I got it from! Neal

Thanks for all the kind wishes on my Birthday........ I have been waiting for the website to be up and running again to thank everyone Except Nigel............... I had been invited out on a friends boat to fish the other end of the Isle of Wight and Nigel kept me updated with his remarkable tally of Cod - while I caught none Thanks mate! Neal

I ended up going out on my own - budying up with another boat from Cobbs. He didn't want to go down towards the Island - and haning told him their was little being caught this end of the bay ............. He went exactly to where I told him not to go! We caught a few dogs, the occasional whiting - his crew caught a Gurnard and a Dab!! I moved offshore and continued to struggle - just Dogs although eventually a 16lb Blonde Ray came onboard. Seems like I should have sought the rest of you guys down by the car park. Still.......better than a day in the office. Neal

I've got the day off as well - looks ok for my boat. So if anyone wants to jump on board as crew, PM me. Neal

Happy Birthday John Bobi - you should not have been looking! Neal

Fabulous weather for a days winter cod fishing - Nigel even threatened to remove his trousers at one point! or had I mis-heard, and definately not happy with the wafting bacon!! Fishing slow with dogs and pout attacking the baits - until I dropped a pout head and guts down - then all hell broke loose with congers attacking everything for about half an hour! I single cod about 6lb and a nice whiting....weed became a bit of a menace for a while but weather looked like it was changing for the worse so ambled back early to look for the Harbour Herring! Neal

Asolute beauty ..........no not you, the fish! lets see if we can do the same next week on the Britsh Cod Championships. Neal

Diet Mark! Neal (yes I know pot and Kettle!)

Cabin Fever / losing the will to live Take your choice and pray we get out fishing soon! Neal just seen whilst typing this that Nigel beat me to it!

Rob, You have chosen the same date as the Lymington Cod Boat comp Some may have already booked spaces on boats for this. I have!!!! Neal

Might have a trip out myself Just to see if the cod have turned up yet! I heard that they have caught a few in the miles of netting strung about in the bay. Neal

I would not recommend Towergate Mardon after my recent experience! Neal

Happy Birthday Barney Hope you are out fishing ! Neal

Happy Bithday Nigel I hope you are not working too hard Neal

Plan C for me involves Rugby World Cup - followed by Gardening! Neal

I have just seen this regarding proposed bag limits that will probably be introduced in Alderney. http://www.alderney.gov.gg/static/181514280128751399 and specifically 6.Charter fishing vessels, that are not Registered Sea Fishing Vessels, should have a bag limit restricting the catching of Ray, Turbot and Brill to two fish (not per species) in total per person per day to protect stocks. This would require legislation to be introduced under a States of Alderney Sea Fishing Ordinance. 7.All charter fishing vessels to carry log books which can be inspected. This is to ensure that recommendation number 6 is complied with. This would require legislation to be introduced under a States of Alderney Sea Fishing Ordinance. 8.A restriction on the landing on Alderney of more than two fish per person from charter vessels that are not Registered Sea Fishing Vessels. I don't know if private vessels are included in this Neal

I am also hesitant - especially having seen what happened recently with the Eel debate! All rod and line angling subsequently banned - commercial exploitation continues unabated - mostly to be shipped abroad as we only have a very small home market for the end product. This was not how it was originally explained at the "consultation" and not what AT signed up for - and have now objected to. Unless they seek out to restrict all activity including licensed / unlicensed inshore netting, inshore trawling, and RSA in an equal and proportionate manner then I do not approve in providing further ammunition. We are targeted as we are percieved as having money to pursue a "leisure" activity and therefore extracting a bit of extra money should not cause too much hardship. Neal

Rob, I think you should put this up on the front page! Neal

Duncan We used mostly 2 hook flowing traces with size 4 and size 6 hooks and a variety of different coloured beads (Dave did - regularly changing traces to see what colours worked best) I used the same trace pretty much all day until it got snagged in the pipes off the end of Bournemouth Pier. My trace included a couple of small flourescent beads above the hooks. Bait was small pieces of Ragworm - used about

I had my mate Dave down from London for the day - so decided that with the large tides to have a little look around inshore to see what was about, particularly with next weeks open comp in mind. Missed the bridge at 8.30 - it didn't lift at all - so along with Dave and his crew on Wight Magic - searched for a Flounder! He got one - I didn't! - we caught Corkwing Wrasse. Stopped on some of the inshore rocky bits on the way down to Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers, spent most of the day drifting in and out between the Piers and caught a variety of bits and pieces... Tally for the day was..... Corkwing Wrasse Ballan Wrasse Baillons Wrasse Plaice Goby Black Bream Gilt Head Bream Trigger Fish Red Mullet Tub Gurnard Pouting Launce Mackerel Nothing big enough specimen wise - to tempt me to do the same next Sunday! - Maybe the triggers, if they had been plentiful - but I saw at least 6 boats targeting them earlier. Apart from the last two - all were caught within 400m of the shore - plus it kept us out of the wind Neal

This is the number of times I am allowed to use my boat each year! or This is the number of species I catch each year!

For a few years he part owned an Arvor 250 with Nick Fisher (Screeming Reels) which he kept at West Bay. I am surprised that he did go out apparently so ill prepared. Especially as the number of times he is seen on TV on Boats and Kayaks - always wearing Life Jackets. Probably not the whole story being reported - not the first time that would have happened!