Neal

Go to the Beaulieu boat jumble next Sunday and see the stall run by "stainless Steve" Batchelor All the components for the Alderney ring setup are available at reduced prices. See also his web site which I think is something like stainless steve engineering. He is based somewhere in Lymington - anyway he is a very approachable chap and will explain exactly what is required. Does some very good quality stainless steel landing nets and I want one - I have been saving up - unless of course anyone else knows where I can get one big enough for Conger/Tope/Cod/Ling etc Neal

Tom, I suggest you may not want to get too excited - just yet The last three years fishing in Gambia have failed to produce a Tarpon - they are wily creatures. Good hunting - and enjoy your trip later in the week - look forward to seeing some pictures. Neal

Charlie - don't forget their are some very big eels and pollack (pollock) to be had on the French side of the channel see below - 85lb (estimated) eel caught 4th May 2006

At the moment I have a trip planned for a the week end of the 17th and 18th to Alderney with customers (not my boat) I would also like to go on the May Bank holiday week end with Court Jester (if FPO allows)- and if so, have room for a couple more (not all sleeping overnight on the boat) So if anyone else hasn't got a place yet and wants to go PM and "first come first served" I also have a Zodiac inflateable with outboard to get to and fro moorings. Neal

Court Jester was put back in the water last Friday ready for the comp. We set off with everything appearing to be OK - but fish finder saying low battery warning - once passed the bridge and out into the main channel all electronics shut down. Go home or fish close in - well, we have bait and weather looks ok so continue on but carefully. On Inspection - the back up battery terminals were loose - and the battery flat - swapped batteries over to try and charge up with engine running - didn't work. Basically, we tried a couple of inshore marks - but using the old fashioned method of guess work and looking for pot buoys failed miserably. 14 dogfish later to me and 2 to john - we finally gave up and came home. I trust others fared better. Neal

Back from fishing in 100 degrees heat in the Gambia - I will be wrapped up nice and warm and fishing from the cabin! Neal and John on "Court Jester" and space for a couple of crew if anyone interested Please PM if interested Good luck all for tomorrow Neal

Happy Birthday guys.......... Hope you both have an enjoyable day. April 1st - suits Fred............ Adam whats your excuse! Cheers Neal

Lucky eh! 50,000 plus miles per year @ 45MPG av = 5000 plus litres of Diesel Cost at

Rob, I recommend that you join the Club as well, you will gain more experience and and be offered more information than you could get yourself in a lifetime of fishing / experimenting. Plus, you will join a great bunch of guys who just love fishing and who are more than willing to help anyone, no-matter what level of experience they have. Join up - it will be the best

Happy Birthday Dean, I hope you are enjoying your day - not having to work too hard ! I am sure that by now you will be drowning the odd pint or two. Look forward to seeing you out fishing again soon. Neal

Typical - Dorset Boat Jumble fits in very nicely with the first club competion of the year! Plus it also arrives 3 days after my boat goes back in the water - so too late to buy and fit cheap anodes this year. I guess I had better stock up at the Beaulieu Boat Jumble instead! Neal

Boat still for sale Any sensible offer considered Neal

I have sent in the entry form for the Poole Species Hunt on 6th June I have booked in for a team of four to represent PBSBAC Those who indicated they would like to enter this comp were..... Dean Burt Richard Swain ( + 1) Mike Fox Cost

Martin, I am keen to take the boat on a cross channel trip. With John, my usual crew and other(s) who care to join us. Pretty much available anytime with sufficient notice Neal

Happy Birthday Martin Have a great day Neal

Considering the number of times he catches more and bigger fish than me I think the term you were looking for was......... Jonah Neal

Similar thing happened to me on Sunday (almost) Sat at anchor with Radio on, GPS and Fish Finder Running - end result almost flat battery. The only warning I had was the fish finder turned itself off. So I turned everything off, which left just enough battery power to start the engine. So either take batteries off and re-charge them at this time of year / keep a spare fully charged (both main and auxilliary batteries were drained on my boat) Don't leave unnecessary electrics running etc ect Although as suggested - a reasonable run should have charged up the batteries enough to get out and back. Although........ the same crew member was on-board both boats !!!!!!! Neal

Alun, Terry, lucky you for getting out - sounds like their are still plenty of fish about - and hopefully will stay for a couple of weeks yet so we can all get out. just a quick reminder that as the front page on the website has been changed - Sunday is the Castaways Flounder Comp. All the entrance fees go towards prizes and usually their is a substantial prize table. They are one of the club sponsors - so lets support their competition. Neal

Terry, I have used a fairly thin guage stainless steel welding rod - "donated" by a friendly welding - fabrication Company. I think that I have a fair few left - will be willing to offer FOC along with some lead if whoever wants to make up a few assorted weights for me Neal

You might also look out for the multi-tip rods that are available on the market The Shimano Sensor Tip is especially good. In fact all their light weight rods are very good personally I find the Abu rods a bit "sloppy" at the top but give good bite detection and they do have plenty of power in their mid section when you connect into a decent fish. I (again it is a personal preference) prefer a through action rod - but you can only find out by fishing with the various types and through trial and error find your own preference. Neal

I wonder....... Creating what could also become a classic surf beach for bass fishing. Do you think that the Council will allow other "sports" to benefit from this artificial reef or just the Surfers. I am not going bet that Sea Anglers will be banned from fishing anywhere this stretch of shore. Cynical or realistic........ Neal

Before buying your boat I would highly recommend talking to club members at a meeting and find out what each person has and possibly more importantly - why! and which boats are most popular. You will most likely get a "warts and all" report on each boat you are looking at and therefore be able to use more balanced judgement on your purchase. I would then recommend you take a couple of trips out (as crew) on the type of boat you are planning - just to make absolutely certain that your choice meets your needs. Neal

To save any confusion over times and dates of Castaways Flounder competition Neal

Alun, I would like to join you, as I will not be enjoying too many festivities tonight (Lesley full of cold). So if you or anyone else wants to join me on Court Jester in Poole tomorrow morning give me a call real quick and we can sort out meeting times etc pm me or call 07850 998408 - So hopefully Alun I will see you tomorrow Cheers Neal

Congratulations to Vernon Allen for winning the Cod Competition. Vernon is a club member - although an almost invisible one - possibly due to current work commitments. Anyway, my "cunning plan" for the cod comp failed miserably by choosing to fish from my own boat this year, instead of fishing with Vernon and his mates on a charter boat..............Beowulf - which went down to a spot midway between Christchurch ledge and the Needles Happy New Year to you all Neal