Neal

Well fished guys - looks like saturday was the day to go. Fishing on Sunday not quite so productive or anywhwere near as pleasant. Neal

I have caught loads of these in the harbour and always assumed that the Gold colouring on the Gill plates meant it was a Gilthead Bream - with or without serious dentistry. I await the official respose eagerly. I decided to go a tad further afield yesterday with the plan to go to Swanage Bay It was a bit rough so went further into Durlston Bay ..... very rough especialy crossing Peverel Ledge. Wind over tide. Loads of fish showing on the fish finder - probably sheltering from the huge waves off the end of the point. But not a single bite - tried a multitude of different baits but to no avail. I thought that as the tide slackened the waves should flatten out and once the flood started should be quite confortable,so I headed out to my usual blonde ray mark. It wasnt too bad getting out with the following sea and wind. We managed to anchor up in about the right spot. We even managed to fish catching good sized Black Bream, Bass (48cm) and strap congers, with mackerel being caught sporadically on a set of feathers hung over the side. A definate improvement over the last few weeks fishing. The supposed flattening off of the waves didn't happen and the wind kept increasing. It was interesting to watch the occasional wave breaking above the level of the top of cabin. The fish finder was showing the wave height from top to bottom of over 10ft. I was amazed the anchor held and that we could fish relatively comfortably - but I don't think I would have wanted to be out in a smaller boat. By 4.00pm the rain started and the wind increased and the tide picked up - so decided to head back in. Very impressed with the way the Arvor 250 handled the conditions and would not hesitate to recommend one to anybody thinking of purchasing this kind of boat. Can't fish now until the end of October - probably shouldn't have ventured out yesterday - we were all warned - (couldn't go Saturday!) - Hope you all manage a successful months fishing and see you out their soon. Neal and crew

Definately interested in taking Court Jester...... Bit of a busy week though - somehow I need to fit in a day at the Southampton Boat show (Monday), two days fishing in a competition (Wednesday and Thursday out of Weymouth) and then leaving Friday to go to Alderney - how early? Work will suffer............ how will I cope Pub tucker trials as well oh no! - what should I tell the wife? - should I tell the wife? I have heard the people of Alderney described as "3000 piss-heads clinging to a rock" - we should fit in rather well Neal

Sorry, it's the chipboard core type with bonded laminate worksurfaces. Neal

I have just stripped out some from my kitchen at work 1 No. 39" x 24" x 1" 1 No. 32" x 24" x 1" You are welcome to them - if you can collect either from Broadstone or at this Thurdays meeting. Let me know and I will put them in my car. Neal

Thanks Charlie, The Pictures have come out well - all I need now is someone to come and buy the boat! Neal

I would like to fish the comp. on Court Jester However...... wifes birthday that weekend (not Sunday) but I don't yet know what she has planned for me to do / pay for etc..... Neal

Managed to get out all day Sunday - what a glorious day - but Fishing very slow on "Court Jester" - I went out to my Blonde mark again - but only managed one small Blonde of about 6lb and a couple of strap congers. - nothing bigger than 10lb. a couple of small bream and a large scad. Even mackerel were hard to find. came in at lunchtime to join everyone / anyone for the family day in Studland Bay - couldn't find anyone - so went back out to drift for plaice in / near the swash Just a bit too busy with boat traffic - caught a few small bream and a red mullet - then went back offshore - again nothing but small congers. Neal

Sorry, I have got loads of photos - for some reason can't resize them to post - will try again tomorrow or e-mail them to someone who knows how to work the bloody computer. Anyway it will now have to wait until tomorrow as all the photos are on my PC at work Neal

Wanted - a good home for "Alice". A recently restored Islander 20 fishing boat Grp -simulated clinker, displacement hull. Twin Berth !! - with loads of storeage space, and fishing space for at least 4 people. Mercedes marinised diesel engine Tender included (which needs attention) plus Garmin fish finder, GPS, Anchor, chain and warp. various assorted ropes and fenders etc Plus storage trailer. Great sea boat - not fast, but very stable in all sea conditions. Very very economical. Recently repainted and antifouled - ready to go. Price

Charlie, I bought a mask and snorkel their recently - to keep on the boat for emergency puposes. They have loads at all sizes and price ranges. Neal

I have been a personal member for a number of years - this I consider to be my "licence to fish" especially as it covers third party insurance liability. Perhaps they (NFSA) should change their marketing in such a way that this membership becomes the official licence to fish and ensures that everyone has adequate insurance, each and evey time they go out. I personally would be rather annoyed to have to pay NFSA membership, club membership and a government licence as well - I know which one would be dropped instantly. I have already responded to their letter - Option 3 being the better of a limited number of options. But I have suggested that the club contribution be raised to

Charlie, Dorset Dive Centre ( I think thats what they are called) is not far from you. Go to the top of Wallisdown road (Poole End) - at the roundabout head towards Bear Cross - go to the next roudabout and turn back on yourself, then turn left into the Elliot Road Industrial Estate, just before JJB Sports, Matalan, Brantano etc. They have three or 4 units on the left hand side as you go into the estate with loads of gear. Neal

Mike, I will be out on Court Jester looking for the big blonde Rays. I will be out on the Whitehouse ground off Swanage Bay - however, if it is still going to be a family day, I want to pop back in and join everone at some point. Is it a big tide? - they have all seemed to be big for the last 3 - 4 weeks, I was looking forward to perhaps a nice set of Neaps. See you out there Neal

Hi Mike and Family, Good to see Frisky Fox back home - welcoming us back into the Marina. I notice from your catch photos that none of them were home base! I know that we are not supposed to fish for them - but I have been fattening them up with all my bait left-overs and other such goodies, for some time now, just waiting for a sneaky opportunity to have one out! Their are some real monsters lurking below the pontoons and I want one. Neal

I have got two Yamaha 4hp outboards sitting in my garage - both hardly used. I would be quite happy to sell one - call me to arrange to come and have a look and make me an offer. 07850 998408 Regards Neal

Have a look in Poole Sea Angling Centre at the Mitchell T100 - they were selling them off at a silly price last time I looked. This is a serious piece of kit that I bought to go fishing in the Gambia and to go heavy duty wrecking in deep (300ft) water with 2lb plus of lead - which it lifts effortlessly - along with the odd 50lb Conger! It has not let me down in any situation and I suspect that not many situations require anything heavier. I believe there is a smaller version T50 ? - Andy was selling these reels at

Whilst fishing for tope in the deep holes south of St Catherines, for each of the last three years someone has hooked into what was assumed to be a thresher shark. We don't use wire traces and they make short work of 150lb mono but they will jump right out of the water and it is exciting to hang on for a while. I suspect all of the Solent Charter skippers know they are there - they just don't go after them. Plus they tend to frighten everything else away - even the large Tope move away. I am still surprised that with measurements, witnesses and photos, that fish like this cannot be given a sub category "catch and release" record and not killed for the sake of it. I was also apalled at the "blog" replies that accompanied the story - perhaps that is how the general public view us and our "sport". Neal PS whilst he was out catching his shark, we had another 20lb Blonde Ray - thats 3 in 3 trips ( or just maybe its the same stupid fish caught three times - thats catch and release for you)

I will be fishing the comp on Court Jester with 2 members onboard I would like to go off shore to a wreck or two to look for Pollack or even a cod - any one want to buddy up as I have no idea which wrecks are productive. I am based in Poole - so another Poole boat would be useful ! Neal

Rob Once past the ferry follow down the swash channel - just before the last channel marker turn left towards a yellow buoy ( Protected wreck buoy - no fishing!) about 50 meters south the bottom drops rapidly down from 20ft to 45ft - always a good spot to get a few mackerel on the way out. If you are going offshore for the rays - their are now plenty out there - so a couple of drifts over your ray mark should pick them up. We were also catctching a full string every time we dropped the feathers down whilst anchored. Save some for me - I am going out for the blonde rays again tomorrow Cheers Neal

Martin, I spent the day in Guersey yesterday - the weather was nowhere near as good. However I took this photo a couple of years ago and it always cheers me up!

Type in Red Bream Gilthead Bream and Black Bream to Google search for pictures and description as Red Bream description below. Identification: Deep laterally flattened body, with large scales, that are also present upon the head. Single long dorsal fin, who's anterior portion is composed of 12 spines, with the posterior formed of 12 to 13 soft branched rays. The anal fin is approximately half the length of the dorsal fin, and has 3 spines at it's anterior that is then composed of 12 to 13 branched rays. The top half of the head and body, along with the fins, has a reddish orange colouration. This blends into a rose tinged silver of the sides and belly. The lateral line is distinct, and is accompanied in the adults by a black to blackish red spot, just behind the gill cover. The gill cover has no spines and is untoothed. The eyes are large and are further back than the low set mouth. The front teeth are small and sharp, with 2 to 3 sets of small rounded blunt teeth towards the rear. Breeding: Spawning occurs in deep water, during the late summer and autumn Habitat: Rocks and seaweed's of shallow waters, down to depths of 250M or more. This tends to be a shoal fish, although the size of the shoals decreases with age of the fish. Red Bream have a summer inshore migration, and is the commonest of the sea breams in the UK. Food: Diet normally consists of small fish, long with crustaceans, and the occasional squid. Range: Most often seen at the Western end of the Channel, and South West Ireland. Summer migration however, results in wide spread distribution including the North Sea and even up to Norway. New one on me - didn't know Red Bream were so common Neal

"The Sadler" is a area of rough ground (shaped like a saddle) about 4 miles south of Bournemouth Pier - in aline between Old Harry and the Needles - it shows up clearly on a GPS chart - and usually has a load of Poole Charter Boats near it. The Lenny is a small wreck south and west between the Sadler and Old Harry - apparently all that remains is the boiler and and a few other bits - but if you can find it it has pout and congers on it - coz I have seen them caught! It is also marked on a GPS chart - but apparently not very accurately! Neal

After inviting Charlie out for the day and following a few missed communications - mainly as a result of too much wine and a foul hangover on my part - we finally got out. Saw stacks of small bass at a difficult spot to fish on the way out and decided to bag up on the way back in - especially if the forecast changed and the weather got snotty. Charged out to the Saddler - ready for the tope and rays - Plenty of mackerel showing and quickly caught - enough to score and enough for bait. I got three quick dogs and Charlie got a bream - then nothing. Ok then lets go for Pout and Congers on the Lenny - charged off - couldnt bloody find it - so into Swanage Bay to my Bream, Smoothhoud and Undulate mark - all baits attacked by tiny Bream - even size 4 hooks couldn't catch them. Off to Peverill - drift slowly for the wrasse - each had 4 within a couple of drifts - a quick try for Pollock with a black jellyworm with an orange tail produced nothing as did baited hockeyes/ feathers. Off to the Carantan - a big wreck of Anvil Point - targeting Pout on the drift and perhaps anchor for Congers - set up the drift tried with feathers - nothing - just about to start again and the divers turn up - no species points for the men in rubber!!! leave that one for Mr Fox! So - back to Poole Rocks - should get our bream and a few other species their- one solitary wrasse - OK - lets head back to the Harbour - a quick tie up to buoy provides nothing but trouble with every boat in the harbour zooming past within a couple of feet - so opt for a drift down the edge of the channel - have caught very small smoothies, plaice and bass and the odd Guilt head bream - Not a bite. Right - last chance - lets get thos Bass - sod it they have all moved and its too difficult to fish with the number of boats stacking up for the bridge. Down to the Quay - last chance - a very slow drift with the boat being held on the engine to avoid the rest of the "Birmingham Navy" in their sunseekers - another wrasse! So in the end - not too succesful on the catching front - but we certainly hunted!! and the weather certainly was much improved on what was expected. Charlie ended the day on 40 Points and I got 42 - actual score sheets to follow Cheers Neal PS If I forgot anything, I expect Charlie will add his comments - and by the way it was a pleasure to have him on-board.

If the quicksilver is the same as my Arvor, and has either a stern or shaft drive then start with the switches pushed down ie push the bottom half of the switch down and hold them for a few seconds. As you increase speed push the top of both switches forward - this should start to bring the trim tabs down which in turn pushes the bow down and increases your speed - i.e. the boat gets up on the plane and moves more effectively through / across the water. if you feel any kind of inbalance because you have most weight on either the port or starboard sides then push the corresponding opposite switch either up or down to compensate. If you have heavy people wandering about whilst motoring or all the weight on one side try and shift everything to either a central position or at least level with you and try and tell people to keep still. Make sure that you return the trim tabs back to the off position each time you moor up the boat. Hope that helps Neal