Gnasher

Bruv, if you get one, let me know, but the 25l plastic drum i used last last night was fine for the time being.

where are you to mate? I'l have it if your not to far.

plenty of hounds on xray mate(i think you have them numbers), and lots of pack tope will be there soon. Take the boat to the solent if you want proper action.

again with her first smut

my old dear with a little spotty.

After getting my bloody mother pestering me to take her out, i finally agreed this morning, so i took her to of keyhaven and fished the calm water inside hurst spit, well away from the rough stuff.

A short session it was, only dropping down the hook at 7.30pm, and like last time, i opted for light gear, and only the single rod, this time fished in 36ft instead of 50 plus feet where the fish were the other day.

Anyway, to cut the story short, we were straight into fish, and the tips didn't stop rattling. Rag was suprisingly poor, but small squid chunks got bites straight away.

With Hounds the target, they came out to play straight away, but there was also rays, pout and dogs thrown in.

No big fish, but hectic action.

Dan

plenty around hurst yesterday close in shore. Not sure how wide spred they are though i would suspect there is a few of hengsbury head.

well done matey, thats a cracking bream.

and then spray it on your bait

OMG! You fellas are nuts. Fair play though, but i suspect i wouldn't be brave enough to get out of the harbour!

Adam, those common skate pics were from the BFM feature. It was pretty impressive reading.

i haven't seen any off tuckton bridge, but i have seen them of iford bridge also, but not on the main river, instead there was a few in the side stream that runs parallel for half a mile or so.

Just been for a stroll along keyhaven. I was there at low water and it was good to see the mullet back in. Infact, the 3 of us there must have watched about 50 fish in the shallows, and they looked pretty easy. I may go for a bash 2moz.

Its actually the first time ive spotted them in big numbers this year unlike last year when i landed 5 in a short feb afternoon.

quick.......wheres my peelers??????????????? I never knew those early Solent smut grew that big at this time of year

Oh, you young whippersnappers! Your day will come................in 20 - 30 years.

and i will still be younger than most of you lot

Oh Gordon, just how wrong u are my friend! I know where the free parking is that is only 30 seconds from the road into the quay(with no time restrictions), meaning only a 3 or 4 minute walk to the boat Only space for 6 cars, so i'm afraid i'm hushing it up

I don't think i've paid for carparking at mudeford in 3 years or so

I thought everyone knew its the new isle of wight ferry!

along the harbour wall where the sluice gates are.

never grounded the hull out there, and still yet to ding the prop and its ok until about 90 mins from low. and thats after 3 years out of there, maybe im lucky.

Well, anywhere south of island is worth a bash, the winter cod grounds will have some ray and eels there, a few smoothhound, plenty of dogs and pout and some early bass. roughly 2 miles south will give you about 80ft, no real specific area or mark, but the whole area will give you some action.

I tried in Totland Bay last week, plenty of bites in 45ft, only landed a few dogs and jumbo pout but i lost a decent early bass. The back of island also gave us ray, smoothound and some smaller species.

Baitwise, i'd stick with squid for the moment.

There are plenty of wrecks past the island, and the banks have blonde ray and spurdogs, smut, etc but its quite a trek for a firs trip.

what species u after mark? u may be better with a christchurch launch at the moment and head for ledge. only a 5 mile round trip. The needles area will still produce a few fish, but a little bit early yet, whilst the ledge will give you bream, wrass, doggies, huss, conger, and maybe an early bass. Maybe a trip from lymington would be better in a month, unless you head off shore.

I put a write up just recently explaining how to set up the alderny rig. I actually use a danforth anchor myself, but they can slip occasionally, so a bruce is better. I also don't use the anchor yanker, instead just a plain large stainless ring that i got off stainless steve, and i attach the bouy to the ring with a carabeaner clip (spelling alert!) via 18 inches of rope.

Its easy to do, but if anyone can find my 'long' explaination, please post!

yes, he's my better looking twin

codmiester, she is a peach....'nuff said chap!

Alun.

plenty of room for a trailor........... and no, you don't have to use the carpark. I will compare later in the year, and hopefully mine will be bigger than yours

Good luck

Dan

One of the ex christchurch boyz

Rich, pm me your number again and i'l call you.

Alun, It is about 70quid to launch for a year, but there is quite a bit of free parking there. Maybe 30 cars or so, and its along side the harbour wall. There is also a large NFDC car park there to.

I think thats a matt le tissier and Ian Dowie hybrid? more commoningly known as a matLeDowie, or translated to Dom in short