Gnasher

6am sounds good to me paul, I will follow you up, but im just a bit wary about giving it a go around portland because of her size, although she has got high sides on her and not a bad size beam. You think she will be ok if the conditions are right?

good report mate. I desperatley want a bass now, i think next time im out i will try and get some live eels, at least a big schoolie has gotta have a go at them. Or portland next week for a larger one if im lucky!!!

how much is the slip? or is it free at 7am?

OK, put me down. Gnasher will be there. Its only a small boat so i dont plan attacking portland race in the conditions like what paul told me about last time though. Im not sure what the long term forcast is, or tides. Crew to be sorted, i'l just find a mate to go halves on cost.

i have a portible charger that you charge at home(or in car) then take it with you. Any probs connect up to the battery and it gives you a quick boost. About 20quid from Lymington market. I gave someone a boost the otherday in muddiford harbour when he couldn't start his engine. Nice fish Adam.

Sorted It was stuck between neutral and forwards, so when on high revs, it was only going a few knots. Well never mind, the fishing was good, just gotta catch that monstor from the deep.

full revs, no power. It went out and back with no probs. Sat at quey and had some brekki then when i went back out there was no power.

Took the my boat 'Gnasher' out for my 1st session in it with my bro Dom. We were at Muddiford slip at 5am, ready for a crack on Xray. Easy launch, up the quey and out to xray and plained at about 18knots. With no gps, i had to use the info passed from Paul D and James on the directions. Anyway, tied up on one of the bouys, chucked out a squid on each rod and found dog city from the off. Feathered up some maccy, boy is there plenty, full strings everytime. I fished a live Joey and Dom used a live Jumbo. Dom is first in, light 12lb class rod, 18lb braid and 12lb snood, he new he was in. 20 mins later, up pops a huge thorny, 14lb, what a beauty. Back to fight another day. More Dogs, then in to a few smoothies on squid, only up to about 6lb, then i hit something on my big rod. A dead jumbo, 8/0s pennal, 50lb braid, 80lb snood and 20lb class rod. She hoons over, and I have never seen line spin from my reel like it. 50 yards in no time, then put a but pad on, a massive heavy weight as i start to make on it, then bosh, another 50yards melting from the spool. still cant stop it then bang, snood goes, clean bite. Big tope? or something else? More dogs, then a pack of small tope move in, wired up so not to get bittern through and we land about 12 up to about just over 10lb. On the way in, a bit of engine problems as she limps back at 2 knots. Dont know why, full revs, just no power. Saw James hammer past, should of got a tow. All in all, a great 1st day out in a new boat. Very steady for her size. Dan Doms thornback

Jim, Thursday is a no go as I have got plans, so im trying on wed. The plan is to be launching from wick at 5am and have a go with my brother before he goes to work, then tie the boat up in muddiford and come back and have a bash in the evening. If your about wed and decide to go out, let me know. Im hoping to try for a ray in the morning then try for a bass or two in the evening. Kam, well if thats the shingles, then id defo need some sea sickness pills going over that aswel

I think the bridge is a shallow stretch of water that is roughly 30ft deep with depths of about 100ft on the keyhaven side, then dropping down on the other. It is on our side of the needles. I have sat many a time in my car with a maccy Ds with the kids in Milford Carpark watching some spectacular sights as the waves crash up over it, this is viewed from a few miles. I think this is the bridge anyway, but im sure the guys who drift it will comment.

thanks kam/paul. I am at footy all day sun but will be heading out in week if weather is ok. If anyone is out wed/thu and wants to buddy me then let me know. wick or lymington? I have no gps/fishfinder/VHF. Should all be in in next couple of weeks though

only take whats going to be eaten and enjoyed. Bass/cod/skate/conger etc, it dosn't make a difference, just that I think its more than bass that need conservation and I think most would agree. As to the taste of a large bass, I wouldn't know, dont catch 'em, hehe. If its 10lb or 2lb, if the person who catches it is going to sit down and enjoy it with a glass of wine then so be it. Mass kills for the sake of it, or for pics is a different story. 'nuff said

I plan to go out form either xchurch or Lymington to try drifting for the bass. Where would be the best area to head for considering my new boat is only 14ft. I dont want to be fishing huge tides and getting the swell chuck me from piller to post. The boat is only a 14ft dory and sturdy, but I just want a bit of fishing in a decent area that would be safe. Dan

With the amount of posts in here about large amounts of bass being caught, decent size fish to boot, they seem as common as muck. Compare that to the Cod, the winter was very tough and not many fish landed, most most of the cod were kept without anybody saying anything. Everyone says bass is a sport fish, but I think it tastes the best of the lot and I would take a few IF I caught them. I see people in here making excuses about trying to release bass, but they take them because they wont swim off, but if its a cod they catch, bash it on the head and no one says anything. During the last winter, charter skippers were only reporting a couple of cod per session, compared to 10, 20 or even 30 large bass that they are catching this summer. If a few want to go in the fish box to eat, then so be it, a 7-8lb fish dosn't seem that rare no more does it. Surley it would make more sense to talk about protecting cod stocks!!!! I may be wrong, but Just thinking aloud

VFH radio wanted. Let me know the model and what price you are looking for. PMs please I need one for the new boat. (money will not be available for about 8 days as the other boat has to sell on eay first) Dan

me 2!!!! We had no rods, so spent a while trying to make a handline with a toby spoon. I wish i had some gear to of had a go.

result Paul. I was out testing the new boat today. Went out from wick about mid day but I didnt see anyone. I saw two fish about a mile off the quey jump about 4 feet clear of the water. Not big fish, probabbly a pound or so. would these of been maccy? Ive never seen them jump like that before. Strange but when i was comming back through the harbour i saw a few fish do similer. Im guessing these were sea trout. Would these of been sea trout jumping clear out to sea?

She is for sale at last. Ebay Number 4566789921 or offers. Any questions PM me or check the ebay page for all the details. It shows the good and the bad bits of the boat/engine and trailer.

Bob/Paul D, you have a PM. Anyone know of a cheap VHF going now?

cracking fish, with the amount you boys are catching you would of thought the water was full of big bass. nice one adam.

is that a thin or thick lipped?

well done Kam, 2 be honest id much rather have my rod bent double with a big conger or ling than a bream. Saying that, a 4-5lb fish would be very welcome, a shark would be even more welcome though

Ok, im a tad confused. Im looking for a cheap GPS, just to store a few marks, but what is it I need? Is a gps and plotter the same? do i need maps for a gps? For the kind of fishing i plan on, i just want to store a few marks along the ledge aswel as xray and one or two more by southbourne. I just need something very basic, 2nd hand would be better to cut the cost down. Whats the cheapest there is that will do what I want? Thanks Dan

Depending on the forcast< i may venture down and have a bash. The weather needs to be spot on as my boat is small. I dont know where the slip is so may follow Paul D up(if thats ok paul) as hes only half a mile away from me. Crew will be either Chris or my bro Dom.(depending if theres no pre season football matches that im required for that day)

and another