Overrun

Nice Bass, well done. Sunday I was sat out off the start of the Ledge listening to you lot on CH6. Wind was difficult on the way back, took 45 minutes to do one mile . Anyone point me in the direction of some pack Tope? Preferably less than 2 miles out!

We are having a little tournament over on AnglersAfloat, first to 21 species from 24 listed, no time limit. With this in mind, a quick evening session at Southbourne was called to get few in the bag. Mosty mini species but illustrates the varied fish life at present. Launched at 19:00 into slight seas, wind blown chop and a SW wind of less than 10kn. Headed out to where KayakKarma

Met up with Richi, Lozz, Speciman & Zzippy for an afternoons fun with Smooth Hounds. First on the water, made for the 'BP' buoy, scene of last years P.B. Loads of Yachts, the Solent busy as I've seen it. Mini Bream bites immediately on Squid and Rag, reserving hard back and single peeler crab collected from the shore for later. Richi paddled on out and buoyed close to the channel. Speciman & Zzippy appeared shortly afterward followed later by Lozz. http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s175/ruffj/P5310384.jpg An hour passed and the tide was running at full strength, Lozz on the VHF was in to number 1. Swapped buoys with Zzippy just as Speciman boated a good sized Hound. Foul hooked a mini Bream then used my one peeler. Instant hook-up on my only Hound of the session, rather uncharacteristically fought like a good Bass, instead of blasting down tide in the shallow water, approx. 3-4lb. http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s175/ruffj/P5310388.jpg Zzippy returned and picked up a further 2. The tide eased and we headed in, Lozz's final total was 8 fish in the 4-8lb range, all on peeler, the bait of the day, unlike last year when Rag or Squid did the business. Zzippy's biggest one: http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk5/KAY...69/DSC01126.jpg We'd all contacted fish, but none of the double figure fish like last year, hopefully the best is yet to come.

Cracking report and congrats on the new PB.

Thanks guys, might be visiting, we'll be downtide of your position Need to do something about those Gin Palaces though

Lovely Bream there chaps, might I enquire as to the tide strength on the patch, how much lead do you use to hold bottom?

We did think about something similar, storage is an issue. Daft as it sounds, it's not a bad idea. Will search for a small bottle of gas, dual purpose Tope floats!

That was us Alan, a good day out on the ledge, was a little concerned by the rain squall passing to the south. We had Bass to 4lb, Pollack to 2lb, loads of Wrasse & Doggies and one good Bream. GPS reckoned we had paddled over 7 miles that day, knackered by the time we got back. Much debate about flags at present Rob, don't think they are a good idea for a number of reasons, not least that they aren't generally recognised as with the ball. The problem we have with both flags & balls placing them high enough to be visible without upsetting stability in a wind. Maybe a high vis hat will help. Know what you mean about the G&T brigade (WAFI ?), we call them 'Pugwash'. Usually keep to the shallower & rocky areas when they are about, but there's always one.

Thanks for all your comments guys, appreciate how it must appear, I didn't believe it was possible much less sensible in the early days. We aren't all certifiable. There many new entrants to the sport with high expectations but short on ability. Please bear with us, the sport is doing the best it can to guide and inform but it's still very much in it's infancy. Incidents are bound to happen and do occur, so far we have been able to resolve these ourselves. We would be extremely grateful if you maintain a keen eye on the sea when travelling about. Many of us go to great lengths to ensure visibility, inevitably there will be the odd person that doesn't. Appreciate all your reports, will try to do likewise if I've something useful to post, generally, around here, you'll find us from the shore out to about 3 miles at the most on neap tides & settled conditions. Cheers James

A favourite: not mine I hasten to add

Bob Fish alone quite often and at night. VHF yes! Anchor yes. Quick release set-up with a clam cleat, the warp reel is bouyed off, useful if need top move quickly to avoid errant Yachty or the tide is making retrieval too hard, come back at slack water. Competitions yes, just getting going this year. A good site if you're interested: AnglersAfloat The forum is something else!

Bob It's about 1 nautical mile and can do 3 knots comfortably if the wind is light, my mates Kayak will do 4. A big tide can make the going tough or even backwards. Plenty of planning with all our trips, try to make use of wind and tide where ever poss'. So that's about 20 minutes from the slip. Alun A little cramped, especially when a big fish is hauled in, there's those amongst us that target Conger & Tope. No problem with the cold as DrySuit, fish through the winter, gel seat, but the legs get stiff after a long day. Thanks for your interest gents.

Popped over to Kimmeridge on Saturday in the hope of Bream. Usual collection of charters and perhaps one or to of your good selves on the mark. Fishing a tad slow for me, just a doggie but my mate was doing well with several large Mackeral and Garfish to floatfished Squid & Rag. L.W. and everyone went, mate had a super Bream which escaped from the Kayak, shortly afterwards another in the 1.5lb bracket then finally I caught this little beauty, which clocked just over 2lb 4ozs, a new PB for me, well chuffed. Fished on into the dark closer to the shore and bagged a small Bull Huss. Cracking day and great to be out again, trip no.9 this year. Regards to all James

Thanks for that Bill, will be back out there at the earliest opportunity. rgds James

Hi all, this might help, taken back in February on or near low water: Spent Thursday off Kimmeridge searching for Bream, should have stayed here .

Hi Paul Didn't mean to hijak your thread . Bit of a recce for some summer camping so was just trolling off the Yak, hoping for a Pollack.

A rare post here from me, but I do read all your posts with interest. Picked up a couple of Bass on plug in the Purbecks earlier last month, biggest shown here was 3&1/4 and I'm guessing mature? returned BTW.

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. Bob F, seen a few of you guys over at Kimmeridge surfing the ledges in tiny Yaks, played about myself in the shallows, great fun. Zed, saw your post on the Boat thread, always happy to share, I'm no expert but there are few other locals with loads of experience. Weekend was out off Milford into early evening, Bream, Doggies & Bull Huss but no Codling. Rockley is winter haunt for Flounders, we had a few last year off Holton Heath & in Lychett Bay. Maverick & Corky - thanks again guys Cheers James

Hi Zed, I'm a Kayak local fisherman, got fed-up filling the sea with lead from the shore. Seriously though, it's great fun and keeps fitness levels up. Looks downright dangerous but it isn't in the right conditions and with the right gear.

Hello folks, must confess to lurking on this site for a while, mostly in the catch reports section Not sure if I qualify as a boat owner as mines 13ft long and 29" wide, orange and powered by yours truly. Won't be paddling for ever though! Anyway, you have a great forum here, and I look forward to meeting on the water (not too close )

er, well I am now, been lurking too long