Becky M Newsletter

Monday 26th April, 2004

Not a lot this week to report we had a session for the Black Bream in the early half of last week but without success. We were getting what I thought were Bream bites, but on reeling in it seemed to be just a heavy drag on the line, then it would go slack near the surface. On checking the baits they had been taken looking at the bite marks, but no fish! So I got to wondering what it could be, I noticed that there are a lot of Cuttle fish bones floating down on the tide at the moment so I recon that it could well be that they are the culprits as they have now moved in to mate, although it is a bit earlier than usual. Anyway that is now entered into the excuse book as to why we haven’t had the success for this time of the year as we have had in the past.

It seems as though the fish are as confused as we are with the seasons as there are still cod being caught inshore (winter species) and the Tope are showing (summer species) still never mind the weather over this weekend has been great and all of us managed to get a good start on our tans.

Saturday we had a session fishing for Rays where we were able to boat three different species, along with an early Tope, and the inevitable Dogfish, and yesterday (Sunday) I was involved in a three-boat competition and there was a good selection of fish caught. On my boat we managed Conger, Channel Whiting, Dogfish, Pout, and Smoothounds.

Here are some free week-end dates for May:- Saturday 1st, Sunday 9th, Sunday 16th, Sunday 23rd, if there are any groups looking for dates please give me a ring on 01983 821225, I am licensed for eight anglers. I also do individuals on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Tight Lines,

Dave.

Monday 19th April, 2004

Not a lot of news this week unfortunately the inshore fishing was a bit hit and miss, I was able to get out mid week but the general ground fishing failed to live up to the promising results that it was giving over the week-end, just a few small Rays being boated and returned along with the inevitable Dogfish.

Terry Martin and myself tried out a couple of marks for the Black Bream with mixed success, this time I caught the Bream, and Terry managed to find all the Dogfish. Still it was great sport on light spinning gear, even Dogfish fight hard on it.

Saturday saw my group from Milton Keynes down again all refreshed and keen to go for the first Bream trip of the season, but with a funny forecast (we get more than our fair share of these) ringing in our ears we set out with great expectations.

We set off in perfectly flat conditions and soon got the baits over the side, first fish on board was a Ballan Wrass, soon to be followed by Dogfish, (you just can’t get away from them). Then the weather decided to take a turn for the worse with the wind freshening from the southwest against an ebb tide blowing us up over the anchor rope just as we started to catch Bream. In the end it got beyond a joke, and the lads decided to call it a day and an early bath.

The following days trip was cancelled due to yet another one of those funny forecasts the ones that say we are going to get our ears blown off, but turn out to do nothing, still we must take notice of the forecasts because as soon as we ignore them, then that’s the time we get caught out and become another statistic.

Here are some free week-end dates for May:- Saturday 1st, Sunday 9th, Sunday 16th, Sunday 23rd, if there are any groups looking for dates please give me a ring on 01983 821225, I am licensed for eight anglers. I also do individuals on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Tight Lines,

Dave.

Monday 12th April, 2004

Hear I am with some more news from the Charter Vessel Becky “M”. Since my last jottings I can report that out on the outer banks we were able to find some Spurdogs, along with Tope, and various species of rays, and the occasional Channel Whiting putting in an appearance, plus we are still finding Conger Eels over the open ground.

I was able to take out a group of my regular anglers who I had talked into making an early attempt for the Black Bream, and true to form, Rod from Southampton managed to latch into the first one of this season, a good fish of about two and three quarter pounds. This was followed up by Nigel from Slough with two fish topping the three pound mark. I was put into the shade by my mate Terry who managed to sneak out another two in the same weight bracket as Nigel’s leaving me and the rest of the crew wondering what we had to do to catch them. The next time Terry can do the netting!!

With the tides dropping back I took the next trip over to the banks for some Painted Rays where they had some success bringing about a dozen to the boat, all but two were released on that trip. The last trip wasn’t very successful with only dogs and pout and an undersize Blonde Ray being caught, but there was a bit of an easterly to the wind, plus there had also been some trawler activity in the area as well.

There are still some dates left for this month (April) with individual spaces for Tuesday 20th and 5 spaces on the 22nd , also Saturday 24th is still free either for a group or I will take individuals.

Tight Lines,

Dave.

Monday 5th April, 2004

To date I have found that the winter species have nearly all gone now, but we have started to see the first of the spring / summer species putting in an appearance. On the last few trips I have managed to find Blonde, Thornback and Smalleyed Rays, with the best smalleyed weighing in at around 8 lbs. There are of course the usual dogfish, and pout around still along with the occasional conger. From the deeper marks there have been Tope, and Spurs. I have also heard that there have been some early Black Bream caught in the nets commercially, so it wont be long before I start looking for them, probably on the next set of spring tides.

There are still some weekend dates available in April if anyone is interested and they are:- 11th, 24th, and room for six individuals on Saturday 10th. If anyone is interested in any of these dates then please give me a bell on :- 01983 821225 after 7pm, and before 9.30 pm thank you. There are also the usual midweek dates for individuals as well.

A bit of sad news to bring to these Jottings, George Watton sadly passed away recently, for those of my regular crews who knew George he will be sadly missed, but not forgotten, because in future all tangles will be known as getting a George, Bless him, he will always be with us out there.

I have had the boat out for her usual spring clean, I was only out for about three days, just long enough to do the antifouling, and the hull, the remainder I can do in the harbour at my leisure.

I hope that I can bring these jottings out regularly, and keep you informed as to what is going on, and to let you know of any spare dates available.

Tight Lines,

Dave.