Becky M Newsletter

Monday 24th April, 2005

At long last things are beginning to look up as far as the fishing is concerned.

The first of the Black Bream have put an appearance in with John Parr getting the first one of the year on my boat, (I had to make do with getting the second one). It was a day when there was room for me to have a play, and I was chuffed because we managed to find four in the last half hour of the day, and they were all cock fish.

I have since managed to fish the area once more, recording fish to three and a half pounds. One day I will achieve my target of having a five pounder onboard.

There have been a few Painted Rays boated, but not in any quantity, plus there is the usual multi million Dogfish in the area descending upon a bait as soon as it goes over the side, but that’s fishing.

I thought all of my mechanical problems were over for now, but just when you think that there is a light at the end of the tunnel it turns out to be a train coming the other way, (well that’s what it seems like anyway), because my alternator went crook on me the other day, so I had to get that repaired. No big deal, just another pain in the butt when you don’t need one. Anyway it is all repaired now, and the old girl’s running nicely again.

Tight lines,

Dave

Monday 11th April, 2005

Well gents there isn’t a lot to report this week.

I have done a couple of trips with mixed returns, we have managed to find a few Painted Rays along with the inevitable Dogfish and Pout, but nothing for us to get over excited about.

The water temperature is still a bit low, and the weather has still been misbehaving, as we are all aware, one day fine and warm, the next we are freezing our fingers off, or something like that.

Still things are getting better, we saw our first Swallows to-day as well as seeing some Turns, so it should all start to come together very soon.

We had a try for the Bream to day, but to no avail, I recon that they should show very soon, if we don’t try then we won’t know.

I have got my in the water survey coming up this week so that should be good fun, as I have got to go into Keyhaven for it this year, and that is not the easiest of places to get into if your not sure of the water ways, so I will just have to keep alert, (I know “The country needs Lerts”).

Anyway enough of that nonsense, so until my next set of Jottings I trust that you will get the big one.

Tight lines,

Dave

Monday 4th April, 2005

At last I am able to sit down and I can fill you in as to what has happened so far.

Since the re-commissioning there have been one or two hic-cups, but hopefully I have overcome them now, and I can get on with doing my trips.

One of the problems that I was worried about was with the new gearbox leaking oil, as I was finding traces of it in the bilge, but every time I checked the oil level it was ok. Of course I was becoming paranoid about it, but in the end I came to the conclusion that it was just residue from the original leak, but it certainly makes one worried.

Well we have been able to get out and about, and had some successful days fishing, with some nice small-eyed rays being landed, but this was because the crews were fishing as I suggested, and used the baits that I knew would work. Unlike one of the crews that I had out recently, who wouldn’t listen, and continued to fish with large enough bait to choke a pig, even though they had the right baits with them. Still that’s their fault, but they still blamed me, you just can’t win sometimes!!

I must apologise for not having the boat painted up for the start of the season this year, but it was all arranged for me to come out of the water, and go under cover to paint the hull when I had the problem with the gearbox, so I had to forego my slot for the paint job. It looks as though I will have to do it in the water this time.

I must say a big thank you to “Pinky” Smith for the help that he has given me in doing all the awkward parts that have had to be painted this time round, without his help I would still be thinking about doing them.

I made the effort, with a like minded crew, to have a look for an early Black Bream last week, but we must have been too early as we didn’t find any, but we did find some nice Ballan Wrasse though, with John Metcalf boating the best one weighing 3 pounds 9 ounces, (photograph on web-site).

As I am writing these jottings the sun is shining, and there isn’t a cloud in the sky, and from what I can see there is next to no wind. So why am I not out there doing a trip? Well it is because I took notice of the forecasts, and they haven’t changed much from the inaccurate ones from before I broke down were.

So I am left to moan about lost earnings, and having to spend time gardening, just because in these days of modern technology, the weather forecasters can’t get it right. One day someone is going to ignore the forecasters predictions and come unstuck!

I always seem to have to have a moan about something don’t I, but it really pisses me off when they get it wrong.

For those of you who have not made your bookings for this year yet there are still one or two week-end dates available, and the summer species are on their way, so book now to avoid being disappointed.

Tight lines,

Dave