Becky M Newsletter

Monday 24th January, 2005

Well gents, the worst has happened, I am out of the water with a damaged gearbox, and it is going to be a while before I am back in commission, so until I am back afloat there is very little that I can write about, But I will try and keep you up dated as to how things are progressing.

Tight lines,

Dave

Monday 17th January, 2005

I have finally managed to get my first trip of the year in at long last, it was a bit of an effort to remember how to get out to the Needles, but after making a few phone calls, and asking the harbour staff for directions on how to get to “England”, and then on to the big red and white candle, we finally made it.

Not a lot had changed in the time that we had been forced to stay in harbour, there were no more landslips that I could see, and the Needles were all still standing. The fishing was much the same with the kennels still open, and the occupants were steeling the baits as soon as it hit the bottom, so no change there.

I must admit that the weather was great, just a long lazy swell, bright blue sky, and great company onboard.

We managed to find fish as well with six Congers coming to the boat and being released, a few Pout, but no Channel Whiting.

Rod Keene had a bit of fun whilst using baited “Hokkies” in the hope of finding some Channel Whiting, when a rather lively 30 lbish Conger took the bait and led him a merry dance around the stern of the boat, that made him puff a bit.

Nigel Collins managed to latch into the first Cod of the year boating one of 13 lbs 8 ozs, “Pinkie” Smith managed to get himself a Conger of about 45 lbs (estimated) which was a personal best, and Steve Cuthbert also managed to get himself a couple of Congers as well.

Just as I was about to start the engine and pull the anchor, “Pinkie” managed to get a good fish on which was definitely a good Cod, and after a bit of a struggle in the full ebb tide he managed to bring it to the net, and I was able to weigh it at 20 lbs 12 ozs.

Then the weather broke again, and the dreaded word “Cancelled” started to reappear across the bookings.

At the moment I have a problem with a broken R&D coupling on my gearbox, but with a bit of luck I will have it repaired this week in time for my next trip, but looking at the long range forecast I could well have plenty of time.

Anyway if you are able to get out enjoy your trips and bend those rods.

Tight lines,

Dave

Monday 10th January, 2005

Here we are well into January and I haven’t done a trip this year yet, but I am holding out for next week-end, as the forecast that I have just seen is looking favourable for a change.

If there is a break in the weather this week I might try an experiment and have a go for Flounders to see if fishing for them could be an alternative, but at the moment I am having to write cancelled too many times into the diary already.

Roll on some settled weather, so until next week.

Tight lines,

Dave

Monday 3rd January, 2005

May I wish you all a very Happy New Year, and I hope that you all manage to get all of your trips in.

Unfortunately I have had to put my prices up this year due to the increases that have been put upon us, mooring/landing fees, insurance, etc. (the fuel goes up and down like a set of whores draws when the fleets in), I do try to keep my prices as reasonable as I can, but this is the first increase for three years, I hope that can hold them for another three years.

I managed to get a couple of trips in between Christmas and the New Year, and we managed to find the Cod, nothing big, but a reminder that they are still there. We also managed to boat quite a lot of Channel Whiting as well, personally I think that they taste better than Cod, with less waste to them.

Well the New Year has got off with a windy start, I only hope that it goes through quickly, and allows us to get back out there again, (still it wont be long before the spring is here, the daylight is getting longer now, so it isn’t far away).

I will be having the boat out of the water in March for a few days to give her a lick of paint, and new anodes and things, and also to install the new fish finder as well. I am looking forward to using that, by all accounts it is the “dogs dooberies”, so there you go, we shall see.

That’s about it for now, so lets hope that we can get out there again soon, and those of you who got those new rods and reels can put them under test in the near future.

Tight lines,

Dave