Becky M Newsletter

Monday 31st May, 2004

I try to get these jottings done on a Sunday evening, but what with it being a bank holiday and all it is now Monday and I have been out all day so I had better get my act together other wise I will be out of sync again.

We have once again had some excellent sport with the Black Bream this last week with the majority of the fish being returned unharmed. My crews are really into the catch and release system that I apply when we are fishing for the Bream, and it is great to see them go, my thanks to all of my crews for helping to preserve the stocks of these scrappy little fighters, at least we are trying.

Last Wednesday I had to get up at 3.30 in the morning as I wanted to catch the tide, so as one of my regular crews could make their annual pilgrimage over the horizon. I didn’t know that there was two 3.30’s in a day, even the birds hadn’t woken up and had their first fag of the day!! I must admit that first light must be the best part of the day, especially when the boat is slicing through flat calm waters, and with the rosy dawn breaking, and the solid sound of the engine as the boat makes its way out of the harbour, the gentle wash rocking the yachts as we pass, then out through the entrance, open her up slowly, and disturb all those sleeping seagulls. If I have got to get up early then so can they!!

We made good time getting out, and we soon latched into fish, as the day wore on, and the tide died so did the fishing, but with the sad loss of George, (who enjoyed these expeditions, even though he spent time fishing for mackerel), the group wondered who would pick up the baton so as to speak. They need to wonder no longer, because Ian rose to the occasion, and soon managed to get enough for everyone.

On the way back the wind got up from the south east to about a force five, and we had to endure a corkscrew motion all the way back to the light.

That will teach me to wax lyrically about rosy dawns, what is it they say about red sky in the morning!!

For a change on Saturday my lads wanted to have a go for smoothounds, so I found my tagging stick and off we went. Unfortunately we didn’t have any hermit crabs, but I was able to arrange with another skipper to get hold of some peelers, so off we went. The sport was good as these are another fish that will give a very good account of themselves on light gear. I would recommend using a 6 – 12lb class rod for the maximum benefit with these fish. We didn’t latch into any monster “smuts” but the ones that we did were great fun, and there was the possibility of a bonus Bass from the area as well, but we never found one of those either.

Sunday saw us fishing for the Bream again, (at the request of the crew on the day) and the sport was excellent, but these boys know how to fish for them, and really enjoy themselves.

Monday turned out to be a part trip, with mackerel being the target to start with, we soon had enough for bait, then it was off for the Bream until slack water, when we moved only to find some sandy Dalmatians.

Tight Lines,

Dave.

Monday 24th May, 2004

First of all my apologies for the lack of jottings for the last week, but I have been quite busy, and the weather has been great, (the forecasts have been spot on) which has made going to sea even more pleasurable. Everyone who has been out has been able to top up their tans, and at the same time enjoy some great Black Bream fishing. I think that the quality of the fish this year has been the best for a very long time, with a lot of fish coming to the boat being over four pounds in weight, most of these have been females that have been heavily roed up so they are all being returned.

I have again been able to introduce some new anglers to the enjoyment of fishing for Black Bream using (for sea angling) light gear i.e. bastardised spinning rods with a quiver tip attached, and either a fixed spool bait runner, or light multiplier, either of these reels which ever suits the end user. Take it from me using tackle like this enhances the fight given by these fish 100%. Of course there is also the chance of latching into a Bass as well, then that will make you clear the decks.
I have found a very good braid for use as my main line, and that is Power Pro, which is very thin, and at the same time very strong, for the light line fishing I use 8KG, which is like hair, and for normal fishing I use the 20KG. I have yet to find a better line, it is not cheap, but it is very good, and I think good value for money.

I had a wander out over the horizon the other day, the crew for the day were new to me, so I was on tender hooks hoping that i could find fish for them. I was able to find some Cod and Pollock, but not as many as i had hoped for, but that's fishing for you.

This last week has seen us fishing in much the same areas as last week with the same quality of fish being caught, and with all the females being returned so as they could spawn. I feel that this is contributing to the continuing increase in the rebuilding of the stocks of fish in the area.

By the way, there are still a few dates available at weekends if any groups are interested, and I can still find places during the week for individuals. If you can only do weekends I will try to make up a trip with individuals, but please be aware that unless I have a minimum of at least four, priority will be given to full boat bookings.

Tight Lines,

Dave.

Monday 10th May, 2004

Well these jottings might well be entitled "After the Lord Mayors Show"!!
After Sundays good day Monday decided that it would be a typical May Monday, damp, and bloody dismal.

I had a good local crew out with me, everyone was full of great expectations, because the skipper had told them that they had a great days sport the day before (Fatal mistake) how many times do we say that and end up with egg on our faces, we never learn, but I try to be honest when asked how the previous trip went. Anyway we set of to one of my favourite, marks it's a bit of a tackle box but the fishing is usually good. Wrong, the barometer had dropped a bit, but it was enough to put the fish off, and we never bagged up on the Bream as I had hoped. We did manage half a dozed nice fish but all in all it was a disappointing trip.

The rest of the week we had unsettled weather with Saturday being blown off as well. With no trip booked for Sunday, and the weather improving I managed to get some of the Saturdays crew to come out on Sunday, and with a couple more anglers joining in I had enough to make up a trip. One of the lads had been disappointed on a previous Bream trip out from another port, so he wanted to have another go for them, and just happened to mention it to Mike Taylor (UK Hooks) who pointed him in my direction. Thanks Mike, anyway we were fortunate enough to find fish and Nigel had a good days sport as well, in fact he hit the Jack Pot in a way, but that's another story.

Sorry that there isn't a lot this week, I hope to have more to say next time.

Tight Lines,

Dave.

Monday 3rd May, 2004

This last week has seen some excellent catches of Black Bream, starting off with a group of anglers down from Watford who decided that they would like to have a go for them as they hadn’t caught them before from this area. Unfortunately the tackle that they had with them was a bit on the heavy side, but they were able to contact some good fish with the majority being returned.

We then went offshore a couple of miles to have a try for some rays, but we only found rough skinned salmon, (dogfish), I think that the trawlers had been there first.

The week-end came and the prospects were looking good, the forecast was better than predicted, (we were able to top up our tans) on Saturday I had some time wasters, but it gave me a chance to put a line over for a change, but I didn’t want to hog the show so while the rest of the crew managed to find the Bream, I concentrated on making the tea, (that’s my excuse for not catching anyway).

On Sunday I had a group of local anglers who had booked to go for the Bream, and with the weather really behaving its self we went for it. It was agreed that there would be a limit on the amount kept, plus all hen fish would be returned.

We had a great days fishing with me being kept busy with the net all day. The best fish of the day fell to Alex Frampton aged 11 from Newport who caught one weighing 4 lbs 2 ozs, an excellent fish by any standard, there were quite a few fish up to and over 3 lbs that were returned.

I have been encouraging anglers for some years now to try to be conservation minded, and I believe that it is working in the case of the Black Bream, as we seem to be enjoying the benefits of a healthier stock of fish now.

Bank holiday Monday saw a return to a cold dismal looking day with the forecast of heavy showers and wind, (they managed to get that one right) so with high hopes we set out to try to emulate the previous day. What a fatal statement it is for a skipper to make when asked how you got on the day before, “you should have been here yesterday” it’s like giving it the “kiss of death”. We had some good fish, but not a patch on the day before. Still that’s fishing!!

Tight Lines,

Dave.