Eyes in the Sky

One of the many great things about fishing is that because you are usually away from everyday goings-on, you often see things you would otherwise miss. That can be nature - kingfishers fishing and porpoises playing are two of my favourites - or out-of-the-ordinary events with a human connection. Today while I was fishing about 8 miles off-shore I was used as a marker by a very fierce looking Navy helicopter on some test or other, which was entertaining while it lasted.

Then I was buzzed by racy-looking surveillance plane piloted by someone who had obviously been brought up on Biggles, because he came round again and did a series of low passes (and I mean low!) while he had a good look. Those two events were more memorable than the pesky little tope that seemed to be queuing up for bait that day.

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Damage Control Kit

Seafish, the organisation responsible for much of the safety training for commercial fishermen, has launched an initiative to help prevent an emergency on board turning into a disaster. Apparently most fishing boat losses are as a result of swamping. Seafish have developed a "Damage Control Kit" which is simply a box containing useful stuff that could help prevent a boat that is filling with water from actually sinking. The official list is obviously for bigger craft than most of ours - it contains a tarpaulin, saw, axe, etc. but it did make me think the idea would be useful on a smaller scale for the average angling boat. I have known two people who have very nearly had boats sink under them just because water was going through a broken hatch in the splash-well: simple enough to fix if only you had the necessary!

Here are my suggestions for a small boat damage control kit, to fit in a small lidded plastic box: a square of heavy duty polythene or a rubble sack; assorted stainless jubilee clips, assorted cable ties; self-amalgamating tape for fixing plumbing leaks: insulating tape, gaffer tape; string or strong cord; "instant metal" resin bond; squares and wedges of wood. If you had this and a well-equipped tool box you could fix up quite a variety of problems and get home.

So, so, so, so wrong

Four Wrongs ended up making a very big Right last Sunday. We were out drifting for bass with sandeels in the Overfalls area, and the first two Wrongs were that we were not using the prescribed bass tackle of braid and multiplier, our local bass guru had proved to me last year than mono and multipliers out-fished braid. So we were fishing mono with multipliers, and catching a few bass too. We decided on a move as the fish were small and not too numerous either. Unfortunately, as we lined up for the new mark the tide died away to nothing and with no wind and no drift we were sitting way off any semblance of fish-holding banks or features. So two more Wrongs: no tide and no mark! We dropped down anyway, and the leads had hardly touched bottom and we were both into fish - good ones. Well, these bass had not read the rule book because they hit the eels like crazy for a manic 15 minutes - until the tide started running. Then the fishing returned to normal - small to medium bass off the banks in a two knot tide. This chance encounter with bigger bass puzzled us until I was cleaning the keepers, and found them stuffed with enormous Launce. Presumably they had ambushed a shoal in the open - I guess it was pure luck that we happened to be over them at that point! If fishing was predictable it would be boring.

Back to sea at last

Salar's engine has been misbehaving, or so we thought. It would rev to cruising speed then drop back, then speed up by itself. Even the engineer I usually have great faith in did not come up with a solution, despite trying everything. As a last resort I posted a question on a web forum and a process of fault-finding was suggested - starting right back at the tank. Bingo, there was the problem - not in the engine at all.

Salar was once petrol-driven, and the tank still had the gauze petrol filter fitted. Diesel tanks don't have them, any dirt ends up in the pre-filter. Salar had hidden her dirt problem from us, with a nice blob of muck embedded in the feeder pipe. Lesson of the day - start fault-finding at the beginning of the process, not in the middle! That cost me about three months fishing time.

It's that time again, Round The Island Race

In summary - watch out for large quantities of our yottie friends all around the Island on Saturday 20th June. If you are fishing in their way, expect some close company! Here are the details from QHM Portsmouth:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth in conjunction with ABP Southampton(Notice 11 T- 2009)and the Cowes Harbour Master that the ‘Round the Island Race’ will start from Cowes between 0730 - 0910 on Saturday 20th June 2009. About 1700 yachts are expected to take part in the Race. In order to control the congestion that is likely to arise in the Central Solent, during the start period and throughout the day, the following procedures will be adopted.

• The start line will be the Royal Yacht Squadron westerly transit line. The outer distanceMark will be an inflatable orange pillar buoy secured to the Williams Shipping Buoy for the day.
• Due to the number of competitors taking part, the various class starting times will be staggered to take place at 10-minute intervals between 0730hrs and 0910hrs.
• The anti-clockwise course around the Isle of Wight will be from Cowes west-about and back to Cowes. Turning marks for the race are at the Needles Lighthouse, Saint Catherine’s Point and Bembridge Ledge Buoy.
• In order to separate the competitors from any commercial traffic movements intending to pass through the Central Solent, or bound to or from the Port of Southampton, during the starting period, where possible Masters of vessels not directly involved in the event are to arrange to be clear of the start area by 0700hrs and are not to enter the start area until after 0930hrs or when the bulk of competitors have cleared the area.
• It has been agreed with the organisers that all competitors awaiting their class starting time will proceed to designated holding / waiting areas, to avoid congestion in the main navigable channel. All competitors will be equipped with VHF radio and will keep a listening watch on Channel 37, in the event that a recall or postponement becomes necessary, for example, for the passage of a large commercial vessel through the area.
• Whilst the main bulk of the fleet of yachts is expected to pass the Bembridge Ledge Buoy between 1600 and 1900 and the peak finishing time at Cowes is likely to be between 1700and 2100, it should be noted that the earliest finish could be around 1030 and the finish limit time is 2230. Hence, there will be increased levels of recreational activity within the Central Solent area throughout this period.
• Should the weather forecast indicate light airs, the finish line may be adjusted to be in the vicinity of Bembridge Ledge.
• All spectator craft not taking part in the race are to keep well clear of the start area. Further information and updates on the ‘Round the Island Race’, both ahead of and on Race Day, is available at http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk/
  

Edible Seashore

With Salar laid up with a poorly fuel supply I have been spending more time reading than fishing. Another great book has come to light, "Edible Seashore" by John Wright. This is a brilliant book if you like the idea of foraging for food on the seashore, and most things that live there appear to be edible. This book will be more useful to shore anglers than boat anglers, but it will be worth the extra walk to find something to go with our fish. Some recipes are truly simple - Kelp Crisps: cut into squares, deep fry, eat. Others are more complex - shore crab soup is one but well worth it to exact revenge on those bait-robbers. John's writing is also very funny, you will find something to make you grin or laugh out loud on every page. Well worth it. Have a look here:

What Recession?

Business is booming according to the second-hand boat dealers and brokers, apparently they can't get enough to satisfy demand. This is probably because everyone has been saying "now is the time to get a good deal on a boat", consequently good deals are harder to come by.

I see the old VT site opposite Port Solent is now in use for leisure marine purposes, with boat launching, storage and a variety of boat businesses. Check out Trafalgar Wharf.

There will also be a marina built near Lee on Solent some time in the not too distant future. Looks like there is still no shortage of people willing to keep pouring money into their own personal holes in the sea (myself included!)

Another Great Fish Recipe Book

I have great respect for writers of seafood cookery books who are also anglers or fishmongers (preferably all three). These chaps really know about fish, from swimming creatures to bones on a plate. Mitch Tonks is one of those, a self-taught fishmonger who also opened the Fishworks restaurants. His latest book, simply called "Fish", is arranged by species which is very sensible for anglers, as that is where we tend to start - have fish, now how shall we cook it? Highly recommended, and you can order it via this handy link.

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