mike farrants

glad it wasnt too hairy and you kept an eye on things - good fish too!

ok thanks Andy - will look into that!

yeah it sticks at dead ahead and the wheel clunks past it but the rudder doesn't move not sure on the steering box - ive never looked - it was late when we got back so will go have a look later this week.

nice work! osunds like they are starting to show - just need you to push them up the coast a bit please! we managed a poultry 6 yesterday - 3 were for eating - so I need to try harder lol - or stop eating them myself lol!

awesome - thanks! and nice fishing too - bagging a few when the weather allows!

yeah throttle at the stern would have been fine - id drive it like that way more often if it did - great for coming alongside and dropping/hauling anchor!

thanks - i did feel super proud of not panicking - thinking it through, and planning how to tackle the marina and coming alongside before actually doing it! it made life difficult when hauling anchor I could steam away to lift it ok, but as i couldn't manoeuvre the boat very well when hauling the bouy in, it proved difficult and at one point the boat nearly drifted over the anchor warp while retrieving - ended up bringing the anchor up on both sides of the boat! i'm just grateful pugwash has a back up - the metal bracket on top of the rudder has been added to accommodate the manual bilge pump handle as a tiller.....

got the in laws staying again - so despite 15mph winds yesterday we decided to head out - the wind was mostly off the land, forecast to be dropping, and our friend (Tim) was already out - so we headed out about lunchtime for a few hours - plan to feather for mackerel for Tea and Bait and then anchor up close in for a mixed bag. Started off lovely - beaming sunshine, and relatively chop - Tim reported only one mackerel on his boat (3 of them fishing) having tried all 3 of portland entrances - so we did a number of drifts in shore of portlands first entrance - where i had caught before and before long Phil had a brace, I saw Tim steaming over to join us, and we had 6 mackerel - 3 for eating and 3 for bait. Phil also had a red Gurnard - wasnt bright red, but wasnt a tub or grey either (happy to be corrected if greys have red in them.) we figured 6 were enough with the frozen bait we also had, so we went off to anchor. Tim had gone further out than we planned - we could see him but probably 1/2 a mile to a mile further out - but now wind against tide produced a healthy slop but not too uncomfortable. after an hour he came back in stating "its F'ing rough out there" - so we were glad to have stayed inshore. fishing was slow but enjoyable - we ended up with dogs, phil had a 6lb Thornie, and i had a similar size conger. not the bream or smoothies I had hoped for. upon lifting the anchor the steering cable jammed/something came loose - so i had to navigate home "analogue" style - with a Tiller! - thank goodness pugwash had a back up steering plan! running fore and aft to adjust the throttle was interesting and coming alongside although a challenge went perfectly smoothly. Phils ray fell to a mackerel head - rather ambitious! Tim returning form the deeps - they had a 33lb conger - and a gurnard (plus doggies)

Had a lovely day out yesterday - drifting for mackerel then anchored up - (catch report coming). on lifting the anchor I found the steering mechanism/cable had failed - wheel and rudder could go hard over one way but not past straight -rudder was free so the mechanism/cables appearing jammed or slipping. I have a tiller so was able to steer home, but with the throttle in the wheel house and the tiller on the rudder it made for a challenge coming alongside! but actually managed absolutely fine! quite proud of myself to be fair! I have a panel behind (in front of) the wheel I can look at and i can access the control arms by the rudder so will go and have a look when i have time - however is there anything to look for or be aware off before I start removing panels? - its an old boat so pretty basic - assume its cables and pulleys?

is there a particular season or tactics? or is it the same as other flatfish - eg bling and worms?

is that where all the mackerel are going?

never caught a sole - are there many around my neck of the woods? i'm mostly sand shingle and rock

i find the app very difficult to use and prefer to use the website on my phone.

This is a very good starting place.... (should be a link to a beginners guide) https://www.premierleague.com/news/1252542

this is a surprisingly good tactic - i often wonder why i bother researching, changing, transferring when my other half gave me a good run for my money by selecting her team and doing absolutely nothing.... got to watch out for injuries though - get too many of these and you will suffer.

You can change your on field players weekly before the games start (subs) or you change your squad through the season - you get one free transfer per week, if you need to do more - either wait a week and you get 2 free transfers, or if you have to (injuries etc) you can pay for transfers with points - (-4pts) per transfr after your free one. theres a tab for transfers/player selections - and the players are ranked by the points they have earned so far!

nice idea on the pennell -- they do tent to 'nip' the tail of the bait off......

yeah Weymouth has been good for bream when you can get out - especially over lulworth way - they are in portland harbour now being caught form the shore so deffo moved inshore - not sure about the wrecks though.

nice - sounds like you are well stocked up on red gill gear! i'm watching sunday as that looks possible for me - if not it wont be until next wed, thurs or friday - but might be all 3........

yeah I get as much enjoyment out of seeing others catch as I do myself - especially if they're not experienced fishers! and especially if its mackerel as it'll likely end up in my bait freezer anyway! 🤣

its a 2 mile round trip - 1 mile there, 1 mile back - unless your hammered then it might be a bit more on the return trip 🤣

yes it seems the wind gods only favour the retired round here too - windy all weekend and on my days off - lovely conditions when i'm working!

nice selection of fish!

nice - I do love bream!

yeah i didnt really give you much time to get sorted - sorry - I'll deduct my week 1 points at the end if it gets contentious! thanks for joining all!