mike farrants

had the in laws down for a week 23-30th May so a great opportunity to get Pugwash out with my father in law for a few days fishing (having negotiated [££] with the other halves) would be good practice and confidence building for me on the boat - but He totally out-fished me all week and had a great time! weather was looking poor for the start of the week, but Tuesday 25th looked like a chance as the wind was fresh but off the shore so we wouldn't have any swell - with a scratching session in mind and an early finish if the weather turned we aimed to stay inshore. spring tides so we headed off on a falling tide and only just got off the pontoon which shallows out at a pinch point - headed out of weymouth towards portland harbour entrances armed with mackerel feathers - the entrances were quite choppy so we drifted along the harbour wall on the outside and managed a few mackerel. decided to go and anchor up close in on Weymouth Roads - spent a few hours at anchor and had Doggies and Phil had a lovely smoothound - a first for him! - the weather (mostly rain) came in so we called it a day early - due to the super low springs and the fact weymouth has a false high and 2 lows within 4hrs we couldn't get back on the pontoon for a while so we did the only decent thing and berthed up elsewhere and went for a pint waiting for the tide. Thursday 27th was forcast to be amazing sun and no wind - so an early start saw us gather a bucket full of mackerel of decent sizes in portland north entrance and head out to a mark near the adamant shoal. The tide was ripping through and it was tough to hold bottom but we thought we'd give it until after low water and then see how it was. Glorious day, Phil had a thornback on his first drop another first for him - we had a run of Dogs after that. We pulled anchor and had a near miss with some pot markers as we were both looking down sorting the anchor and not looking where we were drifting - they come at you fast! (disaster avoided and lesson learned). We moved a bit further inshore to avoid the tide and again on the first drop Phil hooks into another first for him - a spotted ray - i continue to get nothing but Dogs! - amazing 8hrs fishing! - Home to cook 4 of the mackerel we caught! Saturday 29th - a quick morning session as not only would we been pushing our luck with the early afternoon low tide, but we were also pushing our luck with the other halves! More mackerel off the entrances - then anchored close in - off the East entrance to portland harbour on what appeared to be a conger ground. after the initial hit of dogs, we both found ourselves tangled but with a fish - to our surprise a greedy conger had taken both our hooks and we both reeled it in - in the pic you can see both traces coming out of its mouth! Phil got the monster of the day on his last drop and I ended the session on what was the only (just) photo worthy fish for me! So phil had an amazing time, had 3 new species for him and I had great fun, built some confidence and had some valuable anchor practice!

Pic of the rescue

scary stuff - my mate was out that day and heard it unfolding on the radio - they quoted the wrong entrance (error in panic I imagine) - my mate was just 100m off the hood (where they were) but steamed over to assist at the North entrance - which was the location given on the radio - they were in fact on the Hood entrance (South) glad everyone was ok - scary stuff - especially in the hood corner in a fresh easterly!

I have yet to master the stretch and tuck 😆

nice - the effort paid off in the end!

welcome - i'll keep an eye out on the shambles for you!

not looking good in Weymouth - we've taken a pounding the last 24 hrs - and it looks set to continue - ive got the week off from today and it looks like i wont get out until friday! gutted!

much nicer in blue!

im ready to give this a try - mainly for the odd bonus mackerel or gar while anchored in Weymouth bay or portland harbour, but if a bass comes along even better! might try form the kayak too!

nice report = lucky to grab the weather when you can - i was sat at my work laptop all day checking windy for the weekend - not looking good. great fish too!

its lovely down here now - calm before the storm I think - weekend plans scuppered - might do a bit of maintenance on the boat, or a spot of mullet fishing in the marina..... will see how bad it is tomorrow!

yeah good practice to always have a knife to hand, i also have a folding pruning saw aboard - just seems more up to the job than a fillet knife if needed! its reaching the rope thats the issue - lashing one to a boat hook could be a quick fix?

nice write up - glad to hear the bream are showing - we had 2 off the Dorset coast last week and they will be my go-to fish target this year! from both the boat and i fancy a few on the kayak too!

nice Bass! - I picked up a couple of 2nd hand spinning rods last night (shimano Perfection Spinning 8 & a Leeda Pro spin 10) and what better inspiration than have a try this evening!!

Just placed an order for some jigs/lures from www.luremaker.co.uk - Simon is local to me (a commercial bass fisherman) and personally dropped them round - they look amazing and great value too - if you need any slow Jigs or lures - check out his website!

there some big mackerel off portland........ i think i meant 30lb

I went with the bunting in the end - seems to help!

I went for a Sl30sh in the end - so i now have a 20 and 30 for my boat work - the old 2nd hand (abu/diawa sealine) stuff ive been using can be spares and for friends. I now have a Penn INXS uptide rod paired with the SL20Sh - to be loaded with diawa sensor 30lb line and a shakespere ugly stick 20-30lb paired with the SL30sh - to be loaded with 50lb berkley whiplash i've also bought a rovex kayak rod & Abu baitcaster reel for the kayak and a leeda carbon spin road and abu cardinal 54 for spinning, went a bit mad with Aprils pay packet 🤫

nice looking boat and much better than the yellow - do you have any before pics? and welcome!

........but that dont really matter, coz i come from the isle of wight and i can drive a traaaactor

i moved to the "mainland" 26yrs ago though - so all but the extra fingers and webbed toes are normal!

i am from the IOW.......

both were delicious but the gilt head was indeed better - just need to work on my presentation! (and actually catching them myself)