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Post by pilgrim17 on Dec 17, 2015 15:47:37 GMT 1
Almost 100% certain
That the Boxing Day trip will be off, the BBC forecast is 24/25mph (Gusting 30+mph) SW winds every day up to & including Boxing Day I don't know whether to postpone it until the first suitable day after Boxing Day, or run it in the same day as SYSAC Cod Comp? Even if we don't get a Comp prize winner on Mumbles Belle, a "best specimen" prize, & some seasonal fare, & maybe a £2 pool would give the winner a rewarding day out, we will have to have a "Chinese Parliament" & decide, it should be a good day whatever we decide.
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Post by pilgrim17 on Dec 18, 2015 18:48:16 GMT 1
Oof the buffet brought them out of the woodwork!
Isn't it marvellous what a few sandwiches, some crisps, some fish fingers, & a bowl of chips can do to the attendance figures on a social meeting night! The woodwork must have been quite empty, as I saw people there I either had never seen before, or hadn't seen for a long time. Mike Hurst was like Shylock counting up the membership subs before people ate & run Where did that quiz come from? Sea Gooseberry, Sea Cucumber, & the wrong amount of letters in Bream, & some of the cheating sods using their smart phones to ask Google, are there no depths some of these people wont stoop to just to win a £2 tin of biscuits It was nice to see so many there, & to meet some of the "balls & chains", who managed to keep the language to a minimum, & the conversation about something other than boats I heard some talk about a proposed trip to Ireland next year, & what I heard was enough to make sure I don't go, as it sounds like intravenus Guinness if they don't fish, & I find the Irish climate to be marginally worse than ours, which almost guarantees 75% of the time will be spent in the pub! I am looking for some settled weather now to rattle up some cod/whiting trips in the bay before they move offshore & leave us scratching for species until April when the summer species move in. I have to make hay when the sun shines if I am to crack this "break even" target I have set myself. Saying that there is going to be no big incentive to go on trips drifting for bass, if they ALL have to be returned before the end of June, & only allowed to retain 1 fish per angler after that. All of a sudden "poodling around the bay for dabs & plaice" may become the new "legal high"
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Post by pilgrim17 on Dec 19, 2015 13:59:52 GMT 1
Conflicting forecasts for Boxing Day?
BBC continue to forecast 20/25mph SSW/SW winds, whereas XC continue to forecast light winds of 2/7mph from the W/NW on both Xmas Day & Boxing Day so I am going to keep my options open until later on in the week. I have frozen/salted lug, frozen mackerel fillets, frozen squid, frozen raw prawns so if the weather is good I have bait to go, I just wont have fresh worm but I can live with that I still have 3 places available for Boxing Day so don't be shy, I would like to have a fairly full boat for this trip if I can get it, I suppose passes to go fishing that day will be hard to come by?
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Post by pilgrim17 on Dec 20, 2015 15:43:19 GMT 1
More of a concencus now!
BBC maintain their 18/28mph SSW forecast for Xmas Day & Boxing Day, & now XC are changing their forecasts to much more in line with, what BBC have predicted for a week! I was hoping against hope that "Auntie Beeb" would have got it wrong & XC had got it right, but that isn't the case, their blue coloured chart has been replaced by more greens & yellows for the both days, so it doesn't look like a very fishy Christmas!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Dec 23, 2015 21:19:28 GMT 1
That building is causing a gale!
I went down the marina yesterday morning at 7am, directly after coming back from Bristol Airport, just to check all was well & run the engine & check the rope. All was well, bilges were dry, engine started straight away, all the deck lights & running lights are working, both spring rope & bow & stern ropes are good which is good to know. The wind down that side of the marina is ridiculous, it seems to come off the Meridian Tower faster than off an aircraft's wing, it was far stronger than the wind I hit coming over the Severn Bridge & Avonmouth Bridge an hour or so before, & that was bad enough, just as well I was in the car & not on Hercules, or I wouldn't have been able to turn until I got down to Swansea Fish Market Roll on some calm weather. Merry Christmas to SOME of our members
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Post by pilgrim17 on Dec 29, 2015 18:51:39 GMT 1
Not much to report!
I hadn't been down the marina since Xmas morning & today was dry, & with the wind at only mini gale force I took Hercules for a spin down the boat (that bloody tower is going to be the death of me) I found no water to speak of in either bilge so the automatic pumps are still working fine, so I run the engine at 1200rpm for about 20 mins to top up the batteries, & while they were charging I pumped out the anchor locker & the chamber in front of it, both were full of rainwater so I must work out some way of stopping that happening. While I was up the bow I noticed water holding in the port deck well in the bow & when I moved the bucket to make sure the drain hole to the bilge was clear only to find the hole blocked by a putrified growler! Somebody had dropped it on the deck & forgot about it & it went behind the bucket & died there & was blocking the drain hole! Now I don't like growlers at the best of times, but disposing of a mortifying corpse is right down on my list of likes yuck! I am pretty sure that Bryan Francis was sat there last time out, so the bucket has been moved to the stern so it doesn't happen again I went down the marina office to update my fob (I have 2 one on my bike keys, & one on my car keys) only to run into a shitstorm from the guy in the office over how many fobs we have, it seems that we have 24 in the club, which he reckons is a security risk? He quoted the University Boat with a greater number of users, but with very few fobs, I pointed out to him that the University has a porter-manned reception desk open 24/7 where you can sign fobs in & out but he wasn't having it. It appears that John Elvins is going to collect all 24 outstanding fobs (hahaha), & he & this "Jobsworth" are going to decide who gets what, I can see this ending in tears Apparently Oystercat has 19 issued to it because it has 12 skippers Pardon me but I think we can count 8 too many there, & a crew of 7 is more than they had on the Marie Celeste So with 10 less on Oystercat & 2 less from Belle we can achieve a 50% cut in the amount of fobs on issue, that also equates to a refund of £60 (£5 per fob which I paid for mine) so this "Jobsworths" brainstorm is going to cost him money I don't think he has realised that yet Still no sign of a break in this weather, I hope it clears for the Cod Comp on 10th January
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Post by pilgrim17 on Dec 31, 2015 21:28:36 GMT 1
set foot outside the door today!
I had great intentions of working wonders & crapping miracles today but I gave it a miss, I messed about in the shed fixing an access hatch from the boat engine box, serviced a couple of my larger reels ready for the cod comp, & a couple of small ones for the whiting & dabs which I hope are still about when this weather breaks! I messaged John Elvins about the marina access fobs & explained who had the ones that were issued to Belle & I said I would be prepared to hand back 2 of the 5 we hold as long as the £5 I paid for each of them was used to "top up" the electric card, & he said there is no problem as long as you present the receipt? Now I paid for 3 of the 5 fobs allotted to Belle &, on no occasion was I offered a receipt, so if they think they are going to get any fobs back without any refund they have another think coming. The fobs are due for updating before the 11th Jan, & it appears that they want ALL the fobs we hold gathered up, then they will issue an amount of updated fobs that THEY consider adequate for the two boats, I reckon my fob will be the 2ft crowbar I have hanging in my shed. I don't envy the person who has to negotiate with the geezer from the marina office, because he seems to have the attitude that it is HIS marina, & that he is doing us a favour by letting us keep the boats in there, he kept on telling me that it is a "pleasure boat facility" I think somebody needs to point out to him just how many commercial vessels there are paying mooring fees in there, the guy is the ultimate "Jobsworth" There seems to be an attitude towards MMBFC from the marina management, they cut down the amount of parking permits, they complained about the minibus being parked on the car park, & now they are complaining about the access fobs on issue, that's the problem when someone has no competition they turn into "Little Hitler's" with a shitty attitude problem. I hope nobody includes me in any deputation to negotiate with him, I would very quickly drop a "Gorbals Kiss" on the bridge of his nose! Forecast was looking reasonable for 5/6th Jan, so I have posted a provisional trip, if its swelly then tight inshore, but if it reasonable then a trip to the Green Grounds in pursuit of jumbo whiting & mudfish will certainly be in order! Keep an eye on the forecast & get your name down on the list if you want to come along!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Jan 1, 2016 19:26:21 GMT 1
Forecast still looking reasonable!
For next Tuesday 5th Jan, now don't let the first day for 3 weeks go by without me getting a quorum! I don't think it will be suitable for Belle to get to the Green Grounds because the residual swell will probably be too much, but inshore Mumbles should be good. Last trip there we had a a bucketful of in size whiting & dabs & I had a cod which would have gone ~10lb if it hadn't been anorexic, I am happy to anchor over there in the shelter catching pan size fish, rather than get thrown around outside chasing shadows & growlers. Get your name down on the booking sheet or ring me direct on 07814528082 if you fancy coming along. I don't know about you lot but I am getting to the stage where I forget what a bite looks like, but I aint going to drive to Cardiff to remind myself.
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Post by pilgrim17 on Jan 2, 2016 14:04:52 GMT 1
Tuesday & Wednesday are looking good
At present both days look do-able & I would be prepared to go both days if I get support, but I am not going out 2 days on the trot with 2 on board so if you want to go fishing Tuesday or Wednesday get your name down on the booking sheet or ring me. Nothing to do with fishing or boating, I have had a leak in my concrete lean to outhouse for a couple of months (It was the old coalhouse, downstairs outside toilet, & shed which I knocked into a single shed. I keep Hercules in there after having the scooter pinched, & the leak is right where I park Hercules, I cant park him anywhere else otherwise he is in the way & you cant get through! I have covered the joints in the concrete cantilevered roof with "Flashband", sealed all visible cracks with roofing mastic & still it leaked, so I painted the area of the crack with roofing mastic mixed with bitumen paint, & still it leaked! This morning while it was dry I did another examination of the roof, & the only crack I could see was where the roof butts up to the house but it must be 5ft away, but knowing how sneaky water is it might be the cause of the leak, so I buttered it with mastic & bitumen & now I have to wait for it to rain to test it. I doubt I will have to wait too long!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Jan 6, 2016 20:55:18 GMT 1
SYSAC Cod Comp Sunday 19th Jan 2016
The forecasts are not good for Sunday & it will probably go "down to the wire" as to whether it goes ahead or not, but if the comp is on, Mumbles Belle will be fishing in it! It depends on the sea state where we fish, if the swells are like they were yesterday we wont be fishing on the Green Grounds where I want to be, but in the shelter of either the Mumbles Head or the moorings. This will probably mean a "Chinese Parliament" before we depart, where we will decide what our tactics will be, so if you are not happy to be fishing the comp inshore, don't register until Sunday morning, the SYSAC will be open from very early on for entries, & if you haven't committed to the comp before hand I will anchor alongside their frontage so late entries can sign up. It would be much easier if everybody who is entering does so beforehand to avoid any delay in our departure, because ANYWHERE is a long trip for Belle, either Green Grounds or Mumbles is 45/60 mins run. Worm bait will obviously be in short supply so get yours ordered asap to avoid going without. If the swells are like they were yesterday inshore Mumbles will be where all the smaller boats (& sensible skippers) will be, & with cod to 8lb being caught from Knab Rock there is always a chance of a prize, put it this way, if the conditions are likely to be uncomfortable outside, I will tell you on Sunday morning, & give you the chance to either take part or not, before we leave.
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Post by pilgrim17 on Jan 7, 2016 12:25:44 GMT 1
SYSAC Cod Comp Postponed
Because of the unpredictable weather the organisers have postponed the Cod Comp until 24th Jan 2016 but if you want to go "fun fishing" & the weather is suitable I will take the boat across to the sheltered waters off Mumbles moorings, contact me either via the booking sheet or by phone if you want to go.
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Post by pilgrim17 on Jan 8, 2016 16:47:40 GMT 1
Despite the prediction of winter coming
Not much change in the wind apart from a slight change of direction, & that slight change of direction towards the North has made things chillier, but still not flattened the water off very much! Mumbles would be highly fishable but we would catch a few swells going across, but once we are past St Helens it will flatten off, but that information is purely academic if I don't have any takers. Sorry ladies but I cant make a silk purse from a sows ear, there are fish to be caught, but you cant expect "Witches Tit" conditions every time we go out, it doesn't bother me anymore, I can have a few glasses wine3 on Saturday night, & not have to spend all day Saturday messing about checking the boat ready for the trip Sunday. So I will see all you "fine weather fishermen" when summer arrives!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Jan 9, 2016 14:03:56 GMT 1
Seeing as there is no trip tomorrow
I will take advantage of the weather being SLIGHTLY kinder, & fit the first of my "engine monitoring" instruments, I will fit the voltmeter which will give me an indication of the state of charge coming from the alternator to the batteries, waiting for the ignition light to glow dull red, indicating there is a charging problem is something I can well do without Ok with diesel once the engine is running, you don't need any electrics to get you home, but it is needed for all the other things I have grown to rely on VHF, Chartplotter, depth sounder etc (how did I manage with just a chart & compass?) ! I also intend fitting a temp gauge & oil pressure gauge (don't I Steve Bryant ) but they can be done at a later date (next week Steve?) I cant improve much on Mumbles Belle in terms of what it is, & how it runs, apart from tinker with the ballast etc, & some of the other modifications we have made regarding the anchor winch & handrails etc, but monitoring its mechanical condition is something that I think needs upgrading. We already have 2 indicator bulbs on the dash which are marked "oil & temp" neither of which have ever lit up & if they ever do, it will be to inform you that a disaster has either happened, or is about to happen neither of which I look forward to, so the inclusion of a voltmeter, oil pressure, & temperature gauges will give me much more satisfaction by knowing exactly what is going on under my feet. I may not be able to control EXACTLY where she goes, but at least I can monitor what she is doing as she is going there
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Post by pilgrim17 on Jan 13, 2016 20:41:14 GMT 1
Reminding you all that it is a fishing boat!
Not just an ornament in the marina! There are cod out there to be caught (along with jumbo whiting), & I do know where to go to catch them, & I do know how to fish for them, but you wont catch them sat on your arses in the living room watching a 1950's Randolph Scott cowboy picture! The forecast for Saturday is very good & provided there isn't a dangerous swell running up from the Mixon we could put ourselves in a good position to catch some. Personally I don't care if I catch another cod or bass again, & I have returned quite a few cod over 5lb in recent years to give them a chance to become "egg factories", but I do love to see anglers on the boat catch them, whether they return them or not, it makes the disappointment of poor trips worthwhile. So get signed up for Saturday, & even if we cant get out to the Green Grounds, we will still have a bucketful of fish for the pan
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Post by pilgrim17 on Jan 14, 2016 19:40:18 GMT 1
TRIP ON!
I have anglers for Saturday, & if its dry in the morning I will nip down the marina & put my crab trap down for 24 hrs, then see if I can attract any cod with a pennel rig of big old nasty hardbacks lashed together while I fish for whiting & dabs with the other rod . I will be happy to experiment, as long as the others catch some fish. I have always found loads of hardbacks in cod when I gut them but they are normally quite small, the marina hardbacks are usually monsters & it will be interesting to see if they will take their chances with a bunch of bigger ones, "Make them an offer they cant refuse"? It will be nice to get back out on the water after so long, lets hope we have something worth reporting this time tomorrow!
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