I posed basically the same question to the sea angling section but a little more detail here.

I was bottom fishing today while at anchor. Had 4 rods out and while I was relaxing and waiting for a take (didn't get any though, darn it) it occured to me that we've never had this discussion.

The traditional bite alarms used by the shore anglers won't work on a boat since no matter how well you are anchored, the boat moves around some.

My solution is as you see it here



I take the huge bobbers they sell here as fishing floats and modify them to suit me. Since I doubt many UK anglers use the things, here is a picture of a typical one. They are available all the way from the size of a grape to larger than a golf ball. The piece on top is spring loaded and when you press on it, a small wire hook pokes out of the bottom so you can clip it on your line.




I replace the wire with a paper clip and have a large enough loop that the line slides freely. Clip the thing between rings and it does several useful things

- the weight of it takes a little of the slack out of the line so you can avoid having each wave or other boat movement cause your bait to move.

- it is very easy to see (use a fluoro paint for night sessions) and you can tell the tap tap of a fish from other movements very easily.

- it shows drop back takes.

- if you get a solid take, the line loses all slack and the sound of the plastic float clicking against the rod alerts you even if you weren't watching at that moment.

Shown here in a little more detail. Similar to what the old timer shore anglers used before battery powered alarms were invented but works lots better for me than a washing bottle cap.