overrun

looks like you called the weather window about right chaps.

11C at Kimmeridge

Great report Jon, this Yak fishing mularkey can give you a few Brown Trouser moments, have made a mental note about the Fleet and Ferrybridge.

Would have thought the slightest swell will throw-up a surf, looks like theres a few gaps in the Slate pavement along the way though.

Great stuff Nifty, very enjoyable report, looks similar conditions to down here. Never ceases to amaze me just how well these Yaks handle the swells, mostly I can't bear to watch so anchor with my back to the sea

Been looking at that area for a trip in the summer to gauge landing spots along the way. I'm sure you've already seen them but there is Clavell's Hard about a third of the way, and Freshwater Steps which is about 1km from Chapman's Pool, might be worth investigating on a decent OS map. Google earth view is reasonable too, don't like the look of all those Slate shorelines!

Mupe bay, that's the one, Swanage times would have been more appropriate, thanks for explaining the double bottom bit Speciman. Tidal curves it is then!

Great pics Speciman.

Great stuff Richi, I want one, be grateful if you could post a GPS ref. Looks like the sea was calm too.

Arrived later than planned but was on the water by 12.45pm, with the added bonus of not having to pay for the car park. The plan was to fish the tide up, either under the headland and out of the NE wind, or head across to Charnel if conditions allowed. The tide was well out and the bay full of low surf. Studied the water for some minutes and decided that the only route out was tight against the left side of the bay, beneath the Clavel Tower headland. Got on the water and paddled out a short distance, then right into the bay. There was a swell in the areas not showing surf and I really didn’t fancy anchoring. Pushed on further out but the swell just kept coming and the breeze was taking me out and across the bay quickly. Not happy at all, so headed back into the lee of the headland to a couple of buoys that I’d spotted on the way out. Slow progress against the breeze, but made the buoys and tied up to the first, about 80 yards off the shore. The swell was much the same here, but as I had my back to it, didn’t trouble me too much! The breeze was a little less and I felt much happier. Lobbed out Rag and Sandeel into approx 10ft of water, kept getting snagged, didn’t loose any gear. Changed to just lowering over the side until bottomed, then put the rod in the holder, with the swell this was effectively jigged over the bottom. After about 45mins got the tea out and sat supping my brew and contemplating the magnificent panorama. Then I noticed that my new (every expense spared) Shakespeare Euroboat was bent right over with the tip banging against the side of the Yak. Oh-err, the rods tip then promptly whipped round towards me…. fish on. Grabbed the rod and got to the reel just as it all went slack! Checked the hook with Rag on, blunt, as were most of those in the Yak tackle box. Found a slightly better one and back over the side with a double load of Rag. Another 45 minutes passed, switch the Fishfinder back on (was off in case it scared the fish!) odd, the depth was now 7ft. Definitely hadn’t drifted, and there was more shore visible, must check the EasyTide times again when I get back, sure it said just after 12.00 for LW, Poole entrance was approx 16.30. I was holding the rod the next time when it went over. Good solid fight even with such a short length of line out. A pretty Ballan Wrasse. Thank you God I didn’t blank, pleasantly surprised with the size, not as big as it looks but about pound and a half. Gorgeous red colours, the picture doesn’t do it justice. Fished on for a short time then headed back in for break. Was greeted by even less water at the slipway! Those EasyTide predictions were well off, surely must be practically the same as Poole entrance. A couple of surfing Kayakers had taken up position not far from where I had been fishing and were riding the surf in from time to time. That looked like fun. Having deduced the tides were wrong, I’d lost the urge on the fishing front, so unloaded the Yak of all but the Fishfinder and headed back out. A word of advice, don’t try this at Kimmeridge without company and ideally wear a Helmet, as the bottom is Slate with jagged edges, barnacles and stones. I exchanged pleasantries with the two surfers, not sure what they made of my great tanker compared with their dainty mounts. Proceeded to experiment with paddling through the surf, as you would from a shallow beach launch. Great! had the Prowler right under at one point. This was all too easy. Then on to surfing, missed a really good break, then picked up the next, must have covered at least 100 yards, ended up practically beached, excellent fun. Checked out the other guys to see if they had seen my run. Back for more, sadly the surf was decreasing and the two surfers headed in. I continued, moved further across the bay, which was not wise as the surf was only breaking because it was so shallow. Didn’t get any more good rides and eventually while trying to go sideways across the front of a break, the inevitable happened and over I went. Only waist deep, Prowler upside down, quick check to see if anyone was looking, then roll the Yak back over and get in before the next wave. Called it a day on the surfing front and headed back to get my fishing gear. Spoke with a chap from the marine centre, car park will be shut at dusk or about 5.30pm, as it was then 4.45pm I packed up. As with every trip and although this brief, much was learnt and I will be better prepared for the next visit.

no worries m8, best get the DIY sorted and keep the war dept' happy, lots of brownie points for the warmer weather.

Kimmeridge tomorrow, all being well around 12.00 start and fish the tide up until dusk or maybe a bit after, target is Wrasse & Pollack, Sunday a possibility too. You are welcome to join me Jonnyboy. edit: yeah sorry, I know, its not Sunday morning tomorrow

Me too with 0.75kg anchor, once set needs plenty of warp for a shallow angle when pulling out, paddle up current. Might be awkward in a strong tide.

Nice one chaps, weather was great, wind light and more species to add to your list for 2007, can't be bad.

Great report guys, looks like a pretty good day out, all fish are welcome at this time of the year.

Anyone know of a source for the gripping penny washers used to retain the front hatch strap ends on a Prowler?

Nuts bolts & washers m8, stainless A4 or marine grade. Highly recommend a backing plate, especially if you plan to use an extension. Chopping board, possibly exterior grade ply or I used a piece cut from white UPVC cladding, suggest at least 6mm thick.

I'm not amused now: "abbotsbury 22/01/07 turned up to fish tonight but decided not to due to oil being washed up,apparently there's loads due on tonights high,anyone who normally walks their dog down chesil(from devon through burton bradstock to the cove)would be better off avoiding the place. burton bradstock is quite bad by all accounts. 66 birds collected from the cove end so far"

Unless travelling on foot it would seem! Anyone for a BMW motorbike with slight tide mark?

No crabs early on, only 10ft of water, later on we were in 24ft and had loads of small crabs. Chatted to a chap in a boat and they'd tried all the usual spots (I've fogotten exactly where he said) down from Magazine lane to Calshott with no success, he said that the shore anglers had been getting a few up from where we were. Just a bad day I guess. To be honest, I thought we were too far up for the time of the year based on how it works at Poole but then I don't know Southampton at all.

Well done Mark and top report too love the Swans beating a hasty retreat .

Roll on summer eh!

First trip for KayakKarma in his new Prowler, and the venue, Magazine lane, Marchwood. Southampton Docks, not exactly the usual picturesque coastline, but this was serious Flounder country (or so KayakKarma has told me on more than one occasion) Made good time from Christchurch, arriving at 8.20am, followed soon after by Richie, Chezz then Darnsarf and Starvin Marvin. Six mad Yakkers. Jezz, Richie and KayakKarma talking Yaks: Greetings over, conversation soon turned to the Anglers Afloat comp’, the only way we could beat the Aussies now, was with an 87cm Flounder Best get fishing then! Chezz was out for the first time in a Yak, Richie was kindly providing back-up and coaching. 5 of us headed out into the central mooring area and buoyed off, Darnsarf electing to anchor and float fish near to the shoreline. Spoke with some of the boat fisherman but they’d just started, nothing yet. Within 15 minutes or so Kayak Karma was into a fish, closer to 8.7cm but it was start. Unfortunately, it also turned out to be the end. Meanwhile, the wind had veered from a blustery westerly to a strong North Westerly, F7 was forecast over the sea. Kayak Karma and I gave up on the mooring area and headed down river towards Cracknore Hard. Richie motored off and just Chezz and Starvin were left in the mooring area. We ended up about 400 yards further downstream from the rest. I managed to make a complete cock-up of anchoring after dragging badly the first time. Haul and line all became tangled and some pretty quick work was required to get the anchor in before being blown into a jetty. Went ashore to sort out the mess as there was no way it was going done afloat with the wind. Took the opportunity to snap a pic of the group from the shore, foreground is Darnsarf with Starvin Marvin and Richie in the distance: Back on the water and I tied off to a Buoy, wind was by now very gusty and straight down the harbour. Fished on for an hour, we discussed going further downstream, didn’t fancy the trip back against wind and tide. The others all seemed to have congregated closer to the shore and we decide to go back and join them. Was impossible to make headway at times, paddled furiously and just stood still relative to the shore. Noticed that Jezz was adrift and being further out, was actually going backwards in the wind. Richie came to the rescue and managed to tow him back closer to the shore, making some headway upstream. One of boat fishermen then volunteered a tow and pulled a very relieved Jezz back towards the launch point. About the worst day possible for your first trip Jezz, can only get better. KayakKarma and I struggled our way back towards the launch point, nothing had been caught and the concensus was that being high tide, there was little to be gained form continuing to fish. I buoyed off alongside one of the boat fishermen, KayakKarma then tied off to my bow and we settled down for another hour in the hope of better luck. Banter was exchanged with the boat fishermen and we were invited over for a hot drink but declined, too much effort. The guy did comment that he would never complain about the size of his boat again. They had 8 rods out at times and managed a solitary Flounder. Took a pick of KayakKarma either barfing into a bag or eating his Flounder: Packed up at about 1.30pm and headed back-in, had seen Richie well up stream and over the other side of the docks at times, but even he was ashore. Starvin and Darnsarf were packed and ready to go. Had a different day, all good experience, not sure what happened to the Flounders, but that’s fishing. Great to see you all again guys, looking forward to the warmer weather and some top meets. (Don’t tell KK, but we won’t be going there again)

Have pondered all these questions long and hard myself, self rescue can be very quickly tiring if it goes wrong, as with so many things, technique (and a cool head) are very important. Wondered about an deployable stirrup for assisting rentry? The whole Life Jacket/PFD question concerns as well, has anyone tried wearing both the usual 50N PFD with a gas inflation jacket on top for emergencies, or is this totally impractical?

Don't think any of us will swim very far in a dry suit, best I can hope for is to float and delay hypothermia.