thedogs

yes there was lots of thornies to be caught in the good ol days hear in the Thames Estuary. But I would say there are more now. The evidence being, they are now in the estuary all year round in fair numbers and they can be targeted and caught from the shore all year round. Im not dismissing the contration theorey that Leon has bought up totally, but I am more inclinned to think its down to the decrease in local commercial activity. Many of the larger boats have packed up, most of the larger boats were trawlers that caught many roker, also there are not as many ray nets set on and around the sand banks in the spring time as there were fiteen years ago. There are more smaller and some fast commercial boats that mainly target bass and sole than there once was. These are the people responsable for filtereing our bass at the plate sized 36cm mls. These boats may target thornbacks for a month or so before the sole fishery opens or the bass arive but they are not the primary target species all year round. What could harm this slow growing fish is gready anglers like one or two private boats that operate in the Thames Estuary, they have been seen landing 50 or more thornbacks in a day, spreading them out all over the decks of their 35 footers to take those trophy shots. I have never seen as many thornbacks as we have now this has slowley biult up since 1996 and I hope they are looked after so we can continue to enjoy them.

If it is an contraction its one thats lasted around six years or so.

The witching hour with small live baits will sort your 2lb perch out within a couple of sessions. They are cracking fish to target and very hansom looking!

I have a idea who the golden one is, and if Im right I gess he is pulling our legs. As in his first years bassing he caught two doubles and a nine pound fish from his boat.

Best thing is to take a large pinch of salt and gently rub it into those woonds. Then take your right leg and pull repetativly until those big ol golden balls start clanging.

Wayne I told you mullet aint keen on boilies mate.

Surley you must pay some bod to reel in for you though.

Well we took her out again yesterday, this time I took my pal Pte out. Pet has emphasimia so we had to take his oxygen bottle out to, which seemed a little strange. We only caught a few small fish, but got 24.2 knotts even with two men a bloody great plasters bucket half full of water and live pout. The extratwo knotts was probably due to it being flat calm.

No worries, my boats on the crouch now if you fancie a day out. Not much inshore at mo, better of fishing after dark.

I met Ian Gillespie many times when I was a kid, he was one of the first converts to boat casting and was often out with my Dad.

Yes you can fish the jetties, well unofficially anyhow.Just dont leave a mess . I dont bother with weekend unless fishing at night. Early mornings and evenings best for bass. Spring will see thornbacks showing. Codling can be caught this time of year but again night time is best.

sorry I missed your call the other evening Five bellies, I was perch fishing at the bottom of a extreemly steep bank. All my gear, phone camera and tackle box were at the top of the bank so by the time I hadclimed up you had hung up and it showed as private number so I could not even call you back. Try me again when ever you like or PM me your number and I can call you.

From the shore thats one hell of a fish for the UK.

An old Yammy 55hp.

Well all went well, we launched her from Burnham marina this morning. Still lots of niggerly things to sort like engine being mounted about ten mill to low. But we got 23.2 knots with full fuel tank, two men, two batteries and lots of other heavy toot, so not to bad.

Hopefully we are launching today.

Wow, what a great fish. Dont those big mullet look prehistoric?

I think it was Thursday morning whilst listening to the Today Program on Radio Four that there was a bit on fishing that had me almost crash my car. The piece was on the fact that trendy chefs have created a market for gurnard by promoting the fishes eating qualities. A Cornish commercial fisherman was interviewed after returning from sea after a twenty-four hour trip. The fisherman was explaining his delight that a fish once only used for pot bait now had value. The amount of gurnard caught from this trip had a value now of around eight hundred pounds. Not bad for a fish caught as a buy catch. He then ended buy stating he was looking forward to the next new species of fish to become popular with the trendy chefs and that he thought a pretty little fish called a dragonet could fit the bill. Very little was said about why fishermen now have to seek out new markets for once worthless fish. Very little was said about over fishing being to cause of our most popular species being in serious decline. The fisherman had a broad Cornish accent and really sounded the part, could this be more propaganda? Radio Four have a listen again bit on their web site but unfortunately I can not get board band and only have a 56k dial up connection, this makes using the listen again imposable. So if you wish to listen to the piece yourself to make you own mind up it can be done via the R4 web site. I would be interested to hear other anglers’ views. _______________ kahless said "great men do not seek power, they have it thrust upon them!" HUG A HOODIE! CUDDLE A COMMERCIAL! http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/seaanglerlisence/

Mutley has been banned from A/N by for being rude to Elton. His boat is comming along well, he has just gone and spent a small fortune on buying all the electronics from the Star Ship Enterprise to install on his boat.

As they say hear in Essex "whats hit is history and whats missed is an mystery!"

Froggy died this afternoon at about 13.00. I personally was very fond of the old boy and will miss him lots.

Hi Elton, I have up-loaded a few pics to your site, but I have put some of them in the members gallery rather than in the sea fishing gallery. Is there a way I can change this? PS I have a few thousand fishing pics not all of me so I will keep em comming if thats ok?

Maybe if it floats and can be moved its not the shore!