MikeFreeman

Hi Barry Luxton, Challenge & Deepseacodmaster, It has been brought to my attention on the Whitby Sea Anglers forum by Barramundi Bob that this thread is causing offence and in particular targeting one individual. It was my intention in my last post (no 31) to explain to any anglers booking trips on Wildcard that they would not be able to enter the WCSA festivals. I thought I explained it perfectly and without malice. I said I respected their decision. Whilst we value your support we do not wish to cause any bad feeling amongst the other charter skippers in Whitby. We are happy to wait until the WCSA are accepting new members and hope my application will be accepted then. Thank you Mike Freeman Skipper Wildcard

Hi Deepseacodmaster, I feel I should reply to your post to avoid any misunderstandings. Alan & I are aware that anglers enjoy their sport for a variety of reasons. Some just like a great day out and enjoy the crack and if they catch a fish or two consider it a bonus. Others take their fishing much more seriously and if they do not need a lift off the boat with their box of fillets they are disappointed. I once noticed an angler on Chieftain who having caught a couple of fish started returning the rest to be caught another day. When I enquired why? he said "if I only take a couple home I will NEED to come again soon". Personally when I was fishing on my own boat "This Way Up" I used to put my money on offshore wrecks beyond 40 miles from Whitby. This generally paid off with many catches of over 60 stones to 1 rod. However other anglers enjoy a competitive element to their sport and for this reason I applied to join the Whitby Charter Skippers Association to enable our anglers to enter the WCSA festivals. My application was considered at a meeting of the WCSA on the 2nd February but the members decided to close the membership for the foreseeable future. My name will be placed on a waiting list and if the WCSA change this policy my application will be reconsidered. The WCSA sight the current economic conditions for their decision which I respect. Accordingly our anglers will not be eligible to enter the WCSA festivals but Alan is considering how best to satisfy the anglers need to fish competitively until such time as I am accepted as a member of the association. Everything will be made clear on our web site but unfortunately this will not be ready for several weeks. As many others will be, I too am looking forward to JB's return to Whitby and seeing Achates restored to her former glory. I am sure John is looking forward to getting out to our old hunting grounds as much as I am although it will be a bit strange that we will now be on different vessels. Mike Freeman Skipper "Wildcard"

Hello Dave, Elton, Barry, I have passed your comments on to Alan who I am sure will respond favourably in due course. Mike Freeman Skipper "Wildcard"

Thanks Alan, Just for interest. From memory the fish in the top picture came off Millers Hump and the box of spraggs from the Southernmost Rough. Both easily reachable on Wildcard but a trip to the Southernmost Rough (70 miles) would need an extended trip of around 14 hours to give us time to fish all the wrecks in that area. Mike Freeman Skipper "Wildcard"

Hi Elton, Best thing to do with your CV is bring it with you when you come for your first trip aboard "Wildcard"! With regard to my CV. I think it helped that I have a portfolio of 960 wrecks in GPS which is about 90% more than the admiralty are aware of. I used to go jigging commercially in the 90's on my fishing boat "This Way Up" out of Whitby. I could post a photo or two of my catches if someone could explain how to post photographs on this forum. Mike Freeman Skipper "Wildcard"

Thanks Ken, I am very interested in seeing the video but unfortunately do not have broadband where I live so download speed inadequate to view a video. I will try to remember to watch it at a friends. Mike Freeman

Hi, I have just joined the forum and have put a couple of posts on but realise I should have introduced myself. I have fished out of Whitby for many years mainly on my own vessel "This Way Up" but have also crewed on "Mermaid" and "Chieftain". I sold "This Way Up" a few years ago and since then have just done enough fishing to keep my freezer stocked. I could post a picture or two of Cod I have caught in the past if someone can explain to me how to post pictures on this site. Mike Freeman

Hi, Is anyone aware of where I can access a list of Whitby fishing vessels that have been decomissioned? Mike Freeman

Hi, When wreck fishing it is inevitable that you will from time to time catch large numbers of Ling that are either undersized or you do not require for the table. The problem is when returned they seem unable to swim down to the bottom, something to do with the swim bladder? Has anyone any idea how to give these fish a chance of survival? Mike Freeman

Hi, I am going down to the boat show on Wednesday. Just wondering if anyone else is going? Mike Freeman