RichardB

I might take you up on that Tony. I live in Gosport. Roll on the Spring eh? .

Boatswain (Bo'sun) = Crew member in charge of equipment on board, i.e. sails, rigging, ropes anchors etc.

Used to have a Pilot 590 with 85hp Yamaha, based on the River Hamble. God, those were the days ! - years ago - "BC" (Before Children) and Mortgage, etc. etc. New Years resolution to get one though - nothing fancy or expensive, a 13 or 14 foot dingy with suitable motor to pop out to some inshore Solent marks would be great.

I had to search back to page 8 to find the post about the BMP with the pole on peoples' responses. There were only 34 recorded responses. Can this be right ? Seems a bit disappointing on a forum of this size.

Just got back from an excellent way to finish off the old year. A group of local anglers (I think there was about ten of us – less than originally thought) had a flounder fishing contest at Hardway on the Gosport side of Portsmouth harbour. This venue was decided upon rather than a more open beach as a force 5-6 Westerly was forecast and it was thought would provide more comfortable fishing. And so it proved – The sun stayed out and we were well sheltered from the blustery breeze. All chipped in a tenner towards prize money, plus 2 pounds optional pool for heaviest fish. Also to be awarded to the overall winner was a cracking set of lures sent to me from our very own Snatcher ! Fishing was from 8 am to 1 pm, with high tide at 11 am. 7.15 saw me, my mates Chris (lives around the corner) and Mick (next door neighbour but one) bleary eyed and loading our gear into Micks' old Volvo estate, for a ten minute journey to the venue. We parked up and met the other guys (and girl – Kayleigh – nine year old daughter of one of our number). Soon we had tackled up and Mick, Chris and I squelched out across the mud and lined ourselves up along a low gravel bank. We had reccied our spot the previous day, for a likely looking collection of rises and gullies. Shortly after, we were joined by Danny – a 6 foot seven gentle giant. First casts to just in front of a group of boats on swinging moorings and Mick was in. The first flounder was landed. I picked my rod up and twitched the lead gently along and a flounder pounced on one of my three ragworm baited hooks. A nice plump one of about a pound and a quarter. Not long after a shout from Danny at the end indicated another fish being brought to our fast diminishing gravel bank – now an island. With the tide flooding quickly we back-tracked across the mud. It was at this point that the so far fishless Chris muttered "I suppose I'm just here' to keep 'im company again !" (meaning me ). Aha ! not so. As the tide crept up the sea wall, obliging us to fish from the promenade, the tip of his carp rod sagged seawards and Chris had 'broken his duck' with a good flattie. Mick added another two flounders to his tally in quick succession and Danny also took two more until things went quiet for spell at slack water. Meanwhile I was finding my casting position a bit restrictive – fearing I would hit the railings behind me or worse still stick my lead through the balcony window of one the posh flats over looking the fairly recently 'gentryfied' Gosport Waterfront, on the backswing ! I moved along to Micks' right and found a much more open position and was able to swing my cast out to my intended target – just the other side of the gravel bank we had been standing on in the early flood. Reward was almost immediate. A gentle tapping then long pull and slack line ensured another decent flattie was in my bucket of seawater. That was it for me, but from that position, as the ebb started, I watched with satisfaction as Chris caught two more flounders and Mick and Danny both had one more each. We took turns running up and down the prom with a large landing net to ensure the precious flatties got past the perils of being lifted up the seawall and over the railings . All too soon 1 o'clock came and fishing stopped to the sweet voice of one the others further along shouting "time to pack up you cheating b@st@rds !" Weigh in ! Strangely (or maybe not) Places went as follows: 1st Danny - 4 fish 2nd Mick - 4 fish 3rd Chris - 3 fish 4th Me (just out of the prize money ) Can't remember the winning weight (starting to get memory trouble ), but Mick and Danny tied for heaviest fish at 1lb 14oz each. I weighed 2 fish for 2lb 5oz. I presented a slightly puzzled Danny with his 'Snatcher Lures'. When I explained their origin he looked well pleased (thanks again Snatcher). Apart from a few kept for the pan – most fish were released back into the harbour. The only picture I managed to get of the day as my camera was playing up . Kayleigh wearing "Uncle Michaels'" bib and braces (and socks), after a mild falling in incident. A truly enjoyable day in great company. Nearly everyone had fish and certainly everyone had a great laugh. We all agreed – Same place, same time – Next year. Happy New Year .

Sounds like a good night had by all - well done . I was out Wednesday night as well - bloomin cold wasn't it ? Happy new year to you too !

Hi Dan, just read this after your reply to my post on "Fished Gillkicker". Yep sounds like we had very similar trips - except for all the pesky little bleeders that were throwing themselves on my baits ! I wouldn't normally complain at all you understand, but nearly all the whiting were just under what you would call keepable size and in the end it became quite painfull on the freezing fingers - for little reward. But despite the slightly 'grumpy' tone of my post, as you said - will I be doing it again ?....Oh yes ! Good tides at the end of the week . PS what was the problem with the Lidl starlights ?

Gillkicker Point Dan - its a promontory that juts out into the Solent from Gosport, with Stokes Bay on one side and sweeps round to western side of the entrance to Portsmouth harbour on the other. Quite deep water and often strong tides. Although last night was the exception ! Even at 4.2 metres I would have expected a bit more of a run to it than there was. Sea was very calm too.

The BBCI weather forecast for the South & South West said minus 6. They wern't far wrong. Fished one rod with big squid/mackeral bait and one with smaller hooks and mackeral strips. Difficult to thaw out the squid and mackeral. put some sea water in a bucket and chucked the bait in - after a while a sheet of ice formed over it. The strips of mackeral I cut up froze to my bait board and had to prized off with a knife. Loads of whiting on the small hook setup - two at a time mostly, but the average size was quite small - not the nice chunky ones I was getting last month . In the end I got fed up with this - hands turning to mince meat constantly removing little whiting and re-baiting, so put another 4/0 pennel rig and large baits on that rod and sat it out for outside chance of a "biggun". No show. Bites ceased abrubtly at slack water. Waited for the ebb to get going but the tide seemed to be refusing to go out (or was I hallucinating from hypothermia by then), so packed up - a warm living room and glass of port was waiting. Are we completely mad ?

Very nice post Ken. I'm going for one or two flounder sessions myself this week with bit of luck. I enjoy this - I know they are rather humble fish, that don't grow huge or fight very hard, but there's something quite relaxing about a crisp winter day - casting out to a likely mud bank or inching the bait slowly along a gulley and waiting ... And as you say, time for thinking quietly.

Snatcher - what a nice idea ! Thanks . Will PM you. By the way there will be plenty of mellowing later in day !

Have been invited to a little private flounder fishing contest with group of local anglers on New Years eve. There will be about 18 - 20 of us - everyone chipping in a tenner with a prize for heaviest bag and heaviest fish and so on. Just for a bit of fun and to get us out of the house. Should be a laugh. Apart from that I plan at least one night session next week and one or two other flattie sessions with my mate Chris.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT !

ABU 7000 - had it for nearly 20 years - used for beachcasting and from boats, uptiding (and downtiding). Still going strong. And it was bought second hand !

After a weekend of house renovating and shouting at the kids, decided on a short session on the beach last night. Rather small tide but needed a 'fix' The things we do to get a bit of peace ! Got to the carpark about 17.30 and trudged of towards the the point. Cold and almost windless, I was enveloped in a thin mist and when got there was completely alone. Marvellous ! Fished just one rod with double squid tipped with mackeral on 4/0 pennel. Plenty of reasonable whiting about still, and a few managed to hook up on the large baits. At the top of the tide the rattling bites stopped and it was quiet over slack. Just after the tide began to ebb had a VERY good bite and briefly felt the weight of a much more substantial fish. Then it was gone. Left me wondering ...... Had to pack up shortly after but as the tides get more favourable by mid week, think I'll have another go.

Would be the ten minute argument, or the full half hour sir ?

A bit of a patchy (or is that an apache) year for me. Not putting in anywhere near the amount of fishing time I would like due to work, being on call for work, kids, plus we are renovating a house we moved into in May. I suppose most of us would say we never get enough fishing time . As usual bass have been a main preoccupation and given the amount of times I was able to fish during summer and autumn, I guess I didn't do too bad with a fair few between 3 lb and the best at 6.5 lb. Talking with my mate that I often fish with, we were struck with how many species we have caught, given that we (I) have been limited to shore fishing only and a small geographic area. They include: bass, flounder,mullet, silver eels, conger eel, bream, pout, poor cod, whiting, lsd, smooth hound, stingray, thornback ray, gurnard, mackeral and brill. Not always outstanding specimens of course but its alll part of the interest for me. Next year I hope to get a bit more time in and apart from bass, intend to try for some 'quality' smooth hound and stingray. Finally, discovering AN this year has added an extra and very enjoyable dimension to fishing for me !

Mike, I'm almost speechless or whatever the internet equivilant is ! Brilliant ! For this to happen when you were, to say the least, down in the dumps about the fishing, is great and gives encouragement to us all. Well done

Terrific report and photos. Reading that cheered up my lunch break at work no end !

Just done mine. First post tomorrow

Like Ken, I've found the best way to encourage flounder bites if things are slow is 'inch' retrieving - even if its just winding the reel handle a few turns every few minutes. I tend to use a few coloured beads - just so the movement is emphasised a bit in coloured water. I've had the odd flounder chase a redgill or similar, almost to the surface when spinning for bass from a jetty, so I think they are not at all shy of going after a visible moving prey item. I like float fishing for them too, where location allows, as the lighter tackle approach gives them a chance to give at least some account of themselves.

I was 3 - 4 years old during the ' 63 winter. I can remember it in 'bits', i.e. had a cowboy suit for Christmas, went out in the garden to strut my stuff a few days after - stepped out the back door to find myself waist deep in snow ! The edge of the sea froze on the shingle at Lee-on-Solent. And this is one of the mildest parts of the Country. Re: The recent chaos in the West Country etc. with bit of snow. I lived in Speyside the North of Scotland, in a village 800 ft above sea level for about 4 years. I'm sure Scottish members will back me up on this - There used to be literally feet of snow for days and weeks. We drove a 1000 cc Vauxhall Nova around and travelled 25 miles to work and back every day with few problems. I reckon if there is a winter even half the severity of ' 63 affecting the southern half of England, the place would grind to halt within hours.

I'm normally "Mr mild mannered" but this sort of thing really brings out the vigilante in me - like to hunt down the gits and rip their heads off . But I guess the reaction from you guys offering help is right way to go - well done .

Great - sounds very encouraging .

Enjoyed that report ABM . Do you think Matts' one-that-got-away was a huss also ?