RichardB

I see the BBC have just issued an emergency weather warning for the west coast of Scotland and the Northern Isles - storm force winds to 100 mph. Take care you folks up there !

I recently got a Mustad Four Seasons jacket and bib & braces combi online for less than 50 quid. Already had a good test - kept me dry, warm and windproof. Good value - Santa wouldn't have to dig too deep into his pockets.

Some nice fish there Norm I only managed to snatch a couple of hours down the bay on Saturday morning. Had one knock on the squid bait and that was it. Entertainment value was provided however by watching a chap near me catch a cormorant ! I think he thought he was playing a good bass until the black feathered critter surfaced about ten yards out. I ran over to lend assistance. Fortunately it seemed to be tangled rather than hooked and flapped its way back out to safety, no doubt thinking "what the **** was all that about !

@Autumn@ go to http://photobucket.com you can register for free and upload your pictures from there.

Brilliant !!!

Shocking.

Enjoyed that MJB. Next time eh? .....

Looks a bit like that around here when the 'ASBO' kids come out to play.

Each to their own I guess, certainly the sensations described by @Autumn@ and Maximo apply just as much to those of us who put a lot of time in, going after, and catching decent bass. I would love a catch of cod like yours from the shore though @AUTUMN@, well done. Not a huge likelyhood down here of course. I'll still keep trying though .

This WD40 malarkey - A friend of mine was recently telling me about an old boy that used to be a regular on a charter boat he used to frequent. The old chap would empty cans of the stuff over his squid baits. My friend never saw him catch anything remotely decent though. Can anybody tell me what the benefit of this is supposed to be ?

Nice report Codroamer . It's always good to read about a trip thats gone so well.

The three ladies in my life drawing on the beach, with wierd sky.

I recently got a Grauvell Lexus Br-S 50. Its got a bait-runner, double handle and very good line-lay. Nicely made and I thought very good value.

"Probably do a 'Dawn raid' for bass early Sat or Sun morning." Didn't happen. Went to bed Friday night feeling awfull, woke up Saturday morning feeling worse. Bird flu possibly - or more likely Man flu - it would have to be something that serious to keep me from fishing.

Thats great Mike - keep the positive vibes going !

Must admit although I often read the 'political' threads with interest and am as concerned as any with conservation issues, I think I'm with you there Mike. As a still comparitive new-comer to the forum, I joined looking forward to people sharing fishing stories, news about catches, pictures, tactics etc. I will continue to try and post in this spirit. On the subject of the troubles you mention - I'm sure all would wish your daughter and her baby our best and hope things improve. I have some direct personal experience of this sort of thing and know how tough it is.

Probably do a 'Dawn raid' for bass early Sat or Sun morning. Sea should be nicley stirred up after a few blows this week. The forecasters seemed to be promising a REALLY windy week, but down here its been almost disappointingly quite second half of the week. Very warm though.

Now, now girls. Try this - curtousy of my wife - KathyB. Her own recipe. 1lb white fish of your choice. 1 lb Duchess potatoe mix (1 egg yolk) 8 slices of bacon - smoked is best Zest and juice of 1 Lime Breadcrumbs Cook potatoes - mash and cool slightly. Add the egg yolk and mix well. Dice bacon, fry off and drain. Poach the fish, flake and add the lime juice. Combine above ingredients. Add the lime zest to fresh breadcrumbs. Shape the fishcakes. Flour, egg and coat with the crumbs. Gently fry in olive oil just enough to colour. Finish cooking in the oven. The Duchess mixture makes the fishcakes really light and the lime gives them a great taste. Take it from me - TRIED,TESTED and DIGESTED !

Better take some Cod-ine then.

Could do Matt. My normal set up is to tie a 4/0 to the hook trace leaving a long tag end, then tie another 4/0 (or 6/0) to end of that leaving about 4 inches between the bend of the top hook and the bottom one. I find this allows for a good sized strip or fillet of mackeral to be secured by the top hook, with the bottom hook passed in through the skin, then out again. This usually leaves the business end sticking out well clear at the end of the bait. A whole calimari squid can mounted in a similar way - its a good idea to bind the squid with some bait elastic as well.

Snap. You've echoed my thinking for the coming weekend exactly Sam. I've had an average (for me, for here) sort of season for bass from the shore. Some nice ones ranging between 3 and 6.5 lbs. But nothing for the last few weeks. I did go last Saturday night with high hopes after the strong blow we had on Thursday / Friday, but not a sniff from the bass. There was obviousely plenty of food items washed inshore from the gale - I was watching seagulls and crows picking up loads of shellfish from the tideline and carrying them to the concrete prom and dropping them from about 20 feet to get at the contents. Perhaps I should have baited up with similar - I was using mackeral and squid. Fingers crossed eh ?

Very good question Norrie ! - (from an angler from the South Coast).

Yet another dog - my JRT 'Kipper'.

Just wanted to add my 'voice' in your support AlderneyBassman. Please don't be put off from posting catch reports and photos because some take exception to those who wish to keep one or two fish for the table. Every angler worth the name has his or her own opinion, and will set their individual limits on keeping or releasing fish and which ever part of the spectrum they fall into, they should be respected. I am not speaking here of course of those so called 'anglers' rod and lining large numbers of bass for profit - thats another story. I imagine that most using this forum are thinking people and are at the very least quite well informed on issues concerning fish stocks and conservation, even if only in the broadest sense. We all know where the real threat comes from.

Yep, looks like mines' twin brother. Your photography was better than mine though !