paintfly

Thinking of getting a new seat from the US and I've been quoted different shipping costs from 2 companies. 1. Around $35 for UPS-expedited or UPS-Express and they say extra duties may apply(I'm assuming UPS is the US postal service?) 2. $56 for Fedex International Priority and they say customers have never mentioned anything about extra duties. Does anybody know whether Fedex is any less likely to incur extra costs in duty because it's a courier company? Is this included in the price? I'm tempted to go with the second option anyway, as they are the original manufacturers, but it would be annoying to be landed with extra costs on top of more expensive shipping.

wouldn't leave your email up unless you have a Pythonesque appetite for spam

Sea-poo So that's what's meant by plastic log

COOL! Thanks YB, I've been wondering how to do that for ages.

Looks great YB! Btw, how did you manage to save that piccy off Live Search, I couldn't see any way to do it. Did you have to install the whole shebang on your PC?

Yeah Paul, that's exactly what I thought, quite similar to the Lulworth-Kimmeridge-Warbarrow stretch. You'll have to come over and check it out sometime. Codshead: I'll let you know next time I'm going. Sounds like there may be others who would be up for fishing the area. More the merrier, especially if anyone knows of specific marks worth targetting. Have you fished in close to the mouth of the Cuckmere? Generally, I would think this might be worth a look for various species, but from the ariel views on Live Search there does seem to be a lot of chalk run off in the water and I was wondering whether this might be less attractive to fish. clnbak: yeah it wasn't very far away from the co-ordinates I downloaded. I marked the position when I was over it, so should be no probs finding it again.

After picking up some dodgy looking rag and sticky lug in Newhaven, drove to Seaford beach to launch at a point I had picked out using the Microsoft Live Search/Virtual Earth site, which is better for the UK coastline than Google Earth imo. Free parking when I got there. http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&...0&alt=-1000 Noticed the HT mark on the shingle was pretty steep and made a mental note that landing might be tricky if any swell picked up. There was a small sheltered beach on the other side of the breakwater, although access to it was not ideal, but even though there was a bit of a dump, I was confident of launching in the small surf directly in front. Launched at 1.30, just as the sun came out, intending to paddle round to Cuckmere Haven and fish up to HT at 5.30. I had also plotted a wreck into the GPS, about a mile out, that I found on C-Map, so headed out there first, as I thought I might be less likely to later. As I rounded Seaford Head the cliffs were spectacular, with the 7 Sisters and Beachy Head stretching out in the distance. Trolled a couple of lures, just for the hell of it, and kept finding myself humming “Land of Hope and Glory” while checking the skies for dog fights, as I made the 2 1/2 mile paddle out to the mark at a steady 4 knots. When I got there, I found 2 lads fishing in a rubber dinghy. I asked them if they were over the wreck as I couldn’t see it on the FF. They didn’t have a FF, but said it was close, as they dived it regularly. Apparently, it’s known as “the stone boat” locally, because it went down with a load of cement. Paddled in circles and eventually found it about 100m away from the GPS co-ordinates (the inbuilt error?) Anchored up in 65ft and put out a couple of rods with rag on one and lug t’other. Fishing was slow, but caught a couple of small whiting after about an hour and then another, which was just big enough for supper. Bites gradually increased on the flood with the majority being pout of various sizes Cuckmere Haven Seven Sisters Beachy Head Bites then increased significantly and with bigger fish around 4pm, although at a guess, nothing more than about 1 ½ lb, with often only enough time to unhook one rod before there were one or two banging away on the other. I thought lug was out fishing rag, for a while, until I realised that in the heat of the action I’d forgotten to bait up on one side leaving the rig and weight just below the surface. As soon as I hit bottom with rag the fish were at it again. I had circle hooks on one of my 2X paternoster rigs and was very impressed with how they performed; all bar one, fish neatly lip hooked and returned in good nick. Finally, decided to call it a day around 4.30ish and head back into the sunset. On the way back, I got closer in to the cliffs and was buzzed by kittiwakes coming in low over the water as they returned for the evening roost. Apparently there are peregrines there also. Seaford Head As I suspected, back at launch point, the surf dump and steep beach looked a bit iffy, although I probably would have managed OK if I’d been patient and hung around, as the tide was about to turn, but I was tired and busting 4AP, so headed round to the sheltered beach where I still managed to get broadsided in the last few meters (as usual) and tipped out. But I was ready for it, so didn’t lose anything or get bruised despite being on the wrong side of the yak as a couple more breakers came in. A young chap who had been watching with interest came over and very kindly offered to help me lift the yak up the boulders to the path. I was so grateful, I even let him take the heavy end. Got chatting to a twitcher, as I derigged, who said the kittiwakes were the largest colony in the South and represented an amazing come back after being down to a couple of breeding pairs about 10 yrs ago. All in all, a cracking day and certainly the best launch I’ve found in the area, so far. Looking forward to fishing closer into the Haven later in the year. Didn’t notice any particularly strong currents around mid-tide. Don’t know what it’ll be like on springs though. Sorry about all the cliff photos, I guess you just had to be there. Hmmm mmmm mmm la-la-la Jer-u-sa-lem...in England’s green and pleasant land...

Good looking fleet lads! Glad you had a good day and stayed safe. Personally, I think it's OK to test your limits when there's a bunch of you, as long as you're mindful of the abilities and experience of weaker members of the group. Obviously a different matter when you fish alone, cos that always going to be you. C'mon the fish, we're all waiting

Nice one mate! Look forward to the 1st fishing report

Well done, can see you've put alot of effort into it. FF seems a long way away though; you must have very good eyesight and an extremely supple back!

Done. Saw a thread for this over on the Conservation forum, was quite surprised you hadn't posted on it Mark.

I assumed he meant Ken Hom and his wok

Yup. Think a change of username over on AA is in order

So what's your excuse Engelbert?

Keep it simple. Sorted

OUCH! (Don't worry John, we've all been there, it's part of the learning curve) Wouldn't waste any time looking for them. Imagine throwing them into a cement mixer for a few days. They sleep with the fishes

Yes, the sea pixies will get you

Agree yellow is the most visible, but fairly common. There's a really bright lime green as well, which looks great and would be my second choice.

Think you'll find that's £23.57 when you've added postage, nyeh-nyeh nyeh nyeh-nyeh But one of the dead giveaways of incurable tackle tartdom is the don't care what it costs, want it NOW! impulse buying. You must dedicate yourself and spend many hours strengthening your keyboard finger, so you can strike instantly and without hesitation, Grasshopper, if you are ascend to the level of Sifu(d) Grand Master Richi (1060, Martin)

Cheers mate Sorted. Amazin how £14.95 suddenly becomes £23.45 The price of being a tackle tart

Hi Richi, what are the dimensions of your box? Just about to order mine, but noticed that the width of the current 1060 model seems to be bigger than the Prowler recess. (less than 13cm) Have they changed the dimensions or does yours just fit because the hinges are higher than the edges? 1060 http://www.waterproof-cases.co.uk/product_...?products_id=36 Next model down 1050 is OK on width, and is a bit deeper, but is considerably shorter Although anything's better than that piece of cr*p that comes with the P13 1050 http://www.waterproof-cases.co.uk/product_...;products_id=35

can't wait till I'm 70!

OK, thanks Simon . Any thoughts on the attaching the bait question; is it just the same as Aberdeens?

Hi Jon, I must be at the same stage you were at then. I always try and use them on one rod, as I hope they will eventually prove to be the right choice. Initially, I was very pleased when I had a whole day catching wrasse, with all of them being lip hooked and safely returned. Since then, I've had a few bad results with both wrasse and doggies swallowing them deep, which has made me unsure of the whole no-strike technique. Been using them on 2 boom paternosters with ragworm (1/0's - haven't found any smaller in the tackle shops I use ) and I've made up some pennel rigs for big squid baits too, which are either 2/0 or 3/0. (Not sure about whether you have to set the hook differently for these - I read somewhere that the entire hook needs to be clear of a big bait for them to work effectively, but that just feels wrong) Also used them on a float set up, which was the most consistently successful method. My strike sensitivity and timing is a bit iffy at the best of times, which was part of the attraction, so I've been wondering if I should switch to braid. I'll keep persevering, but if anyone's got any more advice, I'm listening.