posted by admin on Feb 3
The Day Mark approaching Dartmouth always a welcome sight
Dartmouth Fishing is the name of the blog which we may need to re think in light of our last two trips.The weather was reasonable with a strong North Westerly which usually means its calmer inshore. We decided to try and break our duck by heading out 5 miles to a wreck.
Well it was a good trip out with Mike managing 17 knots with the wind and tide going the same way as us. Alas it was too rough and bitter cold over the wreck so we decided to return inshore to a couple of wrecks we have used before.
The journey back against wind and tide showed the Ocqueteau's sea keeping capability well. She pushed through heavy swells at 10 knots putting the occasional wave spray over the cabin roof which was good fun!
We tried a variety of marks all to no effect. Once home I was recounting our exploits to Karen my Wife and bemoaning the lack of fish. In her infinite wisdom she advised that fishing this time of year was a waste of time as the water is too cold. Such wisdom was based on the fact her cold water gold fish in our garden pond do not feed until the water warms up in the spring.
If she is right then its going to be a boring few trips until April.
To add to the depression its that time of year where the boat insurance has just been paid, the annual mooring fees bill has arrived and we need to have the engine serviced and the hull anti fouled. I am sure it would be cheaper to visit the fish monger each week.
Ships Log
Date: Thursday 28/01/2010
Weather: Force 4-5 NW
Sea state: Moderate
Engine hours at start:207
Engine hours at finish: 209.1
Crew: Steve and Mike
Time off moorings: 1030
Tide: High water 1045
Author: Steve (skipper)
We buy all our tackle from ebay - you can too.
posted by admin on Jan 23
Well after the whole country seemed to have suffered a mini ice age, here in Brixham we only saw snow for a couple of hours during the whole deep freeze! Stephen however fared a little worse since he lives just on the southern edge of Dartmoor in Ivybridge. So today was the first real chance to go fishing since our last trip.
Steve arrived with the 2x 20 litre diesel cans (we find the price difference now makes it less attractive to use the red diesel with its much poorer quality and a broken engine in our last boat!) and off we went to the marina. After our normal checks we headed out down river on what we supposed was an outgoing tide (according to Dart Harbour Website) but at the mouth of the Dart there was quite a swell where the river meets the Sea. Something that normally occurs when the tide and river are in opposite directions.
We headed out to our favourite rough ground mark since the local word was that there were some Cod in the last time we were down. After an uneventful trip we drifted over the ground using light tackle and Storm lures when a small inshore boat already on station came over for a quick chat and when asked if he had any luck he said he had been there for some three hours or so with nothing happening.
About an hour later we were in slack water which caused a few furrowed brows since the tide tables said the top of the tide happened a long time ago! The weather was cold but the sun had a lot of warmth and the fact of just being on the sea again was a real pleasure. No sign of any fish where we were so we decided to move ground and again not a bite!
The last log Steve ends with "must try harder" well we haven't learnt any lessons there and indeed came away confused as to why the tide tables were so out with what we experienced. If anyone knows why this should be then please leave a comment.
Thought a couple of pictures may cheer you, they did us..................
A bright January day out of Dartmouth
Usually good for a few Pollack...but not today!
Must try a LOT harder.
Ships Log
Date: Monday 19/01/2010
Weather: Force 2-3 SW
Sea state: Slght
Engine hours at start:205.9
Engine hours at finish: 207.0
Crew: Steve and Mike
Time off moorings: 0945
Tide: High water XXXX
Author: Mike (skipper)
We buy all our tackle from ebay - you can too.
posted by admin on Jan 10
Saturday 2nd January 2010 saw our first trip of the new year aboard our Ocqueteau 645 Blue Marlin III. I had set off from Ivybridge in sub zero temperatures and battled snowy roads to arrive in brilliant sunshine and not even a frost in sunny brixham. Having stopped for diesel on the way it was a quick pick up of Mike and off to Noss Marina. Some frost here and a slippery trip onto the pontoon where we boarded our boat. Father Christmas had bought me a new Fladen flotation suit which was quickly donned and soon provided warmth and protection against the cold.
We always conduct monthly safety checks on all the equipment and check fluid levels etc. This having been done and the radio confirmed as working we slipped our moorings and departed down the Dart on a fast outgoing tide.
We soon made the mouth of the Dart and headed out to a local inshore fishing mark. En Route Mike at the helm shouted to report a sighting of a dolphin off the port bow. By the time I registered the comment it had submerged and was not seen again.
Still the sun was shining and there was very little breeze as we arrived at our mark.
We made several attempts for a variety of species but have sadly to report we failed to bring a single fish aboard.
Whilst not the best start to 2010 it was none the less great to be at sea again. We soon made it back to the marina and moored up in brilliant sunshine.
Must try harder.
Ships Log
Date: Saturday/02/01/2010
Weather: Force 2-3 SW
Sea state: Slght
Engine hours at start:204.5
Engine hours at finish: 205.9
Crew: Steve and Mike
Time off moorings: 1045
Tide: High water 0700
Author: Steve (skipper)
We buy all our tackle from ebay - you can too.
posted by admin on Dec 22
Due to a combination of factors we have not been to sea for quite a while. Indeed our latest trip was only a short run out to the Mewstone and back to give the batteries a bit of life. No attempt at dusting off the fishing rods was made, even though our 'sources' told us that the Cod were in over a local rough ground spot. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by admin on Oct 27
Well its been a while since Mike caught any Bass (or anything else really) so it was smiles all round when he brought a small but nicely shaped Bass up. It was on the very next drift that Mike caught a bigger Bass which he kindly let Steve reel in the last little bit. Both fish were released back into the sea since Steve has fish in his freezer and Mike was enjoying some much deserved piece since his wife, Sandy, was away! Mike doesn't eat fish and with fish in their freezer as well, there was no point keeping them. they will only grow bigger for next year, as long as they remember Mikes lures! Read the rest of this entry »
posted by admin on Oct 17
Glorious weather to begin our trip
It was a glorious day when we left Noss Marina heading down the Dart. It was very sunny,crisp clear sky and hardly any wind at all.
We decided to head out to a wreck to make the most of the flat calm sea. After steaming about 6 miles we dropped onto a wreck. We made several drifts but it was one of those days where all we did was consistently lose tackle into the wreck. We tried another wreck nearby and for some reason it was the same story again. Someone was telling us to chill out and enjoy the sun and scenery. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by admin on Oct 17
Well we attempted to go fishing and the conditions inshore of the mouth of the Dart were good but as soon as we cleared the headland by the Mewstone we were into very short and steep seas. Even so there were a few boats over the East Banks fishing for Bass, although to be fair these were mainly the commercial lads. Since I was at the helm I was enjoying pushing through the seas that were sending some water over the cabin roof. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by admin on Sep 28
An almost deserted river Dart
It was an overcast day but the wind was from the North and the sea state was slight as we set off from Noss Marina. I had been away for a 3 week cruise to North America and Canada and this was the first chance for me to get across to Mikes and get out on the boat.
We set off from our moorings and headed down the river Dart. It was a complete change in the volume of traffic since my last trip which was during Regatta week. It was positively deserted.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted by admin on Sep 25
Well Stephen deserted me for nearly a month travelling across the Atlantic! So I was shore based until yesterday when Nigel (I buy my Jaguars from him) said he would like to go fishing and the weather was gorgeous, no wind and hot sunshine. Since Steve does most of the heavy work when he moors up at the end of the session, I said we could only do a short trip. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by admin on Sep 3
Today was the annual visit to the regatta with our good ladies in tow. We set off from the Noss marina with all the cushions in place and even the table was shipped aft for the picnic. We decided that we would head towards our normal position which is seaward of the lower ferries. Because of the earlier than planned start (less travel than expected for Steve) we motored out to the Mewstone to have a look at the seal family but they must have set off on their holidays, since not one was spotted.
Heading back up the river we moored in our usual spot and waited for the 'action' to start. The first treat was 4 parachutes opening up just underneath the helicopter, above our mooring place. Its amazing the level of control these men have, since the go into the wind! Excellent show. Read the rest of this entry »
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