Tweet
It's great to be back and able to write something. Hopefully everyone has got through the last couple of months in good health.
Since having bought Bellini, an Antares 710 at the end of last year, I've had to sit and twiddle my thumbs. I managed to get a lift and hold at Amble early in the year to check and replace anodes, and later that week to get an engine service done. I'd also bought some replacement electronics from Storrar Marine, which then sat in a box at home since the lockdown had started by then.
Steve from SDS Marine has done a brilliant job in fitting them meantime, and I'm very pleased with the results. I particularly wanted the Garmin Echostrike to be fitted externally so it can be easily seen when fishing. It gives a very clear image and will hopefully alert us before we come into contact with discarded ropes/pots etc, as well as seeing detail of structure and so on.
My son, Oli and I drove up to Amble yesterday to remind ourselves of what the boat actually looked like, and to take up all the gear that we had stored at home over the winter. A few guys were on the pontoon and had been out that morning, and said that there were plenty of small fish about, so once we'd finished the chores we decided to take her for a spin for an hour or so.
We didn't have time to go far so stopped on the skeers around Hauxley. The water is murky inshore, and with a temperature reading of 9 degrees it might be a little cool for mackerel. There were indeed small codling of around 1lb on these marks, and in the kelp there were masses of coalies. It was a bit hiss-miss though as a second drift over the same spot would produce very little. Anyway, it was just very satisfying to be out again, and to see that all worked well. The fish were small, but let's hope for a good season ahead.
Since having bought Bellini, an Antares 710 at the end of last year, I've had to sit and twiddle my thumbs. I managed to get a lift and hold at Amble early in the year to check and replace anodes, and later that week to get an engine service done. I'd also bought some replacement electronics from Storrar Marine, which then sat in a box at home since the lockdown had started by then.
Steve from SDS Marine has done a brilliant job in fitting them meantime, and I'm very pleased with the results. I particularly wanted the Garmin Echostrike to be fitted externally so it can be easily seen when fishing. It gives a very clear image and will hopefully alert us before we come into contact with discarded ropes/pots etc, as well as seeing detail of structure and so on.
My son, Oli and I drove up to Amble yesterday to remind ourselves of what the boat actually looked like, and to take up all the gear that we had stored at home over the winter. A few guys were on the pontoon and had been out that morning, and said that there were plenty of small fish about, so once we'd finished the chores we decided to take her for a spin for an hour or so.
We didn't have time to go far so stopped on the skeers around Hauxley. The water is murky inshore, and with a temperature reading of 9 degrees it might be a little cool for mackerel. There were indeed small codling of around 1lb on these marks, and in the kelp there were masses of coalies. It was a bit hiss-miss though as a second drift over the same spot would produce very little. Anyway, it was just very satisfying to be out again, and to see that all worked well. The fish were small, but let's hope for a good season ahead.
but just realised i need to win the jackpot on the lotto 
Comment