Wor Lass, Short and Sweet. Dec 4th

[Kev1n]

Here’ a brief report of a correspondingly short session, to keep the Catch Report section ticking over.
First drop at StMary’s can brought an instant bite from a small coddling, it threw the hook just at it reached the surface. Three more fish did the same trick before I finally landed one; a promising start with a lot of small fish around. It soon went quiet until the tide turned and the cold wind suddenly picked up giving extra drift that livened the fishing again.
Tactics were simple, drop a peeler crab or prawn bait down and keep it as close to the bottom as possible. Almost all the fish took the bottom hook, they didn’t want to come up even a couple of feet.
It would be exaggerating to say that the biggest fish of the day was a 2 pounder; good numbers but all small and all safely returned. The gill netter hauling his nets close by had more success with the better fish.
There were several other boats out, a lot of them also at St Mary’s can, how did they get on?

[Davem]

Quick question Kev , all those markers are they pots or do they have nets / ropes strung between them ( aka rope around prop trouble )

[Kev1n]

The net that was lifted was tied to an orange dhan buoy or fender type float. Under the buoy was a rope that looked to go straight down in the water, some spare coils of rope were tied off in the middle of the rope then a small grapnel anchor held the line in place on the seabed before leading to the nets which must have been deep too. By the looks of it, all the gear apart from the surface marker should be well under the surface of the water and away from any risk to other boats. The nets ran north-south in line with any current which was also the direction of the drift for most of the afternoon.

[drifter]

Well done Kevin, it's good to get out because the boat season is usually over by now and it's a bonus if there's a few fish about.
There's certainly a lot of gill nets out there which is a pity but they've got strict quotas and it's a tough way to make a living.
My problem is the chancers who do not use proper dhans and use plastic bottles or similar bits of crap with floating rope which is difficult to see. At least the gill netter TracyE is appropriate and uses decent rope and proper dhans which are easy to see.

[Davem]

Thanks for the info lads , paranoid about fouling prop . Guess you just have to call the RNLI if you were totally hung up .

[lingking]

Thanks for the info lads , paranoid about fouling prop . Guess you just have to call the RNLI if you were totally hung up .

or,Davey, depending on your hull,fabricate a chimmney directly above the prop 4/5 inch dia allows you to get arm down with sharp knife or mini hacksaw--use a plumbers bung to keep the hole water tight

[Davey1970]

absolutely spot on dunc, the hole above the prop, usually has a window of perspex bolted to the deck, allowing easy viewing, and access if needed.
as for the gill net's, in my experience, the genuine netter will mark his net's for everyone to see, he cannot afford to lose his catch and gear.
a poorly markered net, (plastic bottle,can,container), probably, and don't blast me, will not belong to a liceinced gill netter.
it's a hard life trying to make a living at sea.

[Davem]

Good idea re the inspection window . I have a rope cutter on the shaft but how effective it is yet to be proved .

[Davey1970]

Good idea re the inspection window . I have a rope cutter on the shaft but how effective it is yet to be proved .

dave, av been told the rope cutter's do exactly as the name suggest's,
although, av never used one, a have fitted them when a was working in the yard. when you take your boat out of the water just clean it up and sharpen it.

[Davem]

Thanks for that Davey . I watched several being tested on Practical boat owners with video , it was none conclusive but the best appeared to be the serrated jaw type . Mine is a two piece sharp blade type fitted to the shaft . On a side note , my last company made the Voith Sneider vertical propellers ( tug boat , Sheilds ferry etc ) and the number of times ropes foul and damage seals is crazy . I remember one being dry docked 3 times in 10 months down south .

[Davey1970]

the 2 piece sharp edge is the type a have fitted. never come across the serrated jaw type.
a friend of mine was fouled up pretty bad of amble, he said the rope was unmovable, probably a full string of pot's, anyway, all he could do was cut the rope, re attach the marker and get a tow, a believe the "jester" came to his rescue that day.