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The first announcement from Steve was a sad one: our friend “Mad Mick” Beattie has lost his long battle with cancer and passed away last week. Our condolences to his family and friends.
Onto happier things: the current club standings have had a switch around after a flurry of plaice catches – see the Standings Listing below.
Fish Of The Month had a number of entries but the hot contenders were Andy Bird’s mullet of 5lb 4oz and Steve Tamblin’s huge stingray of 43lb. The stingray was 143.4% of the specimen weight and wins Steve a medal and £10 – an impressive catch.
We couldn’t bring news of the SMAC Open Species Competition because it was postponed from last Sunday and will carry forward each successive Sunday until we have fishable weather. Dan has a hot tip for small species identification: take a clear plastic container and photograph the fish in water. Fins are a good indicator of species and they are much easier to see when swimming.
The Cod Pool is now officially open so please pay Steve £10 before you catch a cod to be in with a chance of taking all the pool money.
The date for the SMAC Cod Open Competition will be Sunday 30th November. Put that date in your diaries and clear every Sunday afterwards until about the end of January. The only year we actually fished the Cod Open on the original date was the year I couldn’t be there, which I am still sore about. It’s a great event.
The Inter-Club Competition was won last year by Langstone Harbour Fishermen’s Association so they are hosting this year’s event. So far we only have a suspicion of a date based on rumour so we are seeking clarification, to put it politely.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 7th October at 7pm in the Marina Bar.
We were almost outnumbered by SMDAC this time – we followed their meeting where they welcomed the new Chairman Ben Munday and planned the next few months’ activities.
Anyway, Steve’s back from Norway and soon called us to order. The current competition standings were announced, which are detailed below. So far we have 14 specimen fish entered for Angling Trust certificates, which shows we have some very good anglers in the club.
A number of those specimens have appeared in the Fish Of The Month entries, and this time we had a close tie between Ray Plomer’s 2lb 6oz Gilthead Bream and Andy Bird’s 4lb 12oz Mullet. The Gilthead won by a whisker (or whatever they have).
We then reviewed the first SMAC Open Bass Competition which was very well supported. The full report is here. You can also listen to an independent podcast from DNA Fishing covering the Bass competition here (it’s a long podcast so you can fast-forward to 127 minutes to hear our bit)
Our next competition is the SMAC Open Species Competition on 31st August. Same rules as before: photographic entries for most species with a tie-break species scoring system. Cards and claim forms will be issued on registration. Further details and on-line booking if required is here . Our competition advertising banners will be updated and made available to sponsors.
A monthly Catch Report is published on this website. If you would like photos and mentions in the August or future reports please send them in – email, SMAC WhatsApp or message is fine.
Next meeting will be Tuesday 2nd September 7pm in the Marina Bar.
Where did July go? The highlight was undoubtedly the SMAC Open Bass Competition on 12th July. SMAC run a number of open competitions and this was a double first – the first Bass competition and the first Catch & Release competition they have run. A lot of good bass were caught as you will see in the report, and the competition was won by Steve Tamblin with a bass measuring a whopping 70cm.
Mackerel are abundant although some of the shoals contain smaller fish. These make great bass baits but probably not so good for the BBQ. There are also plenty of scad, and they tend to congregate at a lower depth so it’s worth bouncing some feathers off the bottom if you see some indication of fish activity down there on your fishfinder.
July is a month where the Eastern Solent demonstrates the rich variety of species (make a date for the SMAC Open Species Competition on 31st August). Simply bottom fishing on a mark near rocks and broken ground with a large bait on the bottom and smaller baits off the bottom will keep you busy all day. Expect the usual dogfish and pout of course but there will also be bream, small conger, smoothhound, tope, rays, bass, wrasse, gurnard and a chance of almost anything else on the National species list – even sunfish!
Gilthead Bream can be caught in the harbours if you don’t mind battling with weed. Mullet are also plentiful, and there have been some cracking specimens landed of 5lb plus. Stingray appear during the summer along muddy shores of the Solent, estuaries and harbours. They are surprisingly fast swimmers and put up a good fight.
Looking forward to August, some anglers consider it a quiet month and that’s true for the larger fish. However, I have always found that switching to lighter tackle and going for sport rather than specimens can still result in some excellent fishing.
During a recent visit to the USA, I was given some samples of a revolutionary marine bilge cleaning device to test, the BioSok. It is based on pollution control material for industrial use, but it is also available for boat owners. Oily water in the bilges is one of those inevitable things that can, to steal a quote, be lumped in with death and taxes. It’s an unglamorous subject and is usually dealt with using some form of absorbent material – the cheapest being a disposable nappy (diapers to our American friends). The problem with this approach is that you are literally moving the problem from one place to another. Oil and fuel in the bilge water go into traditional absorbent mats where they continue to smell and then have to be disposed of as hazardous material somehow.
BioSok products are different. Instead of just absorbing the contaminants, bugs actually eat the oil and fuel, leaving nothing to be disposed of except water. The secret is hinted at by their logo – the contents of the BioSok are small grains covered in a derivative from beeswax, which stimulates the resident bacteria to feed. The oily pollutants go, and so does the contents of the BioSok so there’s nothing but the skin of the BioSok to dispose of. This is totally the opposite of traditional absorbent methods.
I’m trialling a BioSok in my own bilge this season, and so far results look very promising. The products were originally launched in the UK several years ago, but availability is limited. The manufacturers are actively looking for additional UK representation and distribution, so if you are interested in a commercial arrangement contact us for details.
June is definitely one of the top months for fishing in the Solent area. The summer species are abundant, and of course there are fresh mackerel around to provide a top bait. Bass are no longer a transient species, we catch them most months now but summer provides the best sport in numbers and weight.
There ae still plenty of bream around, and I have noticed that in recent years the bream that remain after the larger spawning specimens have departed are larger than they used to be.
There are plenty of mullet in the harbours and marinas, and having become more used to scraps of human food in the water, they are now more catchable.
Tope are target species for anyone that likes a tough fight. Very fresh mackerel is a top bait and on some days you can catch so many it is literally exhausting, and you have to stop for a rest! I prefer fishing for smoothhound with lighter tackle – the fight is just as exhilarating but it’s kinder on my aging back.
Gilthead bream are now a common catch in the harbours, and if you know the best marks you can catch some sizeable specimens. The only problem with fishing in harbours, and inshore for that matter, is the abundant floating weed which means a line can’t stay down for long before it has to be cleared.
Other fish featured in this month’s gallery are stingray, turbot and a sunfish. The range of species we have here is truly remarkable.
Our popular summer Open Species Competition will be held on Sunday 31st August, with a reserve dates of the following Sundays if weather conditions are against us. Fishing will take place between 8am and 4pm, with all claims to be submitted by 5pm. There will be presentations of prizes (lots!) in the Marina Bar or terrace from 6pm.
First prize will be 60% of entry fees, Second prize 20% of entry fees and a Ladies Bonus Prize of 10%. There will also be a Junior bonus prize and many other prizes from our regular sponsors.
Entry fee will be £10 per angler, payable in cash on the day at Southsea Marina or using our online link for boats not starting from Southsea Marina. All claims must be made in person at Southsea Marina by 5pm.
Rules: Maximum two rods per angler, maximum three hooks in total. All fish must be photographed with your entry card visible, and photographs must be available to substantiate all claims. A list of qualifying species will be provided. In the event of a tie, a species score tie-break will be used.
On Saturday 12th July, an idea from Dave Newnham and Dan Lumsden finally became reality: the first SMAC Open Bass Competition. Not content with just that, they introduced several new (to us) features: it was to be Catch & Release, entries based on fish length; it would have a shotgun start and we would also pre-sell entries the evening before. Most significant of all, Chairman Steve Kelly was taking a well-deserved break so it was to be organised and managed by Dave and Dan, plus Neville Merritt. They say you should never make several changes at once but we are brave souls and ignored that.
After much investigative work by Dave and Dan we found a reliable supply of standard fish measures, we had prizes from our loyal sponsors and we also had a very welcome last-minute sponsorship from Rapala VMC. The rules were similar to other SMAC competitions but with one significant difference. Fish length on the SMAC measures was to be verified by a short video to be checked by the SMAC organisers. This proved to be very successful and meant fish could be returned quickly if required. In total 39 competitors and 16 boats took part.
The day dawned gloriously sunny and calm to start with, although a breeze picked up later in the day. After all registrations were complete and fish measures hired out together with a pack of free lures from Rapala, the boats gathered at the Roway wreck marker at 7:30am for a shotgun start. This was quite dramatic, because you don’t often experience 16 fast angling boats all heading to their marks together! (See videos below).
Competitors made the most of the time available, returning to Southsea Marina to register their claims by 6pm. After each claim form was checked against the video, we were able to rank the winners. At 6:30pm the Marina Bar Garden was full of anglers and friends all waiting for the results. Prize sponsors included Andy’s Baits ; British Big Game Fishing ; Cosham Angling; Fishon Bait N Tackle ; Victory Plumbing and Heating ; Southsea Marina Bar; Newnham Builders; Prestige Builders; Mark Oldfield Heating Plumbing and Gas Services and Rapala VMC .
Local Rapala Agent Mark Wright was also taking part in the competition so we invited him to award the prizes. There were no Ladies registered so we had the main prizes plus Junior prizes to hand out. These were won as follows:
1st: Steve Tambling, 70cm (£445 cash, rod and reel from Rapala)
2nd: Jim Atkins, 68cm (£222 cash plus rod from Rapala)
3rd: Matt Budd, 67cm (Andy’s Baits voucher plus rod from British Big Game)
4th Fergus Morrison (Junior), 66cm (Fishon Voucher plus Junior bonus of a rod from Mark Oldfield and reel from Newnham Builders)
5th equal: Richard Pack and David Miller, 65.5cm (Cosham Angling voucher and tackle voucher from Victory Heating)
7th equal: Dan Lumsden and Peter Atkinson, 64cm (each tackle packs from Rapala and British Big Game Fishing)
9th: Sam Cofie, 63.5cm (Meal for two from the Marina Bar)
10th: Ken Farmer, 60 cm (Bottle of Gin from Newnham Builders)
11th equal: Eddie Walsh and Dennis Fuller, 58cm (Bottle of Gin from Prestige Builders and Cooler from Rapala)
Junior 2nd place: Luca Bogza, 56cm (Reel from Newnham Builders)
Congratulations to all the prize winners, and many thanks to all the competitors who supported the event. We are very grateful to all our sponsors and to Premier Marinas for their continuing support of the club. Finally, thanks again to Dave Newnham and Dan Lumsden for all the hard work involved in creating a new angling competition for SMAC.
Our popular summer Open Species Competition will be held on Sunday 31st August, with a reserve dates of the following Sundays if weather conditions are against us. Fishing will take place between 8am and 4pm, with all claims to be submitted by 5pm. There will be presentations of prizes (lots!) in the Marina Bar or terrace from 6pm.
First prize will be 60% of entry fees, Second prize 20% of entry fees and a Ladies Bonus Prize of 10%. There will also be a Junior bonus prize and many other prizes from our regular sponsors.
Entry fee will be £10 per angler, payable in cash on the day at Southsea Marina or using our online link for boats not starting from Southsea Marina. All claims must be made in person at Southsea Marina by 5pm.
Rules: Maximum two rods per angler, maximum three hooks in total. All fish must be photographed with your entry card visible, and photographs must be available to substantiate all claims. A list of qualifying species will be provided. In the event of a tie, a species score tie-break will be used.
Despite the stifling heat we had enough members present to give our guest Vicki Neild, Programme Manager with Seakeepers International Society a warm welcome. The meeting started with an introduction to the Society and its aims, then Vicki explained four different projects that any of us can get involved in. Links provided take you to the relevant Citizen Scientist pages.
Seabed 2030: to collect depth and location data from participating vessels to help complete the mapping of the world’s oceans by 2030. All that is required is a data logger (supplied) to be attached to your boat’s data network.
Orca Oceanwatchers: to report sightings of any whales, dolphins and porpoises. Training and an app is provided.
Humpback Whale Sightings: working with the University of Exeter to record sightings of humpback whales in UK and Irish waters.
Eyesea: reporting any form of pollution including oil, chemicals, plastic waste to help build a global picture of what is really happening in our seas.
Vicki concluded with a link to the Green Guide to Boating which we can download and gives tips on protecting the environment while we enjoy boating.
If you would like to be involved in any of these projects please contact Vicki at vicky@seakeepers.org
After that very interesting presentation, we returned to our regular agenda. Steve went through the current club competition standings, see below. Then it was Fish Of The Month! We had a number of good entries and nobody challenged the unofficial rule of Best Specimen, so FOTM was awarded to Andy Bird for a mullet of 4lb 8oz.
The Annual SMAC BBQ attracted 32 members, and the raffle raised £785.00. After costs were deducted we were able to add £52.48 to club funds. Neville was thanked for cooking and also putting out a small BBQ fire, and Team Atkins were thanked for the delicious pile of scones. You can read more and see photos on the linked page.
Our next event is the Bass Open Competition on 12th (or 13th) July. Posters and banners are up, prizes are being collected and fish measures have been delivered. Dave Newnham explained the rules and answered any remaining questions. Details are on our Competition page with a link to the sign-up form unless you want to pay cash on the day.
The date will be set for our annual Open Species Competition in August after the Bass Competition is completed.
Our next monthly meeting will be on Tuesday 5th August at 7pm in the Marina Bar as usual.
This is our annual summer event, free for members and families, where we get together on the Southsea Marina BBQ Deck and have food, banter and a fundraising raffle. We were fortunate again this year with glorious weather and just enough breeze to keep boat anglers ashore.
We aim to keep the annual subscription low, and supplement funds with raffles at our main member socials – the Summer BBQ and the Presentation Night after the end of the season.
Running a club BBQ on this scale is a real team effort and we had lots of support. We are very grateful to Dan and Steve who ran around organising prizes, BBQ and ordering supplies; fab scones from Eleanor and Jim, raffle ticket sales by Eleanor, Steve and Pam organising the remote ticket sales for members who couldn’t make it, John C for help setting up the gazebo and clearing up, Frank as Fire Safety Officer, Eleanor for Food Hygiene Inspector, Tim for making the site tidy and all those who donated prizes. And finally, huge thanks to all the members and families that turned up and made it a fun event, and those who couldn’t attend but bought raffle tickets anyway. I was just cook!
