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At the March SMAC Meeting, we invited Steve Thair, Area Manager and Community Advocate for St. John’s Ambulance to give us a talk on First Aid on board. Steve is impressively knowledgeable and I’m quite sure could have spent a lot longer than the 45 minutes allowed in educating us on this vital subject.
Although many of the members will have attended First Aid training at some point, it is easy to forget some of the things taught but Steve’s encyclopaedic knowledge brought us up to date.
The purpose of a First Aid Kit is by definition to patch up an injured person so that they can then go and get specialist help if required. Sometimes this is just to make someone more comfortable, other times it can help prevent further complications and in extreme cases it can also save lives.
On an angling boat travelling many miles out into the Channel, it could take over an hour to get back to land or in extreme cases even to get lifeboat or helicopter support, so an adequate First Aid kit and some basic First Aid knowledge are essential.
Steve asked us to describe the sort of injuries we had either experienced or were aware are likely when fishing in UK waters. These include cuts from sharp bait knives; penetration of sharp items such as hooks, baiting needles and gaffs; bites from conger and tope and falls against hard objects which can break bones.
Our First Aid kits need to contain items that can be used to treat these injuries, many of which can be extremely serious particularly if a blood vessel has been severed. A box of Band Aids isn’t going to be enough. Another fact to learn is that First Aid kits need to be regularly serviced and replenished because many items have a shelf life. There is no point having adhesive plasters that don’t stick or sealed dressings that are no longer sealed. I was shocked to discover that what I thought was a well prepared First Aid box on Rebel Runner was in fact out of date by at least five years!
Steve gave us all a list of what we need to keep on board (below). He recommended that we keep them in labelled bags within the kit so you can grab them based on the type of injury you are dealing with, rather than rummaging through the whole box in an emergency. There are ready-made compartmentalized bags available if you are flash. Other items recommended are Tuff-Cut scissors for clothing, small scissors for dressings and I have found tweezers very helpful for removing splinters.
Steve then demonstrated basic wound management with particular emphasis on reducing bleeding for deep injuries. This is very important for offshore First Aid where some time may pass before the injury can be dealt with by the professionals.
The talk finished with a quick recap on CPR and the use of a modern defibrillator. I was impressed with how good the modern AEDs are and how easy they are to use. We should all get ourselves familiar with the basics so we have the confidence to have a go when the need arises.
If anyone wants to buy more First Aid supplies to bring their kit up to standard, the St. John’s Ambulance shop has everything you need and prices are good.
The First Aid Manual is a very helpful guide and for the price, well worth buying and putting in your first Aid box.
We started our regular monthly meeting with a talk by Steve Thair, Area Manager and Community Advocate for St. John’s Ambulance. He gave us invaluable advice on what should be in our First Aid Kits, how to use the kit for common injuries and also gave us a quick refresher on CPR and the use of a modern defibrillator – all in 45 minutes! There is a more detailed report on his recommendations here .
Then on to regular Club business – although being early March there wasn’t a lot to report. Fish Of The Month was an uncontested Spurdog of 14lb 8oz winning Peter Churchill the medal and a tenner. Peter generously donated his winnings to the RNLI.
It’s very early days for the Club Standings (below) but already we have a neck and neck race for the Species Hunt between John Wearn and Peter Churchill with three species each.
Presentation Night is Saturday 15th March in the Marina Bar. Prizes will be presented from 7:45pm so get there well before then if you want a seat, a free drink and the chance to buy tickets for an amazing raffle. If you haven’t told Steve Kelly you will be attending there won’t be enough food so please let him know. Thank you!
Looking forwards to our Open Bream Competition in May, we have decided to limit entries to Black Bream only. We don’t want a freak Gilthead stealing the show!
Neville reminded members that we can still get involved in citizen science projects which were introduced to us last year at a club meeting by The International Seakeepers Society. Here’s an update we received this week:
Dr. Christina Hunt’s fish-measuring project Competitive Angling as a Scientific Tool is active until the end of March, therefore we welcome any participation up until this point. We are in contact with the researchers to discuss whether this timeline can be extended if either yourself or any other members of Southsea Marina Angling Club are keen to participate after this date. We will keep you updated with how this proceeds.
Seabed 2030 – This UN Ocean Decade Action project aims to map the entire global seafloor by 2030, using small bathymetric data loggers that connect to a vessel’s navigational backbone. By collecting time, GPS and depth measurements through these loggers (provided by SeaKeepers), Citizen Scientists can contribute valuable data to this project with little personal effort, mapping regions where data is currently sparse, non-existent or of poor quality. Coastal seafloor regions in particular are highly variable, thus data collected here can have the greatest impact.
ORCA OceanWatchers – The ORCA OceanWatchers project encourages vessel users to conduct effort-based sightings surveys to monitor global cetacean (whale, dolphin and porpoise) populations and investigate their distributions, identify hotspots, and better understand the threats they face. Citizen scientists have the unique ability to expand the project’s data collection capacity, empowering all to contribute to meaningful scientific research that drives policy change and safeguards these creatures for future generations.
Neville is signed up to the Seabed 2030 and ORCA projects and has had a data logger fitted on Rebel Runner. In return there was nice gift of freebie swag! If any member wants to participate, please contact Vicky Neild at Seakeepers. Project and contact details here.
Finally, Dan gave us an update on progress with planning the new Bass Open Competition in July. Getting large-scale sponsorship has been challenging so it is likely the competition will be run on similar lines to our other competitions.
Next Event:Presentation NightSaturday 15th March, Marina Bar from 7pm
Next Meeting:Tuesday 1st April in the Maraina Bar at 7pm where we may get some unusual entries for FOTM.
Boat angling catch reports are always a challenge in winter because the number of fishable days are limited by the weather and sometimes we can go for weeks without getting out at all. January was even more challenging this year because the cill (lock gate) at Southsea Marina was due for extensive maintenance, so most boats were locked into the marina for the last ten days of January.
Despite that, we got out for a few sessions and the results were fairly typical for January. Boats that went out to the reefs and wrecks found some good bass and pollack, with a bonus John Dory. Nearer home, the cod have all but disappeared, or were they even here? In the last two winters we have had much smaller whiting catches compared to previous years. On the other hand, conger are far more plentiful and bass that were once seasonal are around all year. We have already seen mullet back in the marina which is exceptionally early. Spurdog appear around this time for a few weeks, and these have been caught but not in great numbers. Catches have been boosted by the usual local species of rays, dogfish and pout.
I don’t expect much to change in February but anglers will be out looking for early plaice and if the seasonal changes carry on at the present pace we will probably see bream arriving too.
Our February meeting was also our AGM, where we elect our officials and discuss any Rule changes. It was also the first of our Winter Series talks so we started the evening hearing from Steve Dimmer, founder and Chief Instructor at Portsmouth Marine Training who are based in Southsea and Chichester Marinas. Steve has given SMAC members some amazing deals on some of his courses in February and at those prices it’s worth it just for a refresher. See the poster below for details. To claim these prices you need to book by phone not online Tel: 01243 511293.
Then onto SMAC Business! The AGM marks the end of one Club season and the start of another. Dave Newnham won overall Club Champion for 2024 – congratulations Dave – and the other winners are listed in the final Club Standings below. Cups and certificates will be presented at our Presentation Night on 15th March (members get a free drink and snacks!)
The Committee all stood for re-election, and after calls to sack the lot of them it was quickly realised that nobody else wanted those jobs, so the Officers remain as follows:
Commodore: Tim Andrews
Chairman: Steve Kelly
Deputy Chairman: Neville Merritt (+ writer of things and BBQ cook)
Communications Officer: Steve Andrews
Treasurer: Dan Lumsden
Open Competition Organisers: Steve Kelly, Neville Merritt, Dan Lumsden, Dave Newnham
Raffle Ticket Sales: Eleanor Atkins
The only Rule change was a proposal to add the Open Bass Competition, which is detailed below .
Fish Of The Month was awarded to Dave Newnham’s pollack of 14lb 6oz by a unanimous vote (see photo above).
Specimen Fish Award cards have been sent by the Angling Trust and will be given out at the Presentation Night. They have been getting physically thinner by the year, so Steve has purchased some nifty enclosures to bulk them up a bit. They need to be worth giving out!
Membership fees are now due (£20) and must be paid before any fish can be entered for competitions.
We now have a pair of SMAC banners to promote our club brand at open events and club socials. Other branded merchandise – caps, beanies and burgees – are still available to buy from Steve.
Dave Newnham and Dan Lumsden have been planning a new Bass Open Competition which we propose running on Saturday 5th July (or Sunday 6th and following weekends as a weather standby). This will be our first competition assessed by length rather than weight which helps with conservation and prevailing bass fishing regulations
Dave and Dan have proposed an interesting set of rules for this new competition. Please read through them so that we can adopt agreed bass competition rules at our March meeting. This proposal is posted below the meeting report – please let us know your comments either by email, message or at the March meeting.
Finally, in AOB there was considerable comment on the marina cill closure, the way it was communicated, impact on marina use, impact on the end of the SMAC season and to top it off, the new re-booking fee for short notice yard service changes. Individual members have sent emails of complaint but there have been no replies. Our Deputy Charman was tasked with sending a robust email to the Premier MD, Pete Bradshaw, on behalf of our members – who represent 45 berth holders.
Next Meeting Tuesday 4th March 7pm in the Marina Bar.
Presentation Night is Saturday 15th March
*********************************
PROPOSAL: Open Bass Competition 2025
Dates: Saturday 5th of July (or Sunday 6th, weather dependent)
If deemed unsuitable, the following weekend and so on (Committee decides).
This Bass Open Competition is intended to be inclusive for small and large boats. We know big bass hide all around us so distance is not necessarily an advantage!
Competition rules
Competition entry fee: £20 per angler plus one official fish measure per boat at the cost of £10.
All fish must be measured and photographed on the standard SMAC Tronics pro fish measure supplied by SMAC £10 (or hire at £12 – to debate?)
Prevailing national bass regulations will apply: anglers may retain a maximum of two fish per angler, fish length must be over 42cm. If this rule is found to be breached, competitors will be disqualified. Catch and Release after measuring and photographing is permitted.
Each angler may use up to two rods and a total of three hooks.
Shotgun start at Winner Cardinal Buoy at 7.30am.
Fish length will be recorded on the SMAC Bass Competition WhatsApp group. Card numbers will be issued at sign-in. Either video or photograph can be used, but the fish length must be unambiguous and clearly visible to qualify for entry. If fish flaps in the video it’s not a problem, as long as there is a clear picture of the fish with all of the fish and the measure in view.
Fishing to finish at 5:50pm. Pictures must be taken by 5.30pm to reach WhatsApp group by 6pm cut off.
All boats must be back by 6pm to confirm competition entries (so time your trips well!). The Southsea Marina holding pontoon is available for visiting anglers or you can return to the marina by road from your normal berth.
Prize pool: 1st, 2nd, 3rd (cash payout, percentages to be determined as the competition is NON-PROFIT) other prizes up to 10th place to be announced.
All anglers on a boat must be paying competitors. (This is to help the prize pool to reach its potential)
No active commercial Bass Fishing boats allowed (the main reason is they are out on the fish every day and have an unfair advantage.) Charter boats and skippers are allowed.
SMAC Committee will assess and rank fish pictures (specialists on hand for assessment.)
SMAC Committees word is FINAL.
Presentation starts at 6.30pm at the Marina Bar garden.
Please fish safely and with our fisheries protection in mind.
Tight lines, SMAC!
Our reasons for the rules and line of thinking:
The £20 fee is an increase on previous competitions but still cheap when we pay lots for bait, lures etc, it’s still a long cry away from SAC’s £250 (+ sea grass, litter picking !!)
The fish measures: do we sale them@ £10 each (they retail at £15 each) or do we ask for a deposit £15 refunded on return? Would the cost of 45 of these come out of club founds then comp fees? Club keeps them for following years? Same measuring devices for everyone help us in fair play.
Reasons for measuring not weighing Bass: we don’t want to be known as a kill fest and having protests at the bar/ prize-giving, or indeed have the fisheries all over us.
How to prove length: most people can use WhatsApp and have it on their phones, you may know that with pics, they are time, day and GPS stamped !!
Prizes: we decided that one large prize could make a weak person try to cheat. So cash spilt on 1,2,3 and donated prizes down to 10th as we think the real prize is “who’s the best Bass fisherman/ woman 2025”. We also believe that women would like to fish on a level with men ( equal rights ) no need for ladies prize. Kids – something to discuss??
Why a Shotgun Start: we decided that this would put pay to the fishing areas question & large v small boats, if you then want to go out 30 miles the people that don’t want to they get 3 hours more fishing time, so it’s down to you to plan your day and find the fish – big bass are everywhere!! And lots of ways to fish for them!
Dave Newnham & Dan Lumsden
We will review this proposal and members comments at our March monthly meeting. If you can’t attend please forward your comments to Neville or Steve Kelly.
This is a quick reminder that the Bass Take Season for recreational anglers is closed from 1st February to 31st March. If you catch a bass in this period you must release it immediately, unharmed – preferably by unhooking in the water. From 1st April you can keep up to two bass per angler per day provided they are longer than 42cm. The official details are on the government website but trust me, you’ll be glad I summarised them above.
The Bass Nursery Areas remain in force and include Portsmouth, Langstone and Chichester Harbours, and Southampton Water. These are closed for bass fishing from 1st May to 31st October. The areas are defined on the Southern IFCA Website
The SMAC season ends on 31st January and let’s face it, this time of year isn’t the best (or most comfortable) for fishing. We have traditionally used the next couple of months to introduce some variety and interest in our monthly meetings, and 2025 is no exception.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday 4th February at 7pm in the Marina Bar. After we swiftly cover our usual meeting topics we have the great pleasure of welcoming Steve Dimmer, founder of Portsmouth Marine Training. Steve will be giving us a short talk on troubleshooting diesel engine problems at sea. If you want more extensive training on marine diesel engines, Steve is Chief Instructor at the company and in addition to a number of other boat and shore-based courses, he also runs the RYA Diesel Engine course.
The following month on Tuesday 4th March we have invited Steve Thair, Unit Manager for Alton St. Johns Ambulance and First Responder to talk to us about First Aid at sea. Steve will explain the best ways to treat common injuries sustained while in small boats, and also how to deal with potentially more serious conditions. Steve will include a run-though of what to pack in a basic First Aid kit on board, which we should all have – and keep up to date.
Please come along and support these talks if you can. There’s always something new to learn even if you are familiar with these topics already.
Our January meeting was followed by our annual Curry Night in the Bombay Brasserie upstairs, which was a great incentive to turn out on a freezing night. With less than a month to go before our club season closes, those with prize positions on the Club Standings will be keeping an anxious eye on them. See below for a few surprising changes (mainly because I caught something worth weighing!)
Fish Of The Month was dominated by cod, mostly from the Cod Competition but Darren Price knocked all those down with his pre-competition cod of 7lb 10oz. Congratulations Darren.
We had a quick update on recent competitions: Mandela Cup won by John Wearn and the Cod Open Competition, best-placed Member (me) coming third. These are both written up individually, see links for details.
We had more discussion on the new Bass Open Competition planned for 6th July. This will be based on length so competitors must use a standard fish rule like the Tronixpro which we gave to members when the new bass regulations were first introduced. We have a number of options including: Competitors have to source and register their own rulers when signing up; we tap up Tronixpro to sponsor the event or we add to cost to the entry fee as a deposit. We will also have to think of the logistics of this if competitors sign up on-line, and we may also have to introduce a distance limitation. For example, 15nm from Langstone Fairway would be easy to check on a plotter, and would cover the Solent, Selsey and marks out to the Overfalls.
Steve suggested we revive our programme of guest speakers for the coming Winter meetings. A talk by a local diver and a talk on engine trouble-shooting at sea were suggested, and these will be followed up by members to see if the people involved would be interested.
The suggestion of purchasing two promotional banners for use at our Club and Open events was suggested and approved. The design will include a QR code for contact details. These will be purchased in time for our Presentation Night on 15th March.
Finally, Steve passed on responses from our previous questions to Premier. They will consider installing a tender and kayak rack and are also considering a lift/scrub/launch budget price deal for members.
There being no AOB, 12 of us retired upstairs for a good curry, beer and banter. Thanks John for organising.
Next Meeting: Tuesday 4th February, 7pm in the Marina Bar.
This month’s report is rather restricted because firstly, the weather was mostly foul and secondly, when we could fish we had the SMAC Mandela Cup and Open Cod Competition which have already been written up separately.
However, I did receive a very interesting catch report from David Cox which is worth featuring here in full:
” I’ve not posted a report for a while but thought you would like to know that my last fish of the season was a Blue Skate. It was a Juvenile of around 10lbs. It was thin with little in it’s belly but looked in good health. Caught not far from the Nab and went back safely. A great end to the season.
I hear the odd one has been caught along south Coast e.g Chesil. They are pretty rare and can live up to 100 years growing up to 300lb. They catch them up in Northern Ireland and Scotland. I remember as a little school boy on the Isle of Wight, some 60 years ago, of the odd one being caught off the end of Ryde Pier.
I would be interested to know if anyone else has come across them in the Solent area. This juvenile’s parents must be lurking in the Solent somewhere!”
That’s one that I haven’t seen yet on our SMAC Species Hunt list! Thank you for the report David. If anyone wants to contribute a catch report you are always very welcome. Just message or email me news@boat-angling.co.uk
After the usual multiple postponements it was a relief when the 29th December was forecast to be calm, if rather misty. Everyone was probably desperate to get out fishing after the festivities and we had a tremendous turnout of 82 anglers fishing from 44 boats. The on-line entry option proved very popular for the Hayling, Portsmouth and Island anglers attracting 34 competitors from further afield.
The target was cod, and failing that a decent whiting but both have proven elusive in previous years. However this year was a record with 10 cod weighed in leaving only five places to be made up with whiting. None were huge specimens but as long as they were above the MLS they counted!
We fished between 8am and 4pm with weigh-in at Southsea Marina by 5:30pm. The Marina Bar had kindly stayed open just for us, and we made good use of the facility while waiting for the results to come in. And here they are!
There were no claims for Junior or Ladies Bonus Prizes.
We would like to thank all of our sponsors who donated prizes: Premier Marinas; SMDAC; Baits ‘R Us; Victory Gas and Heating; Cosham Angling; Prestige Plumbing; Southsea Marina Bar; Fish-On Tackle; British Big Game Fishing; Sportsman’s Knight Charters, Newnham Builders and Mark Oldfield Plumbing and Gas Service.
We would also like to thank the Marina Bar staff who stayed on to serve us both days this weekend, Ruper Bremer of Southsea Marina who also stayed around to help manage the berthing of a lot of boats, Steve Kelly for all the organising and most of all, the anglers who made this competition such a great event.
Watch out for three SMAC Open Competitions in summer 2025: Bream, Species and a new one – Bass!
It’s hard to create as much drama as the Oscars when announcing the annual Mandela Cup winner but hey, it’s an important milestone in the SMAC calendar. Traditionally fished between Christmas and the New Year as a friendly within the club, we have often had to fish from the marina pontoons when the weather was bad. This year we were blessed with calm conditions even if they were misty and cold too.
We were aiming for the biggest cod but predictably, they didn’t come out to play. 10 anglers in five boats chased whiting as a substitute, “and the winner is….” – wait, you’ve already seen the photo. So much for the big reveal. John Wearn with a whiting of 1lb 1 oz wins him the £25 prize pot, plus of course the actual Mandela Cup at the annual Presentation Night at the end of the season. Congratulations John!
