Category: Article (Page 10 of 11)

You may have wondered why Dave and Caroline, one time my most prolific Catch Reporters, had been absent from this site. Poor Caroline had been fighting cancer but after many brave months she she has now been given the all clear, which we are all delighted to hear. They have some other news too – they will be starting a new charter business from their purpose-built Swiftcat 11.4 metre catamaran – see photo above. Due to be launched in the Spring on 2018, it will be  to be fitted with Evinrude Etec G2 300hp engines which will provide a cruising speed of 26 – 28 knots and a WOT of 42 knots. It will be coded for 12+2 but the plan is to limit anglers to 8. There is a temporary web site  www.charterboatdointhedo.co.uk

We will bring more news as the project progresses. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing more of Dave and Caroline on this site, with their amazing catches. Here is a reminder:

Like it says! The weather was too bad on 3rd and 10th so it has been moved to 17th as back-up. All are welcome to enter, this is not restricted to SMAC members. Great prize table too.

You may have seen the warning on the weather reports. Southsea Marina have sent a message to all berth holders asking them to ensure boats afloat have extra fenders, mooring lines are checked and doubled, and all canopies secured. If you are not in Southsea Marina I recommend you do the same, it looks like a very nasty situation building up in the Atlantic with a hurricane heading our way.

OK, I know these are going to be a very rare visitor to our waters, if at all, but the issue is still relevant. Atlantic bluefin tuna is recognised as an endangered species by the WWF and the IUCN Red List. The EU supported by the UK Government have issued regulations to protect them in UK waters:

Commercial
Vessels must not target bluefin tuna and if caught accidentally they must be returned to the sea, alive and unharmed to the greatest extent possible.

Recreational
Sea anglers must not target bluefin tuna, any caught as a by-catch when targeting other species must be released immediately and not landed or brought onto the boat.

Yet we still see responsible angling magazines and less responsible newspapers publishing pictures of anglers catching and boating bluefin tuna. This is likely to encourage more rules and regulations to apply to all anglers not just those who are obviously breaking the rules.

It looks like the proposed restrictions will be limited to the prohibition of towed gear with half a mile of the Utopia MCZ.

It is at the By-law proposal stage.

More here:

http://www.sussex-ifca.gov.uk/live-consultations

Update 8th September 2017:

Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority is now formally consulting on the proposed Utopia Marine Conservation Zone Schedule of the Marine Protected area Byelaw.

The proposed Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2017 Schedule 4 ensures fishing activities meet Natural England’s conservation advice for the Utopia Marine Conservation Zone and prohibits the use of mobile gear. The full byelaw and schedule, together with the Impact Assessment and guidance material can be found here: www.sussex-ifca.gov.uk/live-consultations

Any person wishing to comment or object about the confirmation of the above byelaw and the provisions within Schedule 4 (the existing Schedules are not subject to change or consultation) must make representations in writing before 9th October 2017 both to:

Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team,
Marine Management Organisation,
Lancaster House,
Hampshire Court,
Newcastle Upon Tyne,
NE4 7YH.

Email ifcabyelaws@marinemanagement.org.uk

AND send a copy of this representation to:

Chief Fisheries and Conservation Officer,
Sussex IFCA,
12a Riverside Business Centre,
Shoreham-by-Sea,
BN43 6RE.

Email admin@sussex-ifca.gov.uk

Any queries please contact

Alice Tebb
Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Officer

Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority 12a Riverside Business Centre, Brighton Rd, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 6RE

Tel: 01273 454407 |  Fax: 01273 464668

Web: www.sussex-ifca.gov.uk

Britain’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is set to enter her new home in Portsmouth on Wednesday 16 August 2017.

The 65,000-tonne carrier, the biggest warship ever to be built in Britain, has been undergoing sea trials since setting sail from Scotland’s Rosyth dockyard in June.

She is now set to make her historic arrival into Portsmouth on Wednesday at approximately 0710 where she will be the latest in a long line of famous Royal Navy ships to call the port home.

Weather conditions meant the exact date of the historic moment could not be confirmed until today.

If you are planning to greet her arrival, High Water is approximately 06.30am

Last Tuesday my wife and I were fishing for mackerel around Nomans-land fort. We caught a few but then decided to move up towards the Warner buoy. We were travelling at about 15 knots when I noticed something in the water just ahead of us. It turned out to be a racing pigeon lying in the water with its wings stretched out desperately trying to keep its head above water in order to breath. Our wash did not help matters but we fished it out using the landing net. Unfortunately the bird has a broken wing but has recovered well after his ordeal. I contacted the owner who does not want it back as he says they are supposed to fly back not swim,and this same bird has failed before costing him £40 to get it back,so if it did recover and go back it would be curtains for it. Someone told me he had seen seagulls attacking racing pigeons driving them into the sea so this maybe what had happened to this one. So anyone out there want a pet retired racing pigeon???

11th August update:

I realised you all would want to hear the end of the story about my pigeon catch in the Solent!

Everyone I spoke to looked at the broken Wong and declared that it was a lost clause so should be   Killed until I spoke to an old friend Paul Martin and his wife Sally who run the Haven Falconry. Their reaction on seeing the bird was, what a lovely bird. They have set the broken wing and the bird is now settling down in his new home. Thank you to the person who did contact me offering the bird a home.Now  just hope the fish are biting on our next trip.

Howard ALLEN , Manx Maid out of Bembridge.

Great White off Hayling?

Graeme Pullen thinks so! Read here