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By Vic, 12 May, 2010 14:08

I’ve been going over the pages on this site after my dearly beloved FPO commented that “There are a few typos on your blog” shortly after she’d been reading through. Now of course, I have all the time in the world to go back and do all these corrections but that would prevent me from doing something really useful during my down time – fishing! However, I will get around it at some stage. Anyway I digress.

During my checking, I realised that all the photographs that I had laid out for the article on reel balancing were missing for some unknown reason. I have just found them and they are back in place to supplement the article and show what I am trying to say. So if you’re like me and prefer pictures to words or you like pictures and words, the article is now as it should be.

Multiplier Reel Balancing

Again, I thank Neil Mackellow for allowing the use of his photos in this article.

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By Vic, 10 May, 2010 12:33

The third ‘All England squid Fishing Championship‘  was held yesterday on the East arm of Brighton Marina with a good turnout of 48 competitors who raised £240 for the RNLI. In comparison with last year, when the competition was held in warm sunshine and I got sunburn, the start for this year was somewhat different – cold NNE breeze (very light) and light rain. Last year was ‘T’ shirts, this year was waterproofs and thermal wear. It has to be said though, that later on, the breeze was virtually zero and the slight  rain was patchy to zero, so not that horrendous.

Before going to the appointed meeting place, I popped into ‘The Tackle Box for a few bits ‘n’ pieces. Being someone with a limited memory, I had written ‘Bait Elastic’ on the back of my hand, it was unfortunate that I had omitted to write or add ‘Bait’ to the list, as that vital item was sitting forgotten at home in the fridge!

Everyone met up at the café on the East arm at 4pm where entrance money (towards RNLI charity) was handed over and in return, entrants were given a Tronix squid jig in the colour of their choice, I opted for a very fetching green. We drew numbered score cards that denoted the order in which contestants walked off for the start – I drew no.10 which wasn’t too bad. Soon we were off and walking to wherever we could get a space. Another WSF member, ‘mr codling’ and his cousin ‘Ant ‘ were just before me but we decided on fishing together so that witnessing and card signing would be easier. We eventually found some vacant space at bays 41-43 and started to set up. We were also joined by Mr and Mrs Wee Haggis and their usual large amount of kit.

Official kick off  was 5pm and at that time, many jigs were cast out in expectancy and 48 pairs of eyes stared at floats, waiting for them to slide under the surface. In our little merry band, Mrs Haggis was the first to strike within the first 10 minutes and after I wielded the net, her first ever squid was safely on the deck. It was quickly dispatched, measured at 37cm and put in the cool bag. Things were looking good and it promised to be fruitful session.

After this first bit of activity, I’m afraid I got  lost  in it all and couldn’t tell at what happened at what time but my turn was next when I had a reasonable sized Cuttlefish on the line which escaped during the attempts to net the thing – my first chance blown! It wasn’t until quite a way into the session that my next chance came when I hook a squid, which got to the surface and then let go. I immediately let the jig back down and luckily, the squid grabbed it again and this time was safely netted by wee haggis. After measuring the critter (37cm) and getting my card signed, it was back for attempts at more; in my case no more, as that was it for me – not even a sniff at another squid or cuttlefish.

For the rest of the time, we saw no more action apart from wee haggis getting a mackerel on his jig and Ant managing to bring in a black bream on his…. weird! I did get to enjoy some very nice coffee from Mrs Haggis’ ‘kitchen’ which was certainly better than what I had in my flask. Before long, it was 10pm – the finish of the competition and the walk back to the meeting point, totting up of points and the giving out of the awards and prizes. Sadly, I got nowt for my efforts apart from a tasty squid for dinner and a great time in good company – just hope next year is a bit warmer and drier.

Many thanks to Fishyrob and George ‘Tronix’ for organising the event, the sponsors and dealers who donated kit for prizes along with the Brighton restaurant FishyFishy

Competition results can be viewed here. Hopefully, I’ll have some photos to add soon.

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By Vic,

Recently, while cleaning and filleting some mackerel I’d caught, Anna thought it would be a good idea to do a short article on the subject for her cookery blog for people who want to do this themselves. Now, the purists and commercial fishing community may frown on my efforts but I find it’s an easy way and does away with having to find and remove any remaining pin bones with tweezers or pliers.

Article is here : How to fillet a mackerel

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By Vic, 8 May, 2010 12:53

New site for real sea anglers has been established at Real Sea Anglers to add a place for us ordinary folk who enjoy and take our fishing seriously to voice our concerns over plans to restrict our traditional rights in sea fishing. Below is a direct quote from the site and is a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. Please visit, have a read and if you are in agreement, sign up at www.realseaanglers.org

Real Sea Anglers are people like you & me. We love & respect the sea and the bounty it provides. We fish with hook and line to relax from the stresses of everyday life, be at one with nature, and with luck bring something home to feed our selves and our families.

We do not sell our catch. We do not leave our lines unattended. We do not waste the resources of the sea. We care.

We care most for our historic freedom to fish in the waters of the British Isles, without let or hindrance, as untold generations have done before us, whether from the shore or in small craft.

Real Sea Angling is under threat today.

The Marine and Coastal Act in England, together with it’s clones in Scotland and the other nations of our Isles, combined with the inclusion of Sea Angling in the European Common Fisheries Policy, will deprive us of our traditional rights.

Our freedom to dig baits like lugworm, and ragworm, to collect shellfish for bait, whether they be mussels, cockles, razor fish or peeler crabs and shrimps will be removed under this Act.

Our freedom to decide for ourselves where we fish, what fish we keep for bait, what fish we keep to eat, and what we catch and release will be taken from us.

Our freedom to launch our small boats from beaches and slipways anywhere in the British Isles will be taken from us.

The operation of Angling Charter Boats will be made impossible.

We must not allow this to happen. And you can help to prevent it, if you are a Real Sea Angler.

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By Vic, 29 April, 2010 10:12

I had another early start at Brighton Marina yesterday morning in the quest for tasty Cephalopods and some practice for the upcoming 3rd All England squid Championship on the 8th of May. After a quick visit to the Tackle Box for some more leads (Cheers Eddy for opening up early), I headed over to the West arm and grabbed a spot at the ‘Float Only’ bays at the end about an hour after low water. The weather looked promising with an overcast sky, very light Southerly breeze and a flat calm and clear sea, so I was optimistic as I set up the now standard rig of float fished jigs. I bucked the trend of using pink jigs and within minutes had cast out a green Tronix jig to do it’s work in the current which was running quickly as the tide rose.

I guess it must have been around 9am when I had my first take which saw the float slide under the surface. As the creature got to the surface, it gave an almighty spurt, slipped the jig and disappeared. Buoyed up by the take, I was confident that others would follow and at about 10.30am, I had another take which saw another squid on the surface. I could see that it was comparatively small and so had no problem swinging it up without using the net. First one done, I worked the float  through the swim in the hope of a quick follow up but it all went a bit slow with only a couple of missed takes.

Danny, one of the guys from the WSF internet forums turned up about 11am for a bit of a chin wag and fishy talk of plans for the summer. My wife Anna joined us half and hour later, wanting to see how her delicious squid dishes start out and how they’re caught; it also gave us the chance to blow the cobwebs away over losing one of cats on Tuesday when he had to be put down.

Just before mid-day and the top of the tide saw the action quicken when I had a take and a squid on, it looked pretty small and I thought I’d have no problem in swinging it when, despite the kind offer from a nearby angler to net it for me. The result? bloody thing dropped just as I was beginning to lift it. The next two successive takes resulted in the squid letting go as they were about to surface. Another take and some good netting by Danny saw a lovely Cuttlefish safely on the deck. It wasn’t until 1pm, after Anna and Danny had gone and two dropped takes later that I had another squid on; this one stayed on and was kindly netted for me by the guy in the next bay. His services were required shortly after when yet another squid was on. This one made it all the way to the net before slipping off at the last second.

There was no more action for me after this but at around 3pm, a local angler of many years, ‘Farmer George’ landed a good sized squid after he had settled in my bay. By 4pm I had had enough for the day, and as I was working that evening, I had to leave – pleased with the result but annoyed at the missed opportunities. With inclement weather forecast for the next few days, here’s hoping that by the time the squid competition comes around next week, the conditions calm and clear out, otherwise it means postponement.