I am reflecting on yesterday's comp and from what most people have said we all really enjoyed the day and will return in even greater numbers next year!
My only gripe ( and I promise it isn't a serious one! 
) is that we saw Eels far smaller than several we hooked being weighed in.
Personally I wouldn't keep an Eel unless I believed it held a good chance of taking the competition, but my crew assured me that "Dad" makes something very tasty from them and so they were allowed one each. I really hope that the other snakes brought to the scales go to good use...
I am sure they will and why I am writing this I am not sure, it was just something on my mind.
The competition was excellently organised and appeared to run like clockwork. In addition, it being a specimen comp was fantastic in cutting down on the wholesale slaughter seen in comps of yesteryear.
I don't know how it would be viewed by the committee and the masses, but to enhance the conservation side even further would the club consider a minimum size to weigh in?
For example: My crew were Congering (not dancing round the boat, but trying to catch eels 
). Brian was only allowed to keep his strap, because it was his first eel and he assured me it would be eaten), but I would have been very happy with a 75% of specimen rule. Meaning we wouldn't be eligible to weigh in an eel of less than 30lb
The rule would apply across the species board and would hopefully reduce even further the killing of fish that would not normally be for the table.
Is a 75% of specimen size a good rule to introduce or do you think it would just make the competition less attractive?
****
I have to say that after being in this "new" club for just a month the experience has been very rewarding. Loads of great people, collectively with tonnes of experience across the board. Everyone has made me feel very welcome and shared information. Thanks.
Tom
COnservation all very well, but on the other end of the spectrum, what if it was really bad day? Very few fish being caught, and there's a chance prizes lower down won't be won because very few fish being brought back.
I'm sure most fish were taken back to eat one way or another.
A fantastic day out in Sinbad, albeit spoilt by the fishing !
Alun J was up early for the sign in at baiter, and express couriered two bacon rolls back to Christchurch slipway.
Launching from Christchurch and fishing the inshore bay marks we thought would give us better chances with a nice Bass or sizable Whiting, or even hopes of snagging a Cod/ Ray / Conger, which is always a possibility in this area.
(Some chance!) 
Also made sense to me, with small / slow boat not to fish offshore and lose the first part of the ebb and the flood to steaming time. Perhaps should have stayed in the harbour for the flatties !
The plan was to fish the last of the flood off the ledge, and then the ebb at Xray.
In the end we fished Xray then a small wreck 2m further offshore, for masses of Doggies and a few whiting and Pout, then returned to the deep water off the ledge on the flood. The plan was OK, but the water temperature of 8 degrees was a severe change from two weeks ago, and may have put the conger off and moved the Whiting offshore.
Listening to all the 'whingeing' on Channel 06 about the lack of action in the spoil area, was at least easier to bear as we were finding the sport between dogfish, fairly poor to say the least.
The steam back in was un-memorable 20mins or so, followed by rapid pack up, drop off boat at Alun's, and change cars for the drive over to Baiter by 16:50hrs - just made it! Bit like the 'great rod race' only without the camera crew and the fish.
Anyway, we very much appreciated the early start that Veronica and others made to cater for us, and the many hours of personal time given up by the organising committee to make the day run so smoothly.
I thought the sponsorship was remarkably generous, the prizes very attractive to competitors and well targetted to boat fishermens needs - it was also good to see the sponsors representatives there on a Sunday to support the prize giving.
This has given me great encouragement to do better next time!!
Paul F
Is a 75% of specimen size a good rule to introduce or do you think it would just make the competition less attractive?
Tom, a good point but one that I think has to sit with the skipper and crew on the day.
Personally I wouldn't bring a fish to the scales that I didn't believe had a reasonable chance of a 'major' prize unless I would have taken the same fish for the table on any other occasion.
The ban on sharks, including tope, taken last year indicates a serious concern over conservation by the club and committee, and the lack of anyone targetting wrasse, despite the opportunities available in our waters, is I believe indicative of a wider responsibility.
It would be nice to know the estimated prize cut off percentage throughout the day but even this is flawed as the apparant discrepency on my scales showed!
If the club was looking to implement a rule across the competitions fished through the year I would be more in tune with your suggestion but this is the only one fished to the scales with little evidence of people targettign inediable species over the years.
Good topic for airing though.
Is a 75% of specimen size a good rule to introduce or do you think it would just make the competition less attractive
Tom,
Thanks for bring this up, it's a good point and one i was reflecting on today.
I will bring this to the commitee to discuss.
Input like this helps us improve year on year which is our aim
Cheers
Paul J
Is a 75% of specimen size a good rule to introduce or do you think it would just make the competition less attractive
Tom,
Thanks for bring this up, it's a good point and one i was reflecting on today.
I will bring this to the commitee to discuss.
Input like this helps us improve year on year which is our aim
Cheers
Paul J
Thanks Paul
I don't want to be seen as an interfering busybody, and the idea wouldn't stop people keeping fish for the table during a competition, it would just make the weigh in more competitive with only the very best fish being elligible.
Eg: Yesterday, me and the guys had plenty of Whiting we didn't weigh in, but we did keep a few to take for tea. My crew also wanted a Conger each as they eat them. but I did limit it to one "nominated fish" each. No harm done and no wastage.
The obvious difficulty is a descrepancy in scales:
On the scales on the boat Martin's conger came in at about 34lb and on the official scales 6 or 7 hours later it was about 36lb, however the Whiting I weighed in was 2lb 4oz on my scales and only 1lb 15oz on yours. I wasn't worried as as far as I was concerned the competition was fun and on the whole I think most people would be happy.
The other problem is if the competition was particularly tough you may not get enough fish weighed in for the prizes available. I don't think that their is an answer to that apart from maybe rolling smaller prizes over to another competition.
As I have said in my Poll, it is just an idea that even if not officially carried over I would probably instigate on my boat for all fish not normally consumed.
A final thought, although probably very tough to monitor in practise would be to have assigned fishing "zones" where competitors must fish.
Within each of the zones a marshal boat is available with official scales and fish are weighed and released (where appropriate) on board with the marshals decision as final. The hardest part here is transfer of the marshals at sea. It isn't actually difficult to do safely, but does take practise and it may not be feasible for H&S reasons.
Tom
PS: Anyone who reads this thread and or the Poll, please input your thoughts, positive or negative.
Hi all
Nice to see that as we all recover from a long day the comments are all so positive 
after a very busy and enjoyable day yesterday, we can all reflect on the events of the day.
What a superb turnout, Thanks to all who fished and especially the Ladies that got up early in the cold to help out.
I would like to join in all of the comments about our numorous and very generous sponsors, they are helping to expand this competition year on year and we all must thank them for their support.
On the point that Tom makes on conservation, we as a Club are 100% behind conservation of our sport and the fish that we target. No one more so than my boys and I.
However [As Duncan says}on the one comp a year that we run with a weigh in the odd fish taken to the scales I consider to be acceptable.
We spent ages yesterday changing the water in my bait tank in the effort to keep the smoothy and Conger alive, but after weighing they would not swim off in the harbour [the LSD did}
so they, together with a few pout and another non returnable eel caught on another boat were given to a friend from work to be consumed.
That is the first smoothy I have killed in about 18 years so while I was sad to see that we could not return it. I will keep it in perspective , together with 1 conger killed this year out of dozens caught on my boat.
On the other point about minimum sizes, we can select a percentage but it must be set well in advance and advertised so that people can decide if they want to fish to these sizes.
Adjusting this limit or trying to track it through the day would be impossible and unfair on whoever was trying to do so
We know from fishing other comps [our Burnham trail away] that these rules work and conserve fish.
But in an Open comp we must set the level at a rate to allow fish to be recorded.
Your competition Committee worked hard to get over
Hi
This was my first open since joining the club, last year I had just moved so I was a helper.
As I am still learning marks I headed for the spoils and sure enough there were a few boats already there so my thinking was about right. 
Where to drop the pick was the next thing, saw a charter boat and thought they know more than me so I parked up near by.
Soon into a nodding fish, think might be a cod but no just a nice whiting. I am used to small whiting on the East coast so seemed very nice to me. 
My crew mate Bill had a small spotted ray but did not weigh it as it was small so back she went.
Had a couple of doggies but got fed up with the conditions so moved for more shelter but as the boat kept swinging about it was imposibe to fish so moved again, and again but no fish. 
(You are not the only ones Jack)
Would like to thank the organisers and especially Paul J for all his hard work to make it a succesful comp for the club.
Well done mate, first class.
Coddy
After a 6.30am start on the river and scrapping the ice from the boat, it seemed so nice and warm in my bed some 30 mins ago!, but aftera steay plod down to the quay and a nice cup of tea things seemed a lot better, a brisk walk along to Baiter and back along with very welcome bacon roll soon got the blood pumping,we decided to target the flounders instead of the long haul out after see the forcast, so under the bridge and into Holes bay for one of those monsters often pulled from within there,not a bite in 2 1/2 hrs!! so on we moved to our next spot where were joined by another boat , but still no action and the time was marching on, so with the last throw of the dice we decided to head up towards home and plant the boat on the mud with a rising tide and wait.
Still nothing and the clock moves onto 2pm,when Charlie retrieves his line very slowly and spots a flounder following it up, this stirs us into action thinking we might just see some action! still no bites though, until I spot the faintest of tugs on my line, after about 5 mins I eased into the first fish of the day and what turned out be my best of 2lb 8oz on the boat 2lb 2oz at the scales within the next 20mins or so 3 more were bought aboard, 1lb 14oz being the next best for Charlie to also claim a prize, so with some regret we decided to leave and give ourselves plenty of time to moor up and get back to the wiegh in hoping to be in the prizes,made it to Baiter in loads of time, great to see so many people taking part and returning so many fish, cant wait to hook one of those congers when i'm next flounder fishing!!!!!
Onto the club and presentation, great atmosphere and chat,had no idea I had winning fish so what a surprise when I heard the wieght of the winning fish, I was blown away for a minute or two, and what a choice of prizes,so after a very,very slow start to the day it all went as planned!!!! it just shows its never over until Charlie closes the scales!! Thanks to all the committee for great day and all the hard work,also to the sponsors (Golden Arrow) for my wonderful prize,and all the others that were kind enough to donate.
Kim
We spent ages yesterday changing the water in my bait tank in the effort to keep the smoothy and Conger alive, but after weighing they would not swim off in the harbour [the LSD did}
so they, together with a few pout and another non returnable eel caught on another boat were given to a friend from work to be consumed.
Hi Charlie
Please don't think I am having a dig at anyone. The competition was a great success and all of you who oranised it clearly worked very hard and made the whole event brilliant. My idea (whatever the %) is purely an idea to show how committed we are to our sport and also to make things are bit more competitive.
We had a great days fishing and enjoyed the whole day from sign in (Bacon butties were great) through to presentations.
If I was knew how to keep an several angry conger alive and calm through the day I would be sure to have weighed in better fish. The little blighters were not having any of it and refused to go anywhere near my live tank and continued to "climb" out of my large black fish bin so I took the view that I wouldn't personally bring one to the scales that didn't look a clear winner.
I chose to go congering wrongly assuming that a 40 would be a doddle so I personally chose the wrong species to win.
I think it is tremendous that the club has such a great junior section and applaud they way they join in on everything so the last thing I am suggesting is to be a killjoy, but the very fact that the competition is just one day a year, in my very humble opinion, means to me that I, personally, would only want to weigh in a fish I was proud of rather than "something" I may get a prize from.
As I say, it is my opinion and I was interested to see if any others felt the same way. If not (as it appears by the way my Poll is going ) I will respect the view of others and shut up, however I will fish the way I believe is right.
Fishing this way will mean that I may not win many prizes in competitions, but if and when I do win it will be with a good fish that I am genuinely proud of.
Ok, me of my box now and I promise not to make any more comments in this topic or my poll.
Hi all
I am now fully recovered after a hard day organising and fishing yesterday. Up at 5am to finish the preparations for the day. Down at Baiter for about 6.20 to drop off gear and help set up. I then had to dash around towing the boat all over Poole looking for an open petrol station to refuel Maverick (note to myself refuel well in advance next year). Any way after seeing most competitors sign in Dean Tony D and myself left Baiter and went out on the slates.
Weather wise was as already stated a little sloppy, fishable but not pleasant. Our first choice of mark didn
Early start for me - got to Baiter from Christchurch around 7 AM and my fishing partner for the day travelling all the way from Portsmouth.
Uneventful launch and had a little bit of trouble starting the engine as the boat has not been out for what seems like an eternity.
Realised on way out that I had forgotten to get any useful marks and having fished out of Poole only once before, I decided on heading for the slates if it was not too rough ( decided it was ! ) or the East of the Spoil grounds if it was. ( Last year I got a sizeable whiting from this mark - this year we had quantity but not quality.
Started off fairly quickly with what turned out to be our biggest whiting within 15 minutes of setting up. Throughout the day we had "waves" of whiting but the fishing was sporadic to say the least. Steve had a dogfish and Bass on each hook of his pennel rig - bass was only around 1 1/2 lb so returned.
We had around 8 whiting each by the end. so decided to have a go in the Swash channel ( never know might catch a 22lb turbot ! ) as was getting fed up being tossed around in the lumpy sea ( although I have fished in worst - last year or example ! ).
On the way back in tried having a go at the herring in the channel and caught 4 of them in 15 mins but cut this short as my engine was failing to idle and was then running really lumpy - I think one of the carbs is flooding - engine service needed ASAP.
We were going to have a go for flounder in the harbour having followed Splash Out in but stopped for the Herring instead. Having read Rich's report I wish we had 
Nice picture of Neo struggling back in with a rough running engine - thanks Trevor.
Sorry not to have gone to the presentation, but unfortunately I really had to get back home after the comp.
Many thanks to Paul J and the rest of the organising committee for an excellent comp and next year I will have learnt how to catch some Flounder
hi all,
thanks to all who organised for sundays comp. well done
did not catch many but enjoyed the day, sorry i could not join
you all at te presentation as i had to travel home
:
hi all,
thanks to all who organised sundays event
sorry i could not be at the presentation but had to travel home 160 miles in time for work monday . thanks to coddy and all people responsible for this event
i realy enjoyed the day thanks
bill smith
Many thanks to all committee members and helpers for making yesterday successful and enjoyable........... despite the chilly weather.
Organisation, atmosphere and company was brilliant.......... well done!
Being fairly new to competitive angling, I learnt a lot......despite not being on form with my fish - finding calls for the day.
I'll definitely be giving it another go next year.
Thanks again,
Alun.