Where do I begin?

[yabulurie]

Hi there,
I have very limited experience of fishing, but have always loved the sea, swimming and eating fish and shellfish.
I was recently lucky enough to be taken sailing with a friend in the Solent for the weekend and having been invited to go back, I thought it would nice to get them a present (that I could use of course!) that would allow fish or possibly shellfish to be caught.
This took me on a web search and to this site, which seemed filled with very knowledgable fishing types.
One thing I am really interested to know is whether the Solent is the sort of place where one can catch edible crabs or even lobsters in pots if positioned cleverly overnight...and if so, what sort of kit would be recommended as that would make a perfect gift.
Failing that, where would you suggest a beginner to start - bearing in mind that the boat is a trimiran is generally travelling quite fast (8-11 knots), which I have heard may be too fast for things like mackerel. So perhaps it would be better to fish when anchored?
Hoping for some wise words
Thank you

[scottish_and_mental]

Originally Posted by yabulurie

Hi there,
I have very limited experience of fishing, but have always loved the sea, swimming and eating fish and shellfish.
I was recently lucky enough to be taken sailing with a friend in the Solent for the weekend and having been invited to go back, I thought it would nice to get them a present (that I could use of course!) that would allow fish or possibly shellfish to be caught.
This took me on a web search and to this site, which seemed filled with very knowledgable fishing types.
One thing I am really interested to know is whether the Solent is the sort of place where one can catch edible crabs or even lobsters in pots if positioned cleverly overnight...and if so, what sort of kit would be recommended as that would make a perfect gift.
Failing that, where would you suggest a beginner to start - bearing in mind that the boat is a trimiran is generally travelling quite fast (8-11 knots), which I have heard may be too fast for things like mackerel. So perhaps it would be better to fish when anchored?
Hoping for some wise words
Thank you

The solent is full of edible goodies from big spider crabs to lobsters , scallops to razorfish plus a vast array of fish species .. travelling at 8 knots wouldnt do much good unless we started to get marlin off the needles but i would reccomend drift fishing over one of the banks or rough ground patches for some nice flatfish , bass and the usual pollack,mackerel and garfish.
at anchor theres the possibility of allsorts of fish too
pots can be bought of ebay but avoid the mini plastic folding ones as they are naff. a good length of rope and a marker buoy will have then hunting in no time .
a word of warning tho - be wary of commercial pots and dont place yours in an area where yours might ' magically disappear' when said skipper arrives to haul his pots
Steve

[yabulurie]

Steve,
Thanks so much for the tips.
I had no idea there were spider crabs in abundance in the Solent - they are my favourite - if an absolute bugger to prepare!
Spider crabs and lobsters sounds like heaven to me....
Clearly I don't want to get something that a commercial fisher will snaffle up, but at the same time will want to get something that is built to last (I hate our disposable culture)
Does anyone have any advice about where I should look?
Many many thanks
Yabu

[scottish_and_mental]

It's not that they will snaffle it up mate,more that they will be protecting their patch and might just cut the line !
if your party are anchored up over night why not attatch a pot to the anchor chain and leave it till you set off again ?
I pretty sure the majority of places you left it would mean it remained unmolested ,as i say its more of a caution than anything major to worry about .
As for the spiders - the south coast waters have an invasion of spiders every may untill july when they come into the shallow water to mate .chesil beach in particular throws up some monsters every year !
I Know your not on the coast but i have looked into the very same before and was told it's always worth visiting a harbour and asking one of the potting boats if they have an odd pot or creel lying about the lock up that you could buy off them .. failing that just turn to Mr Google !
Im off fishing later today and hope i dont see a single crab ( other than the frozen ones im taking for bait )

[barbelblanker]

Welcome aboard. I'd watch out for all them posh bu@@ers in yachts round Cowes week me.