Real Newbi

[colinhelen]

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I Am a new member and to date have done no fishing at all since i was 14. (I am now 62). All my life to date i have been looking after others and have now decided it is time for me, So, I have bought a 22Ft fishing boat with inboard Diesel engine and once my rear canopy is finished i intend to set forth into the Bristol Channel and Fish. I understand the channel can be a little dangerous at times and have no idea about Tackle, Bait and fishing areas, ETC so am looking for a knowledgeable person or persons to give me advice and practical assistance in first of all checking that I have managed to equip my craft with sufficient items to ensure a good and safe fishing experience and then to sail with me to show me where and how to fish. I intend to launch on the Bristol side and travel down the Avon into the channel. I intend to write about my experiences in this forum so look for Updates. I should have my boat back around 10/01/2012. Anyone interested in joining me?
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[chris.oldgit]

hi and welcome to the forum, MrG2000 would be the man to speak to with any questions, he fishes the chanel and has lots of experience from that area, i also believe he has or had a boat there to, no doubt he will be along soon.
and good luck with your new venture.

[the pyromaniac]

Welcome!

It's been 3 hours, I'm surprised MRG hasn't shown up yet...

[chris.oldgit]

probably drowning some worms lol

[the pyromaniac]

Yep. Wish I was too...

24*F, snow, and the wife, kid, and one of the cats being sick don't really make for a day I can fish...

[MRG2000]

Originally Posted by chris.oldgit

probably drowning some worms lol

On the field casting actually Chris

[MRG2000]

Originally Posted by colinhelen

I Am a new member and to date have done no fishing at all since i was 14. (I am now 62). All my life to date i have been looking after others and have now decided it is time for me, So, I have bought a 22Ft fishing boat with inboard Diesel engine and once my rear canopy is finished i intend to set forth into the Bristol Channel and Fish. I understand the channel can be a little dangerous at times and have no idea about Tackle, Bait and fishing areas, ETC so am looking for a knowledgeable person or persons to give me advice and practical assistance in first of all checking that I have managed to equip my craft with sufficient items to ensure a good and safe fishing experience and then to sail with me to show me where and how to fish. I intend to launch on the Bristol side and travel down the Avon into the channel. I intend to write about my experiences in this forum so look for Updates. I should have my boat back around 10/01/2012. Anyone interested in joining me?

Welcome to the forum Colin ,you`ll be going out into one of the most difficult and dangerous place for a novice boater ,the closer you get to the upper reaches the more carefull you`ll need to be .I ran a Charter boat for many years from Penarth,so am pretty familiar with the Bristol Channel.

Before offering advice ,what level of equipement to you already have ,and whats your boating experiance to date .....

Based on that hopefully i can give you a few pointers ....

[colinhelen]

Hi
Mike???? Thanks for replying.
Present level of equipment on boat
The Boat is a fairly Old Grp 22Ft Fishing boat which is sound and strong. Does not have any inbuilt flotation material but am considering filling all voids below deck with expanding foam.
First aid kit including sea sick tablets (I am a Trained first aider)
Smoke flares and parachute flare in watertight container.
Ship DSC radio registered with Ofcom and taken and passed Short Range Certificate.
a Tuff Book Laptop(Waterproof) with GPS software and GPS Ariel ( Not found out how to link GPS to Radio?)
Decent Compass
A Fish Finder with Sonar transducer for Depth.
Two Fire extinguishers.
Two Anchors with 20Ft Chain and 50Mtr rope.
Anchor retrieval Buoy.
Two Ring type lifesaver Buoys.
6 Adult approved life jackets each with light and whistle.
1 Floatation Suit
9.9 Auxiliary Outboard Engine and Fuel Tank
Spare Container of Diesel (Main tank could be contaminated)
Plastic Jerry type water carrier
Oven and Top burners to make Tea and Coffee. Warm food etc.
Mobile Phone
The Boat will be on a mooring and will be accessed by a rib which could be towed behind the boat for added safety.
The boat is powered by a 1.9Ltr diesel engine connected to an Enfield Leg both of which have been serviced.
Twin Batteries charged from main Engine backed up by small solar panel
Air Horns to be used as fog horns

No "HEAD" at the mo. But the Sea is big and wide and needs a "TOP UP" sometimes

Now the Bad bit. the only experience of sailing is when i was a schoolboy I passed my Junior Yaughtsman Certificate in a 14Ft G.P. this is why i need someone with experience of the Bristol channel and its Tides and someone able to teach me enough seamanship to survive. If they are fishermen prepared to teach then great, but initially i need experience of the channel

[MRG2000]

Colin , your boat is pretty well prepared for anything the Bristol channel can throw at you .

Before you venture out i`d look into doing RYA powerboat qualifications ,to level 2 at least as this will give the knowledge of charts and navigation you need ,including practical on the water training , the Day Skipper qualification might be helpfull too. Sea survival is a great course too ..


The biggest challenge in the Channel is the tides , to be honest experiance of this can only be gained over time , maybe find someone you can go out with ,until you have abit of experiance ,and confidence ,then take your own boat out .

[colinhelen]

Hi again Mike.
Once again thank you for replying.
I took my Short range Certificate in Portishead and considered several other courses up to and including Day Skipper and Also believe in getting as much formal training as possible. The thing is i have spent over Three months overhauling, Painting, and refitting my boat. I have had to wait over two months for a Engineering company to manufacture S Steel hoops for a rear canopy and now i am waiting for the actual canopy to be made. I am 62 and feel i do not have that much time before i will be unable to achieve my dream and arthritis or age related infirmities stop me. I may be being foolish but believe the time is right for me. Practical experience with guidance is far better than anything learned from a book or even in a classroom. If all else fails I am a "Fishing Member" of a sailing club and may be able to get one of the other members to come out with me a few times, but it would be in MY BOAT
Cheers
Colin