A real struggle with the weather this week,the fishing ok but could have been better?bye our standards.Frst day this week Tuesday two regulars booked the boat .Remember this. ROOT GINGER CAPSULS from the health shop,these two are good anglers but renown chucker's and this was the day!! force 5/6 south west gusting 7 they worked .We had a few fish in conditions far from Ideal.And no sign of sea sickness.Wednesday new party Brian and sons,total of 7 anglers It was a bit slow but we found a few hounds in the end but nothing startling,think we also managed a few mackerel. Thursday Another new party of three plus one individual again we found a few fish as can be seen in our gallery but by our standards nothing great.also a few whiting showing +one eel .Friday we called it half day. North easterly 6/7 the sea and river looked like gravy it was foul .Afraid this unsettled weather has really upset the fishing,breaking up the mackerel shoals and just wreaking havoc .Saturday respite?we found fish,not bad numbers or size,best was a female common of 14lbs by Darren[bear] Ashby of Braintree.Six anglers ,close on 30 fish with about ten doubles .Martin Francis from Maldon stepped in at the last hour to make up numbers and he had three double hounds to 13lbs but everything was on the ebb/slack water, the flood was useless except for one hound of 10lbs.It seems as soon as that tide starts to run it kills the fishing .Sunday Five good anglers and again plenty of hounds on the ebb to 13lbs.After yesterdays poor flood I moved off for skate,we found a few on the Sunk so we ended up with a mixed day. Young Michael Webb [or ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ] As I've now named him tagged a nice hound of 11.5lbs ,not bad for a twelve year old?and THE WEATHER WAS FLAT CALM !!!!.So ended our week very hard for us skippers!.

Just a quickie .falling tope catches?view these figures landings in Concarneau [Brittany]and Boloney.

2000 631 tons:2001 601 tons:2002 511 tons: 2003 542tons: 2004 474 tons:2005 404 tons:2006 a mere 438 tons. Boulonge 2001 174 tons: 2002 161 tons :2003 105 tons: 2004 147 tons. A TOPE MATURES AT AROUND 30LBS AGE UNKNOWN AND HAS AROUND 20 YOUNG PUPS BYE-ANNUALLY .ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE THESE FIGURES SHOW FALLING COMERCIAL CATCHES .IN 2006 THE 438 TONS LANDED IN CONCARNEAU EQUATE TO 32703 ADULT MATURE BREEDING TOPE.AND NEXT THE SMOOTH HOUNDS?WAKE UP ANGLERS. AT THIS RATE WE SHOULD GET PROTECTION IN PLACE AFTER THE STOCKS ARE DECIMATED BEYOUND RECOVERY WHAT ARE POLITICANS FOR ????