Weather is SW 5 to 7 - not a nice day, but I think we're headed for some high pressure I bloody hope so anyway, we had some fun and games last night when our 2 tonne water tank decided to go for a walk around the deck, it was like trying to grab a tigers tail (not that I've done that before), but we got it under control in the end. We've got about 250nm to go so plently of time to think about life and what the hell I am doing out here, I knew I shoyuld have been a stockbroker or car salesman. We're headed for out mate, Gervasio, he had some good fishing , but I think they're feeling the fuel prices as well.
Hopefully this will be the start of a regular blog, which I will be doing everyday and you'll be hearing the highs and lows of our 'Tuna Adventure'. I must make one thing clear before we start, THE ONLY PLACE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BUY OUR PRODUCT, IS THROUGH M & J SEAFOODS AND THE DETAILS ARE ALL ON OUR HOMEPAGE. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THIS PRODUCT THROUGH ANY OTHER SOURCE OR THROUGH US. However, if you have anyother queries please do not hestiate to give us a ring, Julia is more helpful.
We have made contact with our Basque friend, Gervasio, and we have got about 350mile steam. For your in-flight journey we have got Captain Edwards, myself, Dickie Nudd, Keasty & Ian. We will be providing with entertainment for the next 6 months, hopefully. Not only will this be enjoyable to yourselves but hopefully it will provide us with some money, because as Captain Edwards keeps on pointing out to me everyday, he's up to his neck in it! Walshy will be coming in from his netting trip shortly and then changing over, and he should be away in a weeks time. Which is quite good, as it spreads the landing out.
Well thats it for the minute, I'm about to leave the office and have a moment to myself before I start winding myself up for the mental challenge.
At last we are all together, but it is like trying to herd cats, as Mr Rozarieux says. The Nova Spero has had a re-fit and is back in Newlyn, and Shaun is down on the boat as we speak with his 'John Lennon' glasses, grinding away the pound boards. Good news is it looks like we'll be sailing on Wednesday, at long last! I think Walshy will be going just after us, but I haven't spoken to him yet. Got some more work to do tomorrow, our plans for our tuna movie didn't quite pan out, but there an opportunity for someone else. I have been told to watch my language, as a Newlyn School are doing a fishing project & the little nippers are picking up on it, so I shall try my best, otherwise I'll get a right spanking off a Teacher and maybe even detention (just like the old days, but I might enjoy the spanking now). Will let you know some more tomorrow.
Just got home from Mackereling. Been up since 2am this morning - what a beautiful day! I won'tbe going to Spain on Sunday 'cos the tight bastards won't pay £60 each a day, which I thought was a good deal and it would have given me a day or two to socialise down there, but that went right out the window. Instead Captain Correlli (Shaun) is going, which is a bonus as I don't have to share a cabin with him, as he snores like a banshee! He'll probably spend three hours in the port, then he's outta there! We need to learn how to do things the European way, where upon it's business as well as social interaction. The Nova Spero is up the boatyard as we speak, having its re-fit and the word on the grapevine is we'll be going to sea around 23rd June and I think John will be going around the same time. I'm off to bed now!
Shaun and John have finished the last tide now and are taking the nets off as we speak. John has gone off to protest about fuel prices and has hopefully set fire to something or we have done it the usual Cornish way; of going to London for a walk around. I think it might be about time we took a leaf of the Frenchmans' tactics and destroy something, I think Shaun would probably agree with me on this, but I can't speak for him on this issue, but it is one that is important to all of us!
Hopefully we are off to Spain next week to pick up the equipment, but unfortunately we are still a bit vague as to when we are off to sea, but rest assured you will all be the first to know when I, myself know! I think we are due for some celebrities to come down and visit us. We might have Gordon Ramsey & Hugh Fernley Whittingstall down to do some filming on the 'Cornish Line-Caught Tuna' and hopefully part of the're entourage will consist some 'London Top Totty', but we'll see!
That's all for now I've got to go Jelbert's and get a large tub of ice cream, some clotted cream and a flake! I can't write what I'm up to at the minute, as it will take to long to write and Julia hasn't got the time!
Well it's all good news for this year. After a lot of help and hard work from all bodies involved in the project and some new parties!
It was with great saddness at the end of last year when our sale on Newlyn market, our home port, flopped. Also the lack of support from some of the people in the industry, especially in these difficult times, but all said and done it has lead into better things for our small group.
From my point of view it has been a pleasure to see the likes of DEFRA, CEFAS and others joining in to take this project forward again this year, and if everyone works together towards the same goal this could be an important fishery for us all.
The most positive support and backing has come from M&J Seafoods, who have really showed outstanding faith in our industry and the small group that we represent. We owe them a great deal for giving us a chance to make this fishery a success. I hope this is the start of an on-going successful partnership, which is what this industry needs to support this substainable fishery, which will benefit us all socially and economically.
Right, that's enough of the hard words! Through the winter, a few trips were made down to Spain, but I'm sad to say I haven't learnt any Spanish. Not because I haven't wanted to, I have just been far too busy, so hopefully this year is I can do so and get the financial backing, which again would benefit the industry.
This is Shaun and John's last tide netting and we will be going to the ship yard for re-fits and to get the Tuna gear ready. While the boats are at the yard, the Commandering Chief Paul Trebilcock, John, Shaun & I will be going down to Spain again to pick up the last bits of gear and to catch with our Basque friends. I only wish I could stay longer down there.
Anyone who is interested to purchasing 'Cornish Line Caught Tuna' please contact M&J Seafoods direct or follow the links from this website. As this will be the only way you will be able to purchase the genuine product, 'Cornish Line Caught Tuna'.
On our final note from myself, Shaun & John we'd like to thank all at M&J Seafoods, Mark Greet at Falfish,Paul Trebilcock at the CFPO, Nathan de Rozarieux at Seafood Cornwall, Gabriella Nonino at Sandswimmer, Lindsay Harris at DEFRA, Juilan Metcalfe at CEFAS, our Basque friends at Azti, Evonne Amblin (Top Totty) at SW RDA & last but not least the lovely Miss Fox for putting up with me and doing my blog for me while I'm in sea. I hope we're all in for a successful year, we have all certainly worked hard for it and I hope you as a consumers enjoy our product and throw a tuna steak on the bbq this summer even if it is raining!
We've just got back into Newlyn, weather is beautiful! The long steam paid off and it made the last trip a good finish to a successful four weeks. Its a shame we had to finish off our last trip in France, but it was necessary to make the trip worthwhile. Shaun will be going back to wreck netting next tide and I'm going back to catching line-caught fish in my small boat! But will knoiw more about whats happening next week. Looking foward to a weekend off and a well-earned hangover in between. Quentin.
Weather is like a duck pond! Landed in France last night, took water and a pint of milk and left. Be home in Newlyn at 15:00 this afternoon. fish will be sold on Lorient market this morning. should make more money then home. We've spent as much time steaming this trip then fishing. Looking forward to getting home this trip. It's been one of those up and downers, which is a shame seeing it's our last trip, but we've done alright and I'm looking forward to next year. We need to sort marketing out ourselves for next year, like everything it's hard to be in two places at once. Quentin.
Weather is flat calm. Still steaming the seven seas, we ended up with 500 Cornish Tuna again! I think we will be in France this evening to land. We have just ran out of water - lash up! Shame you can't be in two places at once, I could have sold fish at home no problem the phone is an amazing device, but we don't have the luxury. We are 400 nm in the Atlantic. Quentin.
Weather south east 3 to 4. We had 30 fish for the day, that's our last trip for tuna this year. We have said our goodbyes to Gervasio and thanked him for all his help, we'll be going down to Spain to meet them again soon. We're now steaming to France to land. I'm right pissed off, let's all eat burgers or better I'll go and catch burgers in the Atlantic. We're alright having crossiants for breakfast in France, and then home for Saturday or Sunday. It'll probably cost £750, and we'll be make more money then home - crazey world! It's time some of the pen pushers in this industry got off their fat arses and did what they are paid for because they are clueless. All I can say is for me it's a dream come true, I've done what I wanted out off it, caught tuna along side the Spanish. Quentin
Weather is ok, 104 fish! I can't put in words what I'm thinking or feeling, but I'm pissed at the moment, what a high note to leave a new fishery on! We'll be landing in another country - where did we go wrong! I hope we all wake up soon, I think Gervasio was saying why don't we land in his port, can you imagine that, we've missed the boat big time! Last day tomorrow, as an experience I wouldn't have missed it for anything and it's not over yet. Quentin.
Weather easterly 6 to 8 and raining - what ever happened to our tropical weather of Biscay! Our Basque friends went west, we went east and had a good day - 144 fish! We lost a few fish today and I stopped fishing at 13:30pm, to make lures up, but we got a days work anyway. I would say that our last day fishing will be tomorrow, but we'll see what tomorrow bring us! Still frustrating for me because I can't seem to get across that you don't just throw lures over, and that's it when you have 13 lines out with fish on, it is mental and you have to watch every one all the time. I reckon we could work two more line next year and two lines for a swordfish or two. I see them being stuck in boats like darts, but it would be fun! Quentin
