Blog Entries - July 2008

Last Day Today

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:14:31 +0100

Weather is crap this morning - south west gale pissing down with rain and the fish were loving it, so was I after a pack of pain killers got me through the day. Hope this isn't signs of me getting older cos it sucks! Ended up with 286 fish today - right on! They are small fish, not like the whoppers we had earlier in the trip, we will be landing 810 fish, another good trip but not an easy one. Got a weekend off for some 'R&R'. We will be in around 5pm Friday.

Charisma

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:35:47 +0100

The Charisma has been at sea fishing for 5 days now and has a total of 534 fish so far.

Wind And Rain

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:20:21 +0100

Weather started being a shorts of t-shirt day, but ended up being a full kit job with plenty of rain and wind. We've had a bit of a whacky race trip this time, all over the place. ended up with 119, a few smaller ones. going home tomorrow me thinks. I know my back is looking forward to a trip to Nevilles and then a steam room and sauna - bloody rich! Got to go catch some fish now.

The Fish Do Not Want To Play

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:20:36 +0100

Today has been one of those days - a total lash up and if I could swear more I'd put that as well! Weather is fresh, no fish and eating plenty of mars bars and coffee. Not a lot happening with us or the rest of the fleet. The fish do no want to play, we've been towing all over the place tried giving my back a reat but not working, not looking good i need a new one! Got about 45 fish for the day, has been a slog. Dicky will cheer us up with his cullenry delights though. It has been a bad [...]

Whale Watching

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:53:23 +0100

We have left the Basque fleet to join Walshy, fishing has gone mixey with small fish. We got 88 of the little beauties, small and meds, not the whoopers we were having. Weather turning fresh for the rest of the trip, the fishing in general has gone slack. We've had a bit of a blue planet day today, with a whale trying to get it on with the Nova Spero, we were all like Japanese tourists with our cameras on deck and have got a beauty picture of it jumping out of the water.

Weather Has Been All Over The Place

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:07:23 +0100

First the sun is shining, then the rain comes! Captaino is in Spanish mode at the moment, he cooked a delightful sort of tapas for lunch and very tasty it was too! Spray boats all over the place, fish were down deep, Mr Del Monte we finished up with 57 fish 7 small and the rest jumbos 12-13 kilo fish average! Going to have a bit of steak now bloody rich, it might be a fresh day tomorrow, saw our mate Gervasio today but only briefly been a lond day today, time to hit back on the memory mattress. [...]

Weather Is Like A Duck Pond

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:03:06 +0100

We're the closest to Spain we ever been yet! I can smell it in the sir, shorts and t-shirts today! Mr Del Monte will be pleased with today's catch 71 bruisers, about 14 kilo plus. They are beauties, they are that big that Junior is being pulled down the deck he's got quite a battle going on with them. Captaino has put on a new pair of jeans, I've never thought I'd see the day they must have been in the bargin bucket. Well there goes another birthday for me at sea, ain't l [...]

A Good Run of Fish

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:53:34 +0100

Fishing wasn't good today, for us or Gervasio! We had 57 fish, they were a good run though. On the weather front, not very good - drizzley crap all day! No wind so can't ask for more, might be shorts and t-shirt weather today. On a different note Dicky has turned down the management position at Barrons, Junior is looking at it, but feels the responsibilty of the position is too much for him at the moment and feels the hours wouldn't fit into his lifestyle, I've declined the posit [...]

Time To Go Fishing

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:24:41 +0100

Got down the Bay of Biscay in good time, and we got the lures in the water at midday. Ended up with 97 fish, of all sorts of sizes, not a lot of fish with Gervasio. Walshy is on his way. Dicky is baking me a cake for my birthday tomorrow, 38 where does the time go!

Off To Sea

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:29:55 +0100

We left the harbour at 8:00 this morning, John is leaving this evening. Weather is fine at the moment, but Friday could be a bit 'shake, rattle & roll'. It's south east wind, at the moment, and the sun is out. I spoke to Gervasio and fishing is not great at the moment, so will start fishing when we come accross a good sign (that's a sign on our fish sounder not a sign from God, unless he wants to who knows!). Junior is teasy as I got more sleep then him last trip, so he turne [...]

Our Small Village Is Like A Comedy Show But I Love It

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:48:08 +0100

The fishing industry is a comedy show and if you look at it like that you'll always look on the brightside of life. The way I look at it is, the fishermen are on plant earth and the merchants are in a galaxy far, far, far, far away! As far as I know this is a team effort by both boats and all parties involved. You were given the change, last year, for six landings, to do something with are product, instead you laughed, joked and flipped 50p pieces on a market that is supposed to be there for [...]

End Of Our Second Cruise

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:45:52 +0100

On our way home! Our total for the trip is 1114 fish, our best trip yet not bad, but we could do better. Junior was bit gutted 'cos I ended up having 14 hours sleep in my bunk and he only had about 12 hours - lash up Junior! Dickie cooked a lovely lamb roast, which I've gotta say, it was the high light of our day having a hot cooked meal, and how he fits it in as well as all the work on deck, I don't know! The man from Del Monte ended up buying our blue marlin, after a bit of hagg [...]

Landing Sunday

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:30:43 +0100

Last day today and are best trip yet! Got 163 fish today, didn't get off to a good start. The lines kept getting tangled, my fault waas feeling tired so had some kip and started again. Everything is fine, the time now is 5am Saturday morning and we're towing north west and leaving the Spanish fleet. Going to shorten the distance for steaming home this afternoon. Will be landing Sunday evening ish. Weather has been beautiful wave all got Bay of Biscay suntans. I won't need anymore hol [...]

Charisma

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:26:28 +0100

The Charisma had a total of 153 fish today!

Its A Beautiful Night

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:11:04 +0100

I am feeling better! It's a beautiful night, it's 10 o'clock and we're just finishing up with 225 of the little darlings. That's the best day yet and no better way to burn off the lurgie aswell. There is a full moon up and around 80 pole boats here, all lit up it looks amazing, shame I haven't got a good camera. We've heard from Mr Del Monte and they can't wait for us to land, just what you want. On another note we should bring a few (9 to 5) ministers to sea with [...]

News From The Charisma

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:43:55 +0100

Spoke with John this morning. The Charisma is now fishing alongside the Nova Spero. John said the first few days for fishing were very poor! However, the last two days have changed for the better and they now have a total of 520 Cornish Line-Caught Tuna! I will hear more from John tomorrow - Happy Hunting!

Weather Fine 192 Fish

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:53:30 +0100

Everything is on top of the world - got back ache, sore throat and stinking cold! You could say I'm not 100 percent, someone bought the lurgie aboard! On a good note weather is fine. We had 192 fish, and the blue marlin (that's what I reckon it is don't think it's a sail fish). We're fishing well but we could do better no smoothness with it still and I don't know how to make it easier without catching fish you've got to look at the lines and react to the situation and [...]

Caught Ourselves A Marlin

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:21:17 +0100

We're running a bit late this morning, cause we caught ourselves a blue marlin. What a fight that was this morning, but yesterday was a fine day. Fishing was a little slow, we went for a look round. Had 107 fish for the day, but it was a good day weather wise - flat calm. Dolphins and whales were everywhere! Can't think of much to put at the minute, as still buzzing from catching the marlin, about a 70lb to 80lb fish! The tan is coming on well at the minute - it' [...]

All Is Well On The Nova Spero

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:08:36 +0100

Weather is flat calm with an Alantic breeze. Whales, dolphins and tuna are jumping out the water. Feeling knackered already. We had 135 fish the counting department went screw wiff after 130, so I'd say that was about right. Yes there was a lot of naked bodies on the deck yesterday, of all shapes and sizes, and one of those had his kacks on his head, but I won't name the individual concerned, as we've all probably guessed who it is, I'll give you a clue, he's the driving forc [...]

260 Fish So Far

julia@cfpo.org.uk — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:23:11 +0100

Weather is fine, a gentle Alantic breeze blowing over the ocean and everyone here is happy. We had 140 fish all 6 kilo plus. Lost a few and we had to gaff a few, so if your fish has a few small holes in it, we had to do it to get them aboard, and if it looks like a pin cushion then Kesty caught it, only joking! We all got tango-d today, a hot day in the Bay of Biscay! John was here with us, but has gone down towards the Spanish fleet to the south of us. We' [...]