Blog Entries - September 2007

Fishing gone Quiet

quentin knights

Weather east south east 3 to 5. Fishing has gone quiet - Basque fishing fleet have broke up and gone searching for more fish! Water temperature is cold, not helping! I think we're going back to where we were last trip, to have a look. We had 25 fish for the day, it's a lond day when not much happens. Lets see what today brings, apart from that everything is fine! Quentin.

Cold Easterly Wind

quentin knights

Weather easterly wind 3 to 4, and a cold wind not like the warm wind of Biscay sea. We had 60 fish today, nice run of fish! Seen a few dolphins, but not many, if they had any sense they should be in Biscay in the warmer water. Captain Edwards is having fun with our new language code with Gervasio, it goes something like b4 to c6 over, it's working! The last time they used this system was donkeys years ago, we're privileged that they are using it with us! Have a good weekend Quentin.

Back with Spanish Fleet

quentin knights

It's a fine morning - light breeze! We're back with the Spanish fleet again, thanks to our Basque friend Gervaiso. It's 05:00am and there is about 50 boats here, we had 30 fish yesterday, lets hope we have a better day today! It's possible we might land in France this trip, but to early to say yet, will see what the interest at home is like first. Quentin.

Weather Fining Away

quentin knights

Weather west north west 3 to 5 and fining away. We made some running repairs to the compass dome, with a bin bag and some electric tape. We don't need our south westers anymore. We will be fishing this morning at about 06:30am. That's all from me, reporting from south west Ireland, where the rain has cleared! Quentin

Fishing Poor Due to Weather

quentin knights

Weather is north east 1 to 2, and the sun is out but it's raining in our hearts! Captain Edwards is on a downer already, and earlier in the day he was swinging around on the radar trying to fix the palsma circuit, to give us warp speed on the radar. But all is well and I'm keeping my sanity, just! Our Basque mate Gervasio is west of us. Fishing is poor, because of the weather we've had. Quentin.

Weather Very Poor

quentin knights

Weather is not very good at all! Captain Edwards is on a downer all ready. Compass dome is leaking, actually its like a shower. We are up on watch with our south wester hats and coats on! We must be south of Ireland, cause it's raining. We will be on fishing grounds tomorrow morning. Quentin reporting from a piss poor Alantic Ocean!

Here We Go Again

quentin knights

Weather west north west 6 to 8. Here we go again! Just passing Lands End - it's a bit rolly! We ended up having the weekend off, ideal, had some tuna in the pub, rich! Good to have a bit of time out. Plymouth Trawler Agents did a wicked job again, not sure who bought most of it, but thanks anyway! This is our last trip on the tuna for this year. Lets hope its a good one! Quentin.

Nova Spero off Again

quentin knights

Charisma's fish was sold this morning on both Newlyn and Plymouth markets! Nova Spero has left Newlyn for their last trip until next May, after a well deserved weekend off!

Charisma Still at Sea

quentin knights

Charisma is still at sea, weather is bad! But best ever tuna day yesterday, with 246 fish! It has been a brilliant trip for John and the crew on the Charisma. Looking like they'll be landing Monday, but haven't confirmed yet!

Last Leg of Trip

quentin knights

Weather 3 to 4 north west wind. Just past the Scillies, coming up to Lands End and the last leg of the trip. Landing 07:30am to Plymouth Trawler Agents, to put on Thursday's market. Got today off, grub and ice up Thursday and go to sea Thursday night/Friday morning. I could do with a few pints, but going to sea with a hangover is not a good idea!

Doomsday Watch

quentin knights

It's 06:45am on Tuesday morning! I've got the 'doomsday' watch, night time coming up to sunrise, but what a sight it is! It makes the whole trip worthwhile, we've had a laugh and gor a nice bit of fish - enough to earn a living! Touch wood it's flat clam and the sun is coming up - what more can you ask for! Quentin

500 Cornish Tuna

quentin knights

Weather north north west 6 to 8 - not a good day for it! That's Irish weather for you, but we all pull through today with 86 fish. Which gives us a grand total this trip, of just short of 500 fish. Don't know the exact figure my maths is always guess work, but that's close enough! We have a 36 hour steam home now. Which should mean we arrive in Newlyn on Wednesday morning, and if I'm lucky home at lunchtime! Fish Merchants - don't forget to bid high! The weather is 'rough [...]

Landing Wednesday

quentin knights

Not sure what the weather's like without opening the window, and I'm not going to as it's raining and poor as piss. At 03:30am we had another 83 little darlings yesterday. Hard going but wew had all the 13 lines out, they are easier to work in poor weather, than in good! Getting tired now, could do with a couple of days off. Getting all the lines in and out is bloody mental, and lined up to come in when you have a fish. It's still nuts to think we're out here after tuna, b [...]

Best Day Yet

quentin knights

Weather south west 6 to 8. We're all on abit of a high - best day yet with 192 Cornish Tuna, bagged and tagged! Not a lot of sleep, but we had pork tender loins for grub last night, it was beautiful and rounded up a good day! Hands are sore, but not cut like the first time. I think that means we're getting there - that's good fishing with one crew down! Weather looks like a bad day. Don't think we'll have as much today, as we won't be able to work lines as fast, but [...]

Steaming to Ireland

quentin knights

Weather north west 3 to 4. Fishing gone quiet again! We had a hell of a day, 6 fish disaster! But got some sleep and had movie hour! Made some more lures up, Shaun and Barry are doing the second lot of lures, and we're steaming to Ireland to try in the morning. Biscay has gone quiet, lets hope we have some tuna today. Captain Edwards ding his nut and he's doing mine in! Had some good news from Kate at S&J Fisheries, all our tuna has been sold and we will be landing in Plymouth market [...]

A Clear Night

quentin knights

All is well! We got a light north east breeze 2 to 3 and a clear night fishing today, with the French and Spanish pole boats. Lots off marks, but not a lot happening. We caught 78 tuna today, but 25 are small tuna, around 0 to 4 kilo fish, the rest are 4 to 7 kilo. Loads of whales today, think they're feeding on the small shrimps, same as the tuna! We're getting 4 to 5 hours sleep a night at the moment! If you want to buy any tuna, you can get it through Kate and Ty at S&J Fisheries, [...]

Weather Alright Fishing Not

quentin knights

Weather alright! Fishing is not! We've got more canned tuna aboard at the minute, then tuna we've caught - a bad day! Going towards our French mates, they are on a bit of fish at the minute. Our Basque friends aren't at sea yet, still got their festival! Been boarded by the Irish Navy, they didn't stay long, had a cocktail party to go to - what a life they have! Charisma has just come away as well. That's all from Biscay. Quentin.

King Arthurs Canyon

quentin knights

Weather north 3 to 4. We will be on fishing grounds early Tuesday morning. Going to King Arthurs Canyon, to start off the trip. Some French tuna boats are going, so we're going to give it a go! We're a crew short this trip, so it'll be interesting! We'd like to thank Plymouth Trawler Agents for saving the day! Quentin Knights signing off from King Arthurs Canyon.

Thanks to S&J Fisheries

quentin knights

Weather east north east 3 to 5 - not bad! First off we'd all like to thank Kate and Ty, at S&J Fisheries in Plymouth, for all their support on Plymouth Market this week, as it seems they bought most off our tuna! If anyone wants to buy any tuna, they still have a small amount left and we won't be landing until next week, so try it and buy some - you'll be hooked! So ring S&J Fisheries on 01752 265556! Back to the fishing, we had a good day today - had 48 fish and 2 [...]

Off to our Third Trip

quentin knights

We're off to our third trip. Despite the disappointing auction performance in Newlyn we are still very optimistic as the response from those who had a chance to taste our Cornish Tuna has been more than positive! The job is great fun! Here we go on another trip, north east, 3 to 4 and steaming west about 36 hours.