|
CONGER CLUB MESSAGE BOARD
THE MESSAGE BOARD HAS BEEN CHANGED DUE TO CONSTANT SPAMMING. YOU WILL HAVE TO ENTER A PASSWORD TO POST A MESSAGE. Each new posting goes to the top of the MESSAGE BOARD. SHOULD YOU FAIL TO USE THE PASSWORD YOUR IP ADDRESS WILL BE BANNED. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! MESSAGES WILL BE APPROVED ONCE A WEEK.
[ Post a Message ][ RETURN TO BRITISH CONGER CLUB WEBSITE ]
MESSAGE BOARD POSTINGS
Posted by: Tony Allen (68.200.231.83)
Date: February 13, 2010 at 17:54
Message id: 13129 - THE MESSAGE BOARD IS CURRENTLY NOT OPERATIONAL. POSTINGS IN FUTURE WILL ONLY BE ALLOWABLE FROM BCC MEMBERS. AN UPDATE WILL APPEAR HERE SOON.
Fish of the Month
Posted by: Bob Healeas (91.125.3.210)
Date: January 26, 2010 at 08:24
Message id: 13128 - Must be very difficult for you Tony trying to run an up to date website when the information from your own committee is so hard to get. What i am getting at is the affiliated clubs fish of the month. No updates for 8 months last year. I emailed your records officer direct and did not even get a reply. I just don't know if it is worth bothering with.
BCC Website Updates
Posted by: Tony Allen (68.200.231.83)
Date: December 21, 2009 at 14:16
Message id: 13127 - Hi Simon, Yours is not the first request for this information. Unfortunately I can only update the website when I receive emails from the appropriate committee members.
As I have explained constantly on the website, it is very difficult to operate a website without information both from members and the committee. Perhaps we can all do a better job in 2010?
For the members part, I need photographs and some information with regard to catches. Pictures do not need to be of monsters. On a website pictures say a thousand words!
2009 catch/medal update
Posted by: simon gavey (81.20.184.144)
Date: December 19, 2009 at 15:12
Message id: 13126 - just wondered if we will receive a newsletter or website update of the medal fish caught during 2009?
Big eel caught in New Zealand
Posted by: Todd Grace (24.10.208.198)
Date: December 11, 2009 at 02:51
Message id: 13125 - Hi, Im trying to load a photo of a conger eel I caught in Doubtful Sound Fiordland, New Zealand this year. Not a monster (about 6 foot in length) but a fun catch and a magnificent back drop!
You can have a look at it in my blog since I cant up load it. Link below.
www.lunkertees.com
John Coulman
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.104.192.151)
Date: November 2, 2009 at 18:46
Message id: 13124 - I had a call from Paul Maris on Sunday to advise me that John Coulman had sadly passed away suddenly over the weekend. As John was a dedicated member of the club and a great number of members knew him well I thought it would be appropriate to let you know.
If I receive any further information I will update you all.
John was always such a friendly and helpful angler and he will be sadly missed by us all. Our thoughts go out to his family at this sad time.
june lipet
Posted by: tony hadley [essex] (82.4.72.36)
Date: October 26, 2009 at 21:05
Message id: 13123 - had many trips on her in late 70s .fished every month with codconger club . included alan levick and geoff flores . had some good times with john brown and dot .dave uren used to cadge a freeby occasionally wnen he was a lad, aswell as reg quest .
June Lipet
Posted by: Tony Allen (92.21.89.226)
Date: October 26, 2009 at 09:19
Message id: 13122 - June Lipet was a Plymouth Registered Fishing vessel which was skippered by J. J. McVicar who lives on the Barbican, Plymouth. The boat was later owned by John Brown for many years of Plympton and was used as a Plymouth Sea Angling Charter Vessel.
Where the boat is now, I have no idea. I would guess she had been broken up by now as wood hulls of this nature do not last for ever. I would expect she was worth more for decommissioning in the 80's.
junlapet
Posted by: Steer liz (86.156.58.154)
Date: October 25, 2009 at 23:11
Message id: 13121 - Hi could you tell me if the boat is the same boat that was skippered by jj in the 60 70 from plymouthand weres the boat now as I;m the la bit in the name june (lal) short for Elizabeth peter Owen John owner back then
Cheers Liz Steer ne Owen
Eel trip
Posted by: John Coulman (77.96.30.166)
Date: October 17, 2009 at 11:52
Message id: 13120 - To all conger anglers who fish the BCC champs (and any others)and would like the chance to catch an eel worthy of mention like Pauls 91-14 or Nigels 95 W.A.S., there is a two day trip on Size Matters on Wed 28 and Thurs 29 October, possibly the last chance of a good eel this year.
There are 8 places available at £60 per place per day.
So stop your moaning that you never catch a big eel on the championships and try a propper eel trip. We fish well outside the 25 mile limit of the champs., Pauls eel came from a wreck some 38 miles from Plymouth.
contact Grahahm on 01752 500531 and book your place now!
conger weekend
Posted by: rob ashford/ seaviewlads south wales (81.102.23.13)
Date: October 13, 2009 at 20:26
Message id: 13119 - I would like to thank all those involved in this years affiliated conger championships at Plymouth, it was again a very pleasant weekend, as always, and we will be looking forward to next years event, yours Rob Ashford. Sea View Lads. South Wales.
p.s. Why do some anglers feel the need to use a ball lead while fishing over a wreck, apart from taking other anglers out of the game.????????.
Membership
Posted by: Tony Allen (70.125.9.104)
Date: October 12, 2009 at 22:12
Message id: 13118 - Dear Ash,
Please paste the following into your web browser. You will then be informed how to join the British Conger Club.
http://www.britishcongerclub.org.uk/membership.htm
Kind regards
Webmaster
How Do I Join The BCC?
Posted by: Ashley Bullard (90.203.228.28)
Date: October 12, 2009 at 14:59
Message id: 13117 - i caught a 19lb 8oz conger from shore this weekend and was wondering how i join this club?
Thanks, Ash
pauls conger
Posted by: tony hadley (82.4.72.36)
Date: October 11, 2009 at 12:10
Message id: 13116 - well done on a huge eel , but it looks extremely dead ?
Paul Maris's conger
Posted by: Nigel McLoughlin (82.10.54.95)
Date: October 6, 2009 at 18:02
Message id: 13115 - Just wanted to say well done to Paul Maris for his 91lb 14oz conger. It's always a real "YEEEHAAA" monet when you get one like that ..!!
affiliated
Posted by: phill allan (86.165.216.13)
Date: October 6, 2009 at 12:57
Message id: 13114 - just a quick note,
well done to rikki and john, i know they will be chuffed to bits with their achievment
tight lines
Phill
apology
Posted by: phill allan (86.165.216.13)
Date: September 22, 2009 at 13:06
Message id: 13113 -
Di,
no apology required to anyone,
keep up the good work,
tight lines
Phill
re-apology
Posted by: tony hadley-essex (82.4.72.36)
Date: September 20, 2009 at 21:05
Message id: 13112 - I really dont know why you are making an apology regarding the plymouth boatmen, I got one of these letters as a competitor in 2009 champs and there is nothing to apologise about. You merely stated that due to the minimal offer by the boatmen the club are refunding the competitors. In our view it should be coming from them. Lets hope a lesson has been lear'nt here and I look forward to a better competition in poole on 19/20 June . regards tony
Apology
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.108.105.240)
Date: September 19, 2009 at 16:05
Message id: 13111 - Recently I sent a letter out regarding a refund in connection with the 2009 Members Championships and rather than send it just to members who had entered the competition I mistakenly sent it to some other members.
I would like to offer my apologies to anyone who was upset with the content, particularly the Plymouth charter skippers.
It was certainly not done purposely rather in a "senior" moment.
Regards
Di Byrne
refund
Posted by: phill allan (81.132.244.131)
Date: September 4, 2009 at 09:55
Message id: 13110 - I feel the club had to offer the refund in order to redeem itself and show its fully behind its members, the skippers are in the wrong to take full payment in this instance, and perhaps a further letter should be sent to each skipper or commodore letting them know how members feel, and ask them to at least meet halfway to a 50% refund.
The clubs hands were tied, hopefully a lesson can be learned from this, not sure how payments are given to the boats. If its worked like most clubs it will be deposit to secure boat and the payment in full after the event.
As Tony suggests its up to members to decide to take the refund or not, but at least they had the chance to make a choice.
Tight lines all
Phill
champs
Posted by: tony hadley -essex (82.4.72.36)
Date: September 3, 2009 at 18:37
Message id: 13109 - although i like plymouth, i think that by going to poole, weymouth and plymouth on a rotation basis would freshen up the comp.but i still think you should not have more than 8 anglers per boat,this has got to be a must. everybody i spoke to felt the same even though it would cost more. regarding the refund ,i dont think it should come via club funds , if the skippers dont want to give it then thats it ,take the 5 pound and give it to the rnli. cheers tony
2009 champs
Posted by: tony geal (86.5.64.70)
Date: August 31, 2009 at 23:51
Message id: 13108 - Dear Di I personally do not want my refund from club funds and I would hope most members will feel the same way I also think that the committees decision is incorrect to use the clubs hard pressed funds to make refunds to members who fished the Champs. If the boatman will not refund our money and the committee has decided its unable to pursue it then there is no more to be said on the issue. I would still like to know whose decision it was to send us to sea, on what advice and whether any pressure was put on this person and by whom to make this decision.
It is a great pity that the once great angling port of Plymouth has deteriorated so much that they have lost even the Conger Champs.
Reply to Chris
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.108.88.105)
Date: August 30, 2009 at 14:12
Message id: 13107 - I would just like to thank you for your message and the committee would have to agree with your comments regarding the unsatisfactory refund offered by the skippers.
Our Festivals Officer has been in contact with Poole for next year's competition and we have already had a provisional offer to organise the 2011 champs out of Weymouth so we have quite a few options.
With reference to the competitor refunds, we have had quite a few adverse comments, as you have probably seen, on the message board and the decision to make a larger refund was agreed reluctantly after lengthy consideration.
Regards
Di Byrne
BCC Championship
Posted by: Chris Everson (90.192.132.88)
Date: August 29, 2009 at 13:44
Message id: 13106 - How sorry I am to read so many comments of dissatisfaction over the recent competition.
As an affiliated Club officer over the past 35 years I know that invariably it is complaints from members that outnumber congratulations, but hey ho, that's part of the job. However, in that time I have found that a common problem with boatmen/club/angler issues is that 'familiarity breeds contempt'
From what I have read, to abandon the day's fishing after such a short period of time, the offer of a £5 refund from the boatmen seems derisory.
I have always had a great regard for Plymouth boatmen that I have fished with, but I think they need reminding of the close relationship there has been with the BCC over the last few decades. Because of the BCC comps etc they will have also benefited from many additional private bookings from many anglers who have enjoyed their visits.
They also need to consider that Plymouth is no longer the premier south coast fishing port, Weymouth offering more boats, better catches and better facilities.
If they do not reconsider their refund offer to a realistic level, plans should be made to relocate the competition to another port, even if it means skipping a year to re-generate this excellent competition and to get the proper plans and organisation in place.
I do not agree with refunding anglers with money from Club funds (c. £2,000?) and am confused as to why this has even been a consideration. I think regrettably that competing members should, if the Club funding the loss is the only option, bite the bullet and relinquish their refund claim. However, if the committee feels this IS the only option, I would suggest that a refund is only made to those members who are pressing for a full refund, as I’m sure the majority of the members would not wish the Clubs finances to diminish further.
Chris Everson
AGM
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.108.86.133)
Date: August 26, 2009 at 20:09
Message id: 13105 - In response to the question regarding committee members getting expenses for attending the AGM, I can confirm that it had been agreed many years ago by the membership (albeit at an AGM) that committee members, who have to attend the AGM, should get a 50% discount on the weekend.
I can, however, also confirm that in an effort to cut costs the 2009 AGM was held in Plymouth in order that committee members would not need to have free accommodation and they each paid for their evening meal.
The committee have also agreed that they will pay full price for the 2010 AGM which is to be held at the Hannafore Point Hotel over the weekend of 10/12 March.
If any member wishes to change this ruling or indeed any of the club rules then please send a proposal with the name of a seconder to me before the end of January 2010 and whether or not you can attend the AGM, we will put it to the membership for a vote.
I am sure, as I have said many times in the last couple of months, the committee would welcome any member who wished to join the committee.
Regards
Di Byrne
refund
Posted by: phill allan (81.132.244.131)
Date: August 25, 2009 at 16:24
Message id: 13104 -
Well done to committee for acting on this very important issue,
Glad to see the refunds paid to the respective competitors, albeit from club funds
Tight lines
Phill
CHAMPIONSHIPS REFUND
Posted by: Tony Allen (webmaster) (97.106.0.234)
Date: August 25, 2009 at 13:13
Message id: 13103 - At a subsequent committee meeting it was agreed that each participant would be refunded the amount of £45 from club funds in a one off gesture.
Bob Nye. Festival Officer BCC
Champs
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.111.48.227)
Date: August 24, 2009 at 23:06
Message id: 13102 - Firstly - I was not pointing a finger at anyone and apologies if I gave that impression. My point about putting all your adverse comments onto the message board was purely because it gives a bad impression of what is actually, in my opinion, a great club to non members who visit the site to find out information on conger eels and hope to swap ideas and ask questions on conger fishing.
The point raised regarding putting messages on the message board and not having a reply bewilders me a bit as I have been trying to reply to everyone as soon as I can as you can see from the message board itself.
I would reiterate, once again, that all your comments are discussed in full. Unfortunately, the committee members have their full time jobs to do as well so things do not always move as quickly as you would like but they are moving nevertheless.
We have been following up comments regarding refunds and future venues for the Champs and Bob has put together a report which will be posted on the website soon.
With reference to the comment regarding the boat draw, let me assure you that the draw is completed with 3 committee members and is completely anonymous. We use numbered disks for all anglers and each number is drawn and the a boat is drawn. This is then repeated for the second day. It is a complicated and time consuming process but names are not known until the draw is complete and sheets are typed up.
Unfortunately because of lower numbers it is inevitable that people will be drawn together on both days but this is just a coincidence and not intentional.
Regards
Di Byrne
Reply to Tony Hadlee Essexe AGM
Posted by: Tony Irwin (82.46.28.84)
Date: August 24, 2009 at 13:34
Message id: 13101 - Just a question regarding Tony`s comments about being able to afford to attend the AGM I myself have the same problem as do probably many other members.
It has been mentioned to me that all the committee members get an expense allowance for attending the AGM such as having their accommodation paid for out of club funds.
As I have said earlier this has only come as hearsay and I would dearly like to be corrected by a committee member on this issue.
If this is the case then I would like a committee member to email me with his/her expense account to show how much members are contributing towards this.
I would gladly attend any BCC meetings if
A I could afford it or
B My accommodation/expensive were paid for
But saying this the money is from the members and if I recall recently all the talk from the committee was that there is no money in the pot and that there would have to be very big increases in membership and life membership fees.
I am confused plese can someone clarify things for me.
members champs
Posted by: tony hadley-essex (82.4.72.36)
Date: August 23, 2009 at 20:55
Message id: 13100 - i think its best to have your say on the forum rather than e mail direct, because everyone can read about the things that are wrong and not kept hid away out of sight.did mail bob nye but did not get any reply . .we all moaned last year about numbers on boats but the committee decided we would not pay any extra for it without asking anyone,and all the people i spoke to were all for paying more .i am also a bit concerned about boat draws ,this year i was drawn on boats that had 7 of the same people fishing together on both days,bit of coincidence or what .the only way to find out what the members want and not what the committee want is to ask them,and that means having to send them a choice on paper to send back ,you cant do it by e mail or forum as you can see only a couple of people can be bothered to voice their opinion this way , and we all cant afford to attend the agm. the venue needs sorting asap because people like me have to make arrangements. cheers tony
2009 championships
Posted by: Tony Geal (86.5.64.70)
Date: August 22, 2009 at 22:06
Message id: 13099 - I hope the comment about venting anger is not aimed at me. I would like you to know I am not angry but I feel that its my money and I paid for something I haven't had, and unfortunately its happened 2 years in a row. Hopefully my comments on the AGM and the result sheets are constructive, thats how they are intended. I apologise then if I have caused any upset but its now been six weeks since the championships and I and others have posted on this site and have not received any explanations, and I don't understand why.
Message Board
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.108.120.163)
Date: August 21, 2009 at 08:19
Message id: 13098 - It would appear that the message board is used purely to vent your anger regarding the running of the club for one reason or another.
Thats good - the committee want to hear your comments and complaints so that we can try to run the club how the majority of members would like.
However, this message board is open to anyone who visits our site and should really be used for swopping information and encouraging any anglers who are new to conger fishing.
Please, please, please - if any members have anything to say about the running of the club or your dis-satisfaction with the way things are going, contact me, or any of the committee members, direct. Our e-mail addresses are in the newsletters.
Many thanks
Di Byrne
Reply to Tony Geal
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.108.120.163)
Date: August 21, 2009 at 08:14
Message id: 13097 - Tony
Thanks - Your comments will be printed off and taken to the next meeting to discuss as all comments are.
Di Byrne
2009 Champs
Posted by: Tony Geal (86.5.64.70)
Date: August 20, 2009 at 05:50
Message id: 13096 - I am all for a move to Weymouth and I now think that this is a must or I think that the champs will die though lack of interest.When I started to fish the champs we used to have two teams come down and most used to stay on and fish the Bass,gradually they stop coming down indicating that they felt the comps where to much in favour of local anglers,and for several years now I have come down from Worthing on my own
I can still not find anywhere on the site any reason giving why we are not being given a
full refund? instead of the insulting £5 we have been offered
I would like to attend the A.G.M. but another expensive trip makes this impractical,why is it not possible to hold the meeting at the Champs either on the Thurs before or the Mon following I understand that E.F.S.A> do something similar to this?
While I am having a moan at the prize giving why cannot have some result sheets available say half a hour before prize giving com menses as it is difficult to make any complaints after all the prizes are handed out and photo taken and a lot off time you cant hear anyway whats going on I am sure I am not the only one that in the pass as had a query
I will not be attending next years champs if they are held in Plymouth I feel the last two years that members have been treated very poorly over the boat situations and as yet no explanation
Cheers Tony
Reply to Tony Irwin
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.104.208.226)
Date: August 16, 2009 at 08:14
Message id: 13095 - Hi Tony
I have contacted you via your own e-mail but would just like to say thanks for the info. As you say we do know Steve and it is a welcome offer. Since our last meeting Bob has been working to try to arrange a different venue and I am not sure how far he has got. That said it is a great offer and I will contact Steve in the meantime.
Regards
Di
Weymouth
Posted by: Tony Irwin (82.46.28.84)
Date: August 15, 2009 at 16:56
Message id: 13094 - I think you need to speak to the guys that weighed the fish Kev.
I am sure you will get some replies.
I have been asked to post a message on this board for the committee and all members to read and discuss.
We in the BCC all know Steve Clements.
Steve has allowed me to put his contact laserstrikeltd@aol.com I will also pass his phone number to Di/Tony (better than putting on here for safetey reasons).
He has made an offer through me to allow discussions to take place with the BCC that he and the skippers will organise the 2011 BCC champioships at Weymouth
This is an open offer to try to raise the profile of the BCC.
Over to you all for your thoughts
Any committee member who wishes to email me I will pass you Steves phone number
Conger Festival
Posted by: Kev Lavis (80.47.144.106)
Date: August 14, 2009 at 09:27
Message id: 13093 - Hi Tony
With the Weymouth festival are the eels weighed or are weights guessed whilst still in the water. With the recent EFSA festival the fish were not to leave the water but we had to 'place' them into a category eg 20-40lb. I may be cynical here but during that festival there was a 70-80lb eel caught from the reef, there are no reports before or since of a similar eel this year... If the fish are not weighed then I would be very dubious about the 60/70/80lb estimates; simply look at the number of supposed 1000lb Marlin recorded since estimates were allowed - a similar thing has happened with our own 100lb list! How many of our records show a rather 'neat' figure or 100lb, or 1/4 - 1/2 lb devisions?!
I may be way off the target here - if I am; my apoogies!
Kind Regards
Kev
Weymouth
Posted by: Tony Irwin (82.46.28.84)
Date: August 13, 2009 at 22:29
Message id: 13092 - Just a little update on how the Weymouth Conger Championships are going.
Until close Today (Thurs) there have been Eels captured around 60/70/80lbs and it is reported to be the best ever turnout in entries and captures.
I know that several BCC members are fishing so I guess they will be putting some reports on here when they get back one more day to go as it ends Friday.
MESSAGE BOARD FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS DISCUSSION
Posted by: Tony Allen (webmaster) (97.106.0.234)
Date: August 13, 2009 at 03:47
Message id: 13091 - Hi Kev,
The MESSAGE BOARD is really the best place for an open discussion on the BCC Championships to take place.
I am sure from the comments made our secretary Di Byrne can pick out all of the ideas that may make sense for change or not.
Personally, I do believe we could tidy up the rules with regard to the championships as they are somewhat open for misuse by some as we actual do not state any format with the regard to the operation of vessels etc. We only talk about a challenge to the results really. Below are the rules as they currently stand.
COMPETITION RULES
1. Trophies shall be competed for annually by members of the BRITISH CONGER CLUB.
2. Members may win more than one trophy in any one season.
3. Appeals by competitors to be lodged with a COMMITTEE MEMBER of the BRITISH CONGER CLUB within thirty (30) minutes of the announcement of results.
The decision of the COMMITTEE will be final.
4. When entering fish for LINE STRENGTH AWARDS a member must submit twenty (20) feet of line used, together with the official entry form. The line to be submitted within twenty-eight (28) days of the capture of the fish, as per Bye-Law 8.
5. In order to participate in the PERSONAL MEMBERS BOAT COMPETITION CHAMPIONSHIPS, an entrant must have been a paid up member during the year preceding the CHAMPIONSHIPS and also be a fully paid up member for the year of the CHAMPIONSHIPS.
=============================================
If we did this we could make the charter boat skippers conform to the rules that the BCC lays down for the competition by enforcing them to sign a charter agreement for the festival. This would include re-imbursement of some funds should the event be cancelled or curtailed due to weather restrictions. This could be a refund based on an hourly basis.
Whilst I do not like making rules for the sake of making rules, I believe the time may be right to ensure BCC anglers are better protected. As from what I read I believe they would appear to have had a rough deal.
I will place a complete report of the BCC COMPETITION on the website this weekend with more pictures. News PAGE 1 at the moment contains a report.
Kind regards,
Tony
To All Members
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.111.12.19)
Date: August 12, 2009 at 18:26
Message id: 13090 - Just a quick note to reiterate that I have printed off all your comments and will pass them on to Bob Nye who is, as I write, trying to find an alternative venue for next year's Champs.
Once we have found a suitable venue we will then go through all the current rules and hopefully come up with something that will improve the Champs so keep sending those suggestions but please keep them sensible and clean!!!!!!
There should be a full report of this year's Champs going onto the website very soon.
Regards
Members Champs
Posted by: Kev Lavis (80.47.144.106)
Date: August 12, 2009 at 16:31
Message id: 13089 - My reasons for asking for the rules of the competition were that I was thinking of looking into this and other competitions and see if I could come up with any suggestions for improving the event.
I have the luxury of having fished the competition on private boats, charter boats, being involved in the 'weighing ins' and having crewed for several years - with all this in mind I have heard many comments about what is wrong, what is right and what 'should' be done...
Phil, your latest message does far more by way of support and ideas than others I have read recently, it's good to have some ideas posted for the rest of us to think about.
I've spoken to plenty that fish the Weymouth festival and I worked with the recent EFSA comp' - there are pro's and con's for each.
I believe that what we need is to discuss the pro's of each competition (and others if relevant) and see what we can bring into the Members Champs. Does this need to take place at the AGM or can there be some form of poll (or similar) on the net?
My own thoughts would perhaps include the following:
1. The skipper and crew responsible for where the party fish on the day - leave the decision of wreck / reef etc to the professional on their own vessel; obviously this being discussed with the anglers.
2. Have an agreed total fishing time, in the region of 6 hrs - to be started when the skipper and those aboard agree - any time used for moves etc during the day to be included in this time. This gives the skipper more control over where to fish and how. This could avoid having to fish both states of tide (obviously dependant upon tide times on the day)
3. An agreed final weigh in time (8pm?)to ensure that all can be sorted on the final day allowing visiting anglers to travel home at a reasonable hour.
With regards to the competition moving to another port, I would not like to see this happen - if other Ports are capable of running it well why have they not come forward for the Affiliated championships? This year the event has returned to Plymouth from Brixham - I'm sure we can read something into that.
The Mount Batten Centre is an 'ideal' venue but there were issues of their own making that lead to the change this year - out of the control of the committee.
Tony - would it be possible to have(or would there be merit in having) an area of the website dedicated to ideas for improving the championships - one that we could all use to share ideas? This then perhaps forming the backbone of a poll where we could choose the most popular ideas and have them 'thrashed out' at the AGM (if needed)or discusssed at the committee meetings?
Just some thoughts...
Regards
Kev
Sorry missed this bit off my reply
Posted by: Tony Irwin (82.46.28.84)
Date: August 12, 2009 at 09:02
Message id: 13088 - I guess the articles that Phill Allan wrote on these two occasions were binned then or ignored.
(please read my article July 11th 2008-
June 26th 2007
We seem to get the same problems year on year so how are we going to move forward to next year
Reply To Phill Allan Comments
Posted by: Tony Irwin (82.46.28.84)
Date: August 12, 2009 at 08:52
Message id: 13087 - Bloody Ell
reply
Posted by: phill allan (81.132.244.131)
Date: August 11, 2009 at 13:36
Message id: 13086 - (please read my article July 11th 2008-
June 26th 2007
Only 50 anglers for a premier event is worrying
Dont have the facts of why skippers are wanting to be paid in full for a few hours fishing, but they should be at least reimbursed for fuel and mates hourly rate. there is no way that any skipper would have gone to sea in those conditions on a private booking.
Maybe the commodore or Bob Nye can explain in more detail. or even skipper/s post their own views.
But most certainly the members should have at least 75% returned, 5 quid seems ludicrous and insulting!
BAIT 1. Anglers should all take frozen bait, there has been many occassions when the conditions are snotty, and mack are scattered. or not even there in great numbers.
BOAT SPACES 2. Very important in my view, especially on smaller decks, max of 8 per boat
BOAT DRAW 3. Made on the friday night in front of member/s with maximum two anglers per draw ( husband/wife/partner parent and spouse scenario ) this will add to the fun of competition, and dispel any thought of being on same boat year on.
WHERE TO FISH 4. This should always aim to be a wreck, but decision to be left to the skipper, who I am sure will talk to its anglers on the boat that day and let them go where they want, so long as they are back in at the specified weigh in times.
COSTS 5. Eight(8)anglers max per boat, + cost of boarding, I think I read Dianes post where 3.00 per boat or per angler, not sure on this one, perhaps it can be clarified? In any case it still works out cheaper than meter parking which brings me to the following >
VENUE 6. Our club NSC SAC along with a few others campainged for the Mount Batten Center, perfect for parking, surrounding area is ok for digs, nice club room for presentaion.
Ok its a pain in the arse to locals & skippers, but how many locals fish the comp,
this is also a chance for skippers to ply their trade, and get bookings.
BOARDING BOATS 7. 15 mins for late arrivals is about right, we all get weigh laid for some reason at times, especially when its meter parking!!
ROVING POSITION 8. How many conger have won the comp from the stern, about the same as the port/starboard, if you are drawn in position 4 then thats where you should stay, with the exception of one boat, they are not big enough to have revolving anglers, especially when its snotty conditions. You are more likely to have accidents, and in any case if you get a big eel, it will end up at the stern and so will you!
DECISION MAKING 9. Commodore and festival organiser should make final decison but at what point?? If on, then ultimately leave it to the skippers to choose the mark, wreck or reef ,all the skips are experienced guys and all capable of being commodore themselves.
BYE LAWS 10. Are on menu, but Kevs reason for mentioning this, is i can only guess is the 30 minute ruling whereby contestants must complain within 30 mins of presenting the awards
A little unfair in this instance as some members were not aware of change of times for presentation, and even missed it.
(please correct me Kev if not the case)
I think Di is doing agreat job at answering members comments and keeping up to speed, but I would like to reply to Di`s comments about new blood into commitee, and say that its not about new blood with ideas, you are all experenced committee members and indeed anglers
and you all do a damn good job of running the club and giving up your spare time, and probably putting up with your partners bending your ear about it all. I know i got the teeshirt!
The fact is, The comp is attracting less and less anglers, credit crunch or not. and the answers are on this forum to making it better.
tight lines
Phill
Championships
Posted by: Tont Irwin (82.46.28.84)
Date: August 10, 2009 at 22:05
Message id: 13085 - Hi Di,
Thanks for the reply to my message.
Before we have any more damming comments about this years championships perhaps we should wait until the Weymouth 3 dayConger Championships have taken place.
I know that several Conger Club members are fishing it this year having decided not to travel to Plymouth.
Let us wait until after the even before we say more.
There is definitely something going wrong and we need to seriously look inwards to see what it is or we will cease to exist as major voice in Conger fishing.
I love my Conger fishing and am proud of the sweatshirt that depicts my membership.
Do we need a complete clear out of all what we are doing and start again or is it something else I wish I knew but it seems we are in dangerous downward spiral and we need some drastic action
2009 champs
Posted by: Tony Geal (86.5.64.70)
Date: August 10, 2009 at 22:02
Message id: 13084 - Dear Di
I am secretary of Worthing Deep Sea Anglers, on the committee of another beach and boat angling club involved in another club fund raising ect a member of Angling Unity and the B.C.C I fish both boat and beach comps, I also organise away trips, one to Plymouth each June Conger fishing and one camping/fishing weekend and a Christmas pier comp where every body gets a prize and dinner after, and several independent local boat trips (at least one a month) for friends, so I know exactly what a difficult task organising anything to do with Angling is.
On to the champs I have been coming down to the champs since I joined our club in 1991, but the last three years the comp seems to have lost something, probably the weather, poss the introduction of money? or having to move from the Barbican I have stated before last year on Geordie's boat was completely unacceptable and this year what happened on Sunday was the same.
You state "without Knowing the facts", how can we Know there have been no results the last time I looked and nothing on here about what has been going on in fact I believe I have been giving more details on what happened than the club!
As for the refund this has to be in full they took us to sea in conditions that were not suitable for purpose everybody once we left the sound could tell it was much rougher than the day before, with a worsening forecast.
Just to say this is what they have offered is not good enough, what reason have they? why were they paid? it is my £45 and I like probably most members would like it back. I am an electrician I cannot charge somebody to wire a light point then only fit a switch!
To move the Championships to say Weymouth may breed new life into it It would be a pity but possibly a necessity I have been coming down to Plymouth for over 35 years my son and grandson live there now. I have some great memories of our times there and the champs.
Cheers Tony
Message to Derek Toms & Co
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.111.36.23)
Date: August 6, 2009 at 21:10
Message id: 13083 - I was a little surprised to see that you had posted your comments on the club message board after you had previously sent it to the committee but before you had received our response.
As it is, the committee met this week and went through your e-mail discussing each point in turn.
We agreed that on the Saturday the Commodore should have opened up the area for all skippers and if the one skipper wanted to stay where he was then that would have been his decision.
After discussions between Bryn, Bob and the Commodore on the Saturday evening, it was felt that, as the forecast was for the same conditions as the Saturday, it would be suitable for the boats to get out to the reefs. If individual skippers felt that conditions were unsafe and decided to return to harbour, then the British Conger Club could have no say on their decision.
With reference to a refund, after negotiations with the skippers, they would only agree to a refund of £5 per angler. If you require your £5 refund, then please write to the Treasurer with a stamped addressed envelope and he would be pleased to send a cheque.
The attitude of the Plymouth skippers and their unwillingness to agree a reasonable refund has been duly noted by the management committee and we have withheld a date for the 2010 Championships until the Festivals Officer has had chance to contact other ports for available dates.
With respect to the note from Pam Toms I can assure you that the committee in no way are held at ransom by the charter skippers and that, contrary to your belief, all comments posted on the message board, sent in writing, mentioned on the phone or e-mailed are always discussed at committee meetings.
The venue was changed partly due to the exhorbitant charges levied by the Mount Batten management and also because of the problems encountered by divers ribs being tied up where the boats were trying to land and no support from the management of the Mount Batter Watersports Centre to ask them to move.
I can assure you that it is the committee of the BRITISH Conger Club who run this competition on the members behalf and we would be only too happy for you or any other member to agree to join the committee and bring fresh ideas.
Reply to Tony Geal
Posted by: Di Byrne (91.111.36.23)
Date: August 6, 2009 at 20:55
Message id: 13082 - Thanks for your comments. As always, members are quick to post their dis-satisfaction on the message board without knowing the full facts.
Our Chairman and Festivals Officer tried to negotiate a refund with the skippers and in the end managed to get them to agree to refund us £5 per angler.
I can assure you that we were not happy with the situation and have duly noted their attitude and unreasonable offer.
In the circumstances, the Festivals Officer has been asked by the committee to find an alternative venue for next years Championships.
If you would like your refund please contact the Treasurer and provide a stamped addressed envelope and he will be happy to send you a cheque.
Regards
Di Byrne
2009 championships
Posted by: Tony Geal (86.5.64.70)
Date: August 5, 2009 at 22:14
Message id: 13081 - I have just read that we are not getting our money back for the Sundays abortive trip.This is completely wrong,perhaps not even legal we paid to go conger fishing and all I got was a very wet mackerel trip that lasted three and a half hours.As the first day last year when I was drawn on Geordie's boat when we fished only for a couple of hours and very little of that time any where near a wreck and should have got some refund,this year was as I have already posted was the pits
The change of venue was a mistake for travelling anglers if like me you are on your own, being charged a couple of pound per head to use the Mountbatten Centre paled into insignificance to the cost of car parking charges at this years venue. As for the fishing I was lucky to be on Daves boat and we had fifty eels on board,but we also were not given any option to move either, as the size of eels were generally small. I was surprised when we went to sea the second day as the skipper had told us the weather was going to be bad 20mph winds forecast and we would be lucky to get the morning in.I have told my views on the earlier posts on the championships but not getting a full refund for Sunday is diabolical, we anglers are dependant on the professionals expertise they called it wrong not us we should be refunded in full.What has happened to our 45 quid?
2009 championships
Posted by: Mr.Derek Toms (86.63.22.205)
Date: August 2, 2009 at 20:47
Message id: 13080 - To all the Committee,
We the undersigned representing 14% of the anglers, fishing this years Competition, wish to express our views, we have not made any of the comments without given due consideration.
Poor conditions were put forward for the first days decision by the skippers to fish close to the drop off. Within two hours the conditions had improved, our skipper the Commodore, ( for the two days) started ringing around seeking the views of the other skippers, but because "Dave" refused to move, as he was catching eels, we all stayed put. The Commodore should have had the right to open up the area for all the boats wishing to move and should not have been held to ransom by one boat.
Sundays decision to fish after 20 knot South Westerly winds had been forecast on Saturday evening only compounded the fiasco. Two hours trying to catch bait whilst trying to make a decision!!
We understand from one of our party, on board the Commodores boat ( on day two) that again he was in contact with all the other skippers, and also in contact with two of the competition organizers on the shore. In the event a number of boats made their own minds up to turn for the harbour, it might be useful in future to have an organizer of the competition on the commodores boat, to monitor the situation first hand.
We were first informed that we would be fishing the reef, after getting within 3 miles, it was then back to the drop, and maybe fish the sound, before finally calling it off and back to the pontoons by 11.30am, not having anchored once.
The conditions last year were very similar, and the skippers tried hard, but this year the commitment was just not there.
The final insult to members came after contacting Bob Nye on the 24/07/09 only to be told that the Committee had decide not to reimburse the members for the Sundays aborted Competition.
This is a complete injustice to all the competitors!
We were told last year there would be an increase doe the rise in fuel costs, that was only fais, but in the event over the two days total travelling was only the equivalent of one days wrecking.
This Committee has double standards, on one hand reject anglers views on decreasing the numbers of anglers per boat on economic grounds, then to decide not to reimburse anglers for the days fishing that we did not get.
It's totally unacceptable to charge £45 for every angler for Sundays short mackerel trip, we want our money back!.
It is no wonder this Competition is attracting fewer anglers year on year, the British Conger Club attracting fifty anglers to it's premier annual competition, would be laughable if it was'nt so sad.
Anglers are voting with their feet, wake up Committee and have the guts to try new ideas before it's too late.
A very disillusioned Isle of Wight group of anglers.
S.BEARE
D FISHBURN
J HOEY
S HUNT
P TOMS
D TOMS
C NEWNHAM.
TO THE BRITISH CONGER CLUB COMMITTEE.
Again this year seven of us travelled from the I.O.W. to your annual competition.
Firstly the Committee was dictated to by the skippers of the boats,who also because of the skippers The Conger Club moved the venue from Marine, the excellent venue of the Mountbatten Centre to the Queens Annes Battery, wrong move, (according to Di Bryne the skippers had nothing to do with the change of venue) secondly last year there were 86 anglers taking part, this year 50, yes I am aware that the "CREDIT CRUNCH) may have had an effect, but I have fished the Conger Competition with 100 anglers before now, why don't you Committee listen to your members, last year on your web site after the 2008 competition, several members wrote on your web site page, nobody had taken a blind bit of notice, what's the point of having a web site if no members ideas are acted on.
On day one I was on the Commodores boat, and when the sea had settled down, I asked if we were going wreck fishing, the Commodore said that "Dave" who had had an excellent morning did not want to move, fair enough, but then neither would I, if I had had such a good morning, but all the rest of us had not and according to the Commodore neither had all the other boats, why was'nt the area opened up , let "Dave" stay where he was and give all the other anglers a sporting chance.
As for the Sundays days fishing, who in their right minds made the decision , any idiot on the Saturday night could see by the weather forecast that there was no way that we should have gone to sea, and now to be told that we will not be getting our money back for the Sundays lack of fishing, really takes the mickey.
As with a lot of your anglers, it cost quite a lot of our money to travel to Plymouth for your competition, next year, unless there is a vast improvement, my money will be staying in my bank account.
I do think that you as a Committee, need to do a massive rethink on who runs your Competition, is it The British Conger Club, or the charter boat skippers.On talking to quite a lot of anglers who took part in your competition, a lot of them are of the same opinion as myself.
PAMELA TOMS.I.O.W.
C NEWNHAM.
Page 1 2 3 4 5 6
Post a Message
|