Wednesday 13 September 2017

Mid-week market in Newlyn.




Today the latest superstore to hit Penzance opens its doors - with the promise that they will be selling MSC Certified fish - let's hope that includes hake from the Newlyn netters!...



with rubbish weather forecast for much of the week on the back of storm Aileen there's only a couple of beam trawler's fish on the market this morning...



and some fish are in short supply...



though the same can't be said for plaice...



as the buyers...



find they have stack after stack to buy...



unlike this solitary cod...



and a handful of mackerel...



these red mullet have been touched by that curse of the fishroom's life...



as there are now good signs that the cuttlefish have moved in on the grounds!..



the other cod...



there seem to be a few more lemons around than normal...



while it seems the little reds are never in short supply...



or the monk tails...



there's plenty of breeze blowing through the fish market building...,



as the forklifts fetch the boxes back to the factories...



the morning sky looks like the portent of a very changeable day ahead...



so the boys on the Twilight III will hope they don't have to don the oilskins every five minutes while they work on the deck going through the gear...



the boats are always their beast after a a paint-up...



there are still one or two yachts making passages, this one will be waiting for weather now before heading back to Ireland...



won't be long before little Suzie is back in the water.

Tuesday 12 September 2017

There is a documentary tonight on a French History channel about deep-sea fishing.




The history channel this Sept12 at 20 h 40: A documentary called, "Headwinds, a French fishing history" 

Monday 11 September 2017

Monday morning's market in Newlyn.


The harbour looks deceptively calm this morning as the resident seal enjoys a breakfast snack...


while the netting fleet and a handful of beamers spent the weekend tied up over the big spring tide and an increasingly poor forecast which should see all but the biggest boast in the fleet held in port until at least Wednesday morning...


with the tide and the weather at odds, the boats landing fish to the market this morning were all big beam trawlers...


including the Cornishman who had a good run of monk tails...


the Sapphire II whose Dovers were snapped up by a number of buyers including Fish Festival supporters, FalFish...


thanks to head buyer Edwin...


who was also tempted by a few rays from the big beamer...


and possibly in the market for one of the biggest trips of plaice in recent times from Filadelfia skipper Don...


who also picked away a good few tub gurnards...


and red mullet to...


compliment a box or two of John Dory...


all topped off with a good sign that the annual cuttlefish season looks like it might be looming over the horizon to coin another nautical phrase in common usage...


big tides mean the netters are not at sea, so no fish up the western end of the market...


as the day brightens heavy cloud races across the harbour as the winds pick up...


not that that gets in the way of shifting fish back to the store to be processed, packed and sent away...

Sunday 10 September 2017

Le Men Dhu, up on the slip.





Maverick, (left) the replacement for the Sea Spray is getting a makeover...



while the Britannia V is looking good after her major refit...



as is the Gary M...



while the guys on the Louisa N put her beam trawls back together again...



two of the netter's fleet sparring partners in berth together...



yet another windfarm service boat on passage...



while the huge scalloper, Olivia Jean takes a break between trips...



Le Men Dhu is up on the slip after her mishap while heading for Padstow harbour last week...



though testimony to the strength of her build...



there are mainly just heavy scratches and a few dented patches lower down on her hull where she sat on the reef of rocks on the estuary shore...



though the keel plates have been removed and ready for replacement.

Saturday 9 September 2017

The Fishermen of St Ives Calendar 2018 from the Fishermen's Mission.




“The Fishermen of St Ives Calendar” was officially launched in Porthmeor, St Ives and is now on sale. The Fishermen’s Mission thanked who all attended, the photographer Chris Boulton, his girlfriend Clare Golder who designed the calendar and Chris Riddle at Porthmeor Studios who kindly offered the venue to show the images. The studios were a former pilchard works and below at sea level are the fishermen’s stores so it was wonderful to hold the launch there and look out to sea where many of the photographs were taken.

Endorsed by the fishermen, all who attended were delighted to see the pictures and many of the fishermen were asked for autographs. An evening of amazed and interested faces, the vibrate colours and the detail of the images on display from the calendar got the crowd excited. The images printed on to A1 and A3 were for sale, Ian Harris an active member of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, purchased a poster and a calendar “The calendar is stunning, Chris has managed to capture the mood, passion & toil of each fisherman and there surroundings. It was good to meet Chris but most impressed to see the number of fisherman that came to check out their pictures, yes but more importantly to support those that support them.” Long term supporter of the Fishermen’s Mission and local business owners, Sue and Pete Fraser from Harbour Lights in Falmouth and Fraser’s in Penzance added “We have made the Fishermen’s Mission our chosen charity over the past 12 years because of the amazing work they do in supporting the fishermen, their families in times of need and being a voice for the industry.  We owe a great deal to the fishing industry locally and nationally and we will continue to stand alongside the Fisherman’s Missions charitable efforts.”


The photographer Chris Boulton and his girlfriend Clare Golder, who designed the calendar said, “The response to the calendar has been overwhelming and every person photographed for it, took time from their precious free time to come along to the launch night, which meant a lot. These guys literally put their lives on the line for our fish supper and the Fishermen's Mission are there should the worst happen.  All profits from the sale of the calendar go directly to the Mission and it’s the least we could do to help the cause in some way.”


This A3 calendar, retails at £10, all proceeds to go directly to the charity, the Fishermen's Mission, as everyone involved in the compilation received no payment. 

On sale now in St Ives; 
the town centre Wharf Road Post Office, 
Tourist information, 
St Eia Cabin Newsagent, 
Gallery 38 and the 
Fishermen’s Co-operative. 

In Penzance; The Edge of the World Bookshop and Penlee Gallery. For online sales follow the link to the Charity’s website http://www.fishermensmission.org.uk/st-ives-calendar-2018/

Friday 8 September 2017

#FishyFriday has arrived in Newlyn!


Dover soles...



lemon soles...



the cheerful face of the turbot...



a few dozen scallops...



redder than red tub gurnards...



bidding in the fridge on the line caught mackerel...



early signs of a few cuttles with a couple of tubs landed from the Twilight III...



the netter Joy of Ladram landed the last of the MSC Certified Cornish hake for this neap tide and can now enjoy a few days rest...



while the buyers bid on the catch...



which included a solitary John Dory...



and a few big red tubs...


the dawning of the day is beginning to take on a more autumnal air of late...



with the Crystal Sea looking very tidy after her annual refit up at Toms of Polruan all set to get away as soon as possible. Hopefully, future infrastructure investment in in Newlyn will see many of the fleet undergo refits in the port without having to steam a 100 mile round trip away from home.