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Friday, 10 April 2009

Weather breaks - Good Friday becomes sailing day for many in the fleet

One up one down, Still work to be done aboard the Cornishman......
ex-Jersey beamer, diving exploration vessel Evert Marutje takes up a berth......
complete with hammocks slung aft side of the wheelhouse.....
the Ripple is rigged and ready to put to sea sometime over Easter......
first of the punts heads out to sea.....
followed by Alan Nudd in the Intuition.....
when the Billy Rowney makes an early re-appearance......
a gaggle of ever-hungry Blackbacks disturb the quietness
taking advantage of the local flower crop, the Smugglers Restaurant sets the tables for the weekend's tide of tourists.....
as yet another boat prepares to sail.....
there's plenty for the visitors to see, though they might become a tad frustrated in their attempts at finding the now defunct Pilchard Works Museum.......
Badcock's Gallery has a colourful show of 3D work......
to attract any passing trippers looking for the Pilchard Works.....
a fine forecast should make a stroll round the harbour top of any visitor's itinerary....
over in Penzance the Ross Bridge is now open for business.....
and there's a big influx of divers who won't be too happy at the weeks heavy swell which will have reduced visibility considerably from what it was last weekend.....
how many local faces (apart from Piglet's) can you spot on this mural outside Bramwell Mill?

Wednesday, 8 April 2009

With Easter coming there are plenty of visitors in town

Brixham's beamers continue to fill berths in the harbour......
last of the big netters to land, the Charisma's shot of hake rounds off this neap tide.....
alongside is a good run of turbot waiting to be sold.....

Ocean Fish were in the market for good monk tails this morning from the handful of beamers that landed mid-week.....
the Sasha Emiel is one of the 3m gear boats working up the channel.....
one obvious affect of the days at sea problems North of the border, we find the Tranquility (laying outside the Crystal SeaII, both built at McDuff's yard) has headed south to work on the Smalls ground for langoustine......
a small tow job for Mr Pascoe in the harbour......
local suppliers, Bridon Ropes is kept busy by the biggest scalloper and regular visitor to Newlyn under the command of another Scot, Girvan man Mr Johnson......
its a long time since these were spotted on the quay, boxes from the long-defunct Penzance Harbour Fish Market......
back at the helm to relieve relief skipper Eddie Derriman, and not trusting his side mirrors it seems, Shane takes the St Piran out on patrol......
clodsely followed by the Dom Bosco who will be hoping the crabs are showing signs of being on the move.

Tuesday, 7 April 2009

Pirates off Penzance?

Let's hope the current economic climate does not tempt some of the local boys to take a leaf out of the Somalian fishermen's book and turn to piracy! Our very own Royal Navy is now activley engaged, along with other EU vessels, in waging a war against the Pirates of Somalia - read the full story here.

Mooring fees on the up at Plymouth

Fishermen at Plymouth face a 30% increase in the cost of mooring on the marina style pontoon berths - see the full story here.

Eddie at the helm

The GaryM lands a shot of Porbeagle shark amongst the monk and turbot for their second landing of the tide....
alongside the CarolH makes a welcome return to boost the trade this morning with another big trip, this time a fine shot of 180+ boxes of hake and some quality turbot from the big tangle nets....
something to keep the boys from CEFAS busy recording a sample of the hake landed.....
Mark from the Ajax sorts through and grades some pristine trubot and brill to finish off the tide with a bang.....
also on show, a shot of inshore caught grey mullet just in time for the local Easter resturant trade.....despite thier size, 7+ kilo hake don't quite fit in the market boxes
shattering the peace, the St Piran fires up her main engines......
before heading towards the gaps......
Penlee Lifeboat crewmember Zac manages a wave while stowing the ropes..... as poacher-turned-gamekeeper, Eddie Derriman eases the patrol boat past the Newlyn pier's lighthouse......
and out for a pleasant day's crusing monitoring the fishing activities around the Bay.

Monday, 6 April 2009

Chris Brooker keeps the story alive

With fishermen now being jailed for landing over-quota fish by using powers available at the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) to use the Proceeds of Crime Act, designed, in the first instance, to recover money from international drugs traffickers, money launderers and other major criminals is it time pinch yourself just in case this is all a dream? - See this article in the Telegraph courtesy of Christopher Brooker.

In particular, one of the comments (Igonikon Jack), from across the water makes for interesting reading.

Easter promise

The Angel spreads her wings on the end of the quay....
and another haul of scrap iron that includes a netter's anchor waits for collection, ......
the deck wash goes over the side as the Oban registered Braveheart comes to life.....
study in turquoise, waiting for the crabs to move.......
almost the end of the neap so the netters are back in town.....
and among them, the Ajax has a huge haul of hake to tempt the buyers into parting with their cash, especially as this is traditionally one of the best export markets of the year in the run up to Easter for our largely Catholic cousins....
the Go for It hit a quality patch of turbot for the Easter dinner plates....
still making an impression, late season cuttles providfe a welcome boost to the catch returns....
which in turn means the fuel supplies are keeping the fleet of familiar yellow tankers on the move.