Mousehole

The start of what promises to be a weekend of fine weather......
so its no surprise to see Mr Morley heading out from the gaps to do a spot of handlining for early season mackerel.....
even a few boats are on the move over in Mousehole......
where visitors are confronted by a plethora of information around the bus stop area......
there's a fabulous view out across the island off Mousehole across to Britain's most Southerly point, the Lizard.....
a reminder from one of the few locals left in Mousehole as to the state of the nation........
all calm inside the harbour.....
and in the famous Ship Inn (home of Starry-Gazey Pie) there are still some vacant rooms available....
with any visitors in for a treat in the bar tonight if they are keen on a little rock'n'roll.....
a sign that things appear to be moving, literally for some people ot seems......
Father and son team aboard the Elisabeth Veronique, ably assissted by the on-board entertainments officer, Twinkle check the 60 fathom bridles are the same length.....
more wire waits for the boys on the giant scalloper, Jacoba......
maybe another set of injectors need doing.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Labora

Time for the all important maintenance to running gear aboard the Hans Senor, first of the visiting Dutch owned, Urk crewed, Belgian beamers to hit town.....
with the sun up and a gentle breeze blowing there's nothing better than taking things easy and chillin' afloat it seems, first away are Joe Crow and ex-trawler skipper Edward Harvey....
but they are not alone.....
and a sign it must be fairly calm as Clive takes a break from his demolition work and heads out for a spot of angling no doubt.....
someone is expecting a celestial visit it seems......
there's some heavy gear aboard the big Dutchman....
and further clues as to the real Angel due in over the weekend.....
and signs that the cuttles are still in abundance late in the season.....
bow view of the big Belgian flagged Dutch beamer......
with the waiting refrigerated transport waiting for the others to arrive......
as the quantities of sole being caught by these boats is low for the time of year, they must be thankful fuel prices are low, working the size of gear aboard the Ora et Labora (loosely translated as, Prayer and Work) must see a huge amount of fuel burnt for every hour they are at sea - for them, and the other Urk boats due to join them, Sunday will be a day of rest......
makes some of the local fleet look positively economical when they fire up in the morning.....
the redoubtable Maggie, long-time provider of bon'homie and superior bar-tendering in the 'Swordy', makes it a half century, this, is not likely to be a sedate or seriously sober party........
over the back of the North quay the waters run clear with thanks to the settled weather of late.