Charter Boats UK

Cheers for a great day Ray and glad I could help with the engine;) shame the fish were not playing! Look forward to seeing you in the summer.

Skippers Reponse: Thanks for your help, you get a free trip next time. I will get the pick up replaced and we should not have any more problems.. next trip should be Bass and Hounds . Regards.Ray

Out on Rays newly refurbished " Marlin " and once again he put us over a great Thornback mark, in between the plentifull supply of tea,coffee and pies we landed some 15 rays topped by my personal best fish of 15lbs.Three of our party had never been sea fishing before and one guy Des caught the most fish,to say we had a great day is an understatement and once again cheers Ray.

Skippers Reponse: Thanks for the review Phil - You had a long wait to get a fish and then get a stonker. well done!!

Ihad a p.b on board but that is not why this was probably the best trip i have been on.The skipper could not do enough for you nothing was to much trouble for him helping out the novices on board to giving some really good advice to us mature fishermen.On top of all this we had teas and coffees coming out of our ears and food as well.I would recommend this skipper to all novices and pros you will have a memorable day out

Skippers Reponse: Many thanks for feedback Alan, What a cracking hound, played like a pro.. shame the bass didnt want to play as well. Ray

I dont often go fishing but on the few occasions i have, I can only say what a great skipper Ray Martin is, nothing is to much trouble and his always there to help us less experienced fishermen when we get into difficulties, the tea and coffees keep coming all day and he does some mean Burgers and Pies all baking hot, It was also great to see my brother Alan get a personal best . All in all a great day out and I would highly recommend Ray Martin to anyone who are first timers.n

I dont often go fishing but on the few occasions i have, I can only say what a great skipper Ray Martin is, nothing is to much trouble and his always there to help us less experienced fishermen when we get into difficulties, the tea and coffees keep coming all day and he does some mean Burgers and Pies all baking hot, It was also great to see my brother Alan get a personal best . All in all a great day out and I would highly recommend Ray Martin to anyone who are first timers.n

As usual, Ray got every last foot out of the tide so as to give us a longer day. A great skipper who fed & watered us in the manner of Jamie Oliver (pukka). Plenty of fish including a PB for my brother Alan, a nice Smoothound of 17lb 9oz. I don't ever think your find another skipper willing to include bait, tea (over 6 cups each) & food all inclusive in the price.

Skippers Reponse: Many thanks for the comments Gary, Shame the bass didnt want to play, but plenty of other fish to keep me busy with the net (in between Teas and burgers) See you soon for the bass trip. Ray

As usual, Ray got every last foot out of the tide so as to give us a longer day. A great skipper who fed & watered us in the manner of Jamie Oliver (pukka).

As usual, Ray got every last foot out of the tide so as to give us a longer day. A great skipper who fed & watered

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150348831757154&oid=160029910696967&comments Ok, so, the weather wasn't looking great for a 12hour boat trip on the Thames Estuary, but Raymond Martin was the skipper to trust. Jumping on boards Saturdays boat trip were as follows. FFF main man and founder Lee Johnson Fbii, then his pub pal Colin Skone, who appears not to have added me as a friend on FB, but I will let him off this time. Then Chris, who is Ray's brother-in-law and chief Tea Maker and bacon roll and hot dog chef! Then there was Banksy (sorry) Alan Cowdrey lasttwo of us were Nick Coster and myself. We started our hour jounery out from Two Trees Island near Canvey in to the Thames. With plenty of catches overthe last fortnight with Ray hitting the right spot everytime, we had high hopes of catching some hounds and bass. The first thing heard above the sound of the engine was 'who wants a tea?' I don't think anyone turned Chris down. With our bellies warmed up and heading East, we were going against the wind and with approx force 3 Westerly, surely the fish had to be around. .... once we had a cup of tea and a gorgeous bacon sandwich, courtesy of Chris, we started dangling our lines in to a sandbank. With a few of us taking part with a few feathers and a bank full of gulls and seals, we unfortunately didn't get anything this time, so we moved on to a deep water spot. With the tide about 2 hours from turning to high water, we all baited our flowing traces and first to strike (I think) with a small bass was Alan Cowdrey, shortly followed by a dab by myself, then Lee, hooked in to a nice looking hound. (pictures to follow) Soon after, we all had some luck with the fish, Lee and Nick Coster kept pulling in the smoothounds out, followed by everyone else with a few 'dags' here and there. Alan later on caught a father nice 8.1/2lb hound that fought well. We moved to a few different marks and I was done like a slipper (sorry, kipper) with the much talked about video that Lee put on yesterday. Having had their fun, we moved over to a mark, just off of the Sheerness coast, a mark noted for its capture of hounds. We all caught some dogs, but nothing really descent enough for anyone to beat the earlier captures. At 6.30- we moved back towards the coast of Essex and to a man made sea bed just outside the MOD missile testing range. With no sign of bass but plenty of weed, we decided to pack up with the tide beginning to calm, and the sun setting over the horizon, we got back to the marina and parked up. I had a lovely day with the boys, they had a laugh at my expensive, we were kept fed and hydrated by the amazing cooking from the skipper and Chris, we had all caught some fish, lots of dags, a couple of bass, lots of hounds and a dab and we had spent time doing what we all love FFF! Until the next trip I am lucky enough to be present on, I will be waiting, possibly getting a trip to the beach soon. But thanks to everyone who has made boat fishing a pleasure. Raymond Martin, Alan Cowdrey, Lee Johnson Fbii, Nick Coster, Chris and Colin. THANK YOU. I can't wait until April! *REPORT BY RICHARD SOLE MAN TAYLOR*

Skippers Reponse: Great report Lee / Richard- shame the wind was stronger than predicted.. nice lot of hounds and your catch of 12 on your own was probably among the best individual hauls so far this year..

My report on a boat match that took place on Sunday in memory of our great fishing mate Ken Wright. This is the 4th annual boat match in which his Southend Postal Sea Angling friends have competed in his memory after Cancer unfortunately took his life. Out on Shady Lady 2, from Leigh, Skipper Ray Martin as usual put the anglers straight on the fish. All the anglers aboard were getting constant bites & fish all day with many Dogfish, Bass and Smoothhounds. Ten of the 15 Smoothhounds caught averaged at 6-8lb but 2 fish weighed in at 12lb 8oz (by Paul Elston) and 15lb 1oz. (by Gary Tidd) The scoring was done on a points basis with Ray Martin winning with 143pts despite making the bacon rolls and constant teas, followed in 2nd place by Gary Tidd and Paul Elston was 3rd. Heaviest fish was won by Gary Tidd. A great day had by all, Ken must of been smiling on us. Many thanks Gary Tidd. Southend Postal Sea Anglers

Skippers Reponse: Thanks Gary, it was a great day, tinged with a bit of sadness for my old mate Ken. He would have loved it. Well done with the hound, that is the biggest actually boated so far (dont wind up Sim) Ray