weekendfisher

HI All, It was a great evening even though out of about 50 fish hooked only 4 were keepers it was fun and i will take any excuse just to be on the water. Gave me a good chance to try out my night vision goggles to and i got to give my new reel a test now i just have to find some kings to really try it out on. They were stupid mistakes that were made in a rush but i'm not to worried first mistake in 10 years of boating im surprised it took me this long haha. I am typically the paraniod overkill type of person in most cases i will have a spare battery on board( mind you i have 2 batteries for the boat already one on electronics and one for the motor) spare fuel spark plugs tools and a spare bilge pump. just goes to show some things you can not rush... I think i was just to excited about finally getting out it has been months since i had actually had the time to go and the weather was good at the same time. The laminated list is a brilliant idea something so simple but it could save a massive headache. Cheers

My 4wd Holden was $749 with QBE and the rest or the insurers were about the same that is with no accidents in the last 10 years no demerit points in the last 5 years and full insurance and that is 11 years old. My Lexus SUV (wife’s car) cost me $760 and that’s only 5 years old Then the Commodore (spare car so rarely driven) was $744 and that is 9 years old different cars different years but all around the same price and each year progressively gets higher this year they have all increased by about $100 from last year. Makes me wonder how much higher they can possibly take it. Hit the people who have made a CTP claim harder not the ones that have never used it. The only thing I am happy about is that my licence renewal was due in October and because I had no demerit points I got it discounted %50 so yaay for that. CTP should work the same way. It would be cheaper to stick wheels on the boat. Anyway that’s my rant done

Maybe just Maybe increase the fines for two reasons, 1. larger deterrent to those that do not respect the rules and damage future fishing for us,our families and the environment 2. Having larger fines could cover the added cost of having someone patrol the ramps and wharves If a single fine is in excess of $300 just one fine a day will cover their cost. and as an added bonus the extra revenue can be added to fund the great work they have been doing with ramp upgrades FADs etc. In my mind myself and everyone on this site are responsible fishers who follow the rules so it would not matter if the fines we $10,000 per fish it would not be an issue for us. Just my thoughts

Nice work there, I have been a litte hesitant in trying SP's they seem so scary lol But it seems you are picking it up quite well

Hi Raiders, It's been a while sine i have posted a report so i though it to be about time. Having tried to go out Saturday the 21st and that being unsucessful due to the crazy winds at Botany i was itching to go for a fish so friday at work i suggested to a mate we load up the boat after work and make a run to the ramp. With it being low tide and the wind forecast to be 20 knots it was against my better judgement to go but i was getting desperate so quickly i went home packed and we hit the ramp by about 7 after about 20 mintes we found our spot a drop off not far from the shipping channel, anchored and cast first cast came up a 25cm snapper which fought like a much bigger fish this happened for a while with a mix of bream whiting and snapper all unfortunately undersize in most cases but 1 or 2 cm We also had some prawns visiting the boat and some blue swimmer crabs chasing the fish up to the boat, then about 10pm the bigger bream started hitting the sonar was showing plenty of fish moving through the area and the bites were confirming this. by about 11 we decided to head back in having had a fun night and having 4 bream to take home i was pretty happy. the keepers were between 27 and 32 so not huge but legal most were 24cm that went back haha a little irritating but all part of the fun. Turned out the wind was not bad at all and the swell was not bad either. the bad parts though in our rush to get to the water i made 2 mistakes that i have never done before fisrt i left the bungs out so after about 30 mins of fishing i noticed the carpet slowly getting wetter and wetter at this point i remembered the bungs luckily i could reach over the back and screw them in and pump out the water with the bilge pump for 30 mins it didn't take on as much water as i would have expected ... Also i left the flushing muffs on the motor luckily it was still pumping plenty of water that is probably why i didn't even give it a second thought as i am alwasy checking the tell tale when the motor is running, it looks like after a few mins when underway the water pressure running over the muffs pushed them back enough to uncover the water intakes luckily Anyway still a great evening on the water and some pics

Are you talking the breakwall where the ramp is ? If so its not bad for Bream and flathead.. there are a few deep holes around but plenty of snags have fished there are few times when i cant be bothered taking the boat not to bad best on the change of tide i have found.

I am Surprised there is much in there i thought only carp lived in those waters... Is it clean enough yet to actually introduce some freshwater species worth catching yet does anyone know ? Being that it flows in to parra river and not from it the water once clean should stay that way.

Thanks Guys, The area is bery solid there is no flex when pressure is applied. I dont think there is a stringer in that area as it seems to be a hollow space. When you say rot do you mean in the fibreglass itsself? is that from water getting to it ? might have to grind it back and see what i am dealing with. Thanks

Hi All, After coming back from my last fishing trip i noticed some damage to the side of my boat, it looks like something has hit it and chipped off the paint/gelcoat. Can anyone give some advice as to how bad it is ? It looks like the area has been previously reparied and over the new fibreglass they have used filler and then painted the hull. I have been quoted about $600 to have the area sanded back refibreglassed and 2 coats of gelcoat applied to the repaired area. Is it something that looks like it needs to be done right away or is it just a cosmetic issue i really don't want to be without the boat if i can help it. Thanks

Thanks guys, Glad to hear all is still good. I was hoping to drop up in my lunch break one day but could not get in touch with you. figures since i tried calling a few times around 1ish. I'll give you a call soon and try to arrange a time to come by so you can take a look at what i am after. Cheers

Hey Guys, I am looking for somewhere that can make up some tubes with bases for my bait table so I can have it mounted at the back of the boat above the motor. Also a mate wants some tubing made to go around the back of the boat for his bait table plus rod holders on it. I have tried contacting seriously stainless but there was no answer on the phone and the website does not work. Can anyone point me in the direction of some good reliable fabricators close to the hills area ? don't mind a bit of a trip but since ill be towing the boat the closer the better especially if I need to make a few trip for measurements test fits etc... Alternatively I'd be happy to pay someone on the forum to do it if they have the equipment and skills for mine it's really just 2 pieces of tubing with a few bends and a fitting in the base that I can attach to the boat. Thanks

I usually fish off the beach up there of from the wharf which is pretty much opposite the pub. Mainly bream and flathead around there with the occasional tailor. There is a good tackle and bait shop at Nelson bay on the main strip the guy there knows his stuff he will be able to sort you out with a few good spots. Good luck.

Nice repoprt there, you are keen, I wish i could get out and fish as much as you. I feel your pain as i have spent many birthdays at chipmunks with the nieces and newphews as they live on the coast but the benefit is always getting the chance to get in a fish. I find that wharf area to be a funny spot as some times i won't even get a bite but then we have had days where we clean up. recent years have been much slower.. Anyway looks like a few days worth of good fishing you had there.

Oh I hope you are wrong .. I was planning on taking the boat to Botany this weekend .. I would not be happy if i got there and had to come home because the water was too choppy.. even early in the morning the drive from the hills to botany is not one you want to do without having some fun whilst there. I think we need to empty out Parra lake refill it and throw some trout in it 5 min drive that way :)I'D Probably be there everyday lol

Hey Guys, Just after some advice on fishing the Norah head area (central coast)it looks like we would be mainly fishing from the beach and i am still in two minds about taking the boat. There is on spot where there is a sand bar and a rock island coming off that which i thought be worth a shot but if anyone can point me in the right direction i would appreciate it also what sort of fish frequent those waters, I am guessing whiting,bream and Flathead would be the staple from the beaches. Thanks

Rule of thumb is if you caught it west of the bridge throw it back. Parramatta river has been to heavily polluted to eat anything from. I know a few people will head up to ryde area to fish and eat from there but thats up to you if you want to risk it. Cheers

It will be more noticable than you would imagine... I had two mates sitting at the back (about 180KGS in total) and the amount of speed you loose is crazy it forces the back to sit lower and therefore the motor is lower in the water and makes it harder to get up to the optimum height. once they were in the cabin we were up on the plane in no time and the motor had no trouble. The further up the front you can have your tank the better along with the rest of the weight. After playing around with weights in different areas it has given me a better idea of ho to distriblute weights on the boat. I will also be looking at reloacting the two batteries as far to the front as possible now or at least one of them. If you want to learn about the way it is affected just do what i did grab some mates go out on the water and have them move around so you can see how the boat behaves with weight in different areas. Also most importantly while you are on the water .. Fish never waste and opportunity to wet a line Cheers

Hey guys, So i have a few days off work and I am thinking of heading out to Botany bay for a fish tomorrow (provided my mate doesn't dog it) conditions look good and hopefully the rain holds off. I wanted to know if anyone else was thinking it was a good idea and are there any particular spots worth hitting. I usually go to the runway, Molineux and move around until the sonar shows something worth stopping for, since it has been about 2 months since i last went out and there was not much happening then so i am hoping for some better results. Cheers

We found High tide is the way to go for sure thats when there seems to be the most action.. Try around the wharf at Canda bay this seems to net some good results. But keep in mind it should all be catch and release as per the warnings of anything west of the bridge. Good luck

They are a bugger when trying to fish the reef often can't get through them. If my boat was a bit bigger id head out the the reefs to hunt them maybe if there is a calm day i will. Just like to find a good spot to get them mainly because if there is somewhere calm i can go and take the kids where they will catch fish they will be happy doesn't matter what they catch as long as they are catching they are happy. I have not explored the Pittwater waterways yet so it might be worth checking out next time i'm taking the boat. Cheers

Thanks guys, I might try out Clifton gardens or Avalon wharf Avalon is not to far I usually fish the rocks at Whale beach so i might head up earlier next time and try for some leather jackets. Thanks

Hey Raiders, I was curious to where in Sydney would be a good spot to chase some leather jackets ? I am in the hills area so not to far from there would be ideal. I usually fish Brooklyn or Botany but i don't seem to come across any there. I would be happy to find a spot either land based or from the boat Thanks

Thanks guys, Just found the link on the DPI website i see the limits are still on for fish east of the bridge too. Hopefully one day we can have a clean parramatta river again. Here is think link for anyone interested http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/info/sydney-closure Cheers.

Hey guys, I know a while back it was said that fish west of the harbour bridge should not be consumed ... has this changed or is it still a no no ? I have seen heaps of people fishing around the jetty at Canada bay and a mate goes there and reckons its ok. Thanks

Hey guys, I have been spending some time looking around for some good land based spots not to far from home that i can fish a few hours at after work on when i don't have time to take the boat. I have been looking around the harbour and found a few spots around Canada bay area and the the likes but then i came across the boat ramp at Greenwich there is a break wall that goes out a bit then runs along the water, has anyone fished this and is it worth a go ? Not sure what species to expect around there of if there is anything around. I am just guessing based on what we are getting in Canada bay that I would expect jewies bream flatties etc. Any tips would be great. Thanks