Secho

Actually came across it on Bonzle Digital Atlas - intersting site... you can punch in your own coordinates to create a map.. gives you all sorts of info on the particular destination. The attached pictures dont do it much justice all blown out of proportion Cheers

Hi Raiders, Interested in hearing anything anyone might have to offer about Woolnough Knoll in the close vacinity of Browns... Being so close, is it generally just considered as being part of Browns or is it specifically targeted as separate destination? Map info that i've found shows that it's rise is almost identical to Browns and much less than a mile off the browns mark.. While i'm at it.. does anyone have an opinion as to which of these could be deemed as being the most accurate browns mark: 34.02.200S 151.39.500E Versus 34.01.842S 151.40.230E Or are the marks close enough that both are on the money? Any feedback greatly appreciated. Cheers Marty

They were about 1.5 to 2 NM south of Botany Wide FAD, same depth and in line with it - we were back out there last Thursday and saw a similar sized marlin jump out of the water at the Plonkhole.. there was bait on the surface and we set about trolling as quick as we could (we were bottom bashing at the time we saw it jump) but had no luck getting anything on. Cheers

Yeah, sure is mate - off memory he only put it on a couple of weeks ago.

Hi there, We headed out from Botany last Tuesday in 2 Boats looking for some Dollies. We jagged about 10 keepers between the two boats however things shut down as the FAD got busier with other boats. We took off from there in different directions in search of some more fish and my mates ended up with a ripper of a first time experience. They had a double marlin hook up and while they scrambled to work the fish in, a third larger one swam by the back of their boat and took at look at them.. they lost one and landed the other. Glad we were close by to take a pic for them (as jealous as we were!) Cheers.

G'day there, We want to start making up batches of berley to freeze up and use as we need so we're looking for a way to mince it all up in one hit... any proper mincer would need to be able to take on the job frames and all... anyone recommend anything? Commercial mincers that we've looked at are all pretty dear, but i've also heard that many of them can't handle mincing fish bones either... one bloke has recommended to us that we buy a cheap mulcher from Bunnings.. apparently if you run everything through a couple of times they do the job (sounds messy though) ?? Anyone got any tips? Also keen to hear of any chum recipes that anyone might have... a mate of mine swears by this one: 3-4 buckets of fish heads and guts. Then put them all through a mincer. Add some tuna oil and lots of old bread crumbs to bind it all together and then freeze it in 10 litre tubs. Then when you want to use it put the frozen tubs in a fish keeper bag and as the berley defrosts a steady stream of berley will come out and last a long time. Look forward to hearing from anyone Cheers Marty

Gday there... FAD might need a little more time to kick in, they only replaced it on Thursday 28th after it dissapeared... We went out to the 16.5km FAD when we realised the East one was missing but had the same luck as you... tried yakka's, metal slices, poppers, pillies, trolling.. not a Dolly to be seen - you'd think they'd be around by now with the water temp being up as it is but who knows??? Cheers Marty

Hi there - My mates and I are interested in hearing from anyone who can provide some tips on raising sharks... We were on a trip out to Browns recently and came across a decent sized shark cruising the suface. We were only about 10 miles out when we came across it and we couldnt entice it into taking a bait. We cubed pilchards for about 15 minutes after sighting it however after about the first five or so minutes it was not to be seen again. In the following week we saw another shark while fishing in the vacinity of the plonk hole, and then again a week later we sighted one while off Kembla. We spend a fair bit of time fishing outside, mostly bottom bashing or jigging but none of us can recall seeing as much random shark activity in some time. With all that in mind we're going to have a crack at catching some however have little knowledge of the process. Our local butcher mate has provided us with 20 litre drums of pigs blood mixed with minced sheep and pig livers and hearts which we have put into a chest freezer. We're waiting for a relatively calm day with little sea / swell and not too much wind so that we can maintain a steady drift and were thinking of going out from Kembla to rangers or wollongong reef... Once we get out there, our plan is to drill half a dozen big holes into the bottom of the frozen drum so that the blood and bits defrost and release slowly as we drift. We were also planning on cubing pilchards soaked in tuna oil constantly into the trail... we've been told one pilchard, cut into three, every 15 or 20 seconds into the trail...?? In terms of tackle, we've got 24kg Tiagras, Tekota 800's which currently have 80 pound fire line on them. We've used really heavy snap swivels and crimped everything to about 8 feet of 200 pound cable and a dirty big hook. We're not after monsters.. just something to put up a good challenge and as decent to eat as shark can get - maybe 4 to 5 footers. Can anyone tell us: Are we on the right track or kidding ourselves? Can you recommend a renown location (out of Botany or Kembla) where we should be able to raise a few - within 15 or so miles off shore. Something that should work well as a dead bait? Do we use a balloon, secured by a thick rubber band at the end of the cable where the snap swivel is? Should we do without the snap on the swivel and just re-crimp straight to the swivel? After gaffing one, what is the best way of subduing them? Any info would be greatly appreciated... Cheers Marty

Good job mate... where were you guys at?

G'Day Raiders - first attempt at a post here... Went on a trip out of Darwin Harbour and down to Port Keats for a seven day stay on a mothership with three tenders. After spending the first day flicking for Barra (without success) we went out wide and tried out luck on the troll. My brother and I both used our 24kg Shimano T-Curve's, Shimano Tekota 800's and 80 pound Berkely whiplash with red and white deep divers. After looking around for about an hour or so a big red bait ball showed up on the sounder and we had our first triple hook up for the trip - Spaniards all round. We continued right through until sunset with more multi hook ups and lots of fun until the ball dissapeared - along with the line screamers. Best Mac for that afternoon weighed in just shy of 22kg. I've attached one of the pics... The rest of the trip saw plenty more Spaniards, very few Barra (although a couple were well sized), and literally hundreds of Tricky Snapper which were easier to find than a leather jacket at the peak! Here's cheers!