macca02

Yep! i used to spray paint my raiders white and then stick on some holographic stickers when chasing kings off the stones. I don't know why they stopped making white raiders.

If you're a complete novice go with mono. After a year or so i'd then suggest trying braid, its a lot less forgiving for new anglers and bigger learning curve (lack of stretch, need for a leader - learning different leader knots so you can cast through the guides etc). Most braids I've found the opposite to what you've described, they break much higher than their advertised breaking strain (fireline and powerpro are examples of this). I much prefer braid in the surf, it cuts through the waves and is less influenced by their drag. Only downside is what rob mentioned in that if seaweed is bad on the beach tangles are much worse.

Thoughts on circles vs J hooks off the beach when fishing with your reel in gear? Currently I have my rods set in a holder with enough drag to set the hook. Using gamakatsu octopus hooks at the moment and seems to work fairly well though wondering if switching to circles and fishing in gear would be more productive?

Awesome haul of blue swimmers mate! Were you anchored up hand lining for them?

If you rinse down after every trip you shouldn't have any issues with rods that have quality components. I used to always buy Shimano Rods but in the past 5 years have made the move to Daiwa Rods and honestly the components and blanks I've found to be of higher quality (though expect to pay a little bit more $$$).

Nice video mate! 420 renegade tiller steer is my ideal boat, one day....

I've only done pilchards and aim for something firm with still some substance to it, which for me is either a single or double salting (24 or 48 hours). Buy a bag of pool salt ($6). For pilchards (e.g. a 2 kg block) i'll let defrost a little bit until they can be separated. Put them in a large Tupperware container, sprinkle a large amount of salt over them and pop them in the fridge. After 24 hours drain the liquid and repeat the process once more (if desired - i normally do it twice). After another 24 hours, drain and then freeze (though they don't really 'freeze' i guess as there isn't much water content left).

I use a mix of squidgies, zmans and gulps. I've tried many different storage methods and have just gone back to keeping them in their original packaging. Squidgies are the easiest of the bunch to store and use I've found.

I use double uni for 3lb braid to 6lb FC leader and have no issues. I generally run long leaders (few wraps on the spool), I use double uni up to 20lb leader, anything above I I'll do a FG. Double uni is plenty strong if tied correctly as with any knot make sure you lubricate, that the wraps bunch up correctly and test it/make sure it's completely pulled down before snipping tag ends. I'll go 6-8 wraps of the 6lb fluoro and 12 wraps of the braid. The only times I have issues with the double uni is using rods that have microguides, the knot can be a bit too bulky for this.

Nice mate - you fishing brisbane waters? Think i'm going to try and target flatties for the day.

Any other raiders heading out this Sunday for the Pirtek Fishing Challenge? If not its probably not too late to sign up, plenty of prizes and supports a great charity. Hopefully weather wont be as bad as it has been the last couple of years.

Try a finer/lighter gauge jighead hook (nitro bream pro range I've found to be great). They penetrate through the tough mouth/lip way easier than thicker gauge jigheads, as such setting the hooks (especially on light line) is much easier. I had the same issue and the switch to fine gauge hooks/jigheads solved it for me.

I've found the exact opposite?? I've always found the beaches that aren't steep and coarse to better worming beaches (but i'm certainly no expert, just an observation from personal experience of trying to bring up worms on various beaches).

I'll second that! I've got a 12v 55lb model and they're awesome! It makes you think how you lived without one before.

Any tips with netting them craig? Last time i tried in brissy waters i struggled handlining and netting them myself. I landed one and dropped 3 at the boat . Do you find they let go when they get too close to the boat, or is it more when they breach the surface? I was worried they'd drop off if they got too close to the boat so was overextending when trying to net.

Yep very true. Noticed this in my local, a spot that might get a few boats on a weekend went to 15-20 boats every weekend (with people travelling far/out of their way) since a few big unusual captures were posted for that area over facebook.

Very interesting / good obeservation! I'll have to keep a lookout for the squidgy ball jigheads i haven't seen any for a long time.

I don't see them as being a viable target off the beach to be honest. I'm sure people have and there are probably beaches out there where it is viable, but for most beaches its not something i'm aware of being a successful way to target them.

I have a regular sized one - though i'd probably consider the larger (think they call it a snapper net) one purely for the bigger/deeper sized net in case you get a big flathead or mulloway. I haven't had a fish bounce out (yet), but for bigger flathead there's been times where it feels like its been close when they've started going crazy.

The berkley rubber/silicone mesh nets are great. I've owned both them and environets and I much prefer the rubber nets. Fish don't get caught in them like a traditional net (though the environets they don't get caught in at all). But the main reason I prefer them over environets is they are much more agile & easy to use. They're lighter and have way way way less resistance in the water. When it's just you in the boat and your trying to steer a big fish towards the net on light gear whilst extending out to net the fish, having something that freely moves through the water can make all the difference when landing the fish.

"Paddle" tail plastics are my goto for flathead (though really any plastic will do, though i think these are really effective as they look like a little poddy mullet). Squidgy fish in a size roughly around 55-65mm in length (black & gold is a personal fav colour) with a 1/6th oz jighead (Size 1 or 1/0 hook matches this plastic size) is a great starting point for shallow water <3m. Deeper water and current depending i'd go a heavier jighead to get back to the bottom quickly. Also with jigheads i prefer to go with something with a hook that is a thinner gauge (nitro bream range) as it penetrates the flattys mouth much easier than the thicker gauge hooks (especially when you're using relatively light tackle/thin lines). I noticed a massive difference in hookup rates in regards to missing fish after using some of the thicker gauge style jigheads. I generally give it a couple of quick flicks up, wind up the slack as it sinks back to the bottom and repeat the process with varying pauses.

Wetsuit pants + Wetsuit Socks/booties is the best approach IMO. They're comfortable, keep you warm and if you did get knocked over they're safe unlike waders. I searched for a bit and tried a few different products but found the above combination the best. I got some 3mm neoprene pants (think the brand was aropec) and 5mm neoprene boots/socks (idry). I'd go the slip over wetsuit boots as opposed to zip up one's, I initially was using zip up one's but it's just annoying having to get the sand out of them and the zipper after every trip. Those 5mm lined neoprene boots might be overkill for during the day - I wear this fishing at night in the middle of winter and find it keeps me warm. The top half is up to you, I usually just wear a t shirt and a good wind/rain jacket with Velcro cuffs so I can keep the wind out. If it's really cold I'll wear a thermal top underneath all of that.

Mate I've got a WhiteMountain backpack, had it for probably 7 years now and it is awesome. I think it's around the 50-60ltr size. Extremely comfortable, and fits a lot in it. I use it for whenever I have to do a long walk to a spot and take a lot of gear as it can fit everything in.

Autumn/Winter is the best time of the year for chasing Salmon, Tailor, Bream and Mulloway off the beach IMO. Rocks are also good with Luderick and Drummer being main targets. I find estuary fishing slows down a little so i target beach and rocks this time of year and find it to be more productive.

Nice mate! I've got a 12ft Penn Prevail that i use bait fishing off the beach for casting out big baits, for the money they are great rods with good components and i cannot fault mine.