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When I went in to Doc, he said he recognised my name and thought it may be me. He is a member of Wollongong ANSA and knew me as I have regularly won ANSA comps in Sydney and Nowra. After a little fishing related chat he numbed the area with 4 shots of local anesthetic and then inserted a thick strong needle next to the hook above the barb. He then used the needle to pull the flesh away from the hook so it disengaged the barb. He then was able to slide the hook out. He then spent some time squirting what I think may have been saline into the puncture wound to thoroughly wash it out to minimise infection risk. Funny thing was the local injections stung more than when I had the hook go in.

Due to various reasons I hadn't had my boat out for months. With Good Friday looming and no fish in the freezer I decided to duck out to Bate Bay and try to catch a feed of blue spots even though it's my least favorite way of fishing. I started in close in 17 metres as a mate had been bagging out with decent flatties there before the rain, but could only catch little spikies. I gradually worked my way out deeper and didn't have much luck until I was in 40 metres. A lot of just legals at 33cm and the odd one at 40cm. As I was desperate to give the fam a feed, I set my minimum at 36cm and threw more than I kept back. At about 10.30am The bite came to a halt with 9 in the esky. It took nearly an hour to catch the last one at 38 and it was getting harder and harder throw back the just legals. A little disappointing size wise as the biggest would have been 42cm and another 3 at 40. As I put the last one in the esky I thought now for some fun and decided to head to my squidding spot to see if there were any around. As I moved back towards my rod the boat lurched and I stumbled and kicked my line still on the deck. The line flicked up and embedded the 4/0 hook all the way to the curve into the middle of my calf. Bugger! As I was by myself I headed back in, got the boat out and back home to get the wife to drive me to hospital to get the hook out. Disappointing way to end a nice day but mission accomplished. Nice to get the boat out, still 2 nights before Good Friday, maybe try for a Jew??? Ron

Thanks Fishmore. Ron

I imagine that ph will be a wright off for a week or so after the rain stops. I'm busting to get out in Bate bay to get the fam a feed of flatties even though I don't prefer that kind of fishing but I haven't been out for ages and getting a bit desperate. Before the rain there were plenty of flatties out there though you had to throw a lot of little ones back, as well as there being a few dollies on the fads. Hell, I would even be happy stocking up on slimies for jew bait if they are still out there. Unfortunately I think it will take a long time for the sqid to make a comeback. Good luck. Ron

Hi fish_more. Whar weather app is that please?

They gotta eat too regardless of the conditions. Ron

Yes, some bakers will still sell their left over loaves cheaply. I used to get it from Bakers Delight but they now have a blanket ban on giving away left over bread and it is now all binned except for some locations with appoved organisations. I only use while bread to preserve by drying out. Ron

I'd definitely go with the FG knot. Much smoother through your rod runners. Ron

Bread is great for burley either by itself or with additives like minced fish or tuna oil but sometimes you haven't got any or enough. I often have seen writers in fishing mags say freeze leftovers and I think these guys must live alone as I'm flat out finding room in our freezer for my bait stocks let alone half a dozen loaves of bread. The solution is easy. Just dry your leftover bread completely so it goes rock hard and it will be usable for years as burley. I just spread slices out on a cement path in the sun and turn over when one side is dried out. Lately I have used the kids old trampoline as a drying spot. Full loaves and rolls are cut in half to help drying process. I then put in plastic bags either in slices or crumbled up a bit. Some is also crushed with a rubber malet into breadcrumbs as I like these for my poddy mulet trap. If you have dried out completely so its rock hard it will keep for years as long as you keep it dry and haven't let it get mouldy before drying. When you use it for burley just wet it in a bucket of water or in your burley pot and it will go soft and break up and attract fish as good as the fresh stuff. I keep a sealed plastic bag in my boat just in case its needed and it is also lighter to carry for rock fishos with long hikes to their spots. I sometimes have got bulk lots of left over bread for free from a local baker and proess a large lot. One last hint is beware of cockatoos, as I have been mobbed and lost over a dozen loaves in one hit. Hope this helps someone. Ron

Most modern bindings dont need to be filled. Check label on binding and look for non fill? As stated above, modern 2 part finishes are the way to go but need to be turned frequently by hand for at least two hours. I bought a cheep battery opperated bbq rotisserie motor which works really well. Ron

Some like to let them run. I have drag set tò hook them if they run with bait but if they are biting timidly I feed them some slack to eat the bait. I like to strike strongly if they are moving off with the bait. They don't have hands, so if they are moving off with the bait it's in their mouth. Ron

I've been using and loving high speed metals for over 50 years. Great fun on small tunas, salmon etc. Twisties probably my favourite small slice but caught countless kings and the odd logtail spinning from the stones with the old seascape reels and WK arrows. Another great thing about them is their easy and fun to make yourself. Cut hex rod, bars of different shapes, handles cut from knives and spoons painted lead slugs etc nearly anything long and thin comes alive when cranked fast enough. Good luck. Ron

Immersion of a car over the dashboard in salt water creates an automatic statuary wright-off. If insured full payout and vehicle cannot ever be re-registered. Ron

I use that same set up to catch poddies. Rod cost about $5 onfleabay. I use home made Styrofoam float about 1 cm round with 2 size 12 square green blackfish hooks up short near float and tiny split shot. With bread burley fish are attracted to white float. Just too much fun. Ron

Hi Fishkent. Love fishing ph for big flathead and jew by boat but it can be a tough area. The striped fish your catching are trumpeter and are one of my fave livies for big flathead in the port. Ph has blessed me with 5 flatties over 80cm with the biggest being 97cm all caught on 1kg pretest line. My favorite area is from the dropoff from the balast heap upstream to sw arm which would require you to cross the channel from fishermans bay. I prefer bottom half of tide but when fishing comps you don't have much choice. Nippers are a great universal bait. Use lightest possible sinker and 50-60cm trace. If fishing flats fish rising tide from low. Cast out and use slowest possible retrieve with lots of pauses to cover ground. Don't give up you are on the right track and it should soon come together. Good luck. Ron

I assume you have dual batteries and means to switch between them? I often fish nights for jewies and switch to auxiliary battery to run lights and pumps etc leaving main battery for starting. With all lights including deck flood light being leds the auxiliary will still start motor but best to be prepared. Ron

I always wear light wading shoes as protection against hooks and fins but also against the sun as I find it's easy to get the top of your feet badly sunburned when out in a boat all day. Ron

It can be a good spot at times but not as good as in the past as the weed beds have shrunk over the last few years. It has also been my experience at shb that it shuts down after heavy or prelonged rain. I have found that it fishes best on the top half of the tide. Ron

I bought one on epay for about $80 rated at 1000amp. Never needed it myself but have helped others at ramp including a 115hp 2 stroke and a ford f100 with a big v8. I was amazed it started these no probs. Ron

I have alloy scoop on transome fitted on slide I got from usual online site. Slide allows you to adjust as well as being able to get it out of way should you have to do a beach retrieval etc. Consider an inline gate valve to turn off or adjust flow if too fast. Ron

I prefer to brine thin filets like slimies in water saturated with salt. If you can find them zip bags made for wraps are perfect as they are long and thin and hold 6 to 8 fillets nicely. Thicker filets like striped tuna I coat with salt and wrap them in newspaper to absorb moisture drawn out, then criovac to freeze. Ron

If it swims and preferably not too spikey, something will eat it. John Dory certainly like them. Ron

I find the best bait for yakkas thats always easy to use and keep on hand is chicken breast cut into tiny cubes. I buy a chicken breast and freeze small portions big enough for an outing. Strangely enough I also find chicken is great for poddy mulet as well. Ron

Have you tried using a battery run aerator to supliment water changes? When fishing comps I often keep 20 poddies and about 10 yakkas overnight in my live bait tank in about 40 litres of water. I'm near Sutherland. If your around here I can give you a 20lt bucket that is a bit squatter and larger diameter. This is better than standard shape as they have more room to move. Ron

The commonest boat retrieving error is to put trailer too far into the water so that boat floats off the roller. If you have last roller positioned so the keel rests on it as you winch the boat up the boat will straighten itself as it comes up. If boat is crooked just stop or slow down and it should come good. Ron