campr

I've caught heaps of big bream on small black crabs fished with a small ball sinker and metre long trace. Soldier crabs are easily caught at low tide at night on sand flats where present when they feed in huge aggregations just back from the waters edge. Putting a few of the tiny pea sized ones on a hook can at times be deadly for big whiting. Ron

There are no issues with shallow water at ph ramps that I know of except maybe the ramp behind Cronulla near the ferry wharf. Water St has very limited street parking as well as Wallys Wharf. Yowie bay ok but parking fills very earlý on weekends. Greys point not bad but the longest run to ocean. Ron

It is illegal to anchor in a chanel, which raises the question of how do you identify a chanel?? Ron

The same day I caught one of my pb flathead at 97cm ( released ) I had a similar experience. I was bringing a nice flatty to the boat when a huge flatty well over a metre came and grabbed it. A few minutes into the fight the big girl spat the little one out and swam off. I then landed 1st flatty which was half scaled and 41cm long. Ron

I remember Botany and Sutherland councils disconnecting taps at boat ramps during water restrictions. Main problem is that this increses water used as by time you get home salt has dried everywere and motor may have to be flushed longer in case thermostat has closed. Ron

I used to chase the macks inside Pt Stephens. Mostly around 16lb on 6lb mono using little home made slices and those wonderfull old 2700 blue series shakespear reels. Also hooked a couple of longtails without success. My theory is there used to be countless thousands of grey blue jellyfish about 6 inches round each one accompanied by a group of bait about 2 inches long which the tuna fed on. When the jellies failed to turn up, so did the big schools of tuna. Ron

I use either bread or breadcrumbs. I haven't tried it but a mate swears by adding a little tuna or pilchard oil. Ron

My most unusual out of place catch was quite a few years ago winning the estuary division of Narooma ANSA comp with a 2kg Cobia on 2kg line. I often hear of the odd one in Port Hacking but very unusual getting a Cobe so far south.

I use an updated version of this rig for catching poddies using a telescopic carbon fiber rod that only cast about $6 bought online. Ron

Regardless of whether you use a burley dispenser of some kind or fish frames tied to rope, it's not a bad idea to use a small piece of hose to protect the rope where it goes over the rock edge as I have seen the rope chafe If waves are boisterous. Ron

Only way to find out is to take some spare fuel in a tank/drum and run it nearly dry. Wind and choppy water will increse fuel usage considerably. Ron

Wallys has very limited parking. Grays is better, but a loger slow run to PH. Should be flatties now, best to let the big ones go as Ive named a lot of them. Ron

My father-in-law caught heaps of jew from beaches around Yamba and recond he could smell them trying to lure beach worms out of sand. Never heard of this smell em story anywhere else but beaches with beach worms. As for lights, I fish from my boat with squid lights in the water and a big flood light on my deck and have caught as many as 7 jew (5 released) in a night, however I believe flashing a torch etc on the water will put them off. In other words a constant light doesn't appear to affect them. Ron

I'm with nrma and no problem with 2 claims. About 12 yrs ago I had my boat canopy stored on roof of hired houseboat when it was blown into water overnight and replced no worries. Bigger claim was knocked my 10inch Lowrance gps/sounder off side of boat wich smashed onto driveway. Again replaced no worries minus excess of course. Ron

I have a 5.6m quinnie and happy with my 3 speed Jarret. Can get it up halfway quickly with 1to1 gear then use lower gear to finish. I am learning to drive on now I have fitted a boat catch but it is a bit daunting to start with. I suggest you go to a busy ramp likè Botany and watch how others do it as well as checking out how their trailers are set up. Regardless of how you do it its important to have your rollers well greased and rolling well. Better still is to replace roller axles with homemade stainless ones like I have. Ron

Us oldies used to use gaffs made from 16ft sticks of Rangoon cane but dont know where you can get them these days. Landed countless kings to 16lb and a few northern bluefin to 32lb. Other alternatives I have used are rope gaffs or net made on telescopic paint roller poles. Ron

Good one. Only suggestion is to use a plain white polystyrene float as it attracts the mullet to your rig if using bread burly. If they start nibbling float and not finding bait, raise bait to 6 inches under float. Ron

With any 2nd hand tinny you should check under floor for electrolysis. Repainted cowls are not an issue but if body of motor is resprayed it may have had major repairs in past. Ron

To be safe I would remove tank and drain it. Shouldn't take too long but you could spend a long time regretting it if motor is damaged. Ron

Dont know what front of stabi is like, but there is a fabricated platform on ebay to suit most alloy boats for about $130. My mate got one and only cost another $100 to have it welded on. He then painted it himself. I'm thinking of going the same way. Ron

I agree with kingie chaser. Probably vortex downdrafts from planes. Very common at end of runway on calm days. Can be a bit spooky 1st time you see and hear them. Ron

It's common for big flathead to congregate in small areas at this time of year as part of their spawning activities. I remember one day I caught and released 4 between 85 and 95cm in an area about half the size of a tennis court. Ron

I've caught many large flathead on 1kg pretest line includin two over 5.6kg but I use a heavy leader. Other than being bitten off, the trick is to play them very smoothly to prevent them panicking. Use a light drag, keep their head under the water and swim them into the net. If using light leader make sure its one with a tough outer coating but using a flurocarbon leader is best. You can also consider using a light leader with a short 50cm heavyer bit on end. All nylon to nylon or flurocarbon joins should preferably be a double uni knot. Ron

My understanding of the law for boats is that it's the same as for cars on the road. Required lights must be switched on from actual sunset to sunrise. This has nothing to do with how light it is but the actual times as you see posted in newspapers, media etc which of course changes every day. If you haven't got your lights on during posted hours you can be fined. Ron

I do ok for jewies in Botany Bay and prefer fishing the run in on smaller tides. I beIieve the myth for fishing the full moon mainly relates to beach fishing as the resulting big tides results in fuller gutters which entice the jews to come in closer to shore and within easy casting distance. Ron.