campr

I was fishing oyster leases at Pt Stevens in early 80s and was busted off on oysters by a big bream. Fished same spot next day and landed a nice bream just over a kilo. Amazingly I hadnt hooked it but my hook had gone through the eye of the swivel of the rig I lost the day before. Still wouldn't believe this if I hadn'tseen it. Ron

I had a 4.5m Quintrex Lazeabout and upgraded to a 2001 5.6m Quinnie Classic with Millenium hull. What a huge difference in ride. I realize that going bigger helped heaps but the new hull shape reduced pounding a lot. Ron

The rod with the aluminium extension was an American Silaflex FT70. I still have my 2nd one. My 1st blañk cost me 3 week wages and was used witha 6to1 Seascape and mostly WK arrows. Ron

Tinnies are designed to be supported by the keel when on a trailer. I have a 5.6 meter Quinnie and have found that the hard blue nylon type with a recess in the middle work best. I have skids supporting the sides with short v pieces to help center the hull. The best thing I did was ditch the galvanised roller axles and make my own ones from stainless rod. Easy launch and retrieve with rollers that never stick. Ron

Get rid of knot. Another solution if you have a large spool of line is to pull all braid off spool and pack spool with line to make up for lost line before topshotting braid back on top. Ron

Get some scales and see how much (or little) pressure you can pull through that 10ft rod. Unless your built like the Hulk, you will be surprised how little pressure you can apply. I think 50 will just cut down your casting distance and increase warer drag. I would use 30lb tops. Ron

I recently serviced my 2001 90hp Honda myself and had no problems as it was quite easy. I baulked at servicing the water pump impeller though and still can't decide what to do. I may end up paying to be done if I can't find someone in my club to show me how. Interesting thing was I was able to buy genuine oil and fuel filters from USA for about 1/3 the price here and I bought 3 sets due to postage savings. Ron

At times any so called rubbish fish that is alive will out fish dead baits. One of my faves are trumpeters as they are extremely hardy and stay alive forever. Ron

I have heard nothing about the Hacking reef but am thinking of having a look at it later this week. Ron

Would be great for petrol restricted freshwater lakes but for me there isn't any power plugs at the peak or 12 mile. Ron

I also use double seal zip bags but have found something a bit better. If you look around you will find them that have been designed for wraps that are long and thin. Perfect for bait fish like pillies but I mostly use them for squid. They hold 6-8 pillies, 1 big squiď, 2-3 medium squid a heap of little river squid or quite a few salted slimey fillets. Ron

I would as some older boats have a ply core in transome and it may be done to prevent water intrusion into the transom timber. Ron

When you bolt it on, make sure you put a largish plate of some type underneath to spread the load over a larger section of front deck. Ron

I'm interested. Nice to catch up with Baz. Ron

First try and get your head under front deck and see how it is attached. With luck it will be bolted on and you can unscrew and remove damaged one and replace. If you can remove old one, look at options for replacement. I have a split bollard that locks on chain and I love it. Ron

Your on the right track with plenty of suitable 2-4kg sticks around. I recommend something a little longer about 7ft 2inches long for better casting with a 2500 size reel (the best you can afford) from Shimano or Daiwa although I am also enjoying an ABU Revo I won in a fishing comp.

Back 20+ years ago jacks and big ox eye herring were far from unusual in Port Hacking. Ron

The following advice dousnt apply if floor is sealed/welded. With all alloy boats I recomend pulling up floor every year or two to remove anything that could cause electrolysis such as sinkers, swivels, coins etc and clean out out all dirt etc. Clean any sign of electrolysis and paint with primer. As for trailer, dont forģet to rinse out cross members. I have made up a tool to make this easier. Ron

I wouldn't buy new spindles as they need constant maintenence and just jam and rust again. I have replaced all my spindles with home made ones I made myself out of stainless rod. Just ascertain what diameter they are and buy some stainless rod that size. Cut to length and driill holes for split pins. You won't believe how easier it will be to launch and retrieve. No more rust and will always roll smoothly. Cost is not much more and you will never regret it. I am in my 70s now and handle my 5.6 metre Quinnie with no worries helped by ease of launching. Ron

Most years I hear reports of a cobia being caught mostly near the drop-off near Lilli Pilli. Even stranger was my capture some years ago of a 2kg cobe way down south at Wagonga at Narooma. Ron

I used to dig them from the mud under exposed sea grass beds at big low tides but my back wouldn't let me now. A fork was always used as a shovel would cut the worms. No ban on taking them in NSW other than usual local preservation areas etc. The ban is on the movement of bait between QLD and NSW to prevent the spread of white spot. The best worm baits ever were the Botany wrigglers with lots of legs similar to a centipede. These could only be dug from sand under piles of weed on beaches where the Botany container harbour is now. Only a few of us oldies would remember these. Ron

Pelican itch also occurs in the lakes around Nowra and Jarvis Bay. In the 70s i got an unbelievably bad dose thar completely covered the full lenth of my legs. I'm over 6ft tall but my poor mate at about 5ft went in past his privates and was in so much pain he had to go to hospital and be sedated. Funny now but not so much back then. Just like seasickness it makes for fun stories later for those not afflickted. Ron

I often use live mullet for flathead when fishing ANSA comps in Pt Hacking. I have caught 2 over 5.6kg on 1kg line but some years the kings are a pain in the rear as once they reach legal you can't stop them so yes they will take a live mullet. Ron

I always have a swivel at the top of posternoster rig which are pre tied and stored in a small zip bag ready to tie or clip on. Ron

When squidding or drifting for flatties I often leave rod in holder with 2 squid jigs off a posternoster rig. Size of sinker on bottom varies with depth of water and speed of drift. This works in 4 to 15 metres or more. Ron