cameldownunder

I hardly recharge my batteries, and I go out only 1 a month lately, and never have an issue. Seems that little bit I am doing is enough to charge the batteries. I have a 12V solar panel, but didnt attacch it lately either. But I do have a Main battery switch, and once washed and flushed the boat, I put it in the OFF position.

My setup is hook with tiny bit of prawn, leader (very thin ), split shot, and tiny float. When the yakka is hooked, the tiny float follows it under water. Then I strike. Sometimes I have the diamond fish on one side and the yackas ( who hang around longer in one place ) on the other side. Sometimes the jackas are lower then the Diamonds, so it's hard to get the hook past them.

I totally agree with you. You have put down more important issues then the marine parks itself.

Been fishing for ( only ) 5 years with a boat, and NEVER been checked at the RAMP.

Might be, that the idea behind marine park, is to preserve exisiting fishing. I heard it so many times, from older fisho's, how great fishing was 20 years ago. If I want my son to have any chance in catching something decent in 10 years, I have to agree to a limitation now. For the avoiding part, maybe the people avoiding the place are not informed enough of where the no-fishing-zones are, and want to avoid fines. Get a map, study the map, and you can avoid the fines. So there have been modest increases in Bateman's bay. I think modest increases are much much better then severe decreases. More people will access the water, from the shore, from boats. The people in charge need to be proactive. You don't want run out of fish, like the Koalas did run out of trees. Do you?

They did ban commercial fishing of Port Botany. Is that Bad? And how's the fishing up in Port Stephens? Isn't that a marine park. Might be better to investigate and find out the details, before we paint the devil onthe wall. And would such a marine park stop trawlers getting into Pitt water? I heard many complaints of angler, about poor fishing after the trawlers came in.

"Paddle or oars/rowlocks in vessels under 6m, unless fitted with a second means of propulsion" from http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/safety-rules/safety-equipment/ If you think paddles are no good, put an auxiliary engine on. Your choice. With paddles, you can keep the bow of your boat in the wind, till helps arrive.

If you go to Echo Point, near Roseville Bridge, at high tide, you find a fishing spot with rails, making it safe for kids, it has BBQ facilities, parking is not a problem, has shade and space for the kids to run around once bored. Use a small float and prawns, and your little one will surely pull in something ( small brim/tailor/pufferfish).

First year missing it, because of Junior going to State Carnival. I still will enroll. Good cause, I like their caps, and a Sticker for the boat :-)

We'll be up there just after easter ("only" 6 days). We visit the Souvenir shop at the lighthouse, and next to lucky dips for the kids, we buy also some of their raffle tickets. I think it's worth supporting them.

Holy Maccarony. This is scary: "FIONA BREEN: With a quota of 16,500 tonnes, the ship will fish three nautical miles out to sea in waters around southern Australia, from Perth to northern New South Wales." and "...And it has hundreds of thousands of tonnes of fish in it..." well when i go out fishing, it certainly does not look like that to me. The fish are not exactly jumping in my boat.

I am no expert of fishing, and fished the Spit Bridge ( from the boat ) only a few times, but it seems that on new moon, about 11PM, about 1H after hight tide, there seems to be an increased acticity on the western side of the bridge. Tailors chasing on the surface, with some real big fish at the bottom ( that's what the sounder says). In one instance I had a big Flathead on the other end of the line, but he spat the bait. So it seems the big arches are real. The thing is that they really hug the pilons, and with that much water going through there, I think it is really hard to get the bait close to it, casting from the land. You could try a ( big ) floater with a running stop, cast well upstream. By the time the bait is sunk to the right level, the float should be close to the bridge. But it gives you only a short time to leave the bait there, as the current will probably drag the line to the float under the bridge. Also .... at this time, there are a lot of Boat around there.

I am going to fish Tasmania Lakes this weekend, and not sure if the boat has a fishfinder. I ordered a portable fish finder ~$80. Tested in the swimming pool, with my son swimming under it. It indicated 2 big fish, the correct depth, temperature and bottom composition ( hard ). It is wireless, wo I can cast it out without the hassle of a cable. it has a black and white LCD display where I can see the "details". I think it is not like a Hummingbird or Lowrance, but still better then nothing. Cheaper and more portable then the big Brand portable sounders. And by the way I have a Instant Fisherman. Bought for $9, and never used. It helps me not to be tempted to buy another one at at a more expensive price.

Ok, I think the tackle box is almost complete. Remains this last question. How effective are flashers put in front of lures when trolling for trouts? I won't be using down-riggers, so the flasher will be on the same line as the lure.

Forgot to say. If you're not in a hurry: Buy it in Winter. It's cheaper

Year 1997 ? 27Mhz Radio? How many hours? I think you can find better.

The quintrex sport 475 ( 2003 ) shows length of 4.85. In theory I am exempted. But I still wear it.

Hi Geoff Mine is a Quintrex 475 bowrider. 2003 model. 60HP 4 stroke. Best buy ever. They are now in your price range. Having replaced the floor and put a new sounder in, I've confirmed that it has foam in the sides and in some parts of the floor. I hope I'll never use it, but gives a bit of confidence, and reduces the noise. I did go out past the heads, and about 4 km south ( almost to the atificial reef), I did buy an epirb, and installed a VHF radio. I have been boating for 4 years, and I can estimate, with help of the weatherforecast, if i can go out or not. The bow is great for kids. At the back I have a large seat with back rest so going with a lot of people ( max 5 adults ) I have 2 adults ( driver and passenger seat ) in the middle, 2 kids at the from, 1 adult and 1 kif at the back. Like others said, this size is good for 3 people fishing. More and it gets very crammed. I can use it for tubing, but not enough grunt for waterskiing. Fully loaded it takes quite a while to get on plane. Average consumption for a day out ( Drop at Roseville Bridge, go to middle head, clifton gardens, inside the heads, and back is about 20L. And last but not least, it's quite easy to put it in the water just by myself.

Hi I have a flight (Christmas present), room and boat booked to Lake Pedder, in Tasmania. Weekend trout fishing coming up in 3 weeks time. Last time I asked for reccomendation on how and where to fish, for lake Jindabyne, we ended up with a beautiful brook trout. Thaks Again. So I submit my request one more to the wealth of knowledge in this forum: What lures should I use, and how? Any known spots that are accessible from Strathgordon by boat? What techniques (Trolling, spin casting)? The rental boat has no downriggers or fishfinder. Any tip is really appreciated

What about this

I am trying to get approval for a yellotail bait aquarium from my wife, so I can keep them between one session and the other. But she thinks I am crazy. Can you PM me a pic of your aquarium so I can show her people "Crazyer" ( in a g ood way ) then me ?

small shark

My plan is NOT to hit the ramps on Monday

Don't you have a Haines Hunter?

Are you after Salamander Wreck or the wreck at Salamander bay ?