helliconia

I'll be out Saturday and thinking about sticking around early evening for another go at the hairy's. I'll look for you at JB. I'll be in a black Brooker 4.75 Freedom with black canopy and yammie 60 4 stroke. Thinking about it, I could be hard to spot in the dark I'll listen in to channel 86 on the VHF around dark as well.

drain plugs come in a few different sizes. If you can do it easily it might be worth unscrewing it and taking it to the boat shop to match to a plug. just remember to use a good amount of sealant when you re-attach it. otherwise, buy a few sizes and return the ones that don't fit or buy a new drain and plug pair and fit them.

MrsS - you clearly didn't read the story properly, it was NOT roses they were smelling

I rolled past just after dark and moved on to the next little bay north of Waratah Bay. Got a couple of hits but didn't get the hook into anything. Constant fish sign on the sounder kept me motivated and lots of shredded baits so I'm thinking they were there. Guess I need more practice on seeing the movement when they're mouthing at it. The gf ran out of video's to watch on her phone so we quit about 9:30 Was surprised by the number of open boats. Even with a canopy and clears to keep the breeze off it was damned cold!

When I bought my boat last year I got 5 of the bulky red ones included as basic equipment, but I shelled out some extra $$$ and got 2 manual inflating type 1's for the missus and I as they are far more comfortable to wear for extended periods. They're basically a collapsed strip with a pull cord and gas tank, weight next to nothing and sit around your neck and over your shoulders with a webbing strap that goes around your waist. I'd recommend them. As I said, their very comfortable but I wouldn't recommend them for kids, you still need the presence of mind to inflate them if you hit the water.

Donkeys years ago as a teenager I caught one in Akuna Bay on a servo prawn at midday - I'm calling it for a fluke

My and I will be out on Cowan Creek tomorrow afternoon and early evening chasing the hairtail and whatever else is available. We'll be launching from Appletree Bay so keep an eye out for a black Brooker 4.75 Freedom with a 60 yammie 4 stroke on the back.

I have to echo a couple of other comments. The outflow is important. I have no trouble with too little or too much flow in to the tank under pump or boat movement (my setup is as per geoff's correct picture). My problem is out flow, I can't get water out as quick as it comes in. The tank fills in about 5 minutes which seems adequate but I have to continually open and close the imtake valve to stop it turning the whole boat into a live tank. And now of course since I drilled the correct size hole for the standard outlet I'm not sure how to enlarge it without wrecking the hull. Any tips would be appreciated.

I wouldn't mind dragging the missus and get some payback for hours spent waiting at the beauticians for her! I'll let you know how I go convincing her haha PS I was WAITING there... not getting treatments as anyone who's seen me will confirm!

I didn't think they needed to be mounted all that solidly. I wouldn't be drilling any holes or anything. Perhaps one of those plastic cable holder gadgets with the double sided tape on the back fastened to the inside of the transom, then a cable tie around the pump body and the holder. I can't imagine it getting stressed a lot at the transom end and this way allows easy relocation if the spot isn't quite right. Put it a little to one side of the bung plugs so it doesn't block flow from there and you should be right. The float switch I'd use a waterproof adhesive to the inside of the hull. Again its not going to get bashed around a lot so it doesn't have to be concreted in place it so the float in the on position is maybe an inch above your pumps intake so it doesn't switch on and off a lot with a small amount of sloshing water.

One of the guys at work showed me this little gadgets his manager got them for when they work outside in the cold. Its a bag that looks like one of those moisture soakers they put in fabric furniture, but when you unseal the plastic bag its in a chemical reaction makes it warm up. They put them in their pockets and in between handling things stuff their hands in and hold them in their fist to warm them up. They got them from a camping store somewhere, yet to track down the source but they look ideal for night fishing

Haha no I managed OK with that one... Best part was the water was mirror flat so I didn't have to bounce around in chop for my first trip. Physio is on-going and should sort things out long term:)

After a few weeks off the water with a relapse of ruptured disc in my back, I finally got back on the water with a mate who helped with the trailer. Dropped the boat in mid morning at Apple Tree Bay and headed up to our super secret spot on the up stream side of the point below Fishermans Beach (Doh! gave it away) just in time for the tide change. Managed a small Moray Eel which slimed me good during release, a plate size Flounder, and a thumper whiting of 41cms. Headed back to Little Shark Rock Point and got a couple of good sized Leatherjackets, some juvenile squire, and my mate pulled a 65 odd cm Salmon on a tiny hooked rig meant for leatherjacket! Spent the remainder of the afternoon at Jerusalem Bay for a trevally that went back and a lot of undersized bream. It was a beautiful day on the water, protected form the worst of the wind and sunshine most of the day... great day to get back into it!

Actually as a consumer there is no 'implication" of a contract between yourself and the retailer. By law it is the retailers responsibility to provide contractual warranty work or replacements under the "fit for use" rules you referred to. Common law has covered these requirements for centuries before specific legislation was created at state or federal levels. I can't count the number of times retailers have attempted to pass their responsibilities off to manufacturers or distributors saying "the manufacturer won't allow me to replace your item" or similiar. My reply is that under the contract of sale the goods must be fit for purpose, if you choose source cheap rubbish from irreputable distributors then thats your business decision, not mine. It usually gets traction for smaller items. Large ticket items like cars or boats you're better off targeting the manufacturer or distributor.

Many years ago (when I was much younger and energetic) I did a trout fishing trip with a mate up there. We drove to the end of Megalong Valley Road and left the cars on a guys farm and hiked 8 hours to the Cox River. Stayed a week and hiked back. I'm not sure if the same guy owns the farm or still allows people to park there, it was 20 years ago. Six Foot Track runs from Katoomba to the Cox River also, and looks like it can be picked up in Megalong Valley also. Then again you could be talking about the other end of the river out west too. Can't help with that

Actually its nearly a metre longer than my boat!

Hi dpham, I wouldn't be worried about the problems. I too have done my share of silly things, so many I started a thread to share a few. Have a read you'll feel better http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=53597 To add to my previous fun times, I put the boat in without the bung the other weekend. Had to take a swim off the jetty to put it back in then drift around while the bilge pump did it's job Its surprising how a half full hull refuses to get up on the plane!

... and as soon as some fish start showing up the Greenies will want to make amarine park out of it

Yeah its ironic they keep the shop at Appletree Bay lit up all night but won't turn a street light on next to the ramp. I nearly bounced my boat off an anchored yacht in one of the bays there on a pitch black night recently, no anchor light visible I haven't any issues with the ramp there at night, just finding the jetty can be difficult. It needs a light on the jetty and a street lamp above the ramp to make it safer though. I've also been thinking about a wide angle light for night-time navigation, it takes a bit of concentration to navigate those areas in the dark since they only put channel markers on every third point...

I bought some 24 led battery operated lights that hang from stuff for just a few dollars at a $2 shop. Bought them for the tent but they hang off the bimini with a bit of fishing line fine. Also put a couple of 1 metre LED strip lights under the gunnels for around $30 each too

I've been checking out the rock walls up and down the cliffy looking areas and noticed quite a few drop offs and ledges all over the place. Also see a lot of structure close to shore, pockets of boulders or fallen trees within 20 metres of the shore. I'd be lost without my sounder! Can't say it's a waste of time in Cowan...

Congratulations Huckfinn!!

Don't get me started, my mate forgot to upload the pics by 7am so my 40cm Flattie wasn't in the running haha Small consolation is that neither is his 52cm Flattie

Reading all these great tips I'm feeling very frustrated that work and uni take up so much time!! Ah well, got to pay for the boat somehow!! Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge! One day soon I'll do it all justice!

haha great report! My best mate and regular fishing companion and I have come to an unspoken agreement to leave each others rods alone! errrrrrrrr that really didn't come out right... I meant we have agreed to lose our own fish to save arguments... Our conversations are usually punctuated by "watch ya rod" when we notice each other getting bites. I also know what you mean about moving spots. I like a bit of water under my boat but he seems to have no faith its seaworthiness cause he likes to have a nice big rock close by to jump on if it sinks. Anyway, fishing companions are like wives, it takes a bit of compromise and mutual sufferance to make it work