Mr Squidy

Nah, the sea is awesome to watch when she's really pounding so I understand that feeling, i just might not bother with wasting line to kelp. Still, you never know with fishing unless you try so goodluck if you give it a go. As for rigs i usually fish 2no. hooks, a 5/0 circle on top and a similar size live bait hook on the bottom when chasing jew/sambo's off the sand. That said i only fish the beaches occasionally so am no great expert there. R.

Hi Sean, Nothing is going to be mild about the swell this week, best site for checking this sort of info i find is the BOM Marine weather forecaster as I find seabreeze can be really misleading at times. Link This currently has combined sea/swell up over 2.5m for most of the week which will see the beaches awfully slopy. Personally i'd be enjoying a sleep in and waiting for things to improve a little next week maybe. Rich

Hi Doug, I bought a 60hp four stroke Merc at the end of 2010 and have generally been very happy. Only events of real note are: Firstly I had an issue with a fuel pump in the system failing. These things happen and it was fixed under warranty with no undue hastle. Secondly, I live in Gymea and my local merc dealer closed down about a year after purchasing it. This left me with the nearest Merc dealer listed on the website for servicing either out liverpool way or in near the city. I emailed Merc about this and they got back to me same day with two local mariners who's mechanics they would recognise as acceptable service people without voiding my warranty. So pretty happy with the service and resolution on those issues that i've had and otherwise it has been a fantastic motor so far. I've got mates who swear on both the other two brands too so at the end of the day i reckon just see who offers the best deal, for me that was Merc, hence my choice. Hope some of that helps. Rich

Top stuff Alan, another cracker fish. You'll have to teach me some tips on the Jewies soon Rich

Not quite true. You can still use those clear plastic poddy mullet traps and the like, just not; "Any method involving the use of the following: a hoop or lift net, a hand-hauled prawn net, a crab trap, a lobster trap, a push or scissors net (prawns)." Link for those interested outlining specific restrictions regarding the Port Hacking My link Cheers, Rich

Top work, fish of a life time there

Hi Mate, Just filled it in for ya. Just a quick note that "best" is a really hard thing to conclude as depending on what sort of fishing you do and what outfit the line is matched with stretch may or may not be desireable and likewise the preference for extra breaking strain vs line diameter will vary also. Rich

Nice work, nothing wrong wiht Jew at that size, should eat beautifully. Welcome to a lifetime of sleepless nights spent chasing that monster version Rich

Stunning fish!! Gymea?!? Although its obviously possible I really do suspect you may have your identification a little off there Fisholb.

Almost impossible to tell for sure from that shot but my guesses would be from the following three: Pygmy Killer Whale My link False Killer Whale My link Melon-headed Whale My link A good site for reading all about them My link Cheers, Rich

19 My link Rich

Couldn't agree more and i certainly wish they would take a hardline approach. I just dont understand why when it would pay for itself in fines to do so they havent already. R

Top work Cheeki, thats a cracker flatty Your certainly a quick learner as theres pleanty of fellas on here who have been fishing a lot longer than you and would be yet to manage a quality lizard like that. Rich

What goes through these arogant morons heads? Glad i've got a boat because it wont be too long before we see the same thing happen across many of the other great land based spots around Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay and my home, the Port Hacking. Without fail idiots are leaving such places covered in trash, disrespecting other users of these ammenities and generally giving us all a bad name. Rich

Hi Mate, Seabreeze is ok for all of Sydney but if you want something more local to the georges check out this link for the weather station at Illawong My link. Its the best i've found for the shire. Its also got some links at the bottom to the Kirrawee and Loftus weather stations as well. As for the best pressure to fish, that really varies depending on the species and who you talk to. As a gernalisation from my own understanding for Jew. Rising = Best, the more rapid the rise the better. Falling = Good Steady High (>1020) = Good Steady Low (<1010) = Bad cheers, Rich

Congratulations mate, any numpty can fork out the cash and get one via a chater boat, figuring it all out for yourself and catching one as skipper from your own boat has gotta mean so much more so well done Cheers, Rich

Nice work Yowie, i'm taking my dad for a fish out there tomorrow night so good to hear there are a few schoolies around. Cheers, Rich

Top jew mate, you'd have to be buzzing, well done. Getting him on a lure is good but getting him with a free pair of sunnies is even better Rich

Hi kooks, Doesn’t read like you're doing to much wrong. A couple of points though: Its possible your drag is too light, with a really light outfit you don’t need to rely on the light drag as much. Also, just making sure, don't use a pump and wind retrieve like you do on fish, just a steady retrieve. Keep your rod tip high so there is a steady bend in the rod. Last suggestion if none of the above work is head down to a busy squiding locale and ask someone who looks like they know what they are doing. That’s how I learnt many years back. Hope some of that helps mate and good luck on that Jewie. Rich

Hi Fishsong, The baths is one of my local spots and what you've described is all to common both there and at other landbaed spots around the city. Its only a matter of time before we see an ugly situation develop as a result. I've personally been called all sorts of colourfull names on the couple of times when i've confronted people over keeping undersized fish, leaving rubbish around, etc. The biggest tradgedy of the whole affair is that additional fisheries officers to police these areas would more than pay for themselves in the fines that they would raise. At the end of the day though its got alot more to do with the general level of arogance and disrespect that we see across society and as for fixing that, i'm lost as to a solution. Rich

Hey Stew, Top work again mate, great to see the first jew fall to the yak, I reckon their in serious trouble now you've got the system for yak figured. Get that gaf sorted though, you'll be kicking yourself when you set hook in that 30kg model and you don't have it with you... I still haven't been out since our last trip, might have to try and get out this weekend. Rich

Hi Cheekiifisher, Australia day is a terrible day to fish, always has heavy boat traffic and to add to that its gonna be raining like mad tomorrow. Reckon thats the only reason no ones taking up your offer. Good luck if you get out there. Rich

Thats a good size kingy for the Hacking, well done mate. Rich

Nice couple of fish guys, well in +1 for pounds though. Rich

Hi Finin, Thanks for your response, at the end of the day debate on these issues is only a good thing as it leads to better informed fisho's across the board. I'm not sure where some of that info in your comment came from, would be interested to have a read if you could post the link. I actually cant find the definition of "Fully Fished" in the original report, but, NSW department of Environment Link in relation to this report clarifies the statis "Fully Fished" as: "Fully fished: catches are likely to be sustainable, but there is little scope for increases in either the recreational or commercial catch." This was my understanding of the term. This was all in 09 prior to the current increase that has just been approved. To my logic the increase in harvesting of a premier recreational sports species just for use as trap bait makes little sense. especially when it was already the case in the governments own report that "Commercial landings are at historically high levels". Cheers, Rich