Robofish

Thanks mate - will check it out. 50 days eh - lucky you I hope you get your arms stretched Dave

Raiders, I am just about to book some charter fishing out of Paku Wharf early next. I have fished with this mob before but always out of Whitianga. Has anyone been out of Tairua? I am looking for some accommodation and wondered if anyone could PM me any recommendations? Thanks Dave

Alberto, Light gear is fine - I use 2-4kg stick but due to the teeth the rig needs to be heavier. The rig is simple - I use 3/0 gangs tied to 40lb fluorocarbon as the fluorocarbon is pretty tough. Some use wire but I find that this reduces bites. Make your trace about half a metre and tie to a swivel - that's it no weight, cast the depth you want to fish at and let it sink - I also like to add a red glow stick half way down the trace. I have tried all ways of setting the clutch from bait runner to very light but have found that when they are having it you can just leave your clutch as is and they virtually hook themselves. Other times they can be a bit more tricky though - that's when you will start pulling your hair out when you lift into fresh air! Hope you get some Dave

Thanks guys, I have been looking at similar. The dragonfly looks really good but I wasn't sure how it would perform in deeper water. I will be interested to see what you both think Dave

Raiders, I am in the market for a new Fishfinder and have around $1000 to spend. I have already got a combo which I want to use as a dedicated chartplotter. I fish mainly in shore but do on occasion go off to the 12 or Browns. Can anyone make any recommendations? Dave

I have hooked some thumper yakka on small plastics like Caspar clears wheni i have been throwing at sambos - but to be fair, sabiki or a handline are much more effective. Dave

Woohoo - I don't need to go to work any more! Me and Rob will see you out there later this evening Dave

Thanks for the advice guys, very much appreciated. Dave

Raiders, This was the sounder that came with my boat and its ok but am planning to upgrade sometime in the next year. In the meanwhile I was out in around 100m at the weekend and the depth numbers started flashing and it was not plotting the bottom. I have checked the spec and it should be good for over twice the depth with the current set up. Can anyone tell me why this would be or if there is a setting I am missing. Any help appreciated. Dave

It was quiet last night, we left about 8 and there were four boats - a bit different from last week when there were 30+! It was strange, I didn't see anyone else land a hairtail but the sounder was showing some solid shoals. You can see why they are in the bays - there are loads of lolly sized yakka on the top. Dave

Raiders, I hit Cowan Creek last night for a couple of hours to chase my favourite winter species. I heard a couple of reports over the weekend that it was quiet on the hairtail front and last night was the same with nowhere near the action of last weekend - that's fishing! We did manage a couple of soapies, had one nice hairtail and most importantly a good crack. See you out there. Dave

I use chicken pellets but agree that it could be anything absorbent. I mix it with a little tuna oil and a tin of cheap cat food mashed up. I then freeze it into portions that will fit in any of my burley pots. The beauty of this is a) I always have some ready to go and as it thaws in the water it releases enough but slowly. If I am fishing for hairtail I use this and then also throw in some finely chopped pillies around my baits. Hope this helps Dave

Raiders, I am heading into Cowan Creek either tonight or tomorrow night and wondered if anyone had any luck? I got out last weekend and got a couple and can't wait to get back at them. Any info appreciated Dave

Thanks mate, appreciated. Dave

Raiders, I have been fishing the harbour for the last few months but have now moved my boat closer to Cowan Creek where I intend to mount my winter campaign. I will be putting in at Apple Tree Bay and would like some pointers on where I will be able to find yakkas close to there - can anyone help? If u am coming out of Pittwater I also fill up the lovey tank at West Head but don't want to go that far if I can help it. Thanks Dave

I love acting shark - dead easy to clean, no bones (cartilage only) and firm white flesh. It making me hungry just typing...... Dave

~100kg tarpon caught in Channel 2 of the Florida Keys at around 3 in the morning. I hooked it in around 1.5m of water and it nearly spooled me in seconds. Magic memory and the hardest hitting fish I have ever been in contact with

Hi fishoman, Great work on your first bonnie. To be fair, I have never had the issue that you had with your rapala. I mainly use the xraps and they troll straight out if the box at much higher speeds than what you were trying - what sort of rapala were you using? Dave

I made it out there last night - there were some guys in the spot I fancies when I got there so I had a walk along the beach to the pipe. It was quite snaggy but managed 3 school sharks and on the last cast with a whole squid hooked something reasonable that did me on the snags. All up a beautiful evening, I will be back for that Jew! Dave

It sounds like you had a great day! I have really got into jigging this season and love the way they smash them - great sport Dave

Great work - I was in two minds whether to go tonight but after reading your report I am definitely going Dave

Raiders I would be interested to get your thoughts. I have been a die hard fluorocarbon user for years now but lately my thinking has changed- I like fluorocarbon for its invisibility and its abrasion resistance but it can be a pain to knot in higher strengths, it's a lot stiffer and more expensive. I have switched back to mono for some things now - Daytime lure fishing - I am sticking with fluorocarbon and with a loop knot so it doesn't affect the action of the lure, apart from metals, sluggos or waxwings which I tie with a uni Daytime down rigging - I am still using fluorocarbon right now as the fish have time to investigate but was talking to a bloke the other day who uses 130lb mono all the time and gets results (and dusted on occasions) Jigging - I have always used fluorocarbon as my leader but have recently switched to mono and have not noticed any difference in results Bottom bashing - mono all the way Night time beach fishing - I have always used fluorocarbon but am going to switch to mono as I don't reckon the invisibility is going to make a difference. The only time I find that it comes in useful is if there are some toothy fellas around, in which case I use a circle and fluoro and can generally land them due to the hook hold and the abrasion resistance of the fluoro What do you guys do? Dave

+1 for the paternoster and popper - you will be surprised by how many fish will hit the popper just dancing in the surf

There are also some good casting videos on YouTube. The most important thing is to 'let the rod do the work', punch with the hand that is around the reel and pull with the other. You will work it out mate, and as much as I love boat fishing, there is something special about catching nice fish from the beach. Dave

Braid to mono 10kg upwards FG all the way IMO