Aries

Hi Dave, the most common bait ground used up there is the southern end of Park Beach, just head out the heads and follow mutton bird island around and you will usually see a heap of boats collecting live bait. (Park Beach) usually Yakka's and Slimies. Dollies!!!! Well you can fish the FAD's but most of my luck is fishing the trap markers and floating debree ..... The smaller ones hang off the FAD's and im sure there fished hard. Kings are everywhere up there but ive had luck on the southern side/eastern end of split solitary and lighthouse, be careful/mindful of the santuary zones up there. Cobia! a friend caught 1 just off Mutton Bird about 4 km straight out, not sure of the reefs name but if you head straight out and keep and eye on the sounder you will find it, comes up to 8 mtrs at 1 point, this spot also fishes well for the Snap Snaps. Thats all I got. Good Luck.

I can see the new $1000.00 combo coming......Put the bank on notice and increase the Credit Card. Thats what I did once i caught my first.

Hi Everyone, I brought 1 yesterday.....$180.00.....and to be honest its a great little rod. Caught a few squid on it yesterday, cast a mile and matched it up on 1000 reel. I really enjoyed fishing with it yesterday. Highly recommended......Acutally it also has a warranty which is $50 to replace broken parts. I usually use my Sol with 2500 sol reel, but I enjoyed using this one better. Just my thoughts.

Sorry for not getting back to you...... Got it in the city from Complete Angler and it war $299 from memory. I have a Certate 4000 with 30 pound braid.

The new Sol range would be perfect.

Great rod..... I have the Viper 6 - 8kg and use it for Poppers and Softplastic for Kings and stuff. I really like this rod and would buy another in heart beat. The warranty i hear is awesome as well.

Thanks heaps Guys. I will give all the recommendations a go. I thinks using a lighter leader is a good idea. I have caught Kings outside mainly Jigging down south (Gong) and up north (Coff Harbour) but yet to catch a legal harbour King. I have put in alot of hours in trying. Went out Saturday afternoon and caught a few squid for the first time in awile have not been able to find them of late, I caught them at wedding cakes after they attacked my yakkas. Big thumpers to. But no Kingies. Keep trying

Have been live baiting for kings around the Harbour. Have not been lucky enough to land one this season. Currently im using 60 pund trace 1to 1.5 mtrs with 6/0 mustard hook and the lead varies depending on the current. mainly using Yellow Tail 10cm range - should I go a bit lighter and smaller??? Any advise would be appriechiated, Thanks

Thats it, Im put my boat in to get the back transom rot repaired. I was putting it off until summer but after reading this I'm not taking any chances. Does anyone know how long a transom replacement takes????? and a guesstimation of cost????? I have an old 4.7 mtr Cruise Craft Runabout.

down round the bouys here only to have them just dissappear time and again. set them bout 1m off the bottom.......what gives? crabs? Yeh mate I was having the same problem and also have put it down to crabs. On a few occasions I have brought up the livie to check it and it looked to have been ripped apart. I changed the rig I was using, before I was running the sinker down to the hook but now I run the sinker to the swivel and have a long trace 1 to 1.5 mtrs then I keep the sinker about 2 mtrs off the bottom. Gives the livie a bit more of a chance. "seems to work".

Thanks Grantm, Yes you are right, I had a good go at it yesterday afternoon and there is a slight leak coming from one of the stainless steel tubes. It was leaking into the hull of the boat not enough to leak out over the lip of the bungs but enough to create an air bubble in the hydraulics. I think this is a job 4 "the Pro guys". (Back to the Mechanic) Thanks again for the handy hints

Cool thats somewhere I can start. Thanks for the tip.

Having Problems Wondering a couple of things. 1 how do you get Hydralic Fluid into the engine tilt (what method) and 2 where does it go. Sorry for being vaige but I brought the fluid and had a good look but dont seem to be able to make any sense of it. Any help would be greatly appriechiated

Thanks for the tip, My fishing partner loaded his up with 24kg braid, mine 10kg mono. Still has a heap of go in it with 10. Actually heading out this arvo for another go at that Kingie if the wind does not blow up.

We both brought 1 each (fishing partner that is) and I have used alot of highly rated rod and reels and I would say for live baiting and trolling it is one of the best reels I have used. The fine tuning system at the rear of the reel is great when trolling. I have mine on a 10kg stick so I can use it for a bit of casting as well. My Friend has the 15KG with Braid (very nice) mine has Mono which gives me a little flex in the line when trolling (not real good if a big king grabes it but love the battle) Very happy with the purchase.

Your about the 10th person who has said that but at the time I wanted to throw it back cause it stunk so much. Also we only took limited gear as we literally ran down after work, forgot the trace and to excited to stop and rig up. Last night I made a heap of traces with various setup. Next time. Also sorry should have posted in the lire reports.

A little late but here it is. Last Thursday we headed out for an afternoon troll in the Harbour. Arrived at Rose Bay ramp about 5.30pm and on the way out we saw a heap of surface action which looked to be taylor. We trolled around for a bit but did not get a touch. Headed to Old Mans Hat and set the rods again and headed North it was only a couple of minutes and we had multiple hook ups - Slimey Mackrel, set the rod again and a Pike chomped on the Rapala Lure. Again set the Rods and as we were rounding the heads we saw a heap of surface action and seconds later again a double hook up. They both turned out to be Salmon, mine was about standard size but my friend pulled up this whale of a salmon, the bigest and fatest Salmon I have ever seen. after this we turned around and headed back over the action and hooked up dozens of times and caught Slimeys and Samon but on the end of the run heading back inside my mate hooked up to something big, we beleive a Kingie, he was trolling with a Rapala and the outfit was a Shimano Baitrunner 6500 and a 15 KG Wilson stick and this little baby took off, within 10 seconds he was reefed and lost the fish. Oh well that fishing, was the best afternoon on the water I have had for along time sorry I did not post earlier but things have been busy. Tight Lines

Agree Thanks

Thanks Jocool, I actually use them as well, dropped the boat off to them this morning. They do seem to do a good job.

Thanks Joecool I will look up the guys at Botany, just out of interest who do you use down at Taren Point?????

Just wondering if anyone knows of a good mechanic around the Eastern Suburbs area. The old 90 Mariner has given up the ghost and probally need a re-build or exchange. I have been taking the boat down to Taren Point but it's to far. Any trips would greatful

Thanks Adam, I opted for the Backbone 7 footer - seems ok going to try it out this afternoon, late afternoon fish off Sydney. Let you know how it goes.

Hi Guy, Looking around at the moment for a new rod, getting sorted for the coming summer. I have a Shimano Bait Runner reel and wanted to put it with a good stik. I am fishing from a boat off Sydney wanted to use it for floating baits maybe live baiting, and occasional casting here and there. Currently chasing Jew and Snapper at the moment but also wanted to use for casting lures for Kingies instead of my 6kg bait caster. I wanted to load it up with 10kg braid. My question "what size" I was thinking around the 7 foot maybe Shimano Backbone Series (Snapper) Rod????? Any sugestions on size?????