brad_tate

I kept my first big girl (73 cm) and agree with you allen_f. a) I prefer to let the big girls go now; and b ) they get a bit dry and tough at that size. 40-55 is the perfect size for me, any smaller (no meat on them) or larger and they now go back. Just my preference, all to their own as long as it is legal! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Marine batteries are designed to cope with the rough ride - constant bashing into waves when underway etc. Car batteries aren't so you are more likely to have cell failure. If you do use a car battery in a boat it would be best positioned in the stern to minimise the vibration and impacts. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I too have done most of the above, particularly forgetting to drop the trailer hitch off the locking lug and having it jump off at the first bump. My scorecard is bungs 1, me nil; trailer hitch 3, me nil. No mistakes for 2 years now so happy with that. My luckiest moment is a little trivial but possibly expensive. When we camp up north each Christmas I pull the boat out of the water the day before we leave so we can pack up the tent and go the next morning. I leave the Electric attached and locked onto the boat that night. I then unlock it and pack it in the boat on top of the camping gear - last thing I pack. The year before last when I did this I stupidly sat the Minn-Kota locking bracket on the winch (actually dropped through the winch bracket luckily) as I put it away and forgot to retrieve it before I left. An hour into the trip home I remembered it and stopped to find it was still sitting where I left it. God knows how much a replacement would have cost! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I keep a few silica gel packets in my tackle boxes, and periodically dry them out in a cool oven. I also keep my hooks in the original packets not loose. Any tackle I put back in is washed in fresh water first - I toss everything used into an ice cream tub whilst on the boat and rinse and dry it before repacking it. I find this combination keeps the rust from becoming a problem. The used hooks still rust over time so when they get beyond a little surface rust I dispose of them. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

My wife has a similar story the first time we took our current boat out in Botany Bay. We were fishing inside Sutherland Pt when she had a small bite and started to reel in. It suddenly got heavier but no real fight. She got the shock of her life when a crocodile of a head surfaced! This would also have easily gone a metre plus. As soon as we tried to manoeuvre her she spat out a Snapper and glided off. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Me too please. Brad Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I am with GIO for my boat and find them ok. I had to make a not at fault claim last year and the process was ok. A bit drawn out due to having to get an assessor in, but that's probably par for the course. In the end everything was covered no questions asked. One point worth noting is that in the fine print of my policy a chain by itself is not sufficient and they won't pay for theft in that case. You also need some other form of security. For me it is a wheel clamp, nothing too fancy, but enough to satisfy the policy requirements. As has been said above it is a deterrent, nothing else. I also advocate a boat cover. At home I have a full cover. On the trailer on the road and on the water when we are away I have a storm cover. As the old saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. Regards, Brad. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Try isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol. You can buy this at Chemists fairly cheaply, and I understand it is non-reactive with regular plastics so should be ok on line, tackle boxes, reel components and hard body lures. Not so sure on soft plastics, so if you need to clean them, I suggest trying a sample first. Certainly no issues with metallic tackle. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Raising the engine out of the water whilst the boat is on the water is a good point. This also reduces your boats profile to the current, meaning less drag on your anchor or mooring line. I always do this and also turn off the power bus, only leaving the bilge active when the boat is unattended. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Normust, I grew up in Redcliffe and fished with my Dad through my teens, and by myself with friends (but only land based). I left in 85 so my info is a bit dated though. As long as human development hasn't changed geography too much, I expect it will still hold true. I mainly fished the inshore waters off Redcliffe and land based. I can give you three spots I remember as the most productive. 1. Land based fishing for Summer Whiting off Suttons beach. Fish the southern end just past Suttons proper but before it turns into Margate beach. There is a ENE facing section we found productive particularly on live nippers (or Yabbies as we called them). We used to pump them at Torbull Head but the mangroves are all gone there now, made way for housing development. Not sure where the good Nipper grounds are now, there were none around Redcliffe. 2. Crabbing off Margate beach. We dropped witches hats (dillies in QLD parlance) off the Northern end, about 200m out from memory, in a line back south. Dad used to set two lines about 20m apart. He had landmarks he used but I don't remember them well sorry. One was to line up the water tower with the hospital, but either or both have probably changed now. 3. Drifting for Winter whiting on beach worms in the bay between Clontarf and Shorncliffe. Last of the run in tide and first of the run out was Dad's motto. From memory we mostly drifted 1/2-2/3 on the Shorncliffe side. Draw a line east/west through the bay and stay south of that line. East of the Hornibrook (and now Houghton) bridge. Deception bay was also fairly productive but we didn't have any regular spots. My Nephew is a keen fisherman up there, and has done well for Muddies in the South Pine river, as well as in the Pumistone channel off Bribie Is, but again I don't have any particular spots I can recommend. Regards, Brad. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I put my Quintrex into the water for a week at a stretch 2-3 times a year and as was said above the only significant issue is you will attract a scum line. Generally you can rub this off by hand when cleaning the hull after the trip, but I often use a car wash solution as well. I do give the motor a good flush out as soon as I take it out. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm in. Cheers, Brad Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks everyone for all the feedback. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

My bilge pump is electrically operated, not a float switch. To test it you just press your thumb on the sensor, which I assume just works on resistance, and moist skin is enough to activate it. If yours is not working I suggest replacing it (they are not expensive) and testing it every so often as part of your regular maintenance. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What tyre inflation pressure do Raiders suggest for various loads etc? I have a 5m Quintrex tinny, single axle. Normal weight is probably 1-1.2 tonne trailer and boat. Loaded with camping gear add .3+ tonne. Tyres max inflation around 60 PSI. Really interested in what the recommendations are of appropriate pressures. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have a Shimano Baitrunner 4000 OC which I am very happy with. I have it on a Starlo Classix 7' rod in the heavy weight, but an Ugly Stick would also suit it very well, probably just be a little heavier (if you go shorter obviously the weight drops). Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

If you can't stretch your budget to the Shimano Stradic, I recommend the Symetre. You can get the 2500 online for a little over $100 and if you stick one in your cart and wait you should get an 'offer' for a small discount or free shipping. If you wait a bit longer the offer usually gets a little better. I have several and for the price they are a great little reel. Spool it with 6lb braid. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I am in favour of this. I am not a fan of the Nanny State, but the stats are very clear, a high proportion of the deceased fisher-people are immigrants with poor swimming ability and/or experience in salt water conditions. Regulations like these save lives, as annoying as they are for those not in the at-risk community. Modern life jackets are much less intrusive than they were, so the impact is not that bad. I don't like my freedom being curtailed due to other's issues either, but surely we can all live with it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Squidgy 100 mm Wriggler in Wasabi Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The hull was undamaged (Quintrex transoms certainly get my vote!), but the outboard was written off and the trailer needed a new hitch, winch and mount, lights, and right rear glide. The car had the tow ball mount bent up 60 degrees into the bumper so also needed that replaced and repaired. The Hilux dual cab that argued with my outboard was certainly very sick, not much left of the bonnet, radiator etc. Thankfully no-one was injured in either car. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

My vote goes for the Lowrance HDS touch series Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Now that's someone I would hire - a Graphic Designer who is clearly as skilled as most Engineers I know. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Billy2014 & locodave, Thankfully I wasn't towing a boat when my Magna ran out of brakes. That particular vehicle (89 TP Magna) was stunningly under spec on the brakes, I'm amazed it even met Australian standards. Hopefully they have since improved the standards. This is a great thread and has definitely made me think about the towing capacity of my Aurion. I will do some checking and weighing when I can. I will also look into weight distribution hitches as I have not heard of those before. Currently I am having a bit of an issue with the rear of my car being too low when hitched, so as well as having the suspension checked (Monday) will check the tow ball weight. Thank you everyone for all the great feedback in the thread, particularly Billy2014. I do consider myself a safe driver and last year when we were rear-ended towing the boat back from the summer trip I was thanked by the driver in front who said it was amazing I didn't hit his car (impact not my fault and I was pushed forward a fair way under full lock due to the impact). The good result was simply because I left a safe distance between his vehicle and mine, and when I was hit, didn't panic and controlled my enforced slide as best I could. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

After running out of brakes in a Mitsubishi Magna wagon loaded with 4 adults and a child coming down the Bells Line of Road 20 years ago I quickly learnt to use engine braking. I tow my 5m tinny up and down the state a few times a year, loaded with camping gear once a year, in my Toyota Aurion. I engine brake as much as possible, particularly around the Hawkesbury and Bulli on the M1. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

You are using a Bimini Twist as far as I know. Never tied it myself but you are obviously doing a great job with yours. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk