Martin

Hi kbeef My views are very much along those of Dave (offtap 1) I have always fished 1/3 of the line classes breaking strain and tested this using a set of spring scales. It is a rare event to bust off on a fish and can generally be attributed to damaged line or the fish jumping and landing on the line. I would check your scales, however I would say your terminal tackles is wrong I use a plaited doubble of about 15ft or 4.5m approx with a sampo swivel fixed to the plait via a catspaw knot. My trace is generally just short of 15ft with a crimped sleve to form an eye to connect to the swivel. This is the set up on tackle of 15kg and up. I may fish the strike drag a little lighter on the close in rods to minimise the inital shock impact of a strike. Marlin will gateherin a "school" when food is concentrated such as bait balls and they are feeding, particularly in striped marlin and juvinile blacks. Hope it works out for you and you stay connected. Cheers Martin

Bad luck on busting off Ross. A least you have comfort in the knowledge that it is not a common event on board. Hope your next round produces one to the side of the boat. Cheers

1234m

Waiting for that elusive jew

Nice King, well done guys Cheers

Nice haul of fish, well done Cheers

Hang in there Mondo and your bound to strike it rich in Jewfish cuttlets. Cheers

Thats one monster flathead, congrats Cheers

Great response

Because the water levels are so low would it mean the fish population are more concentrated over a smaller area or has some form of natural culling occoured to the fish stock, hence when the water levels recover it may be years before fish stocks build up unless stocked. Does any one know? Cheers

Hi Hooky I am pretty sure the sign on the road and dam both said Lake Lyell same place I once went camping and trout fishing The water is now lower that the Google Earth photo. Its worth the drive just to fathom how low. It comes into prospective we you look at the tower near the dam wall and see the water mark indicating the once upon a time water level. Delta Electricity are pumping water out of the dam to top up their other dams so it gets lower by the day. Just spoke to the park managers and they said its now past the 150m mark from the bottom of the ramp. They are getting some rain but Delta is constantly pumping water out of the lake.Henc why the levels have dropped so much. Cheers

I drove to the lake for a look on the way back from Orange last week. The water level is still really low, like 150 meters from the end of the boat ramp befor you reach water. This was just after the rain we had. Problem is the rain fell on the eastern side of the mountains and little fell on the western side to drain into the lake. Cheers

Top stuff and hope those fish keep rolling into your ice box. Nice jewfish Cheers Martin

Great video, just love that sort of stuff Cheers

I cant but help to notice the wind is blowing from left to right in the photo as evidenced by the white caps, however the spray from the wave crashing on the cardinal light marker is being blown right to left. Seems to be a picture touched up for dramatic effect. Call me a kill joy. Cheers

I just bought a Exide Premium Heavy Duty for $107 via one of the large retailers who also service vehicles. Their name begins with a K The battery was for my 4 wheel drive and not the boat Cheers

That is a nice haul of fish Well done guys Cheers

Rule of thumb I have applied for years is to set my fighting drag at 1/3 of the line class. To check drag i connect a snap swivel to a set of spring scales and pull line from the tip of the rod. Cheers

Way to go Kelvin, seems that no matter where you go some how the fish will follow. Cheers

Top effort guys Cheers

I hope this helps you a little. Flint and Steel seems to work best on an out going tide even with some run in it. Keep to the easter side of the Port Marker and use you sounder to find bottom that looks promising. Juno is good on the last of both sides of high tide. There is not exact sopt at Juno, however the is a yellow marker and if you a a little wide of it to the west of it, then thats a popular anchoring area. Live squid are number one if you can get them. Day or night works , however my confidence seems to favour from dusk on wards Guyna Point is another spot just to the northern side of the point. Beaware that the eels also seem to like this sopt and you do get snagged ever now and then as well. Keep from 12m to 20m out from the shore line. You can be in anything from 38 to 54 feet deep Best baits are live squid, fresh dead squid, whole dead fish, live bait fish and butterfly dead fish. Ensure ther is plenty of hook showing and that the hook can not turn back into the bait. I am far from an expert and have little time to put the hours in, however I have had some success and am still looking for a 20kg specimen Good luck Cheers

When lucky enough to catch a nice flathead I grab them in a wet towel to remove the hook and then follow kevvies procedure. If the towel is folded in half I am safe from the head spikes and minimise the stress to the fish while still maintaining a good hold on the fish. Cheers

Nice mixed bag Roberta Cheers

Mate, I know how you feel, I have caught more Pike eels than Jewfish myself while chasing jews. Anyway you deserve top marks for effort and I hope your Jewfish is not to far away Cheers Martin