Onajewagain

That looks awesome! I'm not going that far with it, my seats aren't wide enough to gain that much storage, so a small prefab bait tank on one side and a hatch with a lift out tray I'll use for an esky/catch box on the other side. I figure the floatation in the seat will give enough insulation to get me through a fishing trip, then it's just hatches in the casting deck into the hull for storage. The floatation I remove will go into the bottom somewhere. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't think it would collapse as such, but certainly would be weaker. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep, probably what I'll do. Just starting to strip it all back for paint, then the floor/casting deck will go in with a bait tank and esky in the middle seat, and storage hatches in between the seats and up the nose. I'll put the pics up when I finish, should be a month or so. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wouldn't say it was bizarre, but when I was a teenager I went out with an old aboriginal bloke who took a 6ft piece of thin bamboo, he shoved it down mud holes and used it as a stethoscope to listen for mud crabs, then he'd shove his hand straight down the whole and wrestle them out! Brave dude, don't know that I would shove my hand down there, but it got results! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A bit north of Sydney but Patonga is a favorite of mine, it's a bit of a drive but has a great little camping ground so it's easy to make a weekend of it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Fab1, I thought that would be the case, but a question worth asking. Back to the first idea, casting platform and hatches! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi all, Looking for a little advice. I have a Brooker 12ft tinny with three bench seats, would it make any difference if I took the middle seat out? Is there any structural qualities in the seat itself? I've attached a few pics for a looksy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Brad Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

15cm ish. I feed the hook through the skin side, drag some line through, and feed it back out so the point is out the skin side again, I take a half hitch and tie the top of the fillet so it doesn't bunch and foul the hook. Learnt that lesson very early on. I'll definitely look at the circle hooks, it's worth the try. Cheers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi all, Looking for a little advice. Went out for a Jew session last night, my first crack in Qld. Had a little success on by catch as the tide came in with a few nice flathead, and at the still mark, which was 9pm, I got an eel. Nothing out of the ordinary for me on a Jew hunt, however things became frustrating from there. After the eel, I had 5 big runs over about 3 hours, (some by catch aswell) the normal Jew trademarks, peel a little, take a bit more, whack it's in and going like a freight train. All 5 let go/didn't get hooked/bugger me how I didn't hook them. Basically got to the end of the first run, and they disappeared! I was using a 7/0 hook, as I've always done, fresh Taylor fillets, just enough weight to get it down, 4000 reel and 4-6kg Rod, etc etc. all my normal routine. The only thing different is its my first proper landbase crack at them. Anyone had a similar issue and found a solution, please send the advice this way, I'm open to all suggestions! I think I've found them, just now need to land one to prove the ground! Cheers Brad Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You're right Paikea, small GT. According to a few locals there the estuary was full of them, I only got the one as a by catch chasing lizards but a cracking fight on 8lb braid and 6lb leader! Technically speaking, it was his second fish, but his first where he actually reeled it in, and not throw the rod and run away like his previous hook up! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi folks of the fishing world, it's been a while, but I'm back after a long hiatus for various health and family reasons. I have to say, fishing is very much like riding a bike, you don't forget it and it's just as fun, even if you can't do it for as long as you use to. Just thought I'd share some photos of a trip to Tweed last week, 3 short outings bagged quite a few flathead and a ripper little trev. All taken on bloodworm wrigglers under the freeway bridge and at the jetty at Boyds Bay. But the best moment of all, my boys first fish, wound it in by himself and happily took a pic! Heading out at Caloundra tonight so hopefully some happy snaps tomorrow! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

2. Ettalong. It's always referred to as a bar, so I presume yes. It's generally pretty calm but I think (not positive) it has lifejacket signs heading towards it

Nice bream!! I have the same trouble with trap lifters at Patonga. Once caught a pro lifting my trap, said he thought it was one of his. I quickly pointed out mine have white boys and red rope and my name and phone number, his have black boys and are unmarked. Needless to say took off fast!

I'll clarify that. Most on the online auction site are fakes. I.e daiwa and osprey gear and some shimano and Shakespeare gear too. A friend got a touch up with buying team daiwa lures for a really good price. Problem is the osprey lures he grabbed were identical. Also had someone buy a dropshot from a USA store, which was a fake confirmed by our local tackle shop. Giveaway was "class" was spelt wrong. Good copy and honestly not a bad rod, but still a fake. There are some good ones online, but if you buy and pay for something you haven't touched and played with, it can often lead to disappointment.

What he said!!! I'd love an new e-tec, yammie or a suzi 4stroke, but my lay out budget didn't allow for it. So a second hand two stroke 90 had to do. Im Still happy, but shop around. You can spot the "salesman" from the real dealers a mile away. (just like above quote)

Very good to see some enforcement. Unfortunate for me I have been a hoodlum in the past. I'm sure I have the record for stupidity with 6 men for a total mass of 750kg across three tubes fighting for dear life with two in the ski boat. Or the time we were caught with a twin rig tinny with two tillers and two drivers. The look on that officers face was priceless when he asked who was containing our vessel...no fine that time but I'm sure it was due to a head scratcher that it was. Even more unfortunate that we were the "tame" ones on the hawkesbury. I've seen worse, much much worse... Ahhh the bad old days! Glad I grew up!!! Even more so nobody died in the making.....

Just another way of saying "Dory, by-catch of a trawler selling for cheap. Maybe another type of fish at point of sale" But really Dory are a deep water fish, so they are not "falsely" advertising

Grrrrrrrrrr! No wonder I can't get any dark action, between you, stormy and swordie, there is none left!! Good action again. When I get some free time, and some cleats, I'll have to hit you up to mentor me!

"luck" my butt!!! Always a good report from stormy

Really rather not. Go to your local owner operator tackle shop and support him. Once you build a relationship with them, you will find the price drops heaps. Also, most of the on line goods are fakes. They only fool the foolish but really look out for what I call "engrish". That's one of the tell tales. I've seen heaps of apparent "osprey" and "daiwa" gear. On the cards and descriptions etc you will see broken English. Don't be fooled by it. If you want cheap gear, buy cheap gear, not something cheap passed off as genuine.

Yep. You have 4 options. 2 of them tell you to visit the website for info. Funnily enough, the fishing license purchase option puts you straight on to an operator. Is that a little fishy?

Good to hear! Unfortunate that it doesn't happen often enough.

I've heard that it works as a stimulant to fish, like a drug. How true that is I'm not sure.

Called fisheries today to try to have a confusion cleared up. I must say, while I know they don't have the staff that they should, I was very disappointed that no one, in three different offices could answer my question. This isn't the first time I've been disappointed by this department. On a recent trip to Forster, I was really disappointed about the amount of undersized fish going home with people. I reported this stuff in person, gave details of where, when and car regos, to be told "they will get caught one day" the lady at the counter didn't even write this down. I'm not a big complainer, but this just isn't good enough. Thankfully, I'm a member here, so I'm going to ask the question. Can aniseed be used as an attractant? I've been told it was banned, but seems to be some SP companies still using it.

Yep, I'm an eggbeater. I have about as much co ordination as steady eddy on the turps! I do envy those who have the art down to a tee, so I may need to persist to crack the code, after all, no one will take me serious lobbing up to a ledge with my rod and reel....