spook

Thanks guys I really appreciate the input I'll try all of the suggestions and let you know how I go the next time I'm up this way. Bennoz my problem is I'm not even getting hits, but looking at the replies I think my problems are timing and also rigs It really is a credit to the forum the way everyone chips in to share their experience and tips in so short a space of time, keep up the good work!

Hey all, This is my first time posting so please forgive any mistakes. Let me also say that I'm fairly inexperienced. I mainly fish around The Entrance when I come up from Sydney (beach fishing mostly). I've pulled a heap of whiting, bream and flatties out of Tawoon Bay, but what I am really after is Salmon, which I go after at Hargraves Beach (Just north of Magenta Shores)... Problem is I have never caught one!!! I started with looking at tide times, moon phasing, good and bad days, but now go whenever I can. I never really deviate from ganged hooks with pillies, a 60cm leader, swivel and a running sinker. Now I don't want to say exactly how long I have been going for Salmon, but trust me, its a LONG time. A few months back I was fishing Hargraves. I arrived around 9am and the beach was deserted except for one old timer. After the customary 'Any luck?', followed by 'Not a thing' I set up and cast off. The clouds looked dark, swollen and angry, but I decided to stick it out. 40 minutes later the old fella packs up and leaves. I eye off the spot he was at and consider moving up, however, as I had just recast I thought I would give it another 10 minutes before moving. 3 minutes later a newcomer comes to the beach and takes the spot I was eyeing off, 'Oh well' I think, it would have been bad luck to change anyway. The new bloke rigs up, casts off, sets his rod in its holder and starts to walk the 10 meters back to his esky for a drink. His movement caught my eye when I see his rod bend and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. "Oh your f&^king kidding" I think to myself. Old mate rushes back to his rod (he never made it to the esky) and proceeds to pull in the biggest bloody Salmon I have seen in my life. I make my way over and examine his catch. I congratulate him (genuine, it was good work) just as the heavens open and I run to pull down my gear and make my way back to my car. Fast forward to today. I have a few days off work so decide to make the most of it. After stinking hot weather yesterday I figure today will be perfect. I wake up around 5:30am planning to get an early start, before I hear rain pouring outside. 'Oh well' I think, I'll stay in bed until it clears. 8:30am and the rain has stopped. I go to the bait shop and stock up on pillies before making my way up to Hargraves by 9:10am. The moon is above and its an hour past high tide. There are about 6 other blokes on the beach. I quickly rig up and cast out. Two pillies later, both torn apart by crabs, I decide to try a drop shot rig (after looking at what the experts were doing). The only problem was I had no idea how to go about it. No matter, I whip out the iPhone, do a quick google search, and bobs your mothers brother. By this time all but one bloke have packed up and left (it was about 10:30am and an hour and a half away from low tide). I cast out a couple of times, both terrible casts. Before I know it, the last bloke has left the beach, leaving what I know to be the 'prized spot'. Well, fool me once shame on me etc, I run over to said spot and claim it as my own. I move my gear, put on a fresh pilley and cast out (a most perfect cast if I do say so myself). Well now I have to think that luck is on my side, I have a good spot, I have a rig where the crabs wont get a my bait, a had a good cast, everything seemed to be going right. I settle down to wait for the inevitable. Guess what people, the inevitable happened... it started raining!!!!!! I pack up my gear, run to the car thinking, 'Tomorrow will be my day'. I have patience, after all, I am a St George supporter!!! Sorry if the post is a little long, but I hope it at least made you chuckle and remember the days when you guys (and girls) were first starting out

I just got back from two weeks in Vietnam, was amazing. There have been floods there recently (Hoi an was submerged) which has made the Mekong Delta very dirty (more so), but has also brought a lot of muddy water around back beach in Vung Tau. Not sure what its usually like, as I went with dad who was there 40 years ago (back then apparently Back Beach was crystal clear). Getting the Hydra Foil I saw a heap of shore based fishing done around the wharves and rocks at the ferry port in Vung Tau, plus a few beach fisho's off Front Beach. So those two spots at least, but the locals are prob your best bet. Side note, the Restaurant at the Imperial Hotel does the best steak (Australian tenderloin) you can imagine. I know its typical for a westerner to eat at his hotel, but after two weeks of venturing out, I was dying for a good steak. Give it a go if you get the chance.

Pretend fisherman, I'm not sure what state you're in, but I will assume NSW for the time being For the actual legislation go to http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/act+121+1998+cd+0+N The part that is relevant for this post is Part 3, dealing with alcohol offences. Check out Division 2 for specific Alcohol offences. These offences deal with Youth Range, Low Range, Mid range and High range (Just like drivers of cars, same readings). The key words are "operate a vessel". operate a vessel includes: (a) to determine or exercise control over the course or direction of the vessel or over the means of propulsion of the vessel (whether or not the vessel is underway), and ( to pilot the vessel, and © in the case of the owner of the vessel, to cause or allow the vessel to be operated by someone else. Section 20 is further definations, operate a vessel includes: (a) being towed by a vessel, whether on a water ski, aquaplane, paraflying device or other device, or ( act as observer on a vessel, for safety purposes, of any person being towed by the vessel, or © supervise a juvenile operator of a motor vessel. Also keep in mind 'vessel' includes water craft of any description used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. Finally, under section 28: (2) The master of a vessel must not permit a person to operate in any waters a vessel in the charge of the master if the master is aware, or has reasonable cause to believe, that the person is under the influence of alcohol or any other drug. Have a read through the entire act if you have the time as it will dispell any myths that are around. As for any affect on motor vehicle licences, to the best I my knowledge I don't believe it does affect it, as they are two different acts (unless of course for unpaid fines, the state debt recovery office may suspend any licneces etc). But a conviction for marine alcohol offences will affect your boat licence. I hope this helps instead of adding to anyones confusion lol!!