mrmoshe

Huge seas and power crisis hit endurance duo Suffering from cuts and bruises, fatigued and mentally fragile, two Sydney kayakers now risk losing contact with their base and their supply of fresh water. James Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, have been paddling unaccompanied across the Tasman Sea for over two weeks, in a bid to be the first to kayak 2200 kilometres to New Zealand. As the constant battering of salt water eats away at their infected skin, recent cloud cover has also caused the pair's solar-powered batteries to lose power, Race Recon executive director Patrick Brothers said. "The main thing they need power for is the desalination machine that makes fresh water," said Brothers, who speaks with the pair twice a day. "To lose the electric desalination machine is a massive hit to expedition ... this is the first trigger level of concern. "Without fresh water they can't hydrate, they can't clean their skin. "The battery also powers the communication and tracking equipment, which is fundamental to the trip." The possibility of losing power, combined with "rough days" aboard the kayak, appeared to have left the pair depressed. "This morning was probably the lowest point I've been at on the trip so far," Castrission said in a recent podcast. "Mentally I was at about a three out of ten. The pair had endured seas of five and six metres, forcing them to remain inside the cabin as waves tossed the kayak about. "It kind of felt like 10 kids jumping on your bed," Castrission said. "We both suffered a bit of cabin fever in here and felt quite horrible." A few "rogue waves" had also entered the cabin, soaking clothes and sleeping equipment, Castrission said. During the emotional lull, the duo had done "clumsy and silly things, were dropping things, making poor decisions, and starting to argue with each other", Mr Brothers said. "The lack of sleep, hot conditions and the general fatigue of being half way between Australia and New Zealand were probably starting to take their toll." It took a remarkable chance encounter with a yacht on the Tasman Sea on Saturday to shake the duo from their misery, Brothers said. After spotting the yacht on the horizon, the duo beckoned it to come closer using their communications equipment, after which the yacht crew and the kayakers chatted and took photos, Mr Brothers said. "That probably lifted the guys from the doldrums.... turning then from irrational and angry to being really pumped up." Castrission and Jones have paddled a total of 1110 kilometres since leaving Forster on November 9. They are paddling at just under 1km/h, and hope to reach Auckland on December 23. James, top left, and Justin ... facing big seas and a power supply srisis.

Thanks Robeebee...that was the link I was looking for LOL Cheers, Pete.

G'day squidlips and to the site. Mate, take a look through the "How to post pictures" thread Here It will help you understand the how to's of posting pics. That's one healthy bream. Cheers, Pete.

Australia leads fight to save gentle marine giant from NASA combined with photographs from 1000 amateur scientists has allowed researchers to track the largest and most elusive fish in the sea. A Perth-based conservation group has recruited tourists and nature lovers from around the globe to photograph their sightings of whale sharks. Known as the gentle giants of the sea, the rare and beautiful beasts grow up to 18m and are under threat of extinction. But using ground-breaking technology first employed by NASA to identify star constellations, around 1000 whale sharks have now been identified - prompting some hope that their numbers are rising. The technology allows the distinguishing patterns on the animals to be analysed and compared to others in the photograph bank. Like a fingerprint, the unique spotted designs differ on each shark. Despite a growing number of international laws protecting the whale shark, the leader of the ECOCEAN project, Brad Norman, said there was still an illegal market for the fin and flesh of the whale shark in East Asia. "This year Taiwan announced they would ban fishing of the whale shark, so we are having some success," he said. Mr Norman said the largest numbers of whale sharks were found of the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. The latest photographic sighting was made by marine biologist Simon Pearce in waters off the coast of Mozambique. Even at a massive 6.5m long, Mr Norman said the giant was most likely a juvenile. "Whale sharks were only discovered in 1828. We don't know much about them," he said.

What a cracker weekend eh? That flatty is one huge momma...A head like a shovel and shoulders like a front rower. Enter her in the FOTM won't you. I can see an annual pilgrimage to there again. Great effort. Cheers, Pete.

Done Jim...good luck with the ridgydidge. Pete.

Try the ferry wharf at Palm Beach. Early morning or evening the best times. Good luck of the cephalopod hunt. Cheers, Pete.

Mate, when I get some free time. Been a tad busy lately. Grrr. Cheers, Pete.

Yes Andrew...that's correct. The new bag & size limits from NSW Fisheries can be found HERE And HERE is the FAQ on the fisheries site explaining the reasons for the changes. Cheers, Pete

Great trip again guys. and didn't you boat some fish!! Looks like the ideal weather conditions (apart from the storms) and a good time had by all. The extra water sure made the difference this year I'm sure. Those yallowbellies are thumper fish too. Great report Stewy. Cheers, Pete.

Same goes for that thread too Boban...The reminder is up there too. Let's keep this as a fishing site...not a political debating site. Cheers, Pete.

REMINDER. This sub forum was set up as Fisheries News & Politics...for FISHERIES NEWS and POLITICS That is... fishing related news and politics topics. Member's own political views and bents have no place on a fishing forum...there are plenty of other forums to post that stuff. Let's keep it to fishing related topics and all will be fine. Cheers. Pete.

REMINDER. This sub forum was set up as Fisheries News & Politics...for FISHERIES NEWS and POLITICS That is... fishing related news and politics topics. Member's own political views and bents have no place on a fishing forum...there are plenty of other forums to post that stuff. Let's keep it to fishing related topics and all will be fine. Cheers. Pete.

Close call: girls escape shark Two teenage girls were forced to climb onto a shipwreck and wait for half an hour to avoid a shark in Byron Bay, according to reports. Jett Coates and Caitlin Robinson, both 14, told The Northern Star they had to hang onto a part of The Wreck, a shipwreck north of Byron Bay's Main Beach, for about half an hour. They had just climbed up onto The Wreck and were about to jump off when Jett saw the shark. "I was just about to jump off and Jett yelled 'Watch out! There's a shark!','' Caitlin told The Northern Star. "We couldnt see it for a while then it came under us again. "It was so hard to stand all that time. I was shaking so much," Caitlin told the paper. There have now been more than 30 sightings of sharks at Byron Bay in the past month, The Northern Star reported. Main Beach is not patrolled until mid-December. Life Guards are alerted to sharks when a member of the public rings triple-0, said northern region lifeguard coordinator, Steven Leahy. Mr Leahy said police then activate surf life saving emergency response team to attend. "They [the girls] were able to climb up on top of The Wreck and scream for help," he told the ABC News website. "A surfer approached them and he too was approached by the shark. He swam away and notified police and the lifesaving response team," he told the website. "The response team attended and were able to pluck the girls from The Wreck and get them back to the beach. "A number of people have given us similar descriptions. Nevertheless other people have stated that the sharks that they've seen have been great whites and white pointers, we've heard tiger sharks and bronze whalers and bull sharks from other people, but certainly the last couple of descriptions indicate a mako shark," he told the ABC.

Giant killer scorpion once ruled seas Mark Henderson, London | November 22, 2007 IT WAS one of the most fearsome sea monsters of all time, a vast sea scorpion that lurked below the surface and ambushed its prey with razor-sharp claws. A newly discovered fossil has revealed that the predator, which lived 390 million years ago, grew to at least 2.5m, making it among the largest arthropods known to science. Jaekelopterus rhenaniae would have lain in wait in shallow water for passing fish, seizing them with its 46cm claws in a sudden movement. After slicing its hapless prey into smaller pieces, it would have diced it up, using saw blades on its legs, devouring it with mouth parts in its belly. While it would normally have fed on smaller prey such as fish, it was capable of taking larger animals, and sometimes turned cannibal, consuming smaller specimens of its own kind, according to the scientists behind the discovery. "It would certainly have made a meal of anyone going for a swim 390 million years ago," Simon Braddy, of the University of Bristol, said. "These sea scorpions would have been truly terrifying creatures. They were like the crocodiles of the Devonian period, ambush predators that were very much top of the food chain. "We have known for some time that the fossil record yields monster millipedes, super-sized scorpions, colossal cockroaches and jumbo dragonflies, but we never realised until now just how big some of these ancient creepy-crawlies were." J. rhenaniae takes its name from a German scientist who first described the creature in the early 20th century after it was found in the Rhineland. Now a fossilised claw has shown it grew far larger than had been thought. The giant claw was discovered in a quarry near Prum by Markus Poschmann, of the German Cultural Heritage Directorate in Mainz. Dr Poschmann and Dr Braddy calculated that the sea scorpion grew to at least 2.5m long, some 40cm longer than the previous largest specimen. Arthropods have an exoskeleton and segmented bodies with appendages on each segment. The ancient sea scorpions, which were arachnids, are ancestors of modern scorpions. During the Devonian period, from 416 to 359 million years ago, arthropods had yet to be challenged by vertebrates. The supersized sea scorpions lived alongside dragonflies with a wingspan of 75cm, and huge cockroaches. The Times And this from The BBC: Man-sized sea scorpion claw found The immense fossilised claw of a 2.5m-long (8ft) sea scorpion has been described by European researchers. The 390-million-year-old specimen was found in a German quarry, the journal Biology Letters reports. The creature, which has been named Jaekelopterus rhenaniae, would have paddled in a river or swamp. The size of the beast suggests that spiders, insects, crabs and similar creatures were much larger in the past than previously thought, the team says. The claw itself measures 46cm - indicating its owner would have been longer even than the average-sized human. Overall, the estimated size of the animal exceeds the record for any other sea scorpion (eurypterid) find by nearly 50cm. The eurypterids are believed to be the extinct aquatic ancestors of modern land scorpions and possibly all arachnids (the class of animals that also includes spiders). "The biggest scorpion today is nearly 30cm so that shows you how big this creature was," said Dr Simon Braddy from the University of Bristol, UK. It was one of Dr Braddy's co-authors, Markus Poschmann, who made the discovery in the quarry near Prum in western Germany. "I was loosening pieces of rock with a hammer and chisel when I suddenly realised there was a dark patch of organic matter on a freshly removed slab," he recalled. "After some cleaning I could identify this as a small part of a large claw. Although I did not know if it was more complete or not, I decided to try and get it out. "The pieces had to be cleaned separately, dried, and then glued back together. It was then put into a white plaster jacket to stabilise it." Super-sized meals The species existed during a period in Earth history when oxygen levels in the atmosphere were much higher than today. And it was those elevated levels, some palaeo-scientists believe, that may have helped drive the super-sized bodies of many of the invertebrates that existed at that time - monster millipedes, huge cockroaches, and jumbo dragonflies. But Dr Braddy thinks the large scales may have had a lot to do with the absence early on of vertebrate predators. As they came on the scene, these animals would have eaten all the biggest prey specimens. "The fact that you are big means you are more likely to be seen and to be taken for a tastier morsel," he told BBC News. "Evolution will not select for large size; you want to be small so you can hide away." The scorpions are thought to have made their first scuttles on to land about 450 million years ago. While some would have taken up a fully terrestrial existence, others like Jaekelopterus rhenaniae would have maintained an aquatic or semi-aquatic lifestyle. How the creature compares for size with a human

OK..FINAL WARNING TO KEEP ON TOPIC. This is a fishing report thread...Not the place for discussing the merits of C&R. The rules are there for a reason. The next member who breaks it will face being suspended! Pete.

Nice little session Chaod. Didn't that approaching light show look incredible! When it blew out to sea..it put on a magnificent show to the horizon. Cheers, Pete. ps. Don't forget to whack up the pics.

Cracker report and cracker bream on the first cast Marty...Wonderful stuff. Looks just as nice on the plate too. Truly a memorable capture. Cheers, Pete.

Great effort Ronald and two thumper bream hit the shore for a photo..then off home...It doesn't get much better than that. Great sessions. Cheers, Pete.

Yes PJ..I was just taking the p*ss a bit. We shouldn't discriminate between fish...cuz after all...they are all sportfish in their own way. Australia would have to have one of the largest wild populations of carp (maybe I'm wrong) and to eradicate it from our streams and rivers as a target species can only be good for the native's survival. More power to ya for taking another one out of circulation.. and to do it with your Dad...Even better. Cheers, Pete.

A big KK to the site. Hope to read some great reports in the future. Cheers, Pete.

Great report PJ and also glad you got the rod back. I can see that elusive crap carp being the target on future visits. Yep..I have fond memories of fishing with my Dad and wish he was still around often. Give your Dad a call to go fishing if you have one..and get those memories locked away. Cheers, Pete.

Bill...Glad to have you aboard. Yes...there's always helpful advice only minutes away on Fishraider...all you gotta do is ask. You have to tell us how you eventually cooked the occy and how it went down...even a pic of the finished product eh? I'll bet it will taste sensational whichever way you prepare it. Cheers and enjoy, Pete.

You are in for a very tasty feed there Bill. remember to tenderise the occy before cooking or you will be eating GoodYear rubber. i found this recipe on a wine site recently and meant to whack it in the Recipe section. Looks very tasty on paper. Cheers, Pete. Grilled Octopus requires some preparation, but the final cooking is fairly quick. Stephanie Alexander, in her Cook’s Companion recommends tenderising octopus with a meat mallet until the flesh looses its bounciness. Cut the tentacles away from the body of the octopus. If the head is not too large, say more than 20cm in diameter you can use it as well. Turn it inside out and remove the beak and internal organs. Remove the suckers from the tentacles and skin them under running water. If you are using the head score it well or cut into strips similar in size to the tentacles. Marinate the octopus for a few hours or preferably overnight in olive oil along with some garlic, dried oregano and bay leaves. To cook, drain off the olive oil and grill for a few minutes on a hot barbecue or under your kitchen grill. Don’t bother about a dipping sauce, just serve with lemon or lime wedges. Grilled octopus can be served as a tapas dish (just add toothpicks), as part of a seafood platter, or as a dish in its own right. A crisp aromatic white wine can be served with octopus. Why not try Marsanne from Rewine?

Knots and crosses Frank Walker and Gerald Cowan November 18, 2007 ONE in four boats is violating the 15-knot speed limit under the Harbour Bridge, a special speed gun-test has found. The limit of 15knots, or 28kmh, was imposed on August 1 after five people were killed in two separate collisions under the bridge. But despite the tragedies and repeated warnings from harbour authorities The Sun-Herald recorded 17 boats breaking the speed limit within three hours. The Sun-Herald used a digital speed radar from Blues Point to record the speed of boats in the zone over three hours during a regular working day. Seventeen out of 62 boats were recorded over the speed limit. The worst offenders were private speedboats and high-powered Zodiac boats. One speedboat with three young men laughing and waving was recorded in the zone speeding at 22knots - 42kmh. That is the same speed the RiverCat Dawn Fraser was travelling when it struck an aluminium runabout under the bridge just before 7am on January 5. It cut the boat in two, severing the leg of Peter Karatasas, 72. He later died in hospital. RiverCat master Ezra Hilkiah, 51, faces trial on March 31 for dangerous navigation occasioning death. Last week The Sun-Herald recorded several RiverCat ferries travelling at up to 16.7knots under the bridge, over the 15-knot speed limit. In March, the HarbourCat ferry Pam Burridge collided with a wooden motor cruiser at night under the bridge. Four people on the pleasure boat died, including 14-year-old junior ice skating champion Morgan Innes. Her father, Robert Innes, was horrified to hear so many boats were still speeding under the bridge. "Five deaths are enough," Mr Innes said. "All it takes is a few seconds at a slower speed to avoid a collision. "If they had put in the speed limit after the January accident, Morgan and the others might be alive today. "It is a disgrace that they are still speeding and nothing is being done to stop them." In the three hours that The Sun-Herald monitored boats under the bridge, only one water police boat was seen. It stopped one speedboat and talked to the driver before moving on. The 15-knot speed limit sign on the tip of Blues Point has been defaced by graffiti. Ports Minister Joe Tripodi said yesterday maritime officers had been ordered to step up safety patrols around the bridge this summer to force people to slow down. He said 60 boaters had been cautioned during the August-September warning period. Since then, two boat drivers had been fined $80 and one $40. The maximum penalty is $1500. "Hooning in boats is a threat to the safety of everyone on the waterway," Mr Tripodi said. Opposition ports spokesman Duncan Gay said this stretch of water should be treated like a road black-spot. "It is the busiest waterway in Australia. It should be covered by speed cameras and warning signs and be well patrolled by water police," Mr Gay said. Boating Industry Association of NSW general manager Roy Privett said the speed limit was an unnecessary restriction for both private and commercial boats. "It is very difficult to determine the speed on the water because there are no accurate speedos on small boats," Mr Privett said.