bombora

Hiya all, just another quick tip for any northern beaches fish raiders. Went for a surf this morning at DY and birds were going apesh*t halfway up the beach at The Poles. Weren't sambos this time but either bonnies, little Mac T's or frigates. Early they were really close to the sand, only about a 5 metre cast away. Action was all over by 7.30am. Last week in the same part of the beach, as reported, was a big school of sambos. Anyway, DY has been totally devoid of surface action for many many months, but with the water temps steadily rising over the past couple of weeks the place has at last got some life!!! Water was absolutely toasty this morn, noticably warmer than just a day or so ago. cheers Bombie (and yup Jo, I don't mind the odd spin session perched on top of an old longboard, just waiting for the schools to hopefully move a little bit closer to the south end of the beach, the old malibu is bloody heavy to drag up the poles with rod reel and bumbag of lures!!)

Hiya Jo, congrats mate on a ripper capture. Couldn't PM you for some reason but for the Sunday Telegraph fishing pic (I work for the daily) you could email either seymourt@sundaytelegraph.com.au or rothfieldp@sundaytelegraph.com.au. Now they love pics of fish held vertically for the Sunday Tele fish of the week (it suits the layout of the page) so your pic is perfect. Just give em a bit of info particularly about getting your jewie smack in the middle of the harbour . One again, congrats on a great fish! Bombie

Hiya just a heads up for beach fishos; paddled through a big school of green back salmon while having an early surf on New Years Day at DY. Saw a couple of beach fishos with a couple of fat sambos too, up near the poles. This morning (sunday) birds were working the beach and out to about 500 metres, so something's going on at last at DY which has had a srious absence of surface activity last few months. Saturday's swell has died, it was just a few feet this morning. DY has some rather nice gutters etc so beach fishos get out there. Cheers Bombie

I reckon half you guys got a possible career as sub editors ; better puns for Jethro and Byron's boats than most of the headlines they do at work. Seriously funstuff. If I didn;'t know better I'd think you guys eat a lot of brain power fish

awesome rig jethro. Purple Patch?

Hiya Wakd, any reason you not having a gander at a good ol' ABU baitcaster, say somthing in the 4600 size? They ain't the hi tech Jap reels but I think they are best value for money on the market. I'd prefer an ABU over a lower range Japanese baitcaster. I traded my last ABU because it didn't live happily in a console boat (the drag always seemed to get wet and rough after coping only a little spray) for a Shimano Corsair. It was crap, plastic bits cracked within a few months. If you are suss about the ABU drag it might be good for the wallet to go the ABU and get an Erskin drag washer set. Just a personal thing and ain't dissing anyone but why the need for a baitcaster whioch can throw ultralight lures when threadlines do it so much better. I like my baitcasters for heavier flattie style shad heads and up. Cheers an good tackle hunting Bombie

Good stuff guys; the bridge area has been going off these past few weeks. Have tried the back of the lake a few times in between bridge sessions and it's been dead up there for me at least. cheers Bombie

Interesting answers Sami, thanks for the effort . And you got the description right in calling it the Utopian outfit! Just not keen to be doing a lot of casting of unweighted plastics with the big heavy old bluewater spinning outfit. Still it's fun searching for an alternative for flatwater big fish lure casting. PS never really had a problem on heavy drag pointing the rod at the fish, most times can be anticipated, particularly kings; it ain't exactly a surprise when they do the see-the-boat-go-crazy thing. Suprising when they DON"T do it. Cheers Bombie

Have used one for all manner of things; it's had no trouble on fast runners including kings etc. The gear ratio is a blast for small fast fish and mini poppering. Drag is brilliant for the price. Second metal spool is good value. Only complaint is that they are damn heavy for their size (though this I reckon can be a bit of an advantage on longer light rods ) and they scratch up easily. Bombie

Jeez Rick don't tell Swoffa this!! Then again he may already have two of em . Seriously they sound awesome, interesting rods. Liking the trend to really light but potent weapons, not so keen on the price you pay for em though! Cheers and thanks for the info

Thanks Bash; might as well go to the man himself

Hiya Jo, yup I mentioned whether the pice got you tougher gears too. Just wondering how much better line laying is needed, and I ain't so ravaged by age _ just yet _ to worry about a coupla grams weight difference. Yup Bash seen some stuff from Harro about building 9ft double handed spin sticks from heavy duty fly rods Anyone know about Erskine drags?

Hiya Bashir, that's sorta what I was asking about, though in less direct language . Also why I asked about the point-the-rod-straight-at-the-fish style of fighting which, I think, is how some of the heavy saltwater fly guys get around the problem of big fish heavy-ish drags and fairly fragile SWF rods. this could work on medium casting-spin rods too, could it not? Bombie

Hiya, just love the look of the Custom! and a modified Capricorn would still be some hundreds cheaper than the standard Certate would it not?

Rave away Swoff, they ARE awesome reels and I enjoy people enjoying their tackle . Just seeking a possible cheaper alternative. Don't know much about Jack Erskine's drag modifications; are they just hell of a lot smoother or can he up the ante on drags too? What do ya reckon? Reckon a Cap A's gears handle it if the drag was beefed or too much to ask? Do you use the point the rod at the fish method as wouldn't putting a bend into something like a beastbuster with 5-7kg drag blow the rod up? chers Bombie

Hiya all, just some musings; Bit of talk lately about the awesome little Diawa Certate Custom 2500R and their 7kg drag ability. Was just wondering how many people would use this drag ability on this little reel. Say you put 10lb fireline, which many do I think, on it which breaks about 18lb. Can you fish 7kg drag on approx 8kg breaking strain line (not taking into account knots, nick etc )? Are you reduced to pointing the rod directly at the fish to use the drag to full potential, as how many rods on which you'd mount a Certate could handle 7kg drag over their fighting curve? Is it the cranking power combined with the drag which makes em hot, the fact that even at full drag they are still smooth (but see above question) and so damn expensive? Could you, for MOST uses for a Certate, get away with getting an equal size say CapricornA and putting an Erskine drag washer system in it at an all up fraction of the cost? Sorry for the many questions, just interested as am soon putting togther an outfit specifically for extra light lures and bigger fish such as Pittwater moorings kings. Cheers Bombie

Swoffa don't do this to me; tell me more about your 8'2" custom Barra-made finesse Sounds damn awesome. One piece, two piece, three piece? Single handed or handle-and-a-half or two handed? Been looking for something like this for awhile but fear it might be out of my price range. ANy chance of ball park figure on the cost? (don't worry if inappropriate question) Sorry, don't call it bream gear , but my ultralight/light luring gear is: 1: 10 year old 7ft Loomis jigflicker with sliding rings and dogbone full cork grip, matched just last week with new reel; a 1500A Capricorn, and two kay fireline. Sweet, medium taper rod which is a blast to use over clean flats. 2: 7'6" Shimano Raider with Okuma Epix and 3kay fireline for slightly heavier lures and a bit tougher fish. Cheers Bombie

Hiya iceman, really keen to hear how you go there. Be surprised if you don't do good. Heard a yarn from the northern beaches of coupla guys who couldn't turn a real a few weeks ago on a local reef while anchored and burleying for reds. They turned to SPs, "staircased" them up the trail and scored a haldf dozen snapper to 2kilos. Better than nuthin! Hiya Bash; a 445F as a battered work boat? The shame The shame. Like using a sportscar as a ute. Cheers Bombie

Just in the mood to stir the possum, so please don't be ofended if you own one of these boats........ I reckon the next big thing in lures/SPs/light tackle sportfishing will mean getting rid of your Hornet/lowsided/punt/semi-punt/flatwater boat . Why? I reckon light tackle inshore luring, especially involving SPs, will take off. Many People are sorta just discovering how a small jig (either plastic or other style of tail) can be devastating when used over inshore reefs, bombies, washes etc etc. Look at the fun some are having discovering just how horny snapper get for a plastic. Add bream (generally way way bigger on average than stillwater bream), kings, big trevs, pike surface fishies etc etc etc and you have a whole bundle of fun. Only problem is everyone's bream boats are not much fun in anything more than those all too rare dead flat now wind days. Anyone seen a well priced Haines 445F for sale. Bombie

Me want one too!! Played with the 2500 Custom while buying my Capricorn. Man the Certate was smoother than a baby's bot!! Awesome. Would be my dream reel for stillwater kings particularly those buggers which wipe you out on the mooring lines in pittwater!! cheers Bombie

Jewie decal? Or yankee version like a red or black drum? Bombie

No wukkas. And thank YOU for your efforts! PS one thing, do NOT tell Penbo I praised him!!!!!! chers Mal

Me again Jo; been talking to my colleague David Penberthy, our Opinions page editor, former State political reporter etc etc and, jeez I hate to say it but one of the best political writers in Oz. Penbo has also started appearing on Sky's new political show. Anyhow he's very very interested in having a chat with yourself about both The Fishing Party (of which he is aware, and of the anger at major party's attitude to fishing) and your experiences as someone coming up against the tactics of the major parties. Regards Mal. Dave's email here is Penberthyd@dailytelegraph.com.au He's bit busy today with the Labor Party launch, and he's got a rare day off tomorrow, but is keen for a chat maybe Friday if that's convenient to you.

Ain't politics a grand thing. Jo, just one thing. Last time I checked, the state co-allition was still commited to returning the dreaded kingfish traps. At a state level the nats tend to have their way in most things fishing. Libs might make a commitment to certain issues but are they a true representation of fishing policies if a State coalltion govt wins power. On another note I wonder if you could email me outlining your experiences with Ian Macdonald so that maybe can take it further. Email is Hollandm@dailytlegraph.com.au Again best wishes in your excellent efforts at giving fishos a voice. Cheers Mal

G'day Jo and everyone. If fishing tackle manufacturers/importers, the boating industry etc are only now being approached for financial support for rec fishing lobbying, or if the same industries/companies have not done so til now off their own bat, then I find that absolutely astounding and very very sad. Very very sad. I stand to be corrected, but if this is true then it is pathetic and I can think of little excuse apart from possibly not having faith in rec fishing representative bodies (or pure short sighted greed by people who have made good bucks through fishing). Thinking about it makes me so angry. As far as not being able to compete with commercial fishing lobbying cause they have the dollars, well, I can think of several surveys etc which put the value of rec fishing at many many tens of millions of dollars. There is a snippet of a story in one of the latest fishing mags on the market where the comparative worth of striped marlin caught by commercial fishers is compared to the dollar value of striped marlin caught or C and R'd by rec fishers. Basically rec fishing striped marlin is worth many millions more a year to NSW than commericial fishing of striped marlin. This is just ONE fish in ONE state. If that money is floating across all levels of rec fishing , PUT SOME OF IT INTO effective political lobbying at both federal and State levels. I am still unconvinced by single issue parties, even fishing ones. After more than 20 years involvment in media and politics at highest levels and being involved in or reporting/editing any number of emotive political/social issues and how results are achieved, laws changed etc, I still believe LOBBYING conected with intelligent use of personalities loyal to the cause is by far the best course of action. One little example of how the pros do it, which I've mentioned before on another site. Only a small thing but they all add up; several months ago one of those spats about rec V pro fishing erupted in NSW. Can't remember the details of the particular fight. Wouldn't you know it, but NSW's top talk back radio host Alan Jones on his show the next morning devoted a good five minutes basically spruiking the poor, brave man against the sea pros and slagging rec fishers. Now Alan is many things but a passionate ocean person he is not. I would hazard to guess the switched on pro lobbyists know what makes alan tick contacted him and it worked: a sizeable audience got the Jones diatribe on rec v pro fishing. One small thing which MIGHT be in the favour of a rec fishing party this federal election; several very respected political reporters and commentators think independent candidates might do very well because of widespread disillusion with the major parties. The passion and commitment of the people involved in The Fishing Party is brilliant, but sad to say I trully think you are on the wrong course. (PPS; ANother thing I've mentined before but wil say again; I wouldn't be highlighting pure C and R to non-fishers during any campaigning. City living media pundits, commentators, pollies etc etc can understand and applaud keeping a couple for the plate and letting the rest go. They view pure C and R as nothing but annoying, hurting fish for no good reason) Sorry for the length of this gibberfest but I share everyone's frustration at the attacks on rec fishing and the almost daily diminishing of our right to wet a line. Chers Bombie