martoiscool

Hey mate cant help ya with the boat but I met a bloke once who owned a big walkaround with twin yammy 350's. This boat sat on a road legal 4 axle trailer... He told me he needs a permit to tow it around and he mainly does it at night for convenience. Don't know if that helps

I just downloaded the app and I wanna know whereabouts the maps go when ya save em!!??

Yeah seein those big snapper means I'll defiantly be back but with some gos marks next time!!! I know some people eat catfish but I never have and I it doesn't sound very appetizing. I released it anyhow

Hey raiders, Headed down to woody head with a bunch of mates for a fishing/camping trip over the last few days. Weather was really good with light winds and sunshine most of the time. We only had one big shower on the first night with our half arsed attempt at putting up a tarp filling with a little water.... Funny stuff at 4am in the morning!!! Anyway to the fishing... If you didn't already know there is a little beach bay at woody heady which has a protected from the south boat ramp. This gave us good access to the ocean and we hit the seas every morning in our tinnys.. We didn't have many marks as it was our first time but we still managed some very small snappper and alot of rock cod. We did find it to be a very quick drift... we were mixing it up to with plastics and baits.. Anyway we didn't do any good outside but all these old local blokes kept coming back in every day either around lunch or mid arvo with big snapper and trag.. One boat managed a 9kg snapper and a metro plus Jew..... Lucky buggers... Our camp was right near the ramp so we were constantly talking to these blokes and trying to get a hint of a good spot but they are pretty protective of there spots... I would be to if I was getting fish that good!!! The general area it seemed was a fair way north like off jerusalem creek and south of Evans head... We all decided to fish the river at iluka in the arvos with better success. We mainly fished the middle wall drifting with baits and flicking a mixture of lures. Some of us managed a couple of flathead and some legal bream but nothing spectacular. We did have a good time though with plenty of sledging between the three boats.. On the Tuesday arvo I decided to launch my boat into the esk river and have a crack there. This river runs off the main one is is quite tannin stained... We decided to head down stream to meet up with the others.. Man I tell ya it has some damn shallow parts with us all getting out to push over mud flats at times and getting freaked out by big stingrays shooting off inchs from our feet... It made for some funny moments.. After fishing in the river for a while my two companions hitched a lift back with the others and I decided to keep fishing and making my way back up river to the car. I as flicking a tt swicthblade around near the mouth of the esk when it got wacked what I thought was an ok flattie. It started off with some head shakes then started to head towards te boat. It quickly made some strong runs and big head shakes and I was thinking now it's proably a PB flathead. I fought it for a good five minutes slowly bringing it to the boat.. Waiting to see that big shovel sized head... Much to my dissapointment I landed this massive catfish.... I only had a measure stick and I figured it was between 60 - 65 cm and it weighed a ton as it was super fat.. Anyway I have submitted it as a possible record... Even though it's a cattie... A record is a record!!! Even though the fishing wasn't that great we still had a damn good time

I agree with Pete. I own a 2500 Stradic and it has never let me down.. I have caught big flathead and even rat kings with this reel and it hasn't skipped a beat. They are that reliable I bought one in a 4000 size for my bigger rod. I suppose it depends on how much fishing u are planning on doing.. If doing alot get the Stradic.. Hope this helps.. Sam

Thanks for the info slinky. I just ordered the Curado 200E7, should be here soon!! Cant wait. Couldn't justify spending the extra cash on the core... I need a pay rise!!

Hey insomniac, do you mean that you need to be a licensed qualified radio installer to put one in or do you mean a boat license??? I would of thought anyone could put one in, or does it have to be certified like an oven ina house etc...

Good on ya for letting it go mate!!! That would have been a big breeding female for sure. I know the flatties move further up stream in winter and down stream in summer... Big flatties are everywhere the conditions suits them in my opinion!!

Haha thanks mate everyone I've spoken to has nothing bad to say about the curado.. Any one have any info on the core though??

Hey raiders in the market for a good baitcaster to match to a tcurve for barra. I know how tough/reliable the curado is but haven't heard anything about the core. Just wondering if anyone has one and if it's worth paying the extra cash...

Fellow raiders, a group of mates and I are heading to sandon (near brooms head) for a few days of fishing soon but we have never fished it. I've heard rumors that there is a reef only a few hundred meters offshore that holds snapper and cobia.. Not sure how true this is but we defiantly want to give it a go!! I can't seem to find much info on the net about sandon... It seems like it is still fairly secrete... Can anyone help us out with general areas to fish?? River or offshore is appreciated.. Thanks in advance

I'm curious about these knots.... I've never heard of them before now!! Are these knots only for heavy lines?? ie over 80lb braid and real heavy mono? Can they be tied in lighter line?? I tie a slim beauty in my lighter lines. ( bream bass gear etc) And a Bimini twist to an Albright in my heavier stuff. (30lb braid and 60lb mono for jewies etc) that is the heaviest I fish.. Should I learn these other knots???

Mate I use vanish fluro for all my leaders, it hasn't let me down once. I tie an albright knot to join my fluro to the braid and a blood knot or a loop knot to my jig head or hardbody lure. I have been using another knot in my lighter rods.(bream stick with 4lb braid, 4lb leader) it's called a slim beauty knot and helps with casting. Its pretty good to. Ohh and if ur wondering why you need leader its to give you that bit of shock absorbtion that you need cos braid has no strech!! Happy fishing!!

I bit the bullet and ordered some today. I was thinking of that new sufix 832 super braid. But went with the sunline... Funny you so about it being limp... My mate kept cursing as it took him about 10 gos to tie an Albright with a slight breeze around us. While I had it completed eighths fins in one go. Hopefully I don't have the same problem as he did!!

Oh and I forgot to ask what does PE stand for when talkin about line??? Thanks again

Fellow raiders... I was fishing wit a mate on the weekend and we were flicking plastics around. I have 4lb fins and he was using 8lb sunline I think.. It was a mostly yellow packet had PE written on the front and was a fluro green/yellow in colour. Now we compared lines and his was thinner and felt smoother than mine.. It also casts alot better than mine did!! I've has the fins for about a year now so was thinking of an upgrade. What braid would be the best to get?? Should I stay with 4lb or would a jump up to 6 or 8lb be better??Keep in mind that it will go on a 2500 reel and is used mainly for flicking plastics and small vibes/hard bodies for mainly flatties and some bream fishing. Not worried about price as its a birthday pressie to myself!! All your wisdom is appreciated!!

Whoops hit send..... Nice big head shakes and a good solid run... I'm thinking nice Jew while me mate is blowing up that it wasn't his rod.. After a short fight it comes to the surface quite easily. Now I'm not sure. Then in my headlamp I see a dirty shark roughly 3ft long!! Couldn't believe it. Nearly got it in the boat for a photo but chewed through the leader.. Anyway sums up a slow night so headed back to the ramp at west ballina near the ferry to find that some lowlife had smashed my passenger window and gone through my car......they took all of about 3dollars in silver coins out of a little storage spot, an old wallet with a few credit cards and my Medicare card.. The idiots didn't even take my Penn live liner matched to my uglystick platinum and a video camera on the back seat.... Had a look around and found some of my paper work scattered in a nearby park... There was an old ute in the same parking area and I ha a look to see of it had been done.. He had left his glove box open for all to see wit nothing in it... Smart move... Just a heads up to other ballina fisherman. It's been happenin a bit over the west ballina side. The only safe spot would be near the old sand ramp at the back of the slides.... At least the cop shop is next door there.... I hate thieves...

Hey guys went out wit a mate on the ballina river yesterday about 2pm. Weather was perfect with the big high tide near 1030pm. Flicked plastics around inside the porpuse wall for a few decent flatty.. All released... Found a nice little bay and caught some poddy mullet for the Jews later on. The tide was racing in to quick so we tied up to the wharf out the front off the old ramada and went and got a feed of chicken mania.... Their chips and gravy are to die for!!!!! Anyway back in the boat and drifted the bream hole up river past the cop shop and the RSL....nothin not even a hit... Anchored up in a good spot near the RSL and sent out some weighted liveys waiting for the tide to slow down. Eventually high tide came. Plenty of surface activity.. Herring etc.. But no Jews.. Not even a decent bream on blue pillie cubes.. A couple of dolphins did turn up and I have always believed that they scare away all the fish!!! Anyway tide started to rip back out and getting ready to leave when one of the liveys in hd holder went off... Picked upthe rod and set the hooks... Nice

Fixed the bogged problem..... One little plastic shim thingy inside the reel that the worm gear sits in. Had it in back the front. It's interesting how one little part can affect the whole reel

So after seeking some advice off slinkymalinky I decided to have a go at a strip down and clean on my little sustain. First of all this took my from 930am until 1.15pm!!! Surly it will get quicker but it was my first strip down. This was the starting point. I got myself all set up ready to go. I had already done the drag on a previous day so no need for that. I started with the line roller.... What a pain that was i couldnt remember what order it went together in after I cleaned it with the shellite!!! It took me a good ten minutes before i got the idea of having a look at stradic... Problem solved.... Next I removed the spool spacers and bearings. Gave them a clean also. Off came the side plate and then I undid the nut holding the spool on. The spool just slips straight off. There was no lip from the body holding it in place. I then cleaned the side plate and the bearing and the handle gear I removed the roller clutch assembly then removed the locating pins plate from the rear of the reel and removed the pins. I slid out the worm shaft and then the pinion gear from the front at this stage was able to remove the main shaft by spinning it 180 degrees and sliding it off from the rear. I took everything else off that could be removed and cleaned it I cleaned everything in shellite and started to piece it all back together. I have a feeling I think I may have over greased it...see pick.... As now when I turn the handle it is still smooth but feels like it is slightly bogged. Also when I spin the handle fast and let go it does about two revolutions compared to about 4-5 from my Stradic. Another thing I'm not sure if it is correct is the spacer that sits in side the roller clutch assembly is the correct way up. It fits both ways but one end is smaller, light a step down in size, and I'm not sure which end is which. I have it with the large end inside the clutch assembly as it looks like it fits better. Every thing was covered in grease except for the bearings which all got oiled. I had the main shaft bearing greased but changed it to oil as I thought this was the reason why it felt bogged. Please feel free to offer advice on things I may have done wrong. Especially the over greasing. I hope this is the reason why the reel feels bogged. Sam.

Yeah the smoother drag is what I was after. I can still wind it up a little more than standard but I dont make it to extreme.. Kind of defeats the purpose I think.

Mat I use owners now after a few years not fishing due to work... They are great hooks and haven't let me down once.... I must say though if using circle hooks......don't strike!!!!! It's so hard not to do but the fish will hook itself... Trust me.. Good luck!!

I guess it depends on how you want to play the fish... I have a Stradic 4000 loaded with 20lb braid but I've upped the anty with carbontex drag washers. I use a shimano raider 4-7 kilo stick and can throw 6inch plastics all day. I've caught 70cm plus kings but it was in openish water and they were able to run a little... Maybe around the bouys you would need something bigger... I like fighting the fish and it works for me... I think the combo cost me bout 350 or so after the drag upgrade... Good luck!!!!

Tuffy, Haha I should have made myself more clear!! 17$ is more than reasonable!! But I like camping without all those Luxery items. Just my boat, swag, camp fire and esky is all I need. I like ruffing it. That's why I was asking about the beaches that are/aren't signposted. I'm sure I can stay on beaches dont say I can't!!

Hey raiders, Where can you legally camp on the lower hawkesbury, down river from Brooklyn bridge,??? I've been told you can camp on any beach that isn't sign posted as no camping, But being a national park I'm not sure.. I know there is a proper camping ground at Patonga but Im a tight ar$e and don't want to pay any camping fees!!! Plus being at a beach that only can be accessed by boat would mean I might have the beach to myself. If there arent any spots down river of the bridge, where are there spots up river?? Cheers guys