inhlanzi

G'day Little Hooker Did you use a Stainless Steel shackle? Make sure the shackle runs along he top of the anchor and not on the bottom. Shackle must be a good fit and is critical to th operation of the anchor The bolt through the chain works better. I have been holding in the swells of the last week at a 3 to 4 to 1 ratio where I normally run at a 2.5 to 1 I only use 2m of light chain. Only time it does not hold is in soft mud in a big tide. Hope this helps cheers inhlanzi

Hey Grant Gees mate that is a shocker! Never realised it was so bad up there. The pics are amazing. Don't know what we can do to help from down here but if you need help give a yell. Hang in there. Cheers inhlanzi

G'day Kilp Get Huey to talk to you about one of these - An Aqualine http://www.aqualineboats.com/index.html I am pretty much in the same boat (or not! ) as you and when I drove one of them I began saving again... My 2c worth cheers inhlanzi

G'day Offtap How big was the swell out wide yesterday? We copped some monsters near Lion Is yesterday cheers inhlanzi

G'day yarraone First question what size do you want to catch? Small to 5kg, Medium to 15kg, Big 15kg plus? Flint and Steel and Juno are excellent spots BUT you must know when and how to fish them. Don't think that just because you fish there you will catch a fish. For example I fished Juno yesterday for 5 hrs hard and with excellent bait and not even a tun of a reel. There were real good jew fishos on either side of me and also - nothing. The spots themselves can be divided up into many "subspots" and they all fish differently. It will take TIME and effort to learn each spot. Fishing for Jew you will catch heaps of eels, sharks, flathead and rays. If you are catching them you are in the right area. As far as rigs go everyone has their own recipe. Part of the fascination of Jew fishing is to find that special rig that works for you. The good Jew fishos I know stick to their rigs and they are mostly one hook, a length of leader, a swivel or two and a sinker. I would suggest experiment with a few and maybe come up with your own. Settle on your method, stick to it and persevere...it will happen. You will fish the same spot many many times and get nothing and then one day it will happen. As far as bait goes - CATCH YOUR OWN FRESH BAIT!!!! Squid, Yakka, Slimey, Tailor, Pike, Mullet, and more. You should spend the time and the effort to catch your own bait. This will teach you how the system works and you will find your own spots. By all means buy a bit to get you started catching the bait fish. I also believe that the rod, reel, rodholder and line and or handline and springer are VERY important. Start with the right gear and you will be streets ahead. If you pm me I can give you the name and number of the bloke at Parsley Bay - be warned $30 per kg for squid! Hope this helps you a bit. I can help you with specific details if i know what you are after. cheers inhlanzi

G'day Raiders Went out mid morning for a fish with a good mate. The wind was blowing NE at 15 plus and made things uncomfortable. Plan was to track down some bait and have a go for a Jewie. Now my mate has been with me many times when I have caught Jewies and not bagged one himself. He is an expert fisho so getting a Hawkesbury Jew is high on his list. Livies were hard to come by and we only managed a few. The run in spot proved to be no good for us so we moved to a run out spot. Set the lines and within a 15 min one of the rod buckles and takes off. The fish went hard but no chance against the big fella. Jewfish cutlets and veggies and cold cold beer for dinner! Hope all the Raiders had a Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring you happiness and good fish. cheers inhlanzi

Hey Andrew Those are two awsome Kingeys. I thought it was you in the first pic but when I saw the hat and the sun cream in the next post and I am pretty sure it is you! Do you remember a few years back around this time when some moron nearly knocked you off the boat ( Les the Director's Grady) with an ice bomb? Hope you are keeping well. cheers inhlanzi

This would be mine A Boston Whaler Conquest

Sabona Zuluboy welcome to paradise Mate where to start... there are hundreds of places to fish with a small tinny. When you get a car you will be able to reach thousands. If you havn't already read the "Articles" ( especially the ones by Ken Alexander ) section in this in this website do so. They are an excellent guide to the fish and methods and places to catch them. They are Hawkesbury based but most of the techniques apply to the harbour. Pick yourself a species and target them. Kings could be an excellent start for you. Make sure you are not undergunned though. Each species seem to have their gurus so track them down on the site and ask them for help. For some strange reason a lot of the techniques and rigs employed in Africa do not work well in this part of the Pacific so try and learn some of the local techniques - quick This site is full of very helpful fishos at all levels and thus don't be shy to share and to ask. The Harbour has got better and better over the last few years. Learn to catch squid and cuttlefish. Learn to catch livies. Learn how to rig them and present them. In a small tinnie be aware of the ferries and big yachts - stay out of their paths. Fish in and amongst the moored yachts and boats. Learn to read the birds. Learn to burley properly. As to the million dollar question which spots? Well within in sight of Manly are many excellent spots. I would say fish the area and learn your own spots. I get a lot of satisfaction finding "new" spots. If you have a sounder it helps but I have caught lots with the sounder off. Pick say four (general areas) spots and fish them at all times of the tide. This way you will learn how the bay works. Make sure you can anchor quickly, quietly and effectively. If you are into trolling watch the birds and over time you will develop a route where you know you will pick up certain species. Time on the water is the best teacher of all. The fish come and go and you will be very surprised at catches you make in certain places. hope this has been of some help cheers inhlanzi

Ceph Have a look at the SARCA anchor http://www.anchorright.com.au - check out the demo I have had mine for three years and have anchored all over the place. Sand, Gravel, Rocks, Kelp and Mud. My boat is 5.3 m. They cost a bit but are really easy to set and retrieve. Gofish has them. Cheers inhlanzi

We had five families round for an early Christmas lunch. Eight cars trashed!!!!!!!! Roofs, bonnets, side mirrors, windscreens.... My car is only a year old now has a very lumpy bumpy roof Spent three and a half hours on the phone trying to get NRMA to answer the phone... Fishing budget gooooone on insurance excesses!!!!!

Sounds like an amazing session. Well done to you all for sticking it out in those crap conditions. cheers inhlanzi

G'day Nic I mainly fish from boats for Jewies and I would strongly recommend a Shimano Baitrunner 6500c and a Wilson 7 foot 8 -15 kg 7ft live fibre Texalium. Both are tough and with proper care will last a long time. I have caught big rays and sharks to 35kg and both have held up very well. I have seen Jews up to 34kg taken on this exact gear. The texies have eight eyes and are very powerfull rods and are made in Australia. I know of two instances where Okumas have broken down on first runs. I learned the hard way and lost some good fish buy using sub standard equipment. I wish I had bought good gear from the start. Speak to Pete or Shaun at Gofish - you will be looking at +-$600.00 rod and reel and braid. For the surf you will need a longer rod - beach Jew fishos can help you there. cheers inhlanzi

Hey Humsey Can't answer the first one. Pickers are a good thing. I am sure the wise old Jew lurkes just behind them and susses the situation and then charges in and smashes the bait. I get much more worried if there are no pickers. cheers inhlanzi

Thanks for the kind words Raiders Some stats for those who asked - Length: 1m 38 cm, Weight: -+20kg, Fight lasted around 15mins (didn't think it was a Jewie at first so I took my time). Hooked at 11h30 on the run in tide. Massive 1st run of about 80 to 100meters and then two smaller ones and a couple of dives at the boat. I was on my own so when it came time to gaff him I really took my time and gaffed him under the chin and hauled him over the transom. I have spent hundreds of hours at the spot I caught it at and seen others catch and loose fish but this was the first Jewie in that spot for me. I am still on cloud nine. Amazing how easy it is to clean the boat and gear after a fish like that. Already packed and ready to go again! The fish will be enjoyed by the old fellows at the War Vets home in Galstone / Dural at their Christmas lunch on Monday. Thanks to the Folks at Windybanks Fish Shop for getting that organised. Thanks again cheers inhlanzi

That is a Goliath Tiger Fish. Fresh water species found up near the middle part of Africa. cheers inhlanzi

G'day Raiders Got up real early to chase the old TEEHJ ( The ever elusive Hawkesbury Jewfish ) He was not so elusive this morning!!! Was lucky enough to pick up this big fellow on the run-in tide this morning on a yakka cut bait. I am a very very happy and satisfied fisherman... A BIG Thank you to those who helped me along this journey - ya know who you are!!! Cheers inhlanzi

Great report and even better fish well done guys! cheers inhlanzi

Yea Red I think you hit the nail on the head mate...location Rat kings are great fun and very tasty!! I have been reading Kelvins latest posts and am drooling! Jews and Kings. I have been thinking about a whole new strategy. I know the fish are there but last years tricks don't seem to be working. I hope to get a chance sometime this week to give it a go. Go hunt the fish as Kelvin says... cheers inhlanzi

Hey Domza Take everything slow, real slow and don't get distracted. Reversing is only a small part you will also need to get a launch routine going. Below is a list of checks I have for launching at a ramp. Some of these items may seem unimportant but I have been done by all of them at some time or another. Make a routine that works for you and don't let others interfere even if they mean well - there can be a stuff up and a miss communication. Develop your own list and launching will become a breeze. 1 Shoes for ramp on 2 Check Boat ramp for holes and end of ramp 3 Winch Chain Off 4 Winch handle out and ready 5 Bung in and Tight 6 Motor Lock Off 7 Check Battery level ie is there sufficient power 8 Undo tie down strap and put in car 9 Fuel Cap On 10 Check Fuel Level 11 Pump Fuel Bulb 12 Check Fuel Line 13 Rod holders in 14 Rods in Holders 15 Power On / unplug trailer lights before going in the water 16 Fenders ready 17 Kids / people out of the way 18 Reverse slowly till back rollers in water 19 Hand Brake on - tight 20 Loosen winch and disengage clicker / ratchet 21 Unhook winch strap clip 22 Push and Lift boat till loose 23 Climb on - clean feet 24 Trim motor down in water 25 Start motor in neutral 26 Reverse slowly and go to jetty 27 Ropes Stern and Bow ready 28 Tie up on Jetty fenders in place 29 Let motor idle a while 30 Park and Lock car 31 Ariels up and On 32 Double check Safety gear hope it helps cheers inhlanzi

G'day KingyKid Juno sucks at the moment. We are getting butterflied fresh slimies back untouched!!! Last big fish I heard of there was the won that Hberry Classic being 18kg cleaned and gilled. There have been about 5 bustoffs that I know of but I think they may be very big rays or sharks. I have only caught rays there inn the last 3 weeks. You will get soapies up near the bridges but you will need fresh squid and be there at the right time in the tide cheers inhlanzi

Good stuff Red - I need one of those days badly! Thats what fishing should be about cheers inhlanzi

Very nice greenback there Humesy - well done cheers inhlanzi

Hey Roberta Sorry to hear about you old fishing buddy passing away. I am sure you will treasure those floats and don't be too sad - remember the good times you had fishing with him. Hopefully time will wash away the sadness. cheers inhlanzi