zmk1962

Perhaps 🤔 this post needs a subject name change - Which raider is the most competitive…? Enjoy Z 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yup … I guess if you dangle enough hooks long enough something is bound to run into them 🤣

Nicely done Dave. I had a trip planned for yesterday but canned it - just didn’t want to face all the flotsam in the rivers. Hey, maybe the fish jumped on your hooks - they didn’t want to be in the brown muck either 🤣. cheers Zoran

I’m with Noel- if it passes a thorough mechanical check (compression, charging system, oil pump, fuel delivery etc) it should be ok. I ran with a 2st Saltwater EFI Merc for over 21yrs. What prompted me to eventually part with a fully functional motor - concern over availability of parts. If you have the model number ring a few suppliers and check on the availability of the annual service parts - impellers, seals, fuel pumps, poppet valves etc. You can also source from overseas but then you have downtime while you wait. If the regular parts check out ok, then consider sourcing a more critical item eg ECU, high pressure fuel pump and check availability of those. In my case I had one failure with the motor in 21yrs - and needed to replace the flywheel- my mechanic found one - the last one in country $$. There were no Merc ECUs - although one company in US sold their own branded ECUs tuned for racing for pretty $$$$. That was my call to action on a new motor - if there was another critical failure the motor was junk or parts - worth much less then if I sold it while still working. So if you like the hull, consider the 115 as an interim motor even if it checks out - and factor in your ownership budget an engine replacement in near future. cheers Zoran

This item is no longer available… gone to a new home. Cheers Z

Do you rent Swordie out Donna?

Nice write up Mike. You gave it a good shot. Some fishing days are like that…you just go through the motions - I’m told golf is always like that 🤪. I look forward to seeing some of your creations and your analysis of how they perform. BTW have you submitted the Halco Roosta Popper as a FR record? … it’s a worthy catch on rod and reel. The approval might take some time though - I’m still hopeful my mega SP caught at Discount Reef gets approved. cheers Zoran

Hi @DrRaymondSnapper fantastic to have someone with your skills on board ... please feel free to pitch in on other stingy topics ... like what's the best recommendation re flathead spikes, rock cod spikes etc. Regarding Blue Bottles and vinegar interesting. I appreciate recommendations change. I mentioned vinegar treatment as that was how I was treated by the Surf Life Savers back in the 80's as a young body boarder with a blue bottle on his back - ouch. Since I did feel relief then, and I have used it subsequently when a crew member who had some wrapped around his fingers I thought I'd do a quick google to see why it was removed. You are correct Hot Water is recommended (so I will now up my thermos of black Tea from the 500ml to the 1L size - just in case)... BUT interestingly vinegar is back on the recommended list ahead of the hot water application. Appreciate if you would have a read of this and give us your considered opinion: https://activehandtherapy.com.au/news/treatment-of-bluebottle-stings/ Many Thanks Zoran

Outstanding result Tarik! ... way to go. There are few experiences in life like hooking up big ... fishing the deep drops ... look forward to the video. Cheers Zoran

Oh dear ... reading this has brought back so many bad memories ... 6yrs ago lost the rear lawn to army worms .... they marched through neighbours property to mine from left to right ... they march in a straight line ... how do I know - we have a pool inbetween and they marched straight into it ... millions didn't make the channel crossing YUK! The ones that went along the sides hit the lawn and kept going - in a straight line. Took ages to eradicate them and regrow the lawn. Then came the curl grubs (strangely they appeared after I had topped up our vege patch with 2 cubic meters of garden mix from F Power). First came the circles on the lawn (crop circles 😱) which I jumped on pretty quickly with the army worm deterrent, but that must have driven them deep because they re-appeard having discovered the golf ball shrubs .... I pull up a dead plant and sure enough 3-4 curl grubs entangled in the roots....they wiped out 30 in the back yard and 18 in the front .. I guess they were a delicacy at $15ea !!! Now and for the past three years I have been waging WW III .... against bronze orange bugs (stink bugs) which have invaded my citrus plants - the lemon, the kaffir lime, the lime, the orange and the mandarin tree have all been attacked. The lemon is totally trashed - I have no idea how it is surviving. These devil spawn bugs have appeared ever since the neighbour behind me planted fast growing "insect resistant" lilly pilly bush things along the entire back fence as a privacy screen. Aaargh. We've had many battles ... which sadly they have won (we lost all our citrus crop last year) ... but this year I am infront thanks to Richgrow Beat-a-Bug and a sprayer I modified to enable me to reach the tree tops and the underside of the foliage (I know spraying is bad ... but there is NO natural defence against these abominations... I have consulted many a specialist). I am down to a few that come out in the morning ... but they are BREEDERS ... so I have to keep at it till the cycle is broken. Cheers and may the force be with you all. Zoran

Yup. Blue bottle tentacles. I keep a small bottle of white vinegar on board. It helps neutralize the stingers. cheers Zoran

I’ve seen many people fishing up from the Spit Bridge and have not heard of any issues. DPI has issued the below advice for Sydney Harbour with warnings for fish west of the Harbour Bridge and general advice for fish east of the bridge which would cover middle harbour I guess … https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-skills/fishing-in-sydney-harbour Are you concerned about anything specific you have heard? Cheers Zoran

That’s fishing I guess…but I bet that first cast felt sooo gooood after the wait! Enjoy and best of luck for the season. cheers Zoran

I guess that's fishing BN ! .... Out of curiosity, did you take the franks in one bite ... or exercise a more cautious technique ? 😁 Cheers Z

I keep thinking of the huge bar cod the lad was trying to show us ... perhaps its cuz! Are you referring to the midship bollard on the boat? I've found that very practical and a huge time saver. Sinker wise yes I'm ready but I still have to top up some braid on Tanacoms and recalibrate the line out meters (see link below) - probably tomorrow afternoon - and then sort out aligning crew calendars to conditions forecast 🤣 ... keep your's updated if your interested ?? https://community.deckee.com/topic/90913-daiwa-tanacom-and-tanacom-bull-line-spooling-and-calibration/

Thanks Bob ... blue eye is certainly up there with the best ... that deep ocean perch was also a treat ... more like lobster. We have to get those calendars aligned buddy. Cheers Z

Thanks Jason ... yup can't complain about that feed and the conditions were to forecast - I also tweaked the Zipwake curves since you were out last - couldn't be happier with the ride now. Whatever the snagged fish was - it was big - it bent that rod, took the rig down (approx 18kg drag) and that was that ... yup frustrating. I loosened the drag off and left slack line several time hoping it would swim away clear but no luck .... aaargh. I also just finished replenishing the sinker stock with the spare lead at home - thank you again !! (we lost 5 on the day - 3 to toads and 2 to snags) ... BUT THAT'S FISHING !!!

Me too.. but just sharing a fact. Maria and I met in our early teens and started fishing together and look where it’s lead us … it’s a dangerously contagious sport. 🤓🤪😜 cheers Zoran 🎣🎣🎣

As I posted In another report … they were out at Browns Mt on Monday and taxed me 3 x 2.5kg sinkers bitten off at the surface while gaffing the blue eyes! They’re everywhere apparently. cheers Zoran

Love it. Of course the host always steps back and lets the guests achieve their goals 😉😉😉 Best wishes for tomorrow’s session BN. cheers Zoran

Crikey. That’s crazy. Also great to keep in the back of the mind clearing weed off hooks etc. Offshore we have a similar issue - sometimes lures go through blue bottles and collect strands of their tentacles - ready to wrap around unsuspecting hands trying to clear the hooks. 🤕 cheers Zoran

… this one …. VERY carefully! 🧐

Sorry to hear of your troubles Ron - hope they are behind you. But what a way to end the drought and what great timing - last bite but just in time for Good Friday 👍 cheers Zoran

Nice rare catch - first I’ve heard of the beach - maybe it followed a vessel in 🤷🏻‍♂️. Regardless sounds like that reel is charmed- hang on to that one. Enjoy the feast. cheers Zoran

Excellent report and achievement @linewetter - congratulations on your fishing achievements and to Derek for the mentorship ... really enjoyable read to boot. Just a word of caution ... bringing your partner into the fishing fold can (...WILL...) have unintended consequences ... a double up of everything 🤷🏻‍♂️ ... Enjoy ! Cheers Zoran