zmk1962

Hey Raiders With the Thursday forecast being for very calm conditions, it was too good an opportunity to pass up for a trip out to the shelf (Browns Mountain) for some deep dropping activity. So I reached out to a few Fishraiders and got a positive from Dieter @61 crusher and Bob @Pickles. With crew set and conditions holding through the week, the excitement was building especially after the success of the previous trip to Browns with Sam @GoingFishing Well Thursday finally came around. We hit Ermington ramp at 630am dead on time. Our trailer was the 3rd in the carpark and Mr Asia Atlas was just finishing his morning swim. After an easy launch we raced out to the heads. There was still some debris in Paramatta river, but it was simple to spot and avoid in the morning light. The trip out was one of the quickest I've had, pretty much sitting on or above 55kmh, but I wasn't quite sure if we'd missed a turn for Browns coz the place we ended up at really looked like a pond - the "Pacific Pond". There were another 10 boats floating around so I concluded we were there. I said it was calm - didn't I. We stopped about 1.5km out, set up the electrics, had a quick lesson on how to operate them, marked our drift and direction.... and then..... we were there ... dropping on the mark that produced the big blue eye last trip. Caught bottom on both drops, 2 sinkers, 1 rig, 400m of braid, flashing light gizmo gone ... hahaha that's fishing. Re-spooled fresh line onto the reel (I had remembered to bring some this trip), re-rigged, zoomed back to the mark and we were dropping baits back down. At 200m depth both rods shake, lines go slack, another 2 sinkers gone. WTF. Sharks again !!! But we are Fishraiders and we persevere - someone once even said we were legends 🤣. Anyway, re-rig, re sinker, re bait and down they go. So by 1pm the tally was up to 8 sinkers for 1 hooked mako and one gaffed and released green eye 7 gill shark. @Pickles being the star fisherman. https://www.sharksider.com/sharpnose-sevengill-shark/ Here's a short video of the "action" of the day ! Well with no cod or gems to be seen and no other boat showing any action we decided to cut our losses and raced to sandy grounds off Collaroy for a total of 4 keeper flathead. At least we had a feed. Fishraiders rule 🤙 Despite the scarce fish, I had an absolutely fantastic day, I think we solved most of the world's problems and listened to some great blues - Bob and Dieter - you are great company and awesome human beings. I look forward to the next sesh ! Cheers Zoran PS - For those wanting stats at Browns: Current is running S - N at 1.4kmh. Water temp 20.4C. We flew through 12mile at 64kmh and there was not a boat to be seen going out and coming back!

Top post and catch Bob. BTW do you spend much time on terra firma? 🤣 See you in a few hours. cheers Zoran

Just trying to see if there’s one closer or more accessible. I’ve used the one on Windsor rd previously. Cheers Z

Hey Frank. Which weigh bridge do you use? cheers Zoran

Nice catch from the correct side of the boat. Hope the knees better. cheers Zoran

As a guitarist ..... a special commemoration: https://www.facebook.com/abcinbrisbane/videos/the-last-post-played-on-electric-guitar/2940050962898499/

Thank Sam @GoingFishinghe was the source !

We used several different types on the day. Berkley Powerbait 10cm Minnow Chartreuse shad Berkley Powerbait 12.5cm Bubble Shiner Pearl White (thats the grub looking one you see in the photo) Berkley Powerbait 12.5cm Bubble Shiner Pearl Ayu The pink and lumo squid looking things in the first two photos are jigs that I make up my self. Check this post: Cheers Zoran

Put it this way. Would a 5hp petrol outboard work? Yes. A 55lb thrust electric is around 4hp from memory. cheers Z

Yes it would work for sure.

Frank your a legend. That’s not work - that’s true craftsmanship! All the best with the project and especially your health. Cheers Zoran

Well done Pickles - the flatties are definitely firing! cheers Zoran

Parsley Bay. George St Brooklyn. cheers Z

Hi Dave... what was the question??

Absolutely fabulous being out fishing with family and to catch such quality fish to boot ! Will the jew end up on the wall of fame? .... is there any room left ! Cheers Z

Hey mate... Are you targeting them in the estuary or offshore? Offshore flatties are probs the most consistent catch you can find.... which is awesome because they are good on the chew too. I've written up a few tips on locations, and methods previously - have a search for drift and drop, or bottom bashing sinker jig. Re cooking, If we want to keep it simple a dusting of salt/pepper/flour and a quick fry in olive oil with a clove of garlic, chippies and a fresh garden salad is hard to beat. You may want to check out the kitchen forum for other recipes ... or if you are stuck KC ( @kingie chaser ) can set you straight 🤙 Hahaha ... cheeky bugger Sam. But I will say please recall a previous trip report where it was 17 to 3 in my favour as I remember it. Also, I am happy to report I landed the 2 biggest fish of the day. But as always it depends which side of the boat you fish. Plastic !!! ... double cheeky. You know that can cause reactions among members. Some are allergic to plastic. This is the second trip since the floods and all fish were caught around 50m. The first just over 2 weeks ago (april 3), there were only pickers at 40m and 50m ... we worked out way to 60m to catch 6 flatties.. and went as afar as Texas reef looking for action. Eventually landing a single mowie keeper and a jacket. Mind you it was a dead flat and zero wind calm day offshore - we hit speeds over 60kmh. But there was a LOT of debris in the Hawkesbury and even some offshore - so you had to keep a sharp lookout. We dodged a whole tree trunk about 20km off Terrigal only because there was a bird standing at full height on it - a real life isolated danger mark !!!!! Thanks Pickles ... maybe we'll meet up on the water over the flattie gounds ... just look for the red and white boat where the husband is unhooking and dispatching the fish, while the wife is baiting and casting the spare rod 🙄. Thanks Rebel, it was only a short break! Thanks Yowie. I swear I had no idea cheeky Sam was going to mention plastic. How rude of him. Also, sorry about mentioning the mowie ... but I am truly grateful for everything the sea provides - plus it just tasted so good I had to mention it. Thanks mate. Well I hope we have some left for us ... so far some have gone to the neighbours, some to family, some to a fishing buddy who couldn't make the trip ! Maybe I should start enforcing @Brendan Monks's saying - "you gotta do the miles to get the smiles" ... as captain's rule #1. But then again, it's great to share your luck for so many reasons. Couldn't agree more Deiter money well spent on the ramp. Hahaha seabreaze - Yes it's a nice time in life when you can let seabreeze set the agenda and also have lady luck come along. PS - please read above re plastics - I can feel and allergic reaction coming on. Cheers Zoran

Hey Wazza, great report and it was just wonderful to bump into you two fella's out on the water in MAKO ! ... You are an awesome buddy and just a rockstar for everything you've done for Gil ... tight lines buddy. Cheers Zoran

G'day Raiders, First post in a while. With the school holidays over implying reduced ramp traffic, and weather conditions forecasting a great day, Maria and I decided to hit our favourite flattie grounds off Barrenjoey. At the ramp at 645am. Found a guy power washing the slippery slime off the ramp taking up 2 lanes at a time (nice to see our fishing licence revenue being put to good use). Not a big issue - there were just a few boats launching and we all got out pretty smoothly. We were at the grounds rigged and in the water by 730am ....started fishing with half pillies and SPs ... and bagged out on flatties by 12.15pm with a good sized rock cod thrown in. Flatties were all solid model 45-60cm. Well fed and plump. Here's a few pictures: PS. Maria out-fished me good and proper. PPS. I caught a 60cm barracouta which was quickly dispatched and filleted into strip baits. Most of the flatties came in on the couta fillets once we started using them, but the bigger models were more consistent on the SPs. PPS. Back at the ramp - power washing was complete and what a difference - no slime no slip - top job. Cheers Zoran

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery Donna and Cruz... stay positive you’ve got this ! Sick parade : plagued by a frozen shoulder for past 12months but getting better now. Cheers Zoran

Top stuff @seasponge.... this is very much what I do. My idea's may well have come from reading the same literature. I predominantly fish for food ... sport fishing only happens after we have our feed in the esky ... in that vein I have been advocating no fresh water contact with salt water fish for years. The taste and preservation qualities are just so much better. I have posted about my set up several years ago. The ice actually sits under the container that holds the cold saltwater. Cheers Zoran

I too am not a fan of lock out zones. @Rob81 you are thinking exactly along the lines that I am. But I feel "conditional" signs while providing very valuable information will out of necessity be very verbose. Personally I think the verbose signs in many languages rarely get read - especially in the heat of the moment when someone doesn't want to miss out on their spot on the ledge. I think the warning signs should bold and confronting ... make people pause and think, and perhaps read the more detailed signs. I was thinking something like this: If you run out of years, print a sign for the next three years and attach next to it. Cheers Zoran

Oh-Karen...I mean, Oh-Steve...I mean Steve-O ... or is that Oh !!!!! I sense you are carrying some baggage and I am sorry for that. If this was meant for me ... then I'd like to point out you know nothing about me otherwise you would not be making such statements. Infact, it is inaccurate, insulting and polarizing comments like yours that stop intelligent debate and undermine the democracy that we have. So until you are ready to have a fact based discussion without the insults and unwarranted extrapolations please don't come back. Cheers Zoran

Yes... I have provided that link in my original post above ... just under the picture ... that's what I have used to lodge my original position with the MPs. Now waiting for their response to see if it requires a further submission of considerations. Cheers Zoran

Hi Waza, yes I read your comprehensive submission at the time and was one of the first to give it a like. I have also just re-read it and couldn't agree more that there are many parts that could just be re-used in a submission regarding the PEP. Thanks Rebel. That's why when I contacted my MP's I asked them to declare their position. If enough folks do this we'd be able to form a clear picture of for and against. Cheers Zoran

I can't accept one failure as the reason to do nothing... if we do that we might as well scuttle our boats, slash our wrists and bring it all to an end. If you follow the stockmarket, the recent events around Gamestop show that the many... correctly united... can smash the $$$$$$$$ agenda. Governments are taking notice of this trust me. As an individual, you have to believe in the cause (the why) and actually get up and do something as an individual ... the sum of many individuals is unstoppable. There is a great movie - The Power of One. Change starts with each an every one of us. That's awesome Luke ... thanks so much taking action and for sharing. We now need every MP - state and federal - to get the message, that we actually give a F__k as to what happens in our back yard. Cheers Zoran