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Kamil, Thanks mate.... $100 for four days worth!! Thats alot of normal ice! Decision made, dry ice is NOT an option. I'll keep saving for my engel fridge. I'll have to be nice to the James, I've tried the frozen bottles aswell. Its OK for a day fishing, but on extended trips after the first day it just doesn't chill the esky adequately. I'm off to the boat show on Monday so I'll be keeping my eye open for a special on 12v fridges. Thanks Guys.

I am sick of spending heaps of $$$$$ on bags and bags of ice when I go away fishing for extended trips. Several times a year I go on extended fishing trips sometimes to remote locations where ice sometimes isn't easy to buy, or you pay a premium for it. It is a headache trying to keep your bait in good condition when relying on ice in an esky for days at a time. I have been considering an Engel 12V fridge but they are very pricey. So I had an thought ... yes dangerous I know. But what about Dry Ice. I have never used it and have had no knowledge about it. Has anyone used it in an esky for recreational purposes??? I have a good quality esky... how long does it last for??? Where do you get it from and how much is it???? Any feed back would be appreciated. Nathan

Mate, there is a Farm & Pet Food wholesaler on Camden Valley Way, Leppington. He has a huge variety of plastic screw top tubs at a very cheap price. Nathan

Great effort, You cant beat fresh whiting fillets cooked in the fry pan with some melted butter!!!! YUM YUM, washed down with some of course. Good to see Port Hacking still produces quality fish. Nathan.

It's a red mowie! One tip though.... They are very good eating as long as you skin them before cooking. The skin is very oily and if left on when cooked it puts a very strong weedy flavour through the fillet. They are mainly herbevores, feeding primarly on weed, cunji and the like. They will however feed on crabs and prawn if offered. I have spent many hours snorkelling around Sydney and they really are prolific, however very hard to catch on a line, so well done! Nathan.

Is this a gee-up or what? You eat sweep?

Good choice Nick. You won't be dissappointed. Very nice unit. Hopefully it will put you onto some good fish soooner then later! Nathan

Pete, Maybe you could get your own day time cooking show!!!! I could see you hamming it up to all those lonely house wifes on Ready Steady Cook. Your killing me with these cooking tips

Andy, I have owned a Seafarer Vega 5.5m since 1993 when I brought it new. I have looked after it like a baby. Having owned a Seafarer and been in a lot of other boats I always find myself comparing the others back to my own Seafarer. They handle second to none. They give you a smooth and dry ride in all conditions. They are finished well and are manufactured here in Australia (QLD) by a reknown company. Other boats I go out in seem to bounce on the water, where as mine neatly slices through it. Others are very unstable at rest. I can have two big blokes fishing out of one side of the boat and the boat seems to hardly roll over. If you do the same in some types of other boats it feels as if you will be swimming for your life at a moments notice. I cannot recommended them highly enough! To give you an idea.....about 12months ago I was in the market to upgrade my boat to something a bit newer/bigger. I keep comparing all the new boats on the market back to what I had, and what the others lacked. I ended up keeping my Seafarer hull and investing in a new Dunbier Trailer and new motor for it. The hull is as good as the day I brought it (it has been immaculately maintained thought). I take my boat out to all the FADs and to the shelf regularly. You ask, Cruisecraft Vs Seafarer? I'll take Seafarer boats everyday of the week! Just my opinion though. Nathan.

Navman in my opinion are over priced and over rated. I have got a Furuno GPS and Sounder. Both are great units and never caused me one second of problems. They aways perform very well when used properly. My sounder before this was a Raymarine and it too was a good unit, but became out dated quickly as technology advances very quickly, as with all electronic equipment. My advice is to spend as much as you can afford today because tomorrow there will be something heaps better on the market. You can't go past Furuno or Raymarine, they both have some great products on the market. Stay away from Navman....thats my thoughts anyhow. Nathan.

Netic, I hear you and share your frustrations. I have 8.5hrs on my new motor and just want to put another 1.5hrs on it so I can get the initial 10hr service done. Do you think the weather will let me out to do that.....not anytime soon. They are predicting 50mm of rain and strong winds winds tomorrow. Thanks for sharing those maps with us. They are great. Nathan

I totally agree with NETIC. I'd be loading it up with 24kg mono.

Welcome to fishraider. Looks like a awesome shop. I could see myself spending hours in there just walking around. Not to mention the $$$$$ that I always seem to spend everytime I walk into such shops. As I tell the wife.... there is always something I need! Nathan.

Thanks Huey. Once again you've given us comprehensive & logical answer. Nathan

This might seem like a very silly question to some.....but I need to know . Why is it NOT recommended to use wingnuts on your boat battery???? I have done so up until recently and had no problems. I used them simply because it makes it easier to disconnect the battery when I want to charge it. I have since learnt that this practice is not recommended. Can anyone enlighten me? P.S Can you keep this quiet. I don't want my wife to find out about this question>>>>> Because she thinks I know everything!! Nathan.

Mate, There is a DVD called "Small Boats - Big Sharks, fishing aboard El Bandito". It is excellent as it shows techniques, gear, rigging baits etc. Have a look for it in your local bait shop. I have seen it on ebay as well for about $10-20. Send WATTO a PM he may stock it in his shop. It is good viewing. The whole DVD is filmed off Wollongong, Sydney & Port Stephens. You won't believe how big some of these sharks are right on our doorstep. Nathan.

Peter, From memory he paid about $12,500 for it. That included: Two tone paint Minn Kota bow mounted electric motor with foot controls twin batteries plumbed live bait tank nav lights anchor/rope 2 life jackets Dunbier skid trailer 30hp 2 stroke Mariner 25 litre fuel tank Two seats with 5 mounting positions .carpeted floor bilge pump all regos I thought it was a pretty good price, but bear in mind that was 12months ago. This price included the additional extrusion that is factory fitted to accept the bow mounted motor. Some models don't come standard with it. It is alot stronger if fitted by STACER when the boat is manufactured. Hope this helps. Nathan

One word for you... AWESOME!

Mate it has a electric Minn Kota mounted on the bow..... but my brother didn't lend it to me. Maybe cause it cost him $2500. I think he doesn't trust me?????

The weather doesn't get any better then that by the look of your photos. Well done, at least you got a feed and it beats the hell out of sitting at home! Nathan.

Apparrently not.....this one has a EVO hull. I even double checked to make sure. Nathan.

I am baby sitting my brothers boat while he is doing some renovations on his house. It's a Stacer Bass Elite 4m with a 30hp Mariner on the back, only 12 months old. I took it out today for a spin on the Georges River. What a great little boat. It has a casting platform up the front and with the EVO hull design it is remarkably stable when standing up there flicking lures around. I was very impressed with its handling for such a little boat.

Good bag there Dave. And I thought we'd seen that last to the dollies too! Well done. Nathan.

If you want to catch some real barra... and I mean 80cm plus! Fly to Darwin and then head to a place called Shady Camp, its about a four hour drive (4WD). It is on the East Alligator River where the salt water meets the fresh water. The fishing there is red hot, big barra, saratoga, thread fin salmon and tarpon. I should mention that this section of the East Alligator River is the most heavily populated area for salt water crocs in Australia. Nearby there is an old abattoirs that has been converted to a fishing retreat which is pretty cheap. I stayed there back in 1994. We went out with a professional charter on the first day to learn the spots. Then the next two days we hired our own boat and fished the area on our own with great results. I have some great photos (not digitals) and can't work out how to post them. This place is highly recommended for chasing barra. When we were there we spoke to guys from all over the world that had travelled there to fish it. I have fished out of Port Hinchinbrook twice and all I can say is that the Barra there are really hit and miss. More miss than hits! In saying that the off shore action out of Port Hinchinbrook to places like Otter and Brittomart Reefs is fanatastic. Very accessible with a boat like yours if you are keen to tow it that far north. Anyhow just a thought. Nathan