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Scratchie

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Posts posted by Scratchie

    Port Stephens- Heating up!!!

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    7 hours ago, GoingFishing said:

    As always - awesome stuff Jeff !! Sounds like an absolute cracker of a day.

    You are very lucky to live in heaven up there, wish i was fishing right now !

    Thanks Sam. Sure am lucky to live up here! You won’t believe what we caught today 🤣🤣🤣

    • Like 1

    Port Stephens- You won’t believe this one!!

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    G’day raiders, 

    After fishing Tuesday and doing ok. Me and @Rodeohatched a plan to try get out today as the forecast for the next week looks crap and I’m off to Coffs for more kids sport! 
    We got the all clear from our wives and double checked the weather. 
    Forecast: 12-16 knot easterly and 1m swell. 
    My mate wasn’t keen on the wind (me either) but I was going no matter what. 
    Turned up to the ramp with a slight breeze, launched the boat, go around the corner and pretty much blew our hats off! Kept pushing on and steadily exited the heads and made our way to the bait grounds in pitch dark conditions. 
    Found the bait hard to come by and only managed 3 livies as the first light approached. 
    Made the call to head straight up to the island knowing that it was going to be a longer trip than normal and praying the wind didn’t kick up any further. 
    As we approached our mark we could see fish busting up everywhere so I said, drop a livie out and we slow trolled it. Well that lasted 30 seconds and onboard comes a Mack tuna. 
    Finally got to our intended drift and it was on for young and old. I’m on, he’s on, livie screaming, doubles on deck flapping around whilst we fight the live bait rod. Absolute mayhem!!! 
    A few for the esky then reset the drift. Between resetting, we trolled lures and they were getting smashed too! So much fun! 
    Next drift, and my mate goes I’m onto a good snaps here scratch! So I wound up and waited for him to land the fish, didn’t want the kaos of the last drift. So he plays it out and the fish went from good snaps to, o think it’s a king and the we get sight of it............. the bars don’t lie and it’s a friggen Spanish mackerel on a snapper stick. Whooooooo as the gaff goes in!!! Hi 5’s and a few choice words, then some photos and back into it. Lost another Spanish on the live rod (no wire) then the kings turned up as the sun was now getting higher in the sky! We had enough for a feed and did a little bit more trolling but called it a day and was back at the ramp by 930. 
    What a cracking morning for the both of us and a day we won’t forget in a hurry! 
     

    Thanks for reading, 

    cheers scratchie!!! C081D33A-C971-4B77-B731-B477D016BEB9.thumb.png.0b72e83c995cbfee8b9d4227ec7942ab.png

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    • Like 23

    Port Stephens- Heating up!!!

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    8 hours ago, Berleyguts said:

    Great stuff, Jeff! Were those garfish at Cabbage Tree? I often seem to struggle for slimies in the dark and find them a lot more responsive once that pre-dawn glow starts to appear.

    I think today would have been the pick of the week, weather wise. I’m kicking myself because I’m on holidays and... no... I promised I wouldn’t clutter your threads with reasons why I didn’t go fishing! (Mostly medical issues - getting old I guess! 🤷‍♂️). Maybe Friday... 🤷‍♂️😂 At least I’ve been putting some time into my music... jam night tonight. 🎶🎸🎤😎

    Thanks Baz. 
    Yes mate, the gars were at cabbage tree. Berley, 3 hook sabiki no weight, they love it. 
     

    Port Stephens- Heating up!!!

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    G’day raiders, 

    Headed out this morning early with @Rodeoto beat the expected boat traffic with the sea conditions looking mint. 
    We could see a heap of bait on the sounder but in the dark we couldn’t entice them. We did however manage a heap of garfish as a substitute. 
    Headed straight to the island and a first cast special for scratch, and we had a nice 50cm pannie in the box. Kept drifting but we didn’t see what we were looking for,  so time to move! 
    Well the next spot was red hot and there were fish busting everywhere. I cast out and was on to a thumper snaps. So my mate winds in quickly and bang! He’s on to a nice kingy. So we are doubled up and then the livie screams off! Oh no, what to do? Well, I’m confident that mines an 80+cm snapper, so my mate locks up his king and it gets off! Picks up the live bait rod, gooooone! Then within sight of the boat, the worst feeling on the world.... grinding on the line and pop! 😢😢

    Oh well, it’s all happening so we reset the drift and seriously same result. This time I land a cracking snapper, he gets a decent 70cm+ king and we land a good size mac tuna on the live bait rod. Lol 😝 

    We work the area picking up a few more snapper and a heap of kings and plenty of dustings. In fact, the amount of good fish we’ve lost in the last two trips has been embarrassing. So it was good to get a few on the deck! 
    Packed up around 1030 and took a scenic tour along the beach on the way home! 
     

    Thanks for reading, 

    cheers scratchie!!! 
     

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    • Like 12

    Port Hacking - mixed bag

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    Are you kidding me??? The one fish that has eluded me, my whole fishing career. COBIA! and you probably pulled it on on a hand line too! Grrr 😡 

    Agh, good on you yowie! A different mixed box for sure! 
     

    cheers scratchie!!! 

    • Haha 5

    what weather app?

    in Boating

    Posted

    The Deckee app, I’ve actually been watching it and making observations in real time. Especially when it comes to wind and swell conditions in my area. 
    I have to say it’s been a lot closer in predictions than some of the other weather sites. 
    Combine that with some of its other functionality and its a great app to have! 
     

    You can also find my “Story Marker” on there and see where I am and/or what I’ve been up too! 
    Just type in in the search bar! 
     

    cheers scratchie!!! 

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Boating safety- LifeCell *PLEASE READ*

    in Fishing Chat

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, Berleyguts said:

    Thanks for this post, Jeff. 🙏 I’ve been thinking about getting one since I heard that story. Do you know if anyone in the Bay sells them? I’m struggling to figure out where I can mount it in my boat. My console’s taken up with rod storage and it looks too high to mount on the face of my front or rear casting platform. 🤷‍♂️

    Not sure in the bay Baz, I’ll chase that up! But you can definitely order them from the website I posted! 

    • Like 1

    Port Stephens 6/3/21

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    Rummers, 

    At the moment it’s hard chasing Jew in the bay due to all the fresh water that’s pushing down from the back of the system. The incoming high is probably the best time when it coincides with a low light period. Slimies and yakkas for live bait are the way to go, as that is the bait that is current in the area. You could also try middle island or the Steps at fame cove. Patience is the key with Jew. Spent many hours just sitting there but one scream of a reel can change your day! Next time your in the bay, it will pay to float a livie under a balloon float too, as the longtail have turned up! 
    Hope that helps! 
     

    cheers scratchie!!! 

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    Trailer boat fishing tournament

    in Social Events

    Posted

    12 minutes ago, kingie chaser said:

    Where is this tournament at anyway Scratchie?

    Have to admit tournaments don't really interest me but I'm sure other FR's would be keen.

     

    Besides kind of have my heart set on hitting the snaps or kings around Broughton.

     

    Just wish I had a big enough boat to get there myself.

     

    One day............

    The tournament is held up here every year. It is run by the Shoal Bay fishing club. We’ve entered a few fishraider teams in the past. Just a great excuse to get together for the weekend and go fishing. 

    • Like 2

    Boating safety- LifeCell *PLEASE READ*

    in Fishing Chat

    Posted

    24 minutes ago, Koalaboi said:

    I have recently decided to get back into bushwalking and, being 67, my sons told me that should get a PLB. So I did.

    I wear it on me whenever I go out for a walk.  I recently saw the article below. The sailor was lost overboard in remote waters in the Arafura Sea. His PLB saved his life. 

    Coincidentally, I have  the same PLB. It is quite small, very light and comes with a clip to attach to your life jacket.

    Worth getting IMO.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-24/rescued-sailor-nigel-fox-praised-by-emergency-crews/13184970

    KB

    That’s great KB. Certainly an option. Although these cells are a floatation device for multiple people, hold your epirb and flares. 

    Boating safety- LifeCell *PLEASE READ*

    in Fishing Chat

    Posted

    17 hours ago, Steve-o said:

    If you are separated from the boat, such as it getting swamped or otherwise sunk, these gizmos don't seem like they will help.

    Maybe if you run out of fuel you can open it and launch a flare, but if a bunch of you are thrown from the boat it's not gonna save your life. It's gonna still be in the boat.

    As smobaby said, they have a bracket designed for that very nature of incident. In the event that you are separated from your boat, I hope that your at least wearing a life jacket.  
    You can never plan for every single incident that can happen on the water and going overboard is one of those rare instances. However, the LifeCell will cover you for a lot more situations than most! 

    16 hours ago, Smobaby said:

    The mounting bracket provided wiht the life cell is designed so the cell will float off the bracket when submerged, therefore you could swim over to the floating cell.

    Exactly 👌

    15 hours ago, dunc333 said:

    i reckon maritime would be stoked to see the life cell front and centre when they do a safety check....

    They love them! 

    Boating safety- LifeCell *PLEASE READ*

    in Fishing Chat

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Smobaby said:

    Should be part of the compulsory offshore safety equipment required.  Ordered one as well, cheap insurance. It may save your life.

    Agree! From my understanding, other than a life jacket, you are not required to carry any other floatation device. 🤔

    11 hours ago, Welster said:

    Great post Scratchie.  I have been thinking about this as well and even more so since you rescued those people.     I like the idea of the safety cell and also like the idea of a waist belt life jacket with PLB.   Or maybe a quality jacket over the back of the seat so its quick to grab.

    Lately there hasnt been much risk of the boat even getting wet though!

     

    Thanks mate! And that can often be the problem right there. You haven’t been out for a while, keen to get back on the water. Check all your rods, lures, bait and motors working! Perfect ready to go! But have you checked your safety equipment? 

    6 hours ago, Steve-o said:

    You could carabiner an epirb to your lifejacket.

     

    That’s an idea but probably not practical whilst fishing. 
    On the LifeCell, you can also mount the epirb on the side as well for more room inside! 👌

    1 hour ago, mrsswordfisherman said:

    Perfect and should be compulsory

    Thanks @Scratchie

    Mention fishraider when you order too :)

    I think so too! And definitely mention fishraider when you place an order! 

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