fishingrod

Netic is on the right track above. Just use any of the commonly available "bait jigs". I put a very small piece of squid on the hooks as well to help. Squid is tough and you can normally get a few fish b4 needing to re-bait. I just anchor up in a known livie area, burley with 2 pieces of bread and a couple of frozen pilchards in the burley bucket. If its a bit slow .... use a bit more burley every 5 mins or so. I can normally get 10-30pcs live Yellow Tail in 1/4 - 1 hr Everyone has their own technique. This works for me in in Broken Bay cheers Rod

How did you go ? What did they do to it............. Warranty / no questions asked i assume. cheers

Well Ive done a few trips now since setting the drags. Landed a few fish up to 73cm....... and ive been smoked by bigger fish on 24kg mono. I was fishing on my own. I think the fish got a head start as Namesay said. I had a smaller job on another rod distracting me. Had to reach across to the rod in the rod holder as the was line heading for NZ... hit the preset strike drag (about 12kg) on found it was still swimming fast... and then reached across about 15 sec later to give it max drag (about 16kg) .... the spool was still rotating . Then i got reefed about 20 sec after that. Grr Grrr. Moral of the story is maybe only use one line when fishing one-up ?

Yes, a larger diameter will solve the problem. But it means bigger holes etc in the boat. Its a new rig, so the dealer should sort it out (touch wood) Rob: i have PM'ed you some valves for the inlet if thats the path that is chosen. Reflecting on my comment about the water draining out when stationary, if the hose was re-routed so it passed higher than the outlet, that would stop that. No one way/non return valve needed. Just simple physics. cheers Rod

Re the overflow not coping. Ive got similar size hoses on my tank (3/4" inlet and 1 1/4"outlet yours look) and dont have a problem with overflow, even at speed. You might need to put a tap to restrict the incoming flow. This way you can also stop it totally for the the days your not fishing (if any!) to avoid having the excess weight on board. How does it cope when your are stationary with just the pump running? It should be ok then? Re the last few litres draining out. Is there a bung or plug in the bottom of the tank to drain it after use? You might be able to get the dealer to sort it out at your 1st service. Its a $4 part and 5 mins labour for them. Saves you drilling the nylon tank if your worried about stuffing it up. With that set up, Ive always been interested to know if the water will drain out of the tank when your stationary with the pump off. A one way/non return valve (say $15-$25) would fix that if that becomes a problem. cheers ....hope you go well with it. Rod

Dropshot I just sent you a PM about Nelson Bay ramps thanks .... Rod

I certainly dont think anything less of Frantic. But there is no point me offering advice about a spot 5 miles out when he is 20 miles out. Being a Rescue Boat Skipper ... the amount of times ive been given bum directions is not funny. Luckily no lives lost at the time. All taken in good spirit. cheers Rod

I think that is enough to be called wide. My mate said its a long way to swim last time I hinted i wanted to go out there. I read on (another?) forum that someone got a couple of them Marlin fish looking things ...... 40-60kg ..... about that distance off Broken Bay in the last 2 weeks EDIT ...just about to PM u the link cheers

Id be a bit suss taking a boat out wide if its a Maiden Trip after the reno's. But thats not my decision. What the definition of wide ? Only reason i ask is that I looked at some "wide" marks on the net and they were (say) 5 miles east of Barrenjoey, but only 2-3 miles SE of Cape 3points / McMasters Beach. So i dont know what is considered wide. Might make a interesting debate ! The last 2 Saturdays I have fished from Terrigal to Narrabean (1 - 3 miles out) and seen low-mid 20's to high 22's. Out wider it would be a diff temp. cheers Rod

My Allison hase a factory fitted (moulded into hull) baittank just in front of the engine well in between the lift out rear 1/4 seats. I normally only fish 2up. Cant say the weight really effects the trim. I have a single battery and a 40kg Aux motor at the back. Its prob 65-80 litres oval shaped. 70cm long X 35cm deep x 35cm wide roughly? On Australia Day we had about 28 yakkas (10-17cm) in there. We only used 8pcs (slow day) so had 20 swimming around for about 5 hours with no deaths. All released healthy back to where they were caught on the way home. Ive got a 500gph pump and a scoop to use on move. Had the pump going all day due to the large number of fish. With only 10-15 Yakkas i turn it on and off every 10mins or so when i remember. My inlet and overflows are at the top on opposite sides. It was already plumbed when i bought the boat second hand. cheers Rod

I think i saw him on the water Aust Day at West Head getting bait. Same name on the side, and same type of boat. Hes got an electirc anchor winch ...... and i saw at least 10-12 meters of 6mm chain go out. Im not sure how much more chain hes got hiding in there. Rod

I wouldnt think about going near ATB for at least 1-2 days I overlook the National Park and can just about see the Kalkari visitors centre from place. These photos (from my back yard) are both looking at the ridge top that the road runs along from the National Park Pay Booth at Mt Colah. You may reckonise the Power Line Staunchion. Where the 80K zone goes to 60km Thats a chopper water bombing

Guess what ? I just saw a Gummy ! Thanks gio .... Ive got my favourites list on the left side of the screen and lost about 3cm of the window. cheers Rod

I went out yesterday, went past all those boats there too ....just after 5am. Is that what they call the middle ground? As far as i know its normally a drifting ground on sand & gravel. We saw water just over 20 deg around Lion Isand. then headed further down the coast towards Collaroy and saw 16.5 deg. Stopped at West Reef on the way home and it was about 18.5 Deg C. Also heard the beach/surf report and the DJ said the water was freezing around Terrigal/Avoca, but didnt say what temperature it was. cheers Rod

Guys Thats prob the (soapy) Jewfish that foreverfishing refered top at the bottom of his 1st post. Its def not a gummy ! Rod

Id strongly suggest a marine or 4x4 battery. They withstand pounding and vibration better. A lot of people get away with car batteries and never have problem though. With careful treatment (ie not letting them go flat and using the boat regularly) I got 8 years out of a Besco Marine Master and 6 years out of a Century Marine Pro 600. I only kept them that long as I was happy having one older battery on board, as my second battery was a fair bit newer and the chance of both dying on the same day would be pretty small in my opinion. A number of people like the Century Marine Pros on other forums. **** has the Exide Extreme 4x4 batteries in the N70something size that i am using 2 of at the moment on my 115hp. They are about $165-170 and if you are patient for the 15 or 25% of all auto products they are a good buy. I had another 2 of them in my Pajero for 4 years and never had a problem. Im not expert with the part numbers, but just check the terminal configuration as the Z or X on the end means the posts are on opposite sides or ends. If you have neat looms the cables may not reach !!! Most people suggest the biggest size you can get. Theres lots of different technologies availailable now. AGM is meant to be good but very dear. Calcium is only a bit more than the traditional lead acid and a new trend as well. If you are running electric motors or doing a lot of overnighting or running a fridge/DVD you might need to think about a dedicated deep cycle battery for your electronics. But you only mentioned the 115hp. cheers Rod

Ive done a couple of hundred hours in a UB 670 first with a 80hp 4 stroke, then a 115hp 4 stroke (yes, its over the manufacturers spec) I dont want to really risk comparing it to the 520 though. They are good boats for what they are. The ride is pretty reasonable. The raincoat comment above is very true. The self draining deck in ours would drain with forward motion (as stated in a previous post) We had it filled nearly up to the gunnels a couple of times. Most "Southwind" branded boats would have been made up near Gosford, NSW. They were associated with Yamaha and I think the boat manufacturing business went belly up. A number of the staff purchased the moulds (or whatever) and then opened up "Southern Star" boats. I read recently on another forum that Southern Star is being/been sold or in trouble at the moment.

Im not really in favour of the 2 pumps idea, but if your trying to work with the existing underfloor box you dont really have much choice. Try and keep the hoses a similar length and run them at similar heights to make sure you get a balanced flow. I dont think you could use a transom scoop while underway with this arrangement as you have little control of the input and output speed. Even with and adjustable valve it might get fiddley. You could however have a float switch near the top of the tank so the pump-out pump only runs until the water drops to a certain level then goes off. If you restrict to the flow from the scoop underway to a slow to moderate pace then the pump-out will be able to keep up. Even a small amount of fresh water coming in underway will keep the bait happier. EDIT: maybe a 500 on the pump out (with a float switch) and a 360 on the pump in might work. Then you can be pretty sure you will never under or over fill the tank ? Before you go hooking it up, it might be an idea to go out and fill the underfloor box up with water next trip to see how it handles the weight and test how practicle it is. Do a dry run, incase you already havent. I run a 500gph, and then only run it 10mins on and 10 mins off sort-of-thing. Just when ever i remember to hit the switch. I think your 360 will be fine. 800 might be too turbulant + extra drain on the battery as you are running 2 pumps. Rod

Ive done it. But only if the fish that is hooked looks undersize (incase you loose it and miss out on dinner) Its ok if you have at least 2 people on board and then only throw one other line in. Nothing worse than a tripple hook up. I normally keep the "hooked" fish just below the boat so it cant swin far enough away to cause much of a tangle. Rod

Im using Black Magic "Tough" leader/trace material. Its a white, almost transparent pearl colour. Thats my non technical description.

I only fish with regular mono as my main line (10-24kg) Ive been using 50-80lb mono as the leader material for Kings. Fishing mainly with live yellowtail and frozen squid. My rig is just a straight forward running bean sinker to a swivel, then I make the leader as long as i can, but short enough to put the hook on the bottom guide just above the reel. So typically 50-80cm depening on what rod. You could loop the hook thru the bottom guide and then back up towards the top of the rod for extra length ? Anyway, im definatly no Pro, but it works for me. I been getting avg 8-10 Kings each trip, with just under half being keepers 60-75cm. Rod

Ive got 3/4" hose running up from the scoop. And a 1 1/4" drain. It drains fine. I guess it all depends on what diameter the scoop tube is too. Or if your boat is capable of 40 knots + !

Thanks guys. I bought myself a set of Shimano 22kg spring scales on the weekend. (about $40) It was very interesting. As namesay predicted I was well and truely under estimating my settings. 50% of line capacity is a heck of a lot of drag ! Ive set them for 60% line capacity on max drag. This makes the preset stopper about 30-40%. I dont remember the exact figures now. This was set with the scale attached to the balcony railing, taking a few steps back and loading the rod up with a curve. I havent been for a fish yet. So will be trail and error the next few trips. Just need something 70cm plus to try them out on ! I think with 60% on max i can safely say I wont snap the line (using normal mono) as long as my knots hold up ? Rod

Ive got the same set up that Jon jjsydney describes. The 2 major chain marine chandlerys in Sydney sell a stainless transom bracket with the angled scoop arrangement. They are about $40. Im using a Rule 500gph pump. The pump sits right on top of the scoop and while on the plane the water just forces its way thru the pump impellor and lets enough water thru to keep the bait alive. There is no need to switch the pump on while on the plane. I never thought it would work, but it does It was on the boat when i got it. Yakkas are normally pretty hardy and keep pretty well.. People tell me squid are hard to keep alive. Ive go no experience with Slimies though.

The trolling rods you are refering to with the roller tips generally cannot be turned upside down for a egg beater. The roller normally only works on one side. Yes and No ! I asked this question on another forum the other day. Im my opinion the best thing to do is put the package together and load it up (pull on the line) and see how the line looks going thru the guides. A "good" rod (maybe over $100-150) should have a back bone, meaning its designed to bend properly in one direction. These would not suit being flipped upside down. A overhead rod will nornmally have a narrow'ish bottom guide (closest to the reel) to help the line go onto the drum. The equalivent eggbeater rod will have a larger bottom guide to allow for the larger diameter rotation of the bail arm. This also gives less resistance when casting. A overhead rod may have more guides near the tip. They are needed to stop the line rubbing againt the rod when it is bent. Obviously you dont want a rod with the baitcaster style trigger sticking up in the air. Would look stupid. Different rods have different stiffness. You dont want a ligght-medium action rod to be trolling large skirts as it would be bending a fair bit ! Stiffer rods (heavier action) gave you more control over the fish in a fight. But are less forgiving as they do not absorb much shock and you may get bust offs, particually if using light line on big fish. Different length rods also suit different jobs. Longer rods for beach and rock fishing casting. Shorter rods on a boat as anything else simply gets in the way ! Theres my non technical description Hope it helps somewhat. cheers Rod