Ahab

Plenty of jellybean yellowfin caught yesterday. Most seemed to come south of Browns and were in the 5 to 10 kg range. Heard of a quadruple hook up on one boat. A few larger specimens caught from 30 to 50 kg. Even heard of a few dollies and a Marlin raised. We went against to trend and headed north to the tuna hole about 35 miles out from broken bay. It has now been named the non tuna hole. We did manage a small yellowfin on the way back in over the shelf and then a very small Mac tuna. The yellowfin willmake some nice sashimi. Water them went from 16 in broken bay to 19 a few miles out up to 20.5 and then down to 19.5 at the tuna hole. Very sloppy conditions until after lunch. If I was heading out today or tomorrow I would be heading just south of Browns. Cheers Cpt Ahab.

Crusher 87, weather was perfect. Not sure how it is at the moment I think the water is that warm that the seabreeze didn't really get sucked onto the land like it normally does. Hopefully the current has slowed down by the time you get there. The leads to the bar crossing have been covered as no longer reliable. As always you need to pick your day when crossing the bar. We were in a 6.1m Surtees, and it was fine both in and out. Noticed this year that a lot of smaller boats were launching from the creek. FYI the mackerel rigs people were using consisted of a 5/0 hook with a 4 inch wire trace running to a small treble. The mackerel generally bit the back end of the bait so this rig was quite effective for very slow trolling of live baits. The treble just swings free. Plenty of live bait on the bait grounds so you should have a blast. Cheers Cpt Ahab.,

Well in the absence of a response from anyone else I will provide a brief response to my own question. Spotted mackerel are reasonably abundant on the goal grounds and up at grassy head. Up to 7 kg. Best caught on live bait with wire and a stinger hook/ treble free swinging. Wahoo about up to 18 kg. Make sure you have suitable gaff so your hands stay away from toothy bits.6 inch skirted lures in yellow and pink seem to be the go. Jellybean yellowfin off fish rock and kingfish off the headlands. The current is roaring south at about 5 knots and water temp between 25.5 and 27 degrees. Some reports of small black Marlin and sailfish Cheers Cpt Ahab.

We caught some decent cobia off South west rocks some years ago and they were sensational eating. In fact I put them above Spanish mackerel but not as fishy. The kids loved them as well. Cut into cubes, flour salt and pepper and then shallower fried sensational. Cheers Capt Ahab

Hi all, heading up to South west rocks this week end for 3 or 4 days fishing. Targeting pelagics, Marlin, tuna,Spanish mackerel, cobia, dollies etc. on the two previous occasions we have fished live baits off the goal and trolled down to fish rock and back. We have had some success but I was wondering if there were any other locations or tactics we should try? Any info or feedback would be appreciated. If anyone has any marks that would also be helpful. We are in a 6.1 m surtees( plate alloy hardtop) .We would be happy to provide pm feedback if you have a very secret spot!! Cheers Cpt Ahab

Pretty much the same for me. From port jackson, went to the traps north of 12 mile and tried lures, live bait and fresh striped tuna for zero. Tried a bottom bash with livies and got smashed by leatherjeackets. The razor gang cut up 4 rigs before I called it quits.Trolled further to the shelf and found more traps. Same thing. Trolled north and then back in. No current lines, few birds, blue water but only a few striped tuna to show for it. Water temp went from 25 to 26.4 degrees but no clear breaks. Classic day on the water though. Light nor Easter to come home on. Great day. Cheers Cpt Ahab.

FYI, Took a spin offshore yesterday from Sydney. Late start, 9 am. Shot out to 12 mile and did a couple of drifts with live yakka a for 0's. Trolled from 12 mile out to Browns Mountain and back to Botany wide FAD for 0's. Threw a livie at the fad but no action. Buma about the fish but at least I could play the stereo as loud as it would go and none could hear how bad I was singing along. Water temp at heads 21.4 dropping down to 20.4 about 8 miles off shore then up to 23 just inside the shelf. There was no clear temp break just gradual increase/ decrease in temp. Crossed and worked a couple of current lines to no avail. Current at the shelf running at about 3 knots south. A few random mutton birds but they were just cruising. Water never got to a deep blue but I am not yet convinced on that as I have caught fish in very average looking water. Offshore it was blowing about 12 -14 knots from the northeast but inshore it was about the same from the west. No problem if you were in one or the other but for about 5 miles where the two met the sea ay was just atrocious. A positive was a gazillion butterflies that had be blown out to sea in the westerly. Another great sight when the fish aren't biting. Best of luck to anyone having a crack tomorrow. Cheers Cpt Ahab

Hi Jim, I headed out late morning for a look on my lonesome. Still plenty of salmon boils off north head but no luck with spinning small metal lures. Two other boats trying but I didn't see them hook up. Headed to my favourite flatty drift and managed a good feed with 4 blue spot and 2 dusky/ rock in just over an hour. I let one of the latter go because it was a stonker at 75 cm and I think they become breeders at about 80. The spot I fish for these is around 0.5 Nm SSW of "foul ground" in 50 m of water about 4 miles off Manly beach. I use squid rings on circle hooks and that seems to do the trick. Salmon were still working when I returned to the harbour at about 2 pm. There was a pod of 5 whales only 200 m off North head. Would have been a great trip even without the fish. Cheers Cpt Ahab.

Thanks for the replies. Didn't bother to wet a line and took the advice on wine and fire. All good. Cheers Cpt Ahab

Hello raiders, Heading down to kangaroo valley for a few days next week and was wondering if it was worth taking some fishing gear with me. No idea what to expect but thought I would toss a few lures around from the bank. Any ideas or suggestions or is it just too cold and best off drinking red wine around a log fire? Much appreciated in anticipation. Cpt Ahab.

Gidday Hodgo, Bumma about the flattie. I have used long shank hooks on flatties for many years with great success. I have recently started using smaller circle hooks to great effect, particularly on the slow drift and where you may want to only take a few keepers.you can also keep the trace size down to about 5 kg. Flathead tend to swallow the bait and just sit there and once you start hauling them in the then wriggle about.Normal j hooks and even the long shank hooks can end up gut hooking the fish which is not good for the fish if you want to release it and not good for you if it chews through your trace. This is my 2 bob's worth Cheers capt Ahab

Bumma about the lost fish and my call would be a jewfish. Never let a cheap, crappy or damaged outfit stop you from landing a top fish. I got smashed up by a kingy last week and I could feel him running my line along the bricks. Free spooled for a few seconds and backed the drag right off and 15 mins later landed an 80 cm fish. The 8 kg braid and 10 kg leader looked like an old bit of hemp all frayed and chewed up and broke when I pulled on it. Was lucky on this occasion as have been busted off plenty of other times. Fish was released to fight another day. Capt Ahab

Evening all, heading off next week on a bucket list adventure. Going down the Murray River in a tinny from Yarrawonga to the sea. While I have fished the briney my entire life, I have not done any freshwater fishing. I will be on the river for about a month and could do with any advice on techniques,lures,baits etc. I have 5 and 10 kg spin outfits and bought half a dozen spinner baits in various weights and another half dozen stump jumper lures. I also have a couple of smaller rapalas that I will take. I have a yabbie opera house I style trap and a ring net. I have read as much as I can get my hands on including all the licensing requirements and seasonal fishing restrictions. I will have the opportunity to troll or fish from the bank morning and evening. If anyone has 2 or 3 top tips for this type of fishing environment it would be appreciated as I will have plenty of time to test them out. I hope to take a few fish to eat (but survival won't depend on it).I hear that Redfin go ok on the frypan as do callop. Cheers Cpt Ahab

Thanks Guys, The wiring from the battery to the switch panel is only 4 mm (15amp rated wiring) hence my dilemma. It does only run nav lights a sounder and a radio but not big enough to run much more. Some other dodgy wiring including speaker wire to the nav lights and this is a production boat. I was really trying to save additional wiring running up and down the boat but after a sleepness night I decided to do it once and do it right. New circuit with fuse and switch running the two sockets. Thanks for the advice. Ahab

Hello fellow raiders, a little advice please. I am wiring some cigarette power out lets onto my tinny to run a couple of things but in particular an electric fridge. Unfortunately the existing wiring is inadequate and I need to run 6mm cable (manufacturers recommended spec). If the fridge has a fuse in the plug and an on /off switch can I simply run a new +ve and -ve from the battery to the power socket without running via a switch panel or separate fuse arrangement? I know that the socket will be energised at all times but does anyone see a problem with this? I could run an in line fuse and switch at a push but not ideal. If i run everything to the switch panel,I need twice the amount of cable to get back to the socket again. Assistance or advice gratefully received. Regards Ahab.

Thanks Huey, Looks like I have done a deal at $10,500 subject to inspection. Appreciate your advice. Very much appreciated. Cheers Ahab.

Thanks Huey, they want 12k and I was hoping to get it for 11k. I have looked at hundreds of tinnies on the internet and this appears to be a pretty good buy. It is on the south coast of NSW, so if I was to make the trip I would want to be pretty certain that I was going to bring it home. Long way for donuts. Would do the negotiation over the phone and then subject to inspection, make an offer. Is it difficult to download the engine info? I have a laptop but I assume there would be some sort of software I need. Thanks Ahab

Thanks Guys, really appreciate any feedback or advice, even if it just tips me one way or the other. You are right that if the motor lets me down I am stuffed unless I take an Aux, which will add to the weigh and I will potentially end up pushing the boat through some very shallow sections I think I end up in the two stroke v fourstroke debate and i am not sure if that has ever been resolved. Gazza, while i am comfortable i could change the oil filter and oil, i would need to get the boat and motor out of the water for a while and without a trailer that ma prove problematic. Not impossible but problematic. May be able to arrange it with one of the marine mechanics or a mate of a mate in Mildura along the way but would need to book in advance. (would pay to take the right filer with me so it is minimal time off the water. Twinfisher 4.9, i think you are correct about the 100hrs, however all the research I have done points to the fact that 200hrs would be OK if done just before the trip, but 300 would not be recommended. Huey, my original thoughts were around a DI 2 stroke and i have identified a boat that meets budget and is currently available. It is 2008 Brooker 435 getabout with a 50Hp envinrude E-Tec with about 50 hrs. Very basic model but if i can get the price down a little i could trick it up some. Would very much appreciate your thoughts on that. Cheers (Captain) Ahab.

Thanks Huey, Thanks for the feedback.I take it you are suggesting a four stroke but I have an issue with the oil and oil filter change every 100hrs.. My budget is under $12k but I am looking for something in a runabout style, ideally forward steering with windscreen and bimini that runs to the windscreen as I will be travelling in all weather conditions. I don't know too much about sea jays. what model is it and how does it sit with regard to my budget. Regards

Hello fellow raiders, new to this section of the website but I thought I would throw it out there. I am planning a trip down the murray river from albury to the sea in South Australia in a tinny. About 2200 km and I imagine I will rack up about 250-300 hrs on the outboard over a short time circa 1 month.. I am looking at buying a second hand 4.2 to 5m tinny with a 30 to 50 up outboard. Ideally it will be a runabout style tinny with Bimini and enough room to throw a swag on the floor if campsites are not abundant. Considerations so far. Noise. Fuel efficiency Servicing Reliability. Cost. Now 2 strokes are simple an fairly reliable. Fourstrokes are quiet and fuel efficient. New fuel injected two strokes are quite fuel efficient but a few more electronics and therefore more complex. 4 strokes required an oil filter and oil change every 100 hrs ideally. Might be able to book a mechanic along the way.. I would be interested in your thoughts and recommendations. At the moment I have two very differnet opinions from two very experience people and frankly I am confused. Leaning towards the 4 stroke because low rev long hours and quiet running but worried out complexity and having to get a service mid trip. Most of the trip will be at about 10 -15 knts. Help in any form appreciated Thanks in advance. Ahab.

Did pretty much a full day wide. Little bit of chatter on the radio today and as far as I can tell there were about 50 boats out and a about half a dozen fin plus 3 or 4 blue marlin. Plenty of gemfish on the mountain plus a few blue eye. Most fin hooked east of browns between 5 and 20 miles. Wind,chop and swell a bit nasty out wide but we were in a 6 m trailer boat watered between 19.9 and 20.6 all day everywhere. Plenty of small striped tuna around browns and a few schools of sauries. At one stage just wet of browns we could only run 2 lures because they kept getting hit by the small striped tuna. Water looked ok for the most part and it got better the wider you went. All in all an average days fishing. Good luck tomorrow.

We went out wide yesterday from broken bay. Terrigal fad and onto Norah canyon sea very lumpy so trolled Terrigal fad to the Norah canyon. Was 1.30 by the time we got there so only had an hour there before the run back. One other boat there amazing topography.. The bottom drops 200plus metres in about half a mile and then up again......hence canyon. Would have liked to spend a bit longer there. Water 23 in close and then dropping to 22 then about 15 miles offshore. Back up to 24 out at the canyon. It is a 40 miles run back so probably won't make a habit of it. 110 miles for the day and 140 litres of fuel. ( 150 merc 4 stroke outboard) Tally for the day! 3 dollies ( 2 keepers), 2 very fat striped tuna, released and one free jumper.

We have a plan. Looking to head out Sat and Sunday as the weather and current looks pretty good. Leave Broken Bay on sat morning (sparrows) and run out past terrigal FAD and onto Norah Canyons and possibly Newcastle Canyons and back into Newcastle port for the night. (approx 86nm). Hoping to rustle up a hot shower somewhere.My mate reckons we will be right with some lemons soy and wasabi but I will take some cash in case we need to fall back on a humble steak at the pub. Sunday back again having hopefully picked up the current lines or temp breaks on the way up. Happy to provide info accordingly if anyone is fishing up that way.Call sign FFM and we will be on 21 We will be in a 6.1m surtees trailerboat with a 150 merc 4 stroke and 200 litre tank. Will be two full on days of about 10hrs on the water and may need to modify plans if we get a few fish. Can always call into Swansea and shave 10 miles EW off the trip. . Not sure if there are any other worthwhile spots on route but would welcome feedback.

We picked up a small yellowfin yesterday about 4 miles east of 12 mile. About 5 kg. dropped a larger model and then it went quiet. Heard of a few small blacks and stripes being hooked but not a lot of chatter on the radio. Current was ok and there was a 1 degree break just inside the shelf. Few small dollies landed. There were still boats bottom bashing on browns. Will be out tomorrow to chance our hand. Lazy start at about 8 so will be wide about 9. On 21. FFM is the boat. Weather looks great. Ahab

Can understand the secret code business when you are fishing a stream, your secret flathead spot or in a comp. When you are sportsfishing 20 miles offshore targeting pelagics it is a little riduculous. It may reduce the number of plonkers running over your lines or through your cube trails, however, on the flip side it may also save you many hours of trolling around in the wide blue briny and mean the difference between zeros and a fish and a feed. Cheers Ahab