longtail

That is a Giant aka Goliath Tigerfish, Hydrocynus goliath The pitbull of the Barb family. The teeth mesh into each other and this beast can't fully close it's jaws, like the Wolf Herring. A sought after ##### in Africa, the world record stands at 253lbs 9oz, taken in lake Tanganyika one of the Rift lakes formed when geological forces trapped seawater inland. They go nuts for huge spinners & spinnerbaits and crush treble hooks with ease. The freshwater apex predator. Listed by Australias DPI as a noxious species - well duh!!

Kenny's right. The truth can be found here: http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/inde...p;hl=frangipani

Ian Miller: DCM

You're all very lucky to have hooked a Frangipani. Longliners have all but wiped out the entire east coast biomass. The tragic thing about it is all these Frangipanis go to waste - turned into stickers to be placed on the back of chick 4WD's in the greater Newcastle region. Such a waste of a truly magnificent species. The stocks will recover, once the fad passes. Bad Boys and Oakley sunglasses are only now starting to return to levels they once were prior to commercial harvesting for the sticker market. Take a photo - but please: don't stick frangipanis on the back of your car. Peace luv & mungbeans baby! Krusty the tree hugging Eco Warrior

Al McGlashan wrote a good story on Harbour jew last year that will answer some of your questions. Kelvin's nailed it: they hunt actively at slack water, are sedentary and hold out of the current at other times. Word from the diving community is they ALWAYS hold on the shady side of structure, never on the sunny side,very tight to the structure. I suspect that like Spanish Macks Jew pupils are fixed and they can't comfortably handle light. They can be caught at these times (daytime) but you'll need to drop your bait within a metre or two of the fish. My tip: locate shipwrecks/current deflecting ledges in deep water & strong current. A top shelf sounder is your best friend. They have huge swim bladders for body size and are very sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure. An approaching storm front combined with a tide change really seems to bring em on the chew, a bit of dirty water even better just like Macks...hmmm.

4x kilo plus. sorry for the 'that's a crock' confusion

I expect you'd have a good shot from Yacaaba, tho Tomaree has the killer rep. Failing that you're up for a drive to Seal Rocks. Watched a school of longtail boil up in Fingal today, they're so fast the seagulls couldn't keep up. They show up anywhere anytime no warning. You can fish light (6-8kg) they fight in open water in wide arcs. Slimies are the 'go to' bait. As for tackle stores around here, they all tell you the same thing - literally, like it's rehearsed

Don't worry about it. Port Stephens squid aren't that fussy, and very aggressive. Just got home from Fingal with four kilo plus squid taken on a berkley gulp 7" jerkshad threaded on a spike. In my experience this outfishes the pricey jigs 2 to 1

A surfboard & boltcutters ??

that looks like a pricey Yamashita jig...Yikes!! I would drill a very small hole (dremel) thru the body & pin assembly, Araldite it and put a fine guage stainless pin thru the lot to secure it. this would add a pooftenth of a gram rear bias, easily offset with a split ring at the tow point. I couldn't bring myself to toss a qual jig like that without at least trying to fix it !

Erm.. well you can definitely get into some good calamari & Kings in PS, but the Myall & lakes is better known for the more traditional estuary species. Your best bet for squid on the northern shores is Barnes Rocks. fairly reliable in a N-NE but exposed in any southerly. the wall at the end of Jimmys to the back of Yacaaba is good too. I personally get my squid from Fingal bay or Boulder bay weather permitting, very reliable. Average size is big. Top jew spots are the singing bridge & the boat ramp. The 'neverfail' productive spot is the Corrie shortcut (between Winda Woppa & Corrie island). bit of a hike from Winda Woppa. any of the groynes leading into deeper water also produce. LBG target at the mo is Longtail tuna. That should get you started:)

Hi Chris, I can recommend a marine engineer who has a mobile service. Saved me $70 on a scheduled service, didn't have to tow it, and did the job with his offsider in 1/2 hr. Uses genuine parts & Quicksilver (Mercury) lubes. I was very impressed & he gave me some good tips. Check yr PM.

I've been there, I feel for you bro. The stomach turning feeling of some butt pirate violating your space is the worst. Maybe get your cat a canine companion. Thieves are the vilest waste of flesh that God ever shovelled guts into. Hope they didn't get any irreplaceable items ie heirlooms or antique jewellery.

This is easy, it works, tightens on itself as pressure is applied. Tie it once and never forget. good for braided & fused PE and mono/fluoro

Cool. Thanks for the tip, Stewy.