frankS

Me and Stewart (a non member mate ) went down to a small lake just north of Jervis Bay and got ourselves approx. 6kg of beautiful prawns. Walked up and down the shore flicking plastics, started targeting Longtom but soon realised I was wasting my time so I downgraded to 4 lb and picked up a couple of nice plate sized Flounder. It was then time to pack up the rods and start prawning. It started off slow as it was run in tide and only picked up a few here and there, Stuart was feeling disappointed and I told him just wait till the tide changes and starts running out, sure enough true to my word when the tide started running out they came on. as I said we managed approx. 6 kg and I'm sure if my skills had not dwindled over the years we could have got a lot more, still very pleased with the results and will be going down there again. Frank

Noel next time mate!!, and there will be a next time we ended up with approx. 6kg, will submit a report. Frank

Noel. Yes mate, on your advise, and thanks for b/day wishes. Raymondo yes mate have caught plenty on bait and hard bodies but never got one on plastics yet, thanks for the reminder about their fangs. Frank

Jon. I plan on taking John down to Bermagui for a few days so might be able to introduce him and me to you. John I have a few trips planned for you so we better get together pretty quickly to work out dates etc. Have you got all your spare days worked out yet ?. Frank

Bet you need a beer or three after that effort. See you in a couple of weeks. Frank

Never fail to amaze me, your daughter is really someone to be proud of, hope she never tires of the activity. Frank

Keep plastics in cliplocks or some may melt the containers. Compromise sometimes works, here's hoping it will for you in the long run. Frank

Hi all, I am heading down near Jervis bay later this afternoon to try my luck at getting a few Prawns. Today is my 70th Birthday and will be going to a steak house for lunch with some family and after lunch I will be heading down south. My intension is to get there a couple of hours before dark and set up for the night, will take a soft plastic set up and walk along the river and try my luck for some fish before attempting the prawning, I have been told there are some decent Longtoms in the area so never caught a Longtom on plastic so maybe a first for me coming up. Frank

OK here's a tip that I learnt many years ago, for initial sharpening a stone is preferred but once you have the edge on the knife the trick is to keep it there, steels are good but you don't always have a steel handy at the cleaning table, you generally have your vehicle close by ( those without a car, sorry ) so you always have a fine sharpening tool at your disposal. Wind a window half way down and use the top of the glass to hone your blade, you do need to know how to keep the right angle etc but the top of an auto glass is about the best tool for a perfectly sharp knife, and keep the sharp knife away from bone, a boning knife doesn't need to be super sharp, have 2 knives handy for this purpose. Frank

The top photo is a Tarwhine, almost always called for a Bream. Great work and keep on keeping on. Frank

As a general rule it's not the swell that puts me off it's the amount of chop on the water. If there are whitecaps forming before I launch I make plans to stay inside, If whitecaps form while I am out there I may put up with it for a while but then maybe come straight in. In saying that I have been way out in some horrific conditions and as long as you are a capable boat handler you would be surprised what a boat can take and still be safe. Boat size anything from a 14' tinny to a 34' cruiser, you just have to weigh each day on it's merits. I would suggest IF you are new to boating ( as I gather you may be to ask this question ) I would say whitecaps are a good indication as a turning point, but don't be afraid to stay out a little longer as you gain more experience and after a while it becomes second nature to make the decision whether to go or stay. Hope some of this helps. Frank

Great catch Donna any PB is a good one and even better when you can show up the better half, OR should that be lesser half !! Frank

Hi Alex Welcome to the site, you will get plenty of useful information here. Is your boat the Pongrass Waverider ? if so I have the same boat, they are a great ocean going vessel. I can't offer any first hand info of the bay just be aware and follow all the rules and if you go out a bit from the islands you may need to buy an epirb, it's very hard to tell the difference between 2.9 miles and 3 miles when you are out in the briney, make sure you have all the required items and keep a sharp eye out on the weather, check into coast guard and log out when you return. Let us know how you go . Frank

Ojay. looks like you need some hands on help and some new OR cleaned axles for them rollers, I would say they are not rolling correctly. I have a heavy duty gantry here that I use for lifting and suspending boats off the trailers so they can be worked on, also have all the gear you could want to do the job properly, If need be I have solid stainless steel rod which I make my centre pins from and lathe etc for tidying up those rollers if you don't want to outlay money for new ones, as for the Teflon ( blue V guides ) they need adjusting, maybe the hole needs elongating so they can be positioned properly. I am at Berala if you want to bring boat and trailer over and we could fix your little problem so the boat fits the trailer.. Frank

Position the boat so you can float a bait over the top of jibbon Bombora or throw lures all around it, you should get some action. Frank

Also say hello to him from me when you see him John, he would know me as Nimrod, not FrankS. I used to know hundreds of guys personally through fishing sites, now I regard myself as a loner and very rarely get to see any of my old mates. Frank aka nimrod

Pardon me for hijacking this thread. Keith. You sound like the bloke I have been looking for, for a fishing partner in Sydney. I am 69 70 in a couple of weeks and have a crook ticker and emphisemia ( however it's spelt ) I find it almost impossible these days to get the boat on the water. I have a 16' Quintrex Jon boat bass/Bream/Barramundi boat not suited to outside waters but very capable within the heads and rivers lakes etc it is fully equipped minus live well but use esky for that and bait tank is in the planning. It's easy to drive side console with electric start but manual trim/tilt . Once I am in the boat I am fine, my trouble is walking to and from the car to launch and retrieve the boat, and it's this reason I hardly ever go fishing these days. I need a bloke like you who could park the car Commodore automatic station wagon and go and get it when we return from fishing and back it down to the water. I don't go outside and just fish Botany bay, Port hacking ( don't go near the harbour ), and NSW lakes as well as the odd trip down the south coast now and then. I go camping at Lake StClair once or twice a year and Burrinjuck dam after Murray Cod at least once a year ( hire a cabin there ) I am mainly a catch and release fisho on the lakes and dams but don't mine taking home a feed from the salt. Have over 55 years experience on the water and don't expect any money for fuel as the boat runs very cheaply ( 30hp ) I don't mind if you bring some bait etc. If you are interested in getting together give me a PM. I am going down to Bermagui for a few days in the near future. Cheers Frank

I for one have never minded paying for a licence to fish. Now I am a pensioner I don't need to pay but even many many years ago when you didn't need a licence to fish salt water and there was a fresh water fee I always paid and never minded it at all. The money does go for the benefit of fishing and in this day of living you pay for everything, geeze you even gotta have and pay for a dog/cat licence. Councils are responsible for upkeep of ramps etc. Frank

Mutt. Send me your address and contact number and I may be able to come and assist you with the fitting up of lights once you have purchased them. Also to prevent the number plate from scraping and wearing out put it on a hinged plate and when it contacts the ground or speed bumps etc it will swing up and not cause any damage to the plate. Frank

Unfortunately you just have to roll with the punches or take it on the chin. The ramp is far better than it way a couple of years ago at least the ramp itself is now above average. Just a bad time of year to be wanting things to go smoothly as they should, everyone is out for a good time and unfortunately most people are only thinking of themselves and their own familys and will grab any spot available weather it's the appropriate spot or not. The early bird gets the spot. I can understand your frustrations but don't let it deter you from enjoying boating and fishing with your family, and keep the reports coming. Frank

red spinnerbait, guess I could live with that. Frank

I don't mind being a pick up point for anything such as this. I am at Berala/Lidcombe and am home most of the time, I could pick up a heap from where they are now and distribute them from my place. Anything I could do to help with the site or with social events etc I would be only too pleased to do it. Frank

John. You pommy blokes don't know your up from your down ! the ozzie shot is the right way around. We will have to get another trip up to Lake Stclair during your stay here and remember to take your tripod this time. Frank

John. will you be needing any spare rods reels tackle etc this year ? I have most of my spare stuff that I usually lend you in a shop on consignment, but no problem getting hold of it if you need something, don't be shy to ask, I still have the motorised trolley I built for you last year if you want to go land based. Just let me know . Frank

A very merry Christmas to one and all members and may the coming year bring lots of joy and happiness. Good fishing to all. Frank