Slaka

We tend to troll a few deep or shallow divers to locate the school (if you can't see them on the surface that is), then when we hook up we start casting metals at the school. Just remember to shut your motor down as soon as you locate them, then stay on the edges of the school. There is nothing more frustrating than someone ploughing through the school you are working.

How about building a few more ramps then Minister?

Anyone?

Hi all, I am heading over to Mauritius on Saturday (my wife is from there) and I am hoping to get some fishing done. We are staying on the beach at Tamarin, does anyone know if there are any decent landbased spots close to there to throw soft plastics and hard bodies? Don't really care if the fish are small just somethimg to keep me busy. Also if anyone knows of any places to take the kids fishing with bait close by that would be great too. My other question relates to charters. I am not a massive fan or deep see charters, but can anyone recommend any GT or reef fishing charters? Thanks, Slaka

Have a look at the Nitro Vapor 1-3kg rod. They aren't ceap but they are as light as a feather, 2 piece and they have a replacement warranty like G. loomis where if you break a section you can replace it for $60, no questions asked. Don't be worried about the small size either, I have caught kings on mine without a problem.

Cool, thanks for that mate, I'll pack the beach rods. I am guessing early morning is the go? Also were you sight casting?

Hi mate, where abouts at Avoca? I don't know the area that well but I am heading up for a boys weekend tomorrow.

Bonito is actually quite nice if eaten fresh. As said earlier just skin them and remove the blood line, then cube up the fillets. Stir fry with a little sesame oil and asian veggies.

Hi all, I might get the opportunity to move to Singapore for a few years for work, but I just wanted to check if anyone knows if there much fishing in Singapore? Preferably land based, something that can be done after work or on weekends. Any info would be great. Slaka

I was there on Saturday, so unless it happened between then and today it is still there. It's not just the temporary ramp that is dodgey, the permanent one is terrible as well.

When cubed and stir fried with some asian vegies and a dash of sesame oil Bonito is actually really nice. Has to be really fresh though.

I use the 5 turns surgeons not for light line like that and have never had a problem with line breaking, and being a smalling knot it goes through the guides well.

Does anyone have info on the Flathead Classic?

Couldn't agree more. I have a Vapor matched up with a TD Advantage and a mate has one with a TD Sol and they are awesome outfits. Don't be fooled by the 1-3kg rating, although I use it mainly for bream and fltties I have caught kingies and salmon on it with light line without a problem. They are very light and cast a mile.

How effective is downrigging a sluggo or a deep diver. I have been tossing up the idea of buying a downrigger, just not sure how effective they are when using lures.

Anyone???

Hi all, I am heading up to Lake Macquarie tomorrow without the boat so I am hoping someone can recommend a charter I can use. Preferably I would like a charter that specialises in lures rather than bait. Thanks guys. Slaka

2500 is a great alrounder size real, small enough to chase the estuary species abut big enough to have a bit of fun on sambos and kingies. It is also ideal for chasing bigger flatties and jewies with bigger lures.

Hi mate, were you using live or dead garries?

I had a similar incident in the bay a few years back. I can remeber if I was drifting or at anchor but on of the those little single person foils went screaming past me and his foil collected my line. By the time I could grab the spool to break it he had just about spolled me, considering I had only just put it on (at a cost of about $65) I set off after him to get my line back. He wasn't real impressed but he should not have been going so fast so close to the boat, we actually yelled out to him before the incident happend. I called NSW Maritime and they were very good about it, unfortunately I didn't have his rego but they informed that unless there was a specific clearway eveent (with specific buouys + prior notice) he was in the wrong. Based on the time and the place they tracked down the event and had a word to the organisors. Certainly more than I expected.

Tailor love diving lures. Try some of the Yozuri or Rapala XR lures with different bib sizes, troll around and once you find them just start casting at them, it can be like shooting fish in a barrell at times. The good thing with HB's over plastics for tailor is that they they aren't a throw away item after 1 fish and the risk of getting bitten off is minimised given the length of the lure.

She did indeed give me a bit of curry. We were about 20m off the bank when all of a sudden the sounder picked up a big school and we could see some mullet running close to shore. As soon as we commented on the sudden activity my rod loaded up and I could feel a slight fight, then just weight. I called it for a snag at first, but I could see the line moving through the water. Then some almighty head shakes started and she took off. Getting her in the net was the hardest part of the fight though, it took us a few minutes to get her into the environet, I had visions of the the 8lb line snapping with the fish next to the boat. And yes, if someone said a slow 2 1/2 days would equate to a 90cm croc I would take it every time.

The TD Advantage or Sol 2000 reels match really well with that rod. I used to have the Advantage 2000 matched up with the same Tierra rod, but as I have boaught a 1-3kg rod the 2000 now goes on the smaller rod and I have a 2500 Advantage on the Tierra for chasing bigger flatties.

Hi all, After a very slow couple of days fishing with The Novice this big girl was caught on Sunday afternoon in the heart of big flattie country, Narooma’s Wagonga Inlet. She measured in at 90cm and was taken on a Squidgy Wriggler using 8lb line, so there were a few tense minutes just trying to get her in the net. Apologies for the quality of the pics, but were trying to get her back in the drink ASAP so she could do her thing make lots of little flatties for future trips. She was a fiery old thing and was pretty keen to get swimming again without too much persuasion from us, watching her dart away was almost as good as catching her. Apart from this good fish it was a pretty hard slog for 2 ½ days. We threw everything at the fish but the entire system was pretty much shut down. Even the tailor and salmon weren’t interested in any of the lures we threw at them. Slaka

I have heard that they are made in the same factory as the Nitro Vapour and are very similar. I have a TD Advantage 2000 reel matched up with the Vapor and it is a really nice set up. I have caught rat kings with it no problem at all.