mystic shad

If I may jump in and mention to Capt Pugwash. It's North Harbour, which is jsut up the road from you and I. During mid week it makes for excellent flats fishing. The turtles were there last summer as well.

Not on my site they don't. Jedimaster ? Panda Bear steaks on Black Stump menu's is a load of crap. Sub species of homo sapiens , 14 year old boys with beards ! Its a load of bullshit your carrying on with now. The subject is bream try sticking to it. 34136[/snapback] Point taken ken and I apologise for the panda bear steaks. The Jedimaster is my fishing mentor who has the skill of arriving to the spot you've been plugging at all day and lands a monster on first cast. He's an old player who's taught me alot. I should have said "clines" as oppposed "Sub species" of Homo sapien when i was trying to illustrate the physical modifications that occur to cope with differing environments. I trust everyone remembers their days at high school. 14 year olds with beards sounds odd, however it's true. Some kids around the age of puberty grow much larger quicker and develop a mature body whilst many are still scrawny till 18. It's an excellent example of genetic variation. I'm sorry for the lateral examples and if they offend. My attempts at explaining a point sometimes digress

Oh dear, here comes an epic. I hear your opinion of sillyness ken. Nevertheless, discussions like this play a major role in species conservation and rehabilitation. I'm very proud to say that I was responsible for panda bear steaks being removed from the black stump menu! I was having a yarn with Tim Morgan at the boat show last year. He mentioned that yellafin spawn at the mouths of the estuary. I can't remember what time of year. My Jedi Master said that heading into autumn is the usual time and they move to spawning sites on the full moon. He also mentioned that they have mini spawns around the full moon as well. This may explain the countless groups of 4 or 5 bream I noticed on the weekend. they were more content swimming closer to each other in what appeared to be a lambada like dance (serious) I rarely catch bream on the full moon. Nevertheless I still plug away at it. With the utmost respect, I dispute Allen Glovers claim regarding long distance migration on the grounds that 1, estuary species that frequent close to coastal areas. 2, There is no need for them to venture much further than 1 estuary to the next. The liklihood of sydney harbour sub species venturing to hawksbury is high but I doubt much further. Regardless, this would all depend on the prevailing seasonal currents. 3. Larger adult yellafin appear to take residence within a particular area. By that I don't mean 1 snag. They may visit the same snag daily during the tide flow then move to a hole later etc. 4. Considering the fish is very shy and has a strong desire to be in cover. Large migration would be folly. 5. I have seen very large schools of juveniles when diving close to the coast. a hundred or so 15cm bream with their faces rummaging through the gravel, with no regard for predators. Safe to assume that by the time they reach maturity, the population would be a handful. Personally I have never caught a bream from the ocean that exceeds 32cm. The muscletone and beautiful colour of an ocean bream speak for themselves. 6. They have quite a long lifespan. All creatures that have longevity are generally cunning, reclusive, and congregate in small communities. As such it would be quite rare to see all of an estuaries bream population gather for a giant orgy. Me thinks they are a little more discreet than the sexual antics of flathead. My jedimaster also commented on the interhybridisation of blackbream to yellafin. this may explain the notion that some monsters rarely move around. Perhaps we have 3 sub species of bream, Pure yellafin frequenting estuary and mouths to the sea. Silver bream that inhabits the coastline and visits the estuary on holidays. Black bream that are purely estuary only. If this is the case then interhybridisation is certainly a possibility. That would then lead me to think that species like black bream could be easily bread into extinction by their ocean going cousins. NSW fisheries are considering doing research on this I will copy this and send it to steve starling, he seems to know stuff.

[batemans Bay is at the mouth of the Clyde River???? Did you mean transporting fish from upriver in the Clyde to downstream (Batemans Bay), because that is what a lot of competitors did. Pukk' I'm a dopey git. Sorry for the typo error. Not only does it expose my typing skills it completely debases my geographic knowledge as well. I actually meant the Clarence river or somewhere at least 300kms away (taree). The concept is to introduce yellowfin bream "love stuff" into foreign populations in order to increase genetic variation within local stock. Kens point relating to size and age could be a contentious point. Consider the heights and sizes of boys at the age of sexual maturity. At 14 I remember being tackled by same age guys that had beards and muscles like the hulk. It is quite possible that a 40cm bream be the same age as a 30cm bream. Consider the biological facts. There are many sub species of Homo sapien. Villages and tribes over the centuries bred within their own kind. Gradually the pedigree develops and the problems associated with "in"breeding. Early civilisations without scientific knowledge regularily donated or kidnapped young breeding girls and boys for the benefit of hybridisation. As fish stocks decrease, so does the availability of genetic variation. Isolated populations evolve to make the most of their local area. When there is a change in the ecology, the over specialised organism will fail, whereas the mongrel species will adapt to the conditions. Did you know that the reticulated python of south east asia will happily dine on a local villager. Fortunately for us, our genetic make up has endowed us with shoulders that are two broad for the snake to get his gob around. As I sit in front of my computer screen. I am thinking of how man will evolve to suit the office environment. Consider the liklihood of people growing even biger bums, our eyes becoming boggled and square, our legs and arms becoming shorter and toes becoming redundant as we don't walk anywhere. It motivates me to go and weed the garden.

We are all aware of the decline in fish stocks throughout the nation. We are all aware and agree on the damage done by professionals to our fish populations. I hope we are all aware of the damage that rec fishos have upon a fish population as well. Before anyone gets all defensive, I'm not blaming or pointing a finger. Consider the facts, Our draconian size and limit regulations allow people to catch and kill all bream over 25cm. Common knowledge that the absence of maximum size limit nails your breeding stock. Some aren't aware that this also has a major impact on the genetic variation of your stock. Basically the gene pool slowly degrades to a gene puddle. I've fished around middle harbour & cowan for 20 odd years. In middle harbours case, I've noticed the average size of bream getting smaller and smaller. ten years ago 35cm was a reasonably common size. Today, 30cm appears to be the average size. Just like every species, there are bigger, smaller, faster growing slower growing etc, variations in a communities gene pool. By killing the 40cm bream. people have removed the gene stock that produces bream that grow quicker or grow bigger. hence we are left with a 30cm bream that may be 7 years old. The seven year old bream that is 35cm is no longer around cos he and his genetic qualities are locally extinct . Have you stopped to wonder why nations like Australia and New Zealand produce exceptional athletes, scientists and other field leaders. The two main reasons are 1, good food and clean environment 2, Genetic variation. In your ancestors country of origin, they would have married within the same village or maybe the next village. The new colonies have people from very corner of the globe and as such a very deep gene pool or In other words basic hybridisation is occuring. The ABT has a golden oportunity to improve the genetic variations of bream stock and in turn improve the tournaments future success. If the ABT were to freight the fish in the big fish tank from the clyde to say Batemans bay, there would be a great improvement to the genetic variation of batemans bream. The same for batemans bream going to the clyde. If this was supervised responsibly with suitable safe guards to ensure pests and disease were not spread. We would all see a major improvement in the size and quantity of fish we catch and release. Your thoughts and opinions please

Got my first Ep last week. You gotta admit it's a pretty fish but an even prettier fisherman. I thought it's time to change the predictable "fish with lure in mouth pose" to a pose with more style. The river 2 sea static shad caught both of us.

Ive got two of the same tanks. As the saying goes "pay peanuts u get monkeys" One tank leaks awefully bad and the other is not so bad. I decant the fuel from the tanks when I get home into a decent jerry can, mainly to avoid the risk of fire and also to prevent the fuel evaporating which then gives me an oilier mix over time. Unless you have a decent breather then you are inviting moisture to get into the tank. Oilier mixes and wet fuel make for unreliable two strokes and bummer days on the water. As you live in Mulgoa, seriously consider the fire potential. Relative humidity is very low in your district which greatly increase the risk of chargrilled stessl

One Sunday last autumn, I was wading and chucking rubbers at clontarf between the baths and marina. Two show ponies were there trying out there brand new very expensive rods and overheads throwing barra style lures round. The whole beach could hear them telling me that they were practicing before their trip to northern territory. They remarked on my 3kg rod and reel in a somewhat patronising tone. As luck would have it, I hooked a decent lizard and casually waded back to the shore to un hook him. I felt pretty flash that I put the two to shame with my small gear. I was taking the last steps out of the water as the crowd started to gather to ooooh and aaaah at my fish when ZAP. I stepped on a numb ray. My cool and casual behaviour rapidly changed to the look of someone who was fitting. Overreaction was an understatement. Jumping and cursing. I had to sit down for a while as the shock went straight up my leg and into my tool shed. Nobody saw the ray, I'm sure they all thought "just another nutter" From now on I shuffle my feet or wear dunlop volleys.

I see your point Jeff and appreciate the contribution. Increasing the surface area of the bubbles would certainly allow oxygen to infuse faster, it also increases quantities of oxygen to infuse. a large bubble rises quickly and hence only a small qty will infuse. When I use the shadomizer, the water goes completely cloudy like fizzy drink. I trialled its performance on a few different species, (prawns, yellowtail & tailor). I found that I could run the shadomizer for 3/4 of the time less than a conventional spray bar. I also found that the critters went ballistic like a kid after red cordial, when the infuser was working. The prawns were interesting, I left them to the point of near suffiocation, then gave them the shadomizers touch, Within 5 minutes they were ready for action, pinging around the tub. In summary, the benefits I have seen is the ability to conserve power due to less pump running time and the performance of the high energy bait after a session in the jacuzzi

How do I make the pictures smaller?

Sorry about the unfinished post lastnight. My computer suffered the blue screen of death. I'll get a piccy in a tick. In the meanwhile, I looked at that keep alive website and I now know what you mean Joe. I downloaded a wee movie off the site to see if I can post it. Nup can't do it. Heres the web address. Take a look while I get a picture http://keepalive.net/

I was fiddling about with my pond pump at home. I lifted it out of the water whilst running then immersed it again. As the impellor was cavitating from the air still inside, the expelled water came out all fizzy, like the old soda stream machines. This got me thinking then tinkering. If I was to infuse thousands of tiny wee air bubbles as opposed to 100's of larger bubbles in my well, this would greatly improve the oxygen levels in the water and thus increase the quantity of fish or bait I could keep in the well. I have now developed the live well with a fizz. Aptly named the SHADOMIZER. If you run a 5mm pvc tube from above the waterline and have it sitting just above the pump impellor, it sucks bubbles into the pump then smashes them to millions of wee bubbles

Any stockfeed place will sell chookpellets the price ranges from $18 - $30 for 40kgs. check the yellow pages It's wise to think of the repurcussions of buying 40kgs of chook pellet before you do. Rats and mice love chook pellets more than chooks do. ( you'll have rodents taking up residence sooner than chooks will!) The volume of 40kg of chook pellets around 140litres. You're going to need a rodent proof drum to store the stuff in which will probably cost you more than the pellets in the first place. Once rodents know the food is there. theyll chew like mad to get to it. Wheelybin plastic is like sorbet for them. Now that you've left enough tucker in your garage or shed for several generations of rodent to dine on. Consider who is going to kill you first. The tiger snake or management? Most woolworths and IGA's sell 10kg bags for $10-$12. I still carry the scars from my last 40kg chook pellet exercise

One more tip for Chook Pellets If I want my "tell em where here!" to have a little more zang. I put a few kilos of pellets in a bucket with a wee splash of tuna oil. wet them down so they start to crumble leave the bucket near your garbage bin in a warm shaded spot. leave for a week, stash the bucket so management won't find it for another week. You wont forget where you left it as its getting a little rank now. Take a look at the bucket, all seems the same as how you left it. I dare you to break the hardened skin of decomposed meal. The bucket comes alive with choice, pick of the litter, Maggots. If you like using yackas for livies then throw a few of these little critters out. Avoid using too much tuna oil in any mix as you find the fish go quiet after 1/2 hour of dispersal. Suffice to say the bigger fish have turned up, namely noahs

Chook pellets as base for your burley is outstanding. I'm feeling somewhat generous today, hence me releasing the Mystic Shads favorite recipe for what I call "Tell em we're here!" or Burley. There are a few variations to the blend. Below is one of my favorites [/u]THE FOG OF WAR TOOLS, You'll need a ten litre or 15 litre chlorine bucket is better, a serving spoon from woolies, INGREDIENTS, 5 cups of boiling water in bucket pour two or three cups of cleaned wheet into water and leave for a few hours to soak. Add 6 cups of chook pellets and a little water whilst stirring to a mush 2 tins of home brand tinned cat pilchards or seafood platter. 1 tin of home brand cat tuna. put cat food into bucket and mash up as to uniformed consistancy If the mood takes you, add tuna oil. I find olive oil works just as well. add more water to make the mix like sloppy soup. slowly stir whilst gently adding 50% sydney sand 50% brickies/bush sand until the mix has regained a pudding like consistancy. When fishing. use every 5 minutes a little at a time Scoop the mix out and compact it on the side of the bucket with the spoon Drop it gently overboard, put your polaroids on and take a few moments to appreciate the Fog of War telling the fish where its at! It is very effective at night in high phosphoresence areas.

Greetings, wise sage' I would greatly appreciate any comments or opinions on the range of Allycraft vnose punts. I'm going to upgrade my tinny and The prices seem very reasonable Thanks in advance