grantos

Hi all - quick report on a great day on the water Saturday. Slept in and hit the water about 7, so not many boats at middle head for livies so grabbed a quick tank full. Best technique for me is burley, handlines and pilchard or mackerel bait. Straight out to long reef to find about 20+ boats and great conditions. Non stop rats, mostly on squid strips, great fun however took a punt to head out to wave rider as the SST charts still showed 24 degrees. Only one other boat sitting 100m off the buoy so did the same and dropped some yakka's down and bang - dollies! Every drift was a hookup or 2 all around 65-70cm. First time my partner had caught a Dollie and we had a ball. Oh water temp was just over 23 at wave rider and 21 at long reef. Kept one that made delicious ceviche for dinner - no pics sorry.

Hey late poster on this on - cleaned a snapper last night (from long reef - good size too) and got the same little invisible splinters in my hands - hurts like a bugger! Anyone else have this?

Assuming you are referring to single speed talica's (no harness lugs) then the difference is 1 vs 2 speed. Otherwise the talica's have a higher gear ratio (generally even on the 2 speed models). The better question would be back to you as to what do you want to use them for? I bought tiagra's as they are used for trolling only (using mono), have a great reputation and I got them on sale!

Past couple of trips to long reef have been the same - loaded with rats - great fun. Just take enough bait to try and find the big ones - maybe bigger slimy's or yakkas?

Quick update for everyone: Went for a solo session on Sunday given the forecast Mrs Grantos was not to keen. Forecast was wrong with southerly winds instead of easterlies however not too bad. Swell about 1-1.5m so ok once you get past the backwash from the cliffs. Live bait from the brown water was surprisingly easy at middle head - on the small size but filled the tank in about 30 mins. Straight out to the Sydney Harbour FAD about 7.30 and only one boat sitting 500m off. Held about 100m off the fad with a strong current and it was on with a Dollie every cast dropping live baits with a small ball sinker. Unfortunately all just under 60cm - a couple would have been line ball however if you have to measure..... Running low on live bait headed to long reef with only a dive boat there for company at the start. Again it was a king every cast drifting livebaits, that run out, then squid, that ran out, then old striped tune filets that ran out, then baku baku jigs until the rain.... They were smashing everything. Again all just undersize. Few charter boats turned up and one reported pulling a 90sm king. Few small sharks around too. Retuned home at about 1pm with blood all over the boat and nothing in the keeper tank - great day out really!

Running the TOR16HGA - good drag (11kg) and retrieve rate with nice small size

Hi - have same rod matched to Shimano torium - nice combo

In my research the cheaper ones dont allow you to combine for 24v. Was looking at the same options as you and ended up going AGM and accepting the weight trade off. I also made it more confusing as this will be the 3rd bank (start / house / Troll) all charging off one alternator.

Nice one Pickles. We were on the live bait near you (Whittley SL22) (hard to get past the sweep) and would have said hello however you were too busy catching kings!

Love your work there and a great idea. I am fortunate enough to have a lifecell and could not speak more highly of them - if you have the means you cant go wrong.

Not wanting to upset/name any sponsors, have a look at the Shimano articles page and there is a good rod/reel selection guide https://www.shimanofish.com.au/content/fish/oceania/au/en/homepage/articles/speedmasterld-202011.html

New boat! Well the big old Riviera is gone and a shiny new Whittley SL22 has taken its place - now if I could only break its cherry with a king or two!

Hi all, I would appreciate any guidance Raiders may have for boating spots/tips between the Harbor Bridge and Gladesville (or there about). We launch from Rozelle so wanted to find some spots without heading to the heads. Not wanting GPS marks however some general tips. Looking for livebait / Squid(?) / Kingfish etc. Thanks,

Hi all - more of a no fish report. Amazing conditions and on the water around sun up. Couldn't catch live bait to save ourselves - not alone either. Talking to boats around us they went to balmoral, west head and the wreck inside north head for Zilch. Swarms on the sounder at the artificial however think they were leatherjackets as we and a couple of others kept getting bitten off. Ended up with one squid so headed out to the FAD - it was dead! 2 other boats sitting around 100m off and no one catching anything. We tried trolling, squid strips, poppers - nothing. Cruised in to some of the outer long reef spots and nothing on the sounder so headed to South head for a downrig with our remaining squid. Nothing! Raptor charters were working the same spot as us with live bait and also nothing from them - was told only 1 rat and a bonnie for the morning. Over to north head and nothing! Finally into middle harbour and just had our bait taken by pickers so called it a day. Anyone do any better? Might just be my bad karma.....

Thanks for the responses. Wrap would be ok for the hull however that is in good nick. Its the express model so no flybridge to worry about. Sample of the crazing in the close up.