Clarkie

Off the wharf will get you heaps. If you're after quantity rather than quality (key for short attention spans), then go light and small. I usually use small hooks a if I have to a little bit of split shot rather than huge sinkers. Prawns do the trick, and a bit of berley won't hurt either.

Either the wharf at Balmoral, or at Bobbin Head. Both great spots and you've got playgrounds there for when they get bored. Both are pay parking though unless you've got a parks pass for Bobbin Head.

Most just attach rod holders. Mine came from+_+_). Just bolt the base to the yak with a big backing plate if you think the plastic will flex too much. I don't reckon a short rod is an advantage in a yak. You need to be able to get the tip of the rod in front of the front and rear of the yak if the fish goes under etc. Mine are all over 6 ft, although over 7ft might get a bit tough to handle.

You really shouldn't just leave the dead carp on the bank. It stinks and attracts feral animals. If you're specifically targeting them, take a small hand trowel with you and bury them.

I do most of my fishing from a yak. Mostly for small stuff, but trying to set myself to get in the harbour soon. I do a mix of trolling and casting. The beauty of a yak is you can vary your pace to suit the lure so easily. With most bream lures you only need to go about walking pace. Where abouts do you fish?

The whale wasn't actually caught. It was found dead on a beach, and was being transported away from the area when the build up of gasses in the carcus caused it to rupture.

I've just attached it to my rudder, but most people just glue it using sicaflex or sellys allclear to the inside of their yak. Just pick a spot where it isn't going to get bumped. I went without for about 2 years, but now I have one I wouldn't go back. So handy for finding structure and depths. I tend to troll a bit, so they're handy for getting the lure depth right. Know what you mean about travelling light. I started out that way, then started to carry more and more junk. But now I have the sounder and rod holders sorted out, I'm now reducing the amount of crap I take, and it's so much easier. This is what I've done for the sounder/rod holder mount. This is the light I've used. Pretty basic, and easy to install. Just attached to the deck behind me. The pole can be removed which is handy, and it comes with a little rubber cap to cover the hole. Also thinking of upgrading the bulb to this led version. Much brighter and a lower current draw. Both from Whitworths, but probably available elsewhere.

I've got a sounder on mine as well, so battery life isn't an issue. I've got a 7amp 12 volt in a sealed lunch box. Longest I've been on the water with sounder only is about 6 hours, and still had plenty of juice left. The light doesn't draw much, so you could get away with something smaller. Checkout dicksmith or jaycar. Another option a few of the sot guys are using is a led torch from dick smith. Stick it in the end of a piece of poly pipe. That'll then fit into a rod holder or something similar. The led's drain bugger all current so will last quite a few trips out. I learnt the hard (expensive way) to always leash gear. I've been meaning to strip mine down and take it for a surf, practice session, but the fishing always takes over. Might see you at Balmoral one day. Cheers, Steve.

True, but it's what they eat that's the issue. eg prawns are affected. So anything that eats them (which is pretty much everything) gets a dose. And so it goes up the foodchain.

Nice one. I've just added a light to my sik. I was looking at a few of the options, but eventually just went with the $25 version from Bios. It's a fixed base with the removable tube. Has a rubber seal for when it's not is use. How do you find the harbour in the sik? I'm yet to take mine there yet. Too worried I'll tip her over and not be able to get back in. Does yours have flotation in it? Cheers, Steve.

You CANNOT fish between the boatshed and the weir. You can fish from the boatshed to Ryde rd, but in yakak/canoe or row boat only. Land based, as Fletcher says is strictly west of Fiddens Wharf (roughly). Signs are around the place showing where you can and can't. It is also a lure and fly only, and catch and release only. There are Bass there, but you've got to work pretty hard for them.

Nice one Southerly. Pretty sure the other boys you ran into didn't do as well. Would also like to see a pic of your yak. Cheers, Steve.

Courtney certainly has the pace to win a race or 2 this year. Just needs to learn how to get the car off the start line...

The kayak photo is fair dinkum. Taken in South Africa. Apparently they were researching great whites at the time. Have seen it appear a few times. Mainly on kayak fishing sites you can't name here.

Bring on Clipsal

Definately have row boats, and I think they have canoes, but can't remember. Their phone number is on the gates, or try ringing national parks.

Or this for the Frigate. Also called a frigate tuna. If you look at the tail closely you can see the speed bumps like a tuna. They go will on bream gear.

Guys, I sent an email off a week or two ago to the subscription service regarding this very question and was told that the recent lure promos were run by the newsagents, not by the magazine, so subscription issues would not get them. Hope this helps, Steve.

I did as Maddog did. Hired 2 Fairlanes from Avis (pretty sure it was avis). A tip though. Don't tell them it's for a wedding. The price is different. Just means you have to put your own ribbon on.

Have got the same set-up for my car. What I did was get some flat aluminium (about 1 inch wide and 1 or 2mm think) and bend it to the shape below to make 2 brackets. Ends up being about 6-8 inches long. Obviously the middle bit is the shape of your roof rack. This goes under the rack, the rod tube goes on top. Then using big hose clamps (4), just clamp the whole lot together. Mine went from Sydney to Bris and back and Syd to the Snowy mountains a few times for no problems at all. Hope this makes sense. Steve.

Actually saw a story on the ones in Botany on a kids program a few months ago. Totally Wild or something I think. Very interesting. Also saw the 'exclusive' on Ch 9.

It's a tough little waterway, and being land based makes it even tougher. Carp won't take lures as a general rule. You sometimes see the odd one taken, but it's more fluke than anything. Those mullet are crazy fish. Half the time I reckon they're being spooked by their mates, or just jumping for fun. Have you been down there at dawn or dusk with surface lures? Also, if you aren't losing the odd lure to snags you're not getting close enough to the structure, whether it's snags or overhanging trees, or you're an expert caster. Good luck, Steve.

The Turramurra one is pretty easy to get to. Traffic lights on the corner make it accessable from both directions, although it's on the southbound side. Coles is behind it, so you can stock up on supplies at the same time. Accross the highway is a fishshop that isn't bad, and a bottleshop.

As an accountant, I shudder when I here things like that. This is your life savings here, and it's pretty easy to fu** it up. You have started off on the right path though. Ask lots of questions, and gets lot's of independant advice. People who have gone before you is where I'd be looking. Also, go for reputable advisers. There are plently of people who call themselves advisors, who have no more experience than you or I. Anyone can pick investments from the newspaper. When it comes to fees, usually you get what you pay for. Someone might be cheaper, but they may not necessarily be better. FP just like any other profession, whether it's builders, mechanics, plumbers, doctors, lawyers. There will always be someone out there cheaper, but do they know what they are doing. And just like any other profession, fees can sometimes be open to negotiation, so like MallacootaPete suggests, haggle. Now this is just my opinion. But remember, you don't get a second chance at this stage if it goes wrong. I have friends who are FP's (I'm not though) so I may be biased towards them. Depending on where you are I can give you a name or two if you want second or third opinions. PM me. Cheers, Clarkos.