Jethro

Hi all It has been a couple of weeks since I have had a chance to get out for a fish. So Sunday morning I hooked the boat up for a relaxing day on the water... I get to the ramp and run through the usual check list to find the steering seized . I tried a bit of gentle persuasion but was unable to budge it. Does any one have any tips or tricks for freeing up the cable or am I up for a new one.. Thanks in advance

I don't think you could prove it either way.... but most thought it was a fake The hammerhead is real its just the story that goes with it is a bit sus

This was doing the rounds a while ago. There were quite a few people that thought it was a fake... The rope mark around the head is a bit sus and a couple of people though they were bullet holes between the eyes. Still a good hammer none the less

Have a look at one called a Sna-Hu (or something like that. They work the same way as a tackle back but they have a couple of lengths of chain hanging off the main body. The idea is if the weight of it doesn't knock it off the snag you can jiggle it up and down and get teh chain caught on one of the trebbles. You might bend a trebble or 2 but at least you get your lure back. I have used mine a couple of times to get lures back where the Tackleback has failed

You can count me in.... Its my backyard Have we got any idea of a date?? I couldn't see one listed

I dont recon it is a yakka. I would call it for a Trev of some kind..... Not a lot of help I know

G'day Dave Try giving Terrace Boating at Raymond Terrace a call. They have a mobile guy that does work on the Central Coast. Not sure about costs but they would be worth a call Their number is 4983 5600

If you are only going to use the electric for trolling it might be better to go for a transom mount motor... The main reason you see all of the bream and bass boats with a bow mount is because you are standing up the front and casting. For trolling a transom mount is much easier to use

Great topic I just did a search and 1st post on these forums was back in August 2004 under a topic about the Sydney boat show.. "Have a look at Elegant Boats I have had a look at all the usual bream/bass boats and these look great." Not an awe inspiring post. The funny thing is I ended up buying one

It was a pretty sketchy photo in the paper and I dont know a great deal about sharks but it sure looked like a GW to me Did Prof Gladstone examine the animal or just photos?? The rumour was the Pros cut it up and gave it away to fiends and were subsequently fined by Fisheries as it is a protected species

As they say its not probable but it is possible.... Stranger things have happened mate..... I remember hearing a rumour of a Great white in Tuggerah Lakes a while ago...... low an behold a month or so later it turns up on the front page of the local rag caught in a pros net I can see all the LBG guys down there today with the heavy gear.... Would make for some interesting conversations with passers by

Have to agree... You might get away without a leader in certain situations but I would be using one all the time

I'm pretty sure the channel is open at the moment but it is NOT suitable for taking a boat through.... The only craft that I have seen use it to go outside are Jet Skis There is a ramp at Cabbage Tree bay at Norah head but you will need a 4wd to launch... Otherwise The Haven is probably your best bet

Mines simple.... Fillet, skin and remove the rib cage. Dip the fillets in beer.... making sure to keep some for yourself Roll in seasoned flour (I use a little all purpose seasoning) Then straight into a hot pan Mmmmmmm

I have been speaking with a bloke at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI) and he is intersted in doing some testing on the growths... The only problem is with the head being frozen it is not in the best condition for this type of testing.... The idea sample would be live, if that cant be done just fresh and chilled..... not frozen. A fresh sample is much better for a histopathology (what ever that is) If I come across any more I have to drop it off to the local fisheries office and they will express courier it to EMAI for testing... I will be fishing the lake a bit over the holidays and will be keeping an eye out

G'day mate I have fished the breakwall at SWR for jew a few times..... Ive hooked a couple of big fish but haven't landed one as yet We have never had any problems picking up pike off the wall. We usually just jig small soft plastics down the face of the wall or run a hard body along the wall with a really eractic retrive. Other wise there are plenty of mullet in back creek.. The local co-op is also worth a look if they have fresh mulletr or tailor.... The only other adcise I can give you if you are fishing from the wall is fish heavy..... I have been rubbed out there a few times on 15kg.... It just didnt have the stopping power

Hi guys I fished Lake Macquarie again on the weekend and got a few flatties between 55-73cm. I took 3 home for a feed. Out of those 3 fish 2 had the same growth. It was not as pronounced as the fish in the photo but it was definately still there. On the up side my mate took 2 fish home and it was not in either of them.. I kept one of the heads and have sent an email off to Kevin at the DPI to see what he says

Hi all I received the following repy this morning.... It appears that the 'growths' in your flathead are likely to be cysts formed by a microspridian parasite. They certainly look very similar to some photos which have been published in journal articles which show 'white cysts, grossly visible' on the gills arches of the inffected fish. There are many species of such parasites which infect marine fish (and most other members of the animal kingdom, including insects, reptiles and even humans in some cases) and they usually occur in a specific tissue (e.g. the intestine, stomach or as in the case of your fish, the gills and / or buccal cavity). Microspridia are very small, primitive true-celled organisms, which are not really well known to science. I have come across quite a few examples reported for fish, and generally the infection does not seem to be deleterious to the host organism (unless they are stressed in some other way, e.g. by temperature stress or lack of food). Although some types of microsporidians infect humans, they appear to be fairly host specific and so do not present a danger to humans consuming the flesh of an infected fish (especially if the flesh is cooked first). To confirm that the growths are indeed such cysts would require histological examination using a microscope, which is not in our normal line of work here and would probably need to be done at the Museum or a parisitology department of a University. The occureence of one (or a small number of) infected fish in Lake Macquarie is not something to be concerned about - however if you come across many infected fish within a catch they that may require further investigation. Hope this information helps - please contact me again if you require any further information. This is the 1st of these growths that I have seen. I will have to keep an eye out tyo see if we come across any more

Thanks pete I will shoot an email off now and let eeveryone know what he has to say

I sent an email to fisheries a few eeks ago now... and still no reply. Does anyone have an email address other than the genral one on the DPI site??

G'day mate I will be in Grafton around Christmas and will be coming back to the Central Coast around the 27th of December.... If thats any help just shoot me a PM

I needed that laugh.. Glad eveyone made it home safe and sound. All I can say is LOVE YOUR WORK

I play in the APL about 3 night a week up here on the Central Coast...... Had my 1st win last night Also play a bit on Fulltilt when I am meant to be working

Heading off to Port Macquarie for the bream Classic If we run true to form at least we will bring home a feed of Flatties

Mmmmm... love a good feed of gar Sounds like a trip to Dora Creek could be in order. How far up the creek were you fishing??