Ah Me Ting

Well, now armed with coffee and a keyboard, here goes. For me, my greatest fishing memory is elicited every time I see the picture below. Let me set the scene. BB, (before boat), back in 2008 / 2009 we had been taking our daughter 'land based' fishing at Hastings Point on the Tweed Coast in Northern NSW on and off for just over a year. I'd 'target' the always biting small bream on the western side of the bridge (young kids, attention span vs entertainment factor). Using a half prawn, small hook and very light sinker, I'd bait up, cast out, and hand her the rod. Which to our 'surprise' she ALWAYS seemed to have caught a fish. She'd reel them and in, and we'd repeat. So, fast forward to May 2009, our daughter 4 at the time, and we're down there again, but due to some other people fishing in our usual spot, we were fishing on the Eastern side of the bridge. With the bream confined to the Western side, I changed up the rig and hoped for a Flattie to show up while her attention span and excitement of going fishing lasted. A few casts and a few nibbles, but nothing caught, so her excited was going fast since I had set the expected of plenty of fish on previous visits. So, I put on a whole prawn and cast out into a drop off on the Northern side (we were on the Southern bank). Now, keep in mind, this is with a 2' 'ugly stick' combo we'd picked up from a shop. A great little combo and at a good price at the time, that little rod did a lot of work. Reel never missed a beat for years, and the rod outlasted her desire to use it (kids grow, so she wanted a bigger rod like her cousins etc. - ah 'rod' envy starts young hey?) And, so, within literally a second of the bait hitting the water, it was struck, so I handed her the rod. I did not know at that point what was about to unfold. Otherwise I might have thought twice! So, she starts to hold the rod, and wind, and says 'dad, I got something' ... so I encourage her to wind it in. She starts, but it starts to pull her.... A bit panicked, she pulls back on the rod, and gets some ground, and instinctively winds as she gets the slack. Yep, the full on pump and wind in action! Over and over, she would pull back, and wind ... and all I could do was watch and encourage, with a smile the size of Sydney Harbour bridge. After a minute she started to tire, so I just encouraged her to keep going. A few people had started to notice the 'action' now, and her little rod bending so heavily. She keep going, and in the next minute the fatigue on her little arms was showing, but she had made good ground so I told her to just walk backwards up the sand ... which she did, and in about 20 steps, she had the fish up and onto the sand out of the water. Stoked!

Mrs Ting thinks she needs a 'softer ride'. Apparently she doesn't like it too rough or bouncy. I've told to her sit further back. Compared to the Stessco Squire 385, this new Quintrex Renegade with it's blade hull is much softer, smoother. But, she still complains. I just can't slow down for the life of me. I like the chop, taking on wake and waves.

👍 What's the boat? Obviously a cabin ally style. Make, model, motor?

Welcome aboard Brett. I've only ever fished freshwater 3 times in my life and caught nudda, zip, zero, zilch. If I ever venture near fresh again, I'll hit you up for some tactics because, for me No fish = more beer = hangover. As I get older I don't do hungover well. Even less so being hours from the nearest KFC !!! PS: keep ya eye on the new 'fishing memories' thread. I'll be posting a pic you'll appreciate given the age of your daughter. 😉

Great thread / topic@GoingFishing !!! 👍 Sheesh, I'm going to need a coffee and a keyboard to write up mine. Tapping away on my phone just doesn't feel 'right' for all the memories.

Would that be me? Ah Me Ting

Rod enthusiasts might know more, but before I bought a combo from a shop a couple of years ago I looked into rods, and particularly the lower end Shimano graphite rods. At the time, I ended up with a couple of Shimano Sonic Pro rods, which I understood to be a rebadged Catana rod. Part of the pricing and distribution agreement with a shop and other stores has a shop (just like Bunnings does) with a lower price point due to bulk volume sales but to protect other retailers the products are rebadged.

Agreed. I wonder how many people understand what happens on a boat if there is a fire. I think in a lot of set ups, it's purely luck it doesn't happen more often.

Family Time 👍

Excuse my blatantly unashamedly biased opinion, but it sounds like typical clubbie mentality. Self opinionated and self promoted to think they're great and above normal human physical ability fuelled by pack mentality, but actually quite useless to society. As a life long surfer I've encountered the egotistical morons on numerous occasions. Undoubtedly there are some who don't act like this, but, truth is they are the minority and they never seem to pull up this type of behaviour by their brothers in clubbie colours. In fact, only on Wednesday night I was out fishing and one such group of surf boat rowing geniuses were on the water. Way past dark and not a single light on their 'boat'. With 5 on board, a sweep and 4 rowers, a fishing boat on plane would clean them up and the skipper of said power boat would be held accountable. I yelled at them to be responsible and have navigation lights, but in typical clubbie fashion all they could do was yell back foul language. Unfortunately for them I video them with my phone, including their foul language response. A copy has been sent to SLSA and the State and Federal Sports Minister(s). It's high time they stopped having their sport subsidised by the taxpayers of Australia. Half-price surf skis, boards and even travel and accommodation to events all on the auspice of saving lives. It's BS and needs to stop.

Pics?

How'd you go? Did you end up getting a boat?

While the OP has made their purchase, this thread will show for others researching over time, so my $0.02 worth in no particular order: - know your weather. I 100% agree with the comment to not rely upon an app on your phone. Check actual weather maps for your area and watch the weather whenever outside. Learn where the bad weather comes from, and how the weather rolls in when turning bad. Every area is different. This knowledge can save lives when going wide offshore. - if weather turns really bad, there is no need to punch straight into chop. Sometimes you might be better cutting across the swell and chop, at more or less speed. Zig zag in, get to the lee of land and track the coast. - carry extra fuel. When you get caught by bad weather, knowing you have enough fuel to get home is a good feeling. The heart in mouth feeling of not having enough isn't fun. - a bigger boat loaded badly is just as bad as a smaller boat loaded and handled well by an experienced skipper. Watch load balancing, especially forward and aft, but obviously port and starboard too. - if in doubt, don't go out. What I feel comfortable in, and the ocean I'd take a small boat out in will be different to you. Boating experience / knowledge and ocean savy all play a part in our ability to get home safely. My rule is simple: if I doubt I can get my crew home safe, I don't go. I've spent my life on and near the ocean. At age 14 I bought a 6m Milligan Nipper with a 75hp Mercury home, across and through a whitewater bar because the skipper went down with kidney stones. That experience shaped my respect for being prepared on the ocean. I know how to handle boats, know what a boat can do, but never push the risk of the return trip for he sake of ego. No size of boat, or motor, can undo or out weigh your ability to understand the ocean. An 8m fibreglass cabin boat in inexperienced hands is just as dangerous as a 4m open tinnie in an old salts hands ... On the wrong ocean. Respect the ocean. Choose a boat for the ocean within your range of respect.

Just to add my $0.02 worth (I'll try n post a pic later). I put my EPIRB and Fire Extinguisher onto the underside of the front storage hatch (one with the seat socket). That way both are well away from any fuel / battery risks and easily accessible in an emergency. I stow lifejackets in that storage hatch too, along with my boating safety bag. So all my safety gear is stowed and accessed from the same location. I figure in an emergency, I want quick easy access to them all.

Just came across these two YouTube videos of another Renegade setup. Blokes made a few mods which are rather interesting.

As crazy as it sounds, make sure you run your motor wiring (including via the switch you mention) direct to the battery. Don't use any buss bars or link other +ve or -ve wiring. Just get it straight to the battery, with its own fuse of course. Cross over current from motor to other electrical is cause of many issues. Did you run a dual Battery set up? If so, check the wiring through the battery switch.

😕 ... Maybe, the "O" might get crossed out? 🙄

If you have the space to store the deck wash hose, I think that could work. Need to work out how to plumb it so you can keep water flowing through the live bait tank. Maybe? a simple water flow switch to direct water to either deck wash outlet or the live bait tank. I'm still considering the addition of a deck wash hose / pump into our new boat. Being able to wash off fish gunk and bait from gunnels, hands and even the floor would be handy at times. Just not sure where to store the deck wash hose. I'd look to combine the deck wash and live bait tank pumps / plumbing. Another 'project' for the new boat. Might wait for more bad weather.

That's AWESOME! How's the young fella's face ... stoked. Well done @Coswecanfly ... hope huey n the fishing gods look after you in return.

Hey Crew. This # of rods or lines thing ... remember too different rules in different states. From the NSW link: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-rules-and-regs/perm-prohib-saltwater If you read down further it states: Prohibited ... Line fishing You are not permitted to: Carry excess fishing lines in, on, or adjacent to waters. Spare lines should not be rigged and should be properly stowed. (Note: I added that bit of bold and underline emphasis) 😯 ... 🙄 ... 😕 ... ??? Can't say I have ever been pulled up for having my 4 rods all rigged. Fisheries and Maritime are pretty active on the Tweed River - think they like to catch the unknowing Queenslanders with their cast nets. And, while on the topic of Queenslanders, their 'fishing lines' rule(s) are here: https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-fishing/rules/equipment And, it states for 'fishing lines': Freshwater No more than six fishing lines should be used alone or combined. A fishing line should not be set as a cross-line. Only one hook or artificial fly/lure can be attached to a line. You can’t be more than 50m away from any of your fishing lines. Tidal water Up to three fishing lines are permitted consisting of a total of six hooks. A fly or lure is considered equal to one hook. A cross line, drum line, free-floating line or set line is not included as a fishing line. You must be present with the line at all times. Be SO much easier is we had standard rules across Australia. 😉

@yting mate, you need to take it back to the retailer. Under Australia Consumer Law ('ACL') the retailer is responsible for the goods. It might be a 'cheaper' priced reel than others around, but that doesn't change the fact the product is faulty. Even if you use Mono or heavier braid, that little crevice can still cause problems. Don't stuff around. Get your receipt and the product and take it back. Under ACL you have the right, rights. Any reputable retailer will resolve it ASAP. If not, the ACCC and Office of Consumer Affairs in your state need a complaint lodged ASAP.

On my last boat (Stessco Squire 385) I installed a Rule bilge pump and never had any problems. I used it a lot when out tubing as both the wash over the back and pulling the tube back in held water between tide and cover) would add unwanted weight. Coped a few waves over the nose crossing bars in the Tweed Coast. In 7 years it never missed a beat. I flushed it out after every trip and had quality marine tinned wiring. Installed a Rule in the new boat, and again quality marine tinned wiring. It too is getting a flush after each trip.

I reckon this is the most under rated issue, especially for active blokes. Doctors don't seem to even consider the impact, so it's left to family and friends to realise, react and take action. So, mate, here's a few ideas for you: do the long over due maintenance on all your fishing reels. sort out all your tackle. make up a heap of rigs for all your fishing needs. replace or repair all the worn runners on your rods. clean out, sort out, the 'bait' freezer. I'm sure all ya mates will be happy to give you their reels and gear to sort out too. 🙄 Perhaps you can start taking rig making requests? 😲

Mate, medical costs these days, and government funding 'n all ... I doubt it. Probably more likely from the Masters closing down sale. 🙄

Bingo! There is a little group of shops, and parking area across the road near them. The shallow channel runs along there and you can walk across, low tide, no more than about knee deep. And, as you can see, it's a BIG sandbar with plenty of Flathead hunting ground north, south, east and west.