Croydon

Hi Payatz, I know exactly how you feel. Last season I raised 4 marlin, hooked 3 and lost them all on lures! This season I haven't been able to raise a fish. Went out today off Batemans Bay, trolled skirts, baits everything I could think of and still 0's! But as they say that's game fishing. It is disheartening but i've put too much time, effort and money into it to give up now. Just gotta keep bashing away at it. All the best and good luck.............Dave

Now that is a nightmare!! Shall slip out to the shed and make sure they are tight. (and the beer fridge is on) Thanks again..... Dave

G'day Boofhead, Tackled this very same job today and your instructions were fantastic (haven't road tested the trailer yet though!)But all went to plan, your list of tools (ie. beer) was spot on. Thanks for all the effort you've gone too it's fantastic....... Dave

Thanks guys the replies are much appreciated. I've just bought a couple of second hand Tiagra 50w's which appear to be working well but it would be great to strip them down and know all is well. Thanks again for your time guys.. Dave

Thanks slinky, much appreciated. I'll keep going as I have done in the past. Really enjoying the new tackle segment great job and thanks............ Dave

Hi folks, I was reading through another post and read a comment by slinky regarding lightly hosing overhead reels with fresh water and the comment which caught my attention was with the drag done up, MOST BUT NOT ALL. I only ask, because I know some guys who spray their Tiagras with the drag in free spool and the clicker on. I was under the impression that they should be lightly sprayed with fresh water, drag on. I was wondering if anyone on the forum had an opinion? I generally clean my overheads with drag on, light spray of fresh water and a wipe over with INOX. Thanks.... Dave

Hi folks, Have the same thing here out of Batemans Bay. Slimies everywhere in close...... Went out wide the other day trolling skip baits for marlin, only to find two free jumping in 30 fathoms between the Toll Gates and South Durras, still couldn't hook one though! Hopefully tomorow will be the day......... Dave

Wide Open Throttle........

Hi folks, Headed out of Batemans Bay yesterday to the 70 - 80 fathom mark and commenced trolling lures to the south. We ended up north east of Montague Island without a touch, other than a regular striped tuna or two. Bait was thick at times but well down. Water temp was around 22 - 23 deg and electric blue. On turning back we headed wide out over the shelf for a similar result. Swell wasn't too bad for the day however the wind blew NE to 25knts from lunchtime onwards. All in all a great day out even without the fish...... We did hear on the radio that another boat picked up a striped marlin of about 90kg on a skip bait, due east of the Bay. There's been a few reports of individual captures but there's a fair bit of water between them. So if your thinking of heading down for the tournament, all the signs are good just need the fish to show up in numbers. Best of luck and hope to see some raiders down here. Dave

Well done Craig, congratulations! As the girls say, size does not matter (but we know better). Fantastic fish and a magic result. All the best for chrissy and the new year.......... Dave (Hook 4 and lost each one of 'em but getting closer!!)

Hi Mate, I've had a 560C barcrusher for about 18 months now. It was about 2 years old when I bought it and has a 115hp yamaha 2 stroke on the back. I've got to say i'm very happy with the boat. It's versatile and very well made. I can launch and retrieve it on my own, yet it's big enough to take a few mates to the shelf on a good day. Not too many negatives I can think of really. It is a little weight sensitive and needs to have the weight distributed evenly throughout the boat. It does throw a bit of spray when you get a cross wind and bit of chop, but if you pull the roof down you stay nice and dry. But for me at 183cm, with the roof down the driving position is a little bit uncomfortable but I'm now use to it. If you fill the fuel tank to full on a hot day fuel can be expelled from the breather which is also a pain and I've also had water forced back through the breather into the tank which is not good. With a minor modification the water problem is now fixed. All in all, they are well built, very sea worthy and a great all round fishing boat. I love it and won't be changing any time soon. Good luck with the boat search.......... Dave

Thanks guys, A couple of great ideas, simple but effective. I hadn't thought of either. Doing a bit of a search of the internet today and see what else I can come up with, but you guys have got me on the right track. Thanks........... Dave

Hi folks, Just a quick question for the Bar Crusher owners on the site (and anyone else with great ideas). I was wondering what ideas you folks have come up with, for tackle storage in the space under the two front seats. It's a big wasted area for me at the moment and I'm not really sure what to do with it just yet. I'd like to mount some tackle trays/boxes under both seats which won't slide out and around the boat. I'm not sure how to go about it just yet and was wondering if you guys have come up with any nifty ideas??? All comments and photo's would be greatly apprecaited. Thanks................. Dave

Hi Jas, The maps that have been put up are excellent and spot on. Snapper Island, which is the first little island east of the bar is a great spot for live bait. Just burley on the south east side with fish scraps and a bit of bread and you'll pick up small yakkas and slimey mackeral. On both sides of the Bay where the rocks have a fair amount of weed you'll find squid if you look hard enough. Drop into one of the tackle shops in town and pick up a marine park map. The fines can ruin a good weekend. Hope you have a good weekend and catch the big one.... Dave

G'day Warnie, Thanks for the reply mate. You wouldn't believe it, my brother and I were just having the same conversation before dinner tonight. We are heading out early in the morning to pick up some good size slimies, to bridle rig and troll the same areas we've picked up the two fish. We intend on trolling both live and dead baites during the day and see how things go. Hopefully we end up with a better hook up rate and add a few pictures to the story. Thanks again to everyone it's much appreciated.... Dave

Thanks guys, it's frustrating but fantastic fun. I was out again today, and you guessed it, same result on the same lure. Another nice fish, with a few jumps and then the hooks get spat back at us. As I said better than no fight... Dave

Hi Folks, Well for the past few weeks, when the weather allows, my mates and I have been getting out off Batemans Bay targetting our first Marlin. To say it's been a steep learning curve is the proverbial understatement. A lot of reading, asking questions and just old fashioned trying. Last week we raised out first Marlin off a nice little bait school, it had a look at the lure spread, nudged a couple and then swam away. Now that was exciting!! This morning a mate and I headed out in my 560 Barcrusher. It was a strange day weather wise, light noreaster, 1.5 - 2.5m swell but very overcast. A combination of cloud, fog and a haze from recent burn offs. All in all a promising morning. Started to troll north east from the 60 fathom line and about 10.20am, the water had gotten up to 23.1 or so in 65 fathoms, from a cool 20 in close. As we trolled I spotted a small school of bait skittering across the surface and turned towards it. As we rounded where I thought they were the port side rigger goes off and runs about 2 metres. I picked up the rod (you gotta be quick) thinking we had picked up a small striped tuna, a couple of turnes of the reel and it had stripes all right!! Out of the water, some 20ft away came what I called as a striped Marlin with a body length of around 8ft and quite fat. It was all lit up and the most beautiful sight I have ever seen on the water. She did some head shakes and a few more acrobatics and then dived under, towards the boat!! That was bloody exciting!!! At the same time, my mate is busy pulling in lines, 2 of which were crossed, trying to drive the boat away from the fish with his third hand and grab the camera with his toes. It was mayhem but damn fun. But as luck would have it, the hooks pulled and the fish was gone, never to be seen again. We trolled for the rest of the day and didn't turn another handle. Them's the breaks. We picked up the fish on a lumo Pakula Cockroach. Guess what we're doing tomorrow....... Sorry no pics this time, my mate ain't fast enough with his toes I guess.......... Dave

Hi Tobe, I went out on a Marlin charter today out of Batemans Bay. Had a fantastic day on the water, but also didn't turn a reel! You ain't alone in Sydney. All the best........ Dave

That is just fantastic guys, I raised my first to the back of my boat the other day, but it didn't like the look of us and swam away. I hope I don't have tow ait 3 years........ Well done boys....... Dave

Thanks Anthony and KF, I've seen the black pete kits but wasn't sure of their quality. Atleast now I have a starting point and as i fish more, I'll work out what I need, want and just plain HAVE TO HAVE!! Boys and their toys.... Thanks guys for the input, just have to get out there now and have a go. All the best...... Dave

HI Scott, Thanks for that. I've been using Jinkai for all my lighter traces for a while now and it's been great. I had a chat with my local tackle supplier here in Batemans Bay yesterday and picked up some 250lb Momoi trace, quality pliers, crimps, protective tubing and in line circles. Will spend the day off today making up some traces and going through the gear for a bit of an effort while I'm off next week (weather permitting). Thanks for the info. It's a bit of a learning curve from snapper and the like to the larger sports fish, but plenty of fun to be had on the way. I'm jumping onboard with a local charter in the next couple of weeks and hope to pick up a few tips hands on. I can read all I like but I always learn more having a go, making a few mistakes on the way. Makes for a few good stories over a beer anyway. Much appreciated and thanks again..... Dave

G'day Bat, Thanks for the tips mate, sounds like a plan. What brand of leader material do you prefer? Thanks again.... Dave

Hi folks, I was hoping to pick the brains of a few people out there. I'm just starting to get into some game fishing here in Batemans Bay from a 560C Bar Crusher, running 15kg and 24kg mono on all reels, such as Tiagra and Okuma 30's and Tld 50's. I've been slowly picking up a few lures which are already rigged but I'd like to make up my own and prepare traces for livebaiting and the like. My question is, what type of terminal tackle and rigging kits should I be looking at? Is it worth purchasing an already made up kit with crimping tool, crimps, shackles, leader etc? A few kits I've seen have a few hundred individual items for different line classes/purposes and retail for aound $200, but I'm not sure of their quality. Or would a few well chosen items be more suitable for my needs? What do you guys think? I'd rather have a smaller quality range of terminal tackle suited to the line classes I'm fishing than a heap of stuff that never gets wet. Any thoughts on the subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance....... Dave

Hi Joe, You lucky bugger, what I'd give for a week in the Territory. It's a magnificent spot that any fisherman would love. I've been lucky enough to have 4 or 5 trips up north and loved every one of them. The last was back in April fishing places like shady camp. Went with a local guide and just brained it. Out first morning out, between 3 guys saw 101 barra hit the boat. In the end the best went to my mate at 108cm!!!! I'm no expert by any means, but I really believe that a small to medium baitcaster and matched rod is the go. You are casting all day long and an eggbeater is a real pain in the butt. I'd look at any of the known brands, middle of the range price spooled with 20 - 30lb braid and you can't go wrong. I personally like the shimano calcutta's but any brand of similar wuality will stop 99% of fish you come across. You will need some heavy mono for leader but that's about it........ As for lures, take a selection of hard bodies and softies, of varying sizes and colours and your in with a pretty big chance. My mate caught his 108cm monster on a slow trolled Reidy's brown bomber or similar. But we caught most fish on all types of soft plastics of varying sizes. Just keep trying something different until you find what works. Good luck with the trip and most of all, have fun!!!! Dave