bjneville

Long Tom??! That thing that smells like Kero?? WTF?!

Might sound a little bit primal, but nothing beats knocking a sashimi slab off a whiting you've just pulled in. Fresh - as in minutes fresh. Beautiful! Only problem is your not supposed to knock fillets off when you're on the water.

New Kingie wreck??

Whiting - beats any other comers hands down. Except maybe for red emporer, which I cant seem to catch in MH

Be the hatch.... Wax on, wax off

Thanks Grant. I've often wondered about that area for the kingies. The bottom structure just south of the hat looks nice and reefy, and I've seen the odd arch down there. Just have to be wary of the mooring lines

How healthy do those fish look!

Ta Jig. I know the spots. I'll give them a shot.

There's a very interesting article in the April edition of Modern Fishing, summarising recent research that suggest marine parks may actually be degrading fish stocks: Conventional wisdom dictates that Marine Park Protected Areas should be nothing but beneficial for fish stocks. However, research being gathered since 1999 by the Fisheries Research and Development Coporation (FRDC) now shows that there are several side-effects of marine park establishment which are potentially devastating to the very fish-stocks (sic) which marine protected areas aim to nurture. Studies on some Tasmanian marine protected areas have indicated areas adjacent to the sanctuaries faced significant pressure as a result of displaced fishing efforts. If this extensive, displaced effort was not brought back through structural adjustment, the management practice of stock rebuilding could be slowed or reversed. This significantly damages the adjacent areas and can eventually lead to stock collapse. Problems with the predator/prey relationships have also been evolving, as increased numbers of large predatory species have resulted in low populations of smaller marine species in protected areas. Principal investigator Colin Buxton, director of the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute at the University of Tasmania feels that while the motivation for establishing marine protected areas is not in question [who's he been speaking to? ], the science doesn't always back the claim. "If fisheries are a key threat to biodiversity then we need to address the problem head-on through good fisheries management. Marine protected areas might not be the best option and could even lead to a network of pristine areas in a sea of degraded habitat", he said. Seems those arguments we've been repeating ad nauseum might finally be finding some acceptance in more 'reputable' circles. Here's hoping someone sits up and takes notice. Tight lines all. Qwyj.

Hi Raiders, Just a couple of quick questions: Most of us know the more reliable spots to catch livies out towards the main harbour - Balmoral Island and baths, Clonnie baths etc. But does anyone know of any reasonably reliable spots above the Spit? I'm thinking places like Northbridge Baths, Cammeray Marina etc. Has anyone managed to find reliable catches of Yakkas that far up MH? Or do they need to be down near the cleaner ocean water for their livelihood? Ta guys.

Reef. The beach is too narrow and shelves off too steeply to allow any real gutters to form. You might be better off casting off the rocks to the sand/reef edge. Sweel size and direction will determine where you can do that safely

Nice one fellas How about: Burley: Material distributed over the rails to attract fish. More prolific during lumpy conditions or following a big night out. Rod holder: The poor sap who spends the entire day (still) hanging on for his first kingie, never turning a reel [me] Squidgie: That strange combination of blood, fish guts and bits of rubber you find balled together in the corner of the engine well when you're washing the boat down after a hard day out.

garyd - who's complaining??! Top catch mate

First decent use someone's made of those floating bloody gin palaces!!

Spot on Stewy

Another interesting article Pete - many thanks. I'm intrigued by the argument about having to feed these farmed fish so much in order to develop them to size - catching many smaller fish (and removing them from the consumption market) in order to develop a few larger fish. I would agree that taking these feed fish from developing economies (Africa for example) to boost ours is reprehensible Having said that, and I don't know the science around this, but how many squid & yakkas do you reckon your average Hoodlum chews through during it's formative years courtesy of Mother Nature? Qwyj

Harbour or Narra lake Hooked up?

Thanks Slinky - that's more what I was thinking of. The general boating maps don't show the contours / bottom structure (except for a basic colour gradient). I know the shops you mean (thank you too kingys). Will give them a go. Qwyj

Many thanks Peter

Here's a bit more perspective. Media beat up?? http://www.mauricemartin.net/snakehead.htm

Seems to be real..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channidae

Damn it! That's two of 'em confirmed...... :wank:

Ceph, Would that be the down-rigging knob in the black hulled Quinnie that almonst ran me down when I had the tin lids in the boat??

Morning Raiders, Can anyone suggest a good source (& ref) for a marine survey map for the harbour (& MH)? I vaguely recall someone mentioning the ref recently (slinky?) Ta, Qwyj