davebrewer

While you're doing the rounds,check out the Innovator Nitros-I think they're around $270. Cheers, Dave.

Great report guys,glad you had a fun trip.Terrific pics as usual. Cheers, Dave

I turn the reel then hold the back of it and the rod with my fingers (left hand) and hold the front lip and the line on to it with my thumb;as you cast,release with your thumb.I could never get the hang of using my finger to hold the line on the spool either.Hope this helps, Dave.

Gooday Will,look at Jewgaffer's post in the Hawkesbury Tips thread-he's always on the money.There are a few spots in Pittwater in the flathead section in the Articles link above,which would be a good starting point.As always,try and be as quiet as possible especially in shallow water.Enjoy! Cheers, Dave.

Laugh or cry FF, laugh or cry.

I was reading an article on this only last night Bigfoot,by Leanne and Rob Payne.They've used the type of gear you're talking about with 9 gm jigheads and 3" Ecogear grassminnows for a while now,working around the low tides,with good results.After wading for three hours on midstream flats today for 2 dropped fish the idea of having a whole beach to wander along,where the fish wouldn't get the concentration of effort my usual spots cop in the holiday period,is pretty interesting.I reckon worms and shads would be worth a go in the surf too-I got 5 flatties on Saturday on one of those little mullet looking Storm shads so am pretty impressed with them just now.The caspar? clear power minnows pull flatties too-I think they're a good match for whitebait and they really show up well in clear water. Cheers, Dave.

What species have you had results on Grant? Cheers, Dave.

Congrats Pmak.As you said,you are only allowed one EP over 35cm,but from the DPI website it looks like there's no minimum length,which is surprising,since you are allowed a limit of two.That in possession bit refers to any you may have,even in your fridge,as I've had it explained to me. Cheers, Dave

Thanks Dicko,I meant Sx 40s-you'd think I'd have got that right considering how much I've spent on them. You can get them a bit cheaper on Ebay sometimes.That's why this idea of SP's got me thinking-I don't care about losing them. Cheers, Dave.

I know they'll work where there are lights to attract fish like flathead.Some bream guys use HBs at night like WX40's by making a bit of noise with them,and poppers sure work at night,so I think SPs would have to be worth trying-I'd be trying to figure out which types produce the most vibration and scent dispersal,and which colours would be most visible in low light.You've got me thinking anyway!Good question UOMESX . Cheers, Dave.

Don't be cynical JayKay-I'm convinced there are strong scientific imperatives making the access during the tounament entirely necessary for the preservation of the otherwise devastatingly overutilised resources within said fishery.Shame on you! Cheers, Dave.

Map here Ray: http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/pdf/psglmp-zoning-plan-lo-res.pdf Essentially,western half OK,eastern half closed for about 2km seaward then a cone for 'seasonal recreation trolling',whatever the hell that means, out east to sea for another 6 or so.Sigh. What are you blokes going there for anyway-you seem to get enough to stock a fishshop every time you run out to the bay! Cheers, Dave.

. They do impact me Dave. I basically grew up at a holiday house in Bawley Point and some of my favourite fishing grounds fall within the BB marine park. Fortunately, though, the sanctuary zones only cover a small area and I am still easily able to wet a line whenever I want in some extremely productive areas. Then don't you care if the lockouts have a valid basis?Or are you suggesting it's in our interests to cop whatever the government of the day feels like throwing at us without question?Your seeming acquiesence would carry more weight if you actually lived in an affected area.I think we're probably going to have to agree to disagree on ths issue,Mondo.It's been diverting,to say the least. Cheers, dave.

While sitting around waiting to see if this damn norwester will abate in time for a fish for flatties on the last of the runout,I've just been browsing our Fishraider articles, and there sure is a lot of great info there-well worth a look! Cheers, Dave.

Too true Ian-the Batemans Bay example is a case in point of the shape of things to come if they get their way.The whole process was scathingly condemned by Professor Bob Kearney at a national conference of fish biologists last month,where he took the "scientific evidence" used to justify the Park's establishment to pieces item by item. ahttp://aerg.canberra.edu.au/reprints/2007_Kearney_pros_cons_marine_protected_areas_NSW.pdf It is fairly technical in places but well worth reading.The summary is on pages 14-16.We all owe it to ourselves,our kids and future generations of anglers to be aware of the forces operating to steal our birthright for no better reason than unsupported advocacy backed by political expediency. Cheers, Dave.

Just my 2 bobs' worth:get the best winch you can afford and buy a spare handle for it.Have a decent length of rope for the rear of the boat(I have one rigged on each side ready for use as necessary to save mucking around);it makes loading easier by letting you control the back of the boat in wind,current etc while starting to winch on.I also use a coupling lock and one of those yellow wheel clamps at home and at the ramp-they only take seconds to fit,and there are some real bastards around so it's well worth it.Having said that,there are always plenty of good people at ramps only too happy to give you a hand,so don't be afraid to ask if you need help. HTH, Dave.

Fishfillet-good to see yet another Coastie on the site!

That's a good tip about the hire boats-there are a lot of flats midstream in the area that you can just beach on and wade on the runout, and keeper flathead are starting to show up-suckers for a slow SP;I got a few on Tuesday on a clear power minnow at Wagstaff. Dave.

Haven't tried it yet myself but a guy I know has been doing well on flathead using SPs at night off any brightly lit spot he finds around there-I'll be trying black HBs as well when I get around to it (good silhouette).HTH, Dave.

Great report and pics,and a great result again Shannon.I reckon your rig is doing the job pretty well! Cheers, Dave.

Good on you Nick-looks like you've got the hang of sp's faster than me .Nothing like leaping sambos ! Cheers, Dave.

Good on you Shannon! What a great post to come home to after a tough day-can't wait to get out and have a fish now.Might just wander over to Patonga this week. Cheers, Dave.

I've ordered a Jarvis Walker 34lb Watersnake for my canoe-I went for it on the basis of good reports from other users,especially re. aftersale support,which hasn't always been the case with other brands,and of price-they are heaps cheaper than the others.You might be better looking at a bowmount,depending on how you fish-I'm tossing up putting one on my 5.4m Coxcraft but that is going to cost,and I'm not keen on cutting the bowrail.You'd probably only need a 44lb 12v though-$499 +battery etc, or $289 for a transom mount are the best prices I've found so far. Cheers, Dave.