spence

Keeping their head underwater is a good strategy.....headshakes only happen on the surface

Hello Hookmeup: 20 poddies in a bucket is a lot without an aerator - 15 - 20 minutes and all oxygen gone

Hello Diver 1, Hook up through the lip and out the top small plate area. I use to use the Khale wide gaps as they are thin and perfect for the wide flattie mouth, but have gone back to a thicker octopus type, because I have had some instances of broken hooks as they are very thin, but I would think this could be overcome by checking on them regularly. I find the octopus hooks work well esp for larger poddies. I use VERY light sinker, just enough to impede the poddie (as said in prev posts). As for drag, I have a lightish drag and lock it up depending on size of fish. I like to let them run and use a strike technique otherwise they can spit bait out. All this said I must admit the highest hook up rate for me is an unattended rod in a rod holder.

thanks guys

I am considering ordering a downrigger from USA. It would be used for Sydney Harbour. What weight/capacity should I look for? It will be used on my 14 foot tinnie, any info would be appreciated; thanks Rod

Good idea, i will look at a cigarette lighter type or similar, I might even put an on off switch in. I run a good quality deep cycle battery for the electric motor so I think it will handle running a small pump, but I think having read all the comments I will mount the pump in the esky/container although I may have to manually add some water unless I can get one that runs dry. I will have a hose over the transom and an outlet valve over the side. thanks for your help, spence

Thanks for that guys they are good idea's and I'll probably do something like that. I was looking in the shops at large round water containers - they might decrease any sloshing of the water and keep the livies from getting sloshed and sick? I think the containers are tall enough so they could sit on the floor and be higher than the edge of my tinnie (quintrex explorer - which has low sides). They also have a small tap style outlet valve at the base which would make it easy to get the water out. Also what about a pump that sucks the other way? Could it be mounted in the esky with a simple hose over the transom to pull the water in and a gravity fed release hose over the side?

Hi all, I fish from a tinnie in the harbour. I use a small live bait net for my livies which is okay but is no good when travelling/trolling. I have a good quality bilge pump not being used and am wondering if any resourcefull fisho's can give me some suggestions on making a live bait tank. The ones I have looked at in the shops are expensive and only aerate the water (don't re-circulate) thanks rod

Na mate - not surface flatties - im sure someone will know what they are though.

Went out yesterday armed with some nice poddy mullet to chase my favourite species - the humble flathead. Hit the water at 6am and had a few early hook-ups around 35cms. Then a major hook-up and my 4lb braid heads west at a fast heavy pace over about 5 feet of sand. Try and stop it and turn it's head but it was impossible and ping! 12lb trace breaks and flattie is gone. Moped around and spoke with my mate about how big it would have been and popped out another nice poddy mullet. A school of tailor demolished a number of poddy mullet till finally another solid hook-up. I said not as big as the last one but still decent. Pulled her up after a few nice runs and saw the hook was not in the mouth but she was hooked under the chin. Very carefully netted in the enviro net and measured at exactly 70cm. Released in good condition and back at the ramp at 10am with no keepers but still happy as it is a new pb for me. Here she is:

Hi all, I am looking to add a downrigger to my tinnie; I fish inside. I haven't used one before and would appreciate advice as regards to what I should look for - what weight, types, any frequent problems etc.....I was leaning towards a portable one.... thanks Spence

Hit middle harbour today with the wife. Put out some live poddy mullet and live yellow tail and crab net. No kingies or flatties today but picked up 2 nice blue swimmers. Here is a picture of one of them, they were both 10cm male. Also I am thinking of getting a downrigger - it will only be used inside : can anyone suggest what size and whether the small portable ones are any good?..any info appreciated

Steve, use live poddy mullet for flatties. Squid works well too, will get you onto smaller fish and flatties will take it too. rod

thanks for that info on yellow tail guys, i'll add the spit bridge to my little list in my head. spence.

Good report GAM - I suspect I was at the same marker yesterday as i remember that boat; I was by myself in a small 385 qunitrex with a 30 Honda on the back. I only had white stick baits as well but they managed to work, especially close to the bouy. Unfortunately I only had light gear and had trouble landing them. I couldn't get any squid either OR any yellow tail; would you (or any other raiders) be able to tell me where you got the yellow tail from? I tried my usual (Balmoral) and none around... thanks spence

Hi all, my 30hp Honda cuts out at idle....it runs okay at anything above idle but eventually runs out of petrol at idle. (Unless I keep pumping the primer). I have checked the valves and fuel lines and can;t find any leak. Tank is full of petrol. Any suggestions????

Hi all, my propellor has a split in one of the fans and is in general knocked about condition. It is on a 30hp honda. Does anyone know where i can get it reconditioned in Sydney, I know a guy on the central coast but local would be better, thanks rod.

Went out yesterday in local lake - wife fished with live poddy mullet and I flicked around with sp's. She landed 3 flatties including her equal pb of 49cm and I flicked pumpkinseed SP's for zero - wife gobbin off all arvo about being the lizard queen. We were using 4lb braid with 12lb flurocarbon leader. I use to have 6lb leader but upgraded due to some larger fish being caught. Maybe the 12lb is too heavy for light SP's and may account for reduction in hook ups???? any thougts.

Hi drift fisher, I trap them in a home made trap, flatties/flounders love'em

Went out from little manly at the gentlemanly hour of 7:30am. Tried for some squid but no luck. Had live poddy mullet and due to impending storm stayed in close and fished a small sandy beach. Picked up some flatties including this fat 60cm model. Really healthy looking and took a few nice runs on my 4lb braid. Released unharmed and last seen swimming westwards. Bye bye big girl

that's a long way to go. I saw on a fishing show the other week a father fishing with his youg son in Penrith. Must be Nepean river. Catching bass and mullet.

Flightmanager, please register me for the social (Spence69 plus 2)

Hi all, I have recently had a crack at blackfish fishing and fortunately was given some good advice from some local blackfish fisho's that has resulted in some quick results. My wife really liked the blackfish to eat although I wasn't overly keen....can any of you blackfish specialists give me some tips on how to prepare and cook the fish. Also does it freeze? thanks spence

Hi all that's a great read on the lake. I fish there regularly too in a tinnie but more so in the channel in front of the caravan park and near the woollies bridge. Naturally enough I find live poddies work best and definately the bigger flatties in Spring as lately they have all been smaller which is better to keep anyway as they taste better and I let most big ones go. After reading these posts I think I will also try plastics up the back. You guys have been very liberal with your info. I have caught some small and massive long toms all over the lake. The first one was massive and leapt out of the water and I shat myself. They just keep going round and round the boat in a clockwise circle and they fight hard. They have hit my live poddies and I have had them follow soft plastics to the surface but not take them. No doubt I will see some of you out there this summer... spence

Hi wammo: There are flatties all over: channel, near the top bridge and up the back off pipeclay point, also off the weed beds pittwater road. Water still a bit cool though and I have been getting mainly larger females....spence