alasdair

Hi guys. I was lucky enough to get a very nice present from the for christmas. I will be heading up north chasing some barramundi for a couple of days, might try and squeeze in some light bluewater stuff as well. I am using this as an excuse to buy some new tackle ( so I can enjoy the trip to the full!) Am looking at a spin outfit, 8 kilo ish, 6-7 ft, will be using braid. I have max $400 to spend on the combo. I know some people will say go for a baitcaster but I find the eggbeater less trouble. Thanks in advance alasdair

Well done guys. I was 4000, and it wasn't long ago!! roosterboy, hope you enjoy it as much as I have

Thanks for the nice comments guys. No not a pro photographer, that would be a good job wouldn't it!!? Just like taking cool photos! For those of you that are interested it was taken at a focal length of 300mm, 1/2000th sec shutter speed, apeture 7.1, and iso 400. I find that using compact cameras, although you can achive the same shutter speeds to get a sharp image, there is a delay between when you press the button and when the picture is actually taken, by which time the dollie is back in the water. The canon I use, as well as most other DSLR's is instant, it also sucks more if you get it wet or drop it on a rolling deck Can't wait to book up a trip with the Hunter boys, and if I can't catch one, get a photo of a marlin doing its thing. alasdair

Hi guys. Yeah the blue in the fish really comes out. Was like that all the time it was jumping. by the time it was boat side it was back to the normal green, still spectacular. Hi sammy, yeah it was a canon 350d SLR, was taken with a 300mm lens as it was still a long way from the boat. alasdair

Hi guys. I have just come back from four days holiday in Noosa. While I was there I managed to talk the into going on a charter with me. Come the alarm going off at 5am she was starting to wish she hadn't. Headed out through the bar, which was pretty tame by all accounts. I was a little surprised at the lack of channel markers considering the numbers of hire boats and tourists that use the waterway. We were fishing a reef off sunshine beach in about 50m of water, the weather was good, no swell to speak of and just a little chop. All the fishing was done at anchor, which was fine as it was so calm, but the current was causing a few tangles as it was hurrying along. We caught a mixed bag of reef fish including snapper, pearl perch, tusk fish, tergaline(not sure on the spelling), wrasse etc. We also managed to hook up some slimeys and a couple of yakkas, which were soon sent out the back of the boat as live bait. My best fish was this snapper, the was happy with hers as well Now for the surprise!! Thinks had slowed down a bit, minds were wandering, sandwiches being eaten, had fallen asleep. Out of no where this mahi mahi erupts out of the water 30m behind the boat. The deckie reaches for the rod with the livie only to find it is on the other side of the boat to the cartwheeling mahi! Just then one of the guys who had been letting out his bottom rig clicks the reel into gear only to have line continue to be pulled off against the drag! He had hooked the mahi on the drop, on a squid/pilchard cocktail. he hadn't noticed it take the bait as he thought he was still on the drop. After about five minutes,a few more jumps, a nice dolly is at the side of the boat, gaffed and in the ice box. Managed to get a couple of qiuck snaps, you can see the snapper rig in its mouth!! Good day all round, nice fish, nice people, and I caught a bigger fish than Danielle take care alasdair

Hi guys, Probably be hitting the sand/rocks on sunday evening. Got called into work the last time i said this, so better luck this time i hope. Would love to get into those mahi mahi Might see you guys down there!!

Hi guys, I'm pleased to say that flathead don't worry me any more, but when I first arrived I think I had watched to many "The worlds deadliest...."!! The (aus) was in tears laughing at me when I got spiked first, as I was thinking I wasn't going to make it off the beach before it was all to late!! Crabs aren't scary, the bigger the claw/spike/venom gland the easier to avoid!!

Hi there guys, Will probably be Bra bound on Thursday evening Thinking about hitting the rocks on the south side at about 4ish then moving on to the beach after the crowds have gone home. Fairly new to the beach scene so would love some advice if I see any of you down there alasdair

James is right grab ONE of the back legs and they can't reach that far round. If you grab two they can sometimes swing round My uncles used to have a lobster/crab boat back home in Scotland and the best way I found to handle them is to not be scared and use a strong fluid movement to take them put of the pot.. When they are out you can place them upside down on your lap and they find it difficult to right themselves. We used to use elastic bands on the lobsters claws so they wouldn't damage each other, the crabs we did't bother. I think your more likely to get nipped trying to put the bands on than anything!! Some people I know used to cut into to soft joint ot the claw and sever the muscle that controls the nipper, not the most humane way and it discolours the flesh, wouldn't recommend it. Personally I'm more worried about spiked by a flathead, got a bit of a shock when I caught my first one Its all about confidence alasdair

Hi there guys. I found this article from back home in Scotland, thought some of you might find it interesting. I have never even thought of doing this from the rocks!!!! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highla...nds/7058608.stm

Well done on your catch. Am heading up the coast on Monday. Was planning on catching small flatties at Ettalong but might go for a bit of a drive instead. Annoy the by having live crab crawl around the back of the new car

Is no one watching the F1??!!! NO? Coulthard to win in the wet Bathhurst??? Skaife to win, 888 out early, Radisich 2nd..... Oh.... and Scotland to beat Argentina in the rugby

Looking at hitting Maroubra on Tuesday, hangover permitting... Good to hear about some fish around. Thinking about the rocks on the north side? Anyone had any luck. How far out were you rainman? within range of us land based fisher people?

Nice fish. Hope there are more to come for you and the rest of us

I used to fish small plastics back home in Scotland for Pollock in deep water off the rocks. I would fish them on a unweighted hook, 2m of clear, memory free leader then a small swivel and a ball sinker of whatever size the depth/current demanded to get it to the bottom. The long trace gives you a very natural action, use a slow steady retrive, don't jig it. To cast just set the hook point gently into the sinker, it will come out when it hits the water, also means the hook wouln't snag on the rocks behind you if space is tight. Thats what I do, hope it helps Good luck Alasdair

Hope you have better luck than I did!! Had four days in Hervey Bay/ Fraser Island, had read all the reports of the fish they catch up there so I packed up the big beach rod and some 30lb braid only to be blown out by a sixty knot wind. Even the charter i had booked cancelled My last day on the way back on the ferry it was like glass, if only I had booked two days later Good luck, hope to read a report of some monsters when you get back. Ps The locals will tell you stories of 1 metre plus flatties being caught on the eastern beach at Fraser Alasdair

Had a great day and well done to the guys that caught fish. Shame there wasn't more, but thats fishing . Don't have any fish shots but here's a nice one of Billfisher heading home.

17.953 SSOOOOO close to being briliant. Story of my life. Ha ha

That is huuugggeee! Have a or two .You deserve it!! NIce to see it going back

2000!!!!Not even at 20 yet... Well done, keep it up!

Went for a walk down to Rushcutters yesterday. Thought I would try some SP's under the boats. Had a tail pulled of a plastic yabbie but nothing else. Anyone caught any bream or flatties recently? Worth trying again as it warms up a little?. PS Hope the Yellow fin start running for next weekend!!!

Happy birthday guys.HAve a beer on me!!!!

Hi Nargse My sister is disabled due to a brain tumour and the resulting treatment. Myself and my dad were able to get her fishing by changing the handle on my small Daiwa reel to a Penn Senetor 4/0. Large handle, something to grip, and using a rod holder, that she kept the rod in. The reel had level wind. I think the thing she found most frustrating was not being able to tie knots etc, change lures. Have plenty traces done up before you head out !! This will depend on the level of handicap that your dads friend has. I would try and not over automate his set up and still let him fish the way he knows! Would also try and stay fairly shallow, too much winding was rather hard for her, don't go bottom bashing at Browns!!!! Best of luck Alasdair

Hi there. Went to Darwin last year caught a few reallllly good jews in the harbour. Up to 20k, and a couple of nice goldband snapper and spanish mackerel."Tub Tours"? Most of the "good" barrra trips that I saw were for over three days and were rather remote. Try PM ing gibodfisho have read a good report of his. nice fish. The fishing up north is awsome but the really spectacular stuff you have to travel a bit for. Watch out for the crocs...... Alasdair PS We took a trip into Kakadu even if you don't catch fish you'll love it

Hi Guys I am heading to Melbourne in November to see the Melbourne Cup. Have been looking to try and sneak in half a day fishing. All the charter boats that I can find seem to read 'Can fit up to 24 people' or something similar Does anyone know of any decent charters that they could recommend. Cheers Alasdair