michaelrdoyle@gmail.com

You;ll be hearing the "wingtip vortex" or "vortex winds" - basically - as the plan passes, the wings create vortexes, that you end up hearing about 30 seconds to 1 minute after the plane leaves - it is very very very freaky. I use to go running at night and the running path went past the end of one of the runways - often the noise would occur heaps after the plane goes - it's like a rushing of wind all around you, you can even feel it, and see it flatten the grass - but no airplane can be seen! It's very freaky. But cool. Mike

I was down last week and had a look - still not ready, and not a chance it will be ready by Christmas. There's still a lot more work to be done, and I would say it may not be ready until February. Mike

Nice heading down there tomorrow - what lures were working? Where were you trolling? thanks :-) Mike

Hi All I've been using the Lowrance LMS339C 50/200hz sounder for several years, and whilst I've been getting better and better at using it - I've still got a way to go. I use the manual sensitivity, and keep it fairly high, and attempt to "interpret" the data myself - with only limited success. I have a few questions you may be able to help with: How to identify different types of fish? I've seen people be able to say from a sounder image that that is a Kingfish, Jewfish, a school of baitfish, a school of leather jacket, some Snapper, or just rubbish fish (sweep etc). How can you tell? Can anyone share images or give hints? What depth should I be using 200hz at? So I'm told to use 50Hz in deep water, and 200hz in shallow water. How deep is deep? How shallow is shallow? I fish crookhaven river (5-10m), but I also fish outside (20-120m) What settings should I change? As I move to different types of fishing, and different depths - what settings should I be aware of and change? As I move from 5m to 100m? As I move from sand to reef? As I anchor or drift? Are there any settings I should be (in particular) changing? thanks Mike

Hey Ray I was out on Monday and Tuesday this week to - wasn't the weather great on Monday? We also headed to the Banks (we must have seen you out there) - and checked out Block & Cheese and a few other spots. Great day - but couldn't find the bigger kings. Picked up a mixed bucket - including a couple of nice snapper. We were in the Quintrex Bayrunner. Do you have a bigger pic of your boat? I'm trying to work out if I saw you out there or not. Mike

I eyeballed it the other day.... and there's significant work to do. Some work has been done, but it's still a fair way from being completed. Locals are saying "christmas" - however, I wouldn't be surprised if it was January or even February. One of the issues is the Northeasterly and the bad weather they've been having - really slows down the work. Mike

Thanks Geoff I'll make sure I check it out when I'm down there. In fact, I'm hoping to use it! Mike

Any news? I'm heading down next week... Mike

Hi All Just wondering - does anyone have any suggestions on where to buy cheaper bulk hooks from? Recently got a bunch of sinkers at a really good price, and think it's time we stocked up on hooks too. Prob best to message me suggestions, as I don't want to break any site rules regarding sponsorships etc. thanks Mike

awesome - thanks guys Been fishing the area for years now - and this is totally awesome. I can't wait. Mike

So I'm told they've started the Currarong boat ramp - anyone know when it's planned to be finished? And updates on how the work's going? Mike

Hey James Would love to know where from, and how much, and all the gory details. I'm in the "thinking" stage. Mike

Hi all Can anyone recommend a fishing charter in Port Macquarie? Heading up there next week for a holiday - and would love to to spend a day on the water. Woud love sportfishing (kingies, dolphin fish etc) - but happy to hit a reef if that's best (snapper etc). Suggestions? thanks Mike

Try spraying a hose on it. And then use a little steel wire and stick it up there. Don't force anything, and don't push it up to far. But if it's a salt buildup, that will often fix it. Mike (updated spelling)

mmm - thanks. It may have been the current. GPS is working fine - my other spots are spot on (banks humps and various other well known places). However - when I was there the current was totally ripping. 5km/h or more. Creating huge wages at all the humps. If the current has taken it under - can it still be found? thanks again.

It's rare enough that I get a chance to go fishing. It's even rarer that I can head offshore. And it's even rarer that I get a chance to check out a fad - but it's exciting. However - twice in the last two years I have attempted to find the Jervis Bay FAD - and twice I've been unable to find it. It's been summer (January both years). The DPI says it's there and out and gives me the co-ords (34° 56.200', 150° 58.200'). But I can't find it. Spend some time circling the area looking for it, searching for the buoy, for some structure under the water on the Sonar, or at least some fish - and find nothing. So what's the deal? Am I doing something wrong? Have other people seen the Jervis Bay FAD? Or is it actually missing, and has been two years in a row? Mike

Should also be aware that there is no anti-venom for the blue-ringed octopus. It's a venom that paralyses you - stops you from breathing, and then you die. However - it is not necessarily fatal. If someone gets bitten, get them to a hospital immediately. If they stop breathing, perform CPR. And keep performing it. Once they get to a hospital, they will be hooked up to a breathing machine and the poisson will work itself out of the body. Generally within 24 hours the person will wake up and breath again on their own. I've heard of a case where a bloke was stung in a remote location, and his mates did CPR for 24hours until he woke up again. He lived. Anyway - moral of the story, know CPR, get them to the hospital, and never give up.

I'm not an expert - but there is no way I would be out in a boat in the middle of a lightening storm. You will be wet, sitting in a good conductor (metal), and you will be the highest point for many kms. sounds like a recipe for disaster. Mike Check out: http://www.struckbylightning.org/news/dispIncidentdb.cfm and http://www.sailingcatamarans.com/lightningarticle.htm The first link records people who have died in lightening strikes whilst boating. Mike

wow. GPS, EPIRB, and a radio. But didn't know how to use it. The mind boggles. Mike

There's a NZ bloke who caught a marlin on a jetski - for a stunt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGDlBb-642w But, in reality, I doubt it would be worth doing - except as a stunt. Mike

What's C&R sports fish? Mike

hey dude Callala Bay is great for a Kyak. Especially if you love squid. Heaps of them around. Not sure where the creek is you're talking about though. Mike

I think you can get them at a normal boat bits store - like Bias Boating. Mike

Couldn't have said it better myself. A bad days fishing is better then a good day in the office. And we had an awesome day fishing. Great to be out there - and great to be bringing in fish after fish, no matter what they are. And it is a great part of the world. Truly awesome! Mike

Hi All Headed down to Crookhaven yesterday for a "serious" fish - first one since January! The aim was to arrive 12am, sleep till 5am, and head out off Crookhaven heads. Depending on the wind and waves, perhaps to the banks or further. The wind report looked better and better as the week wore on - but pulled back the night before :-(. Our aim: Winter Kingies - or snapper. Or, well, any fish we could find. Left at 5am, and spent 20minutes attempting to grab some livies off the Crookhaven lighthouse. No go. Not even a nibble. Weird. Oh well - with a slight westerly blowing, the ocean was dead flat - so we said stuff it - let's hit the banks. Headed east at full throttle - a rare occurrence. At we approached, the sea started to pick up, and had to back off a little. In fact, at one point a wave broke over the bow, ran up the windscreen, into my face, and down the front of my top and pants. GOOD MORNING! As we hit the banks, I back off the throttle, and the "slight" westerly had blown up to 20k. The sea was being whipped up badly, and over the banks (which is an offshore reef that goes from 80m to 15m deep in about 100m), there was a massive current from the north. With the combination of swell, large sea from the west, and the current from the north, the banks was a nightmare. Standing waves breaking. Swirls, whirlpools - very scary. Looked so bad I didn't even want to drive the boat through it (and didn't). We heavy hearts, decided discretion was the better part of valour - and headed in towards Beecroft Peninsular. Well protect from the westerly. Fish there most the day, working our way up and down it. Saw dolphins, seals, and a couple of whales. In terms of fish - caught a heap, but mostly reef fish. Moari Wrasse, Sergent Bakers, Red Rock Cod, massive sweep, and one snapper. A great day - came back with an esky of fish, but none of the "good" fish we were hoping for. A good day. Mike