mark_s

Thanks for that Mick I will be out there tomorrow and may just the CC bridge a go.

There will be no accusations, just friendly crustaceans. Under the sea! Too rough and windy today to be out on the water so I went in it. Took the digi along. Unfortunately I had ear probs so I couldn't go down at all so no interesting pics. Still managed to restock my sinker collection though. BTW - anyone lost a putter?

Iain I have sent you a PM with some info on this

Nice pics Trouble. Good to see another fishraider spends time in the water as well as on top of it. I have a Canon IXUS 5mp. Cost a lot more but I don't think the pics are that much better to be honest.

Thanks Byron I am keen to give it a go.

I am not a big SP fan at the moment but I am interested in giving this a go. Obviously the retrieval technique is key and I am happy to trial and error on that. But a more basic question, do you let the lure sink all the way to the bottom when you first cast? And how deep of water are we talking about here (e.g 10m, 20m , 30m + ). I can imagine having trouble getting my lure to the bottom with a bit of current running in say 20m of water.

Rob My motor is a 9 year old oil injected Merc, I have owned it for 4 years. Neither myself or the previous owner have had any problems with the oil injection. I have no plans on disconnecting mine. Also my brother has an oil injection motor (can't remember the brand). He gets many more hours per year on his than I do and he hasn't had a prob with his oil injection either. But there are plenty of people who don't like them. Do the search like Pedro said as this topic has been tossed back & forward in alot of detail in the past and you should be able to find most of the pros and cons. PS you should be able to find a reasonable 2nd hand boat for the price range you are looking for.

Iain I think it was from Harbourside Marine in Coffs Harbour. I will be up there this weekend and will get their brochure to see if they still have them. (I only got mine 18 months ago so they should have em) Will let you know next week.

Yep my main anchor has one of these. Its a Mooloolabah pick. I use plenty of chain and the cable tie system and it nearly always holds and I have been able to get it off everytime so far. Interesting thoughts on chain V no chain. I jump over the side of my boat a bit (diving) and the chain definitely helps hold the boat. Like some have said though you can hear the anchor chain "clinking" underwater - does it scare the fish off? I guess thats up to personal opinion - there are plenty of other sounds underwater and its hard (for humans) to hear the anchor once you are more than about 20m away (ask any scuba diver trying to refind his anchor for ascent). The main thing I want to add is to remember an anchor is part of your safety gear. Its all great and fine to have an anchor that holds you when the weather is average or good but is still easy to get off. But remember you also need something that will hold you if something goes wrong when the weather is poor. For example if a southerly blows up and the motor won't start.

Nice report - Certaintly beats my day hands down. I didn't even get on the water. Was up early for a the drive to where my boat is kept (a 1 hour drive). Got there and loaded boat and hooked it up to car. Went to take off when for some reason I thought I better double check I had the boat keys with me prior to driving 0.5 hour to the ramp. Normally I just leave my keys in the boat, but for some reason I didn't put them back in last time. So of course the keys were an hour away. I quickly considered a 2 hour round trip home to get keys (plus another 0.5 hour to get the ramp) before I unhook the boat and drove home. And then to top it off the wallabies played terribly and got flogged by the blacks.

A big weekend coming up. I haven't been on the water for ages due to a long overseas holiday and then because I had heaps of stuff to do to catch up for having sooooo much time off. Anyway, have had the boat servcied (thanks Yabbie Marine ) and am ready to go. Will be on the water tomorrow morning, probably port hacking area. Suspect I I will see if any Sambo's are around. Sat night is the bledisloe so I am out to Homebush for the big game. Won't be many beers involved though as I am in the City to Surf on Sunday morning. Then there is the cricket tonight, Sat and Sun. Should be a cracker of a weekend and go the Aussies.

Dont forget the costs of tools as well if you don't already have them.

Close Darryl, next headland up (Mistral Point). The walk is too far at Magic Point for those with babies. Nice pic trouble. Thanks for that.

Cheers Pogo With the swell and wind at the moment they probably arn't in close now, but hopefully it will calm down by the weekend.

I got given this great lure for my birthday but its too big for a king so I was wondering if there where any whales in close.... Just kidding Actually I am off overseas in two weeks and am contemplating a farewell picnic with my mates on a headland to whale watch. Just wondering if we will see any?

Up until the last few trips, I have always been able to get squid down around bare islands and the heads. On the south side I have got them at watts reef and they are sure to be along the shore there as well. Not sure about up the river though in the muddy water.

BTW congrats on the king!

I was out in North Harbour today as well. Was at Balmoral nice and early and soon had a good school of yakkas burlied up. Had trouble hooking the buggers though as I only had mushed up burly for bait. Anyway eventually got enough yakkas but no squid. Moved to the waver rider thingy just inside north head. Was first one there and anchored up. Within 20 mins I was joined by 8 other boats . Lost one live yakka (on bottom) to unknown predator but no other action. Someone else boated something that may have been a small king. Got sick of the crowd not long after the change of tide so motored around to find a spot on my own. Ended up in middle harbour. Another yakka got bitten clean in half (some how missing the stinger??). Decided to head back in as I forgot the sunscreen and had heaps to do in the arvo.

Well I am back on the water this weekend. Been busy with work and had a death in the family, can't remember the last time I was fishing. Eyeing of a trip to either the harbour or botany bay on Sunday. Leaning towards the former.

Heh Junkle unky, did you used to play tennis and did you win a couple of US opens?

And where is Mossy point?

Being able to stand up in front of a crowd and give a speech is hard to do at any time or age, let alone 12. Very good skill to have to. Your right to be proud, maybe she can write some speeches for you at the next election

A drift dive would be better if there is storng current. No need to fight the current then. Many people go beyond their limits, particularly in less litigous countries. I had a mate who did his OW in egypt and they took him to 48m on his second dive. Pretty stupid if you ask me. I am advanced so can legally go down to 40m, although I prefer staying above about 30m.

I know this isn't the right answer but it looks a bit like the cooks river crossing between Marrickville and Earlwood

I reall liked your report Pugs. I have had three slow sessions in a row so you have given me hope. Re impact of scuba divers, I dive a bit and I don't think divers systematically scare the fish away, otherwise there wouldn't be much to see on the bottom!