Trapper Tom

Hey gibbo Knocked one of these off a few years back in the Hawksbury. Threw it back. It is interesting though. Try googling a "Red swimmer crab". or Nectocarcinius integriforms. Your photos aren't quite clear enough. Even thats only a 90% fit as they have black tips on their claws. The big tell would be the 4 small antenna between the eyes. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Guys. They do sure put up a damn good fight if caught in advertantly. Please remember that most of these bigger creatures are local icons, tourist attactions and much loved by their respective local communities. Kiama included. Basically they are the hoovers of the sea and will eat anything put in front of them. So not much of a challange there. I believe there has been a few posts on this subject before. Mods ? Trapper Tom

Hey Tony Thats been the best report read in a while. Top marks for a top report and a top fishing result. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Jim Top catch there buddy. And don't they love the chicken breast. Was humbled and put onto it a few years back by my mates 8 year old son. Brought it out in the boat with him, refused to use anything else and smashed Andrew and me with our nippers and all sorts of fangled baits and rigs. One is never to old to learn, but boy it hurt AND he still pays out on us. Cheers Trapper Tom

G,day Anthony Sure can mate. I have a small fish tank just for this very pupose. Works fines they last ages but get a bit skinny after a week. You can also just use a bucket with a aerator. Note keep water reasonable cool!!!! Cheers Trapper T

Heys all FR's Did not see a topic on the above yet, so thought I would post. Dave Lockwood's fishing column in the herald gave a mention to "Fishraider". Specifically the 15 Kg dolphin fish. OnYa Stewy and Donna for having a great site that is sourced by all. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Hey tight lines. Top catch there. Could not help but noticing that it does not appear to be your garden variety silver Trev! Lots of yellow and stripes! With the warm water could be another species. Noted pics are not clear but could be a Golden Trev. Even better catch in syd. Any FR care to postulate and/or provide comment? Cheers Trapper Tom.

Hey bass catcher Your second photo is a classic "I was used as a live bait when really small" injury. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Hey stibbles Don't forget the lagoon! There are some monster bream there. Try squirt worms for em. Arvo is best. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Hey Jim. Top Garies there. I don't know how you use them but will provide a absolute killer method for you and other fishraiders. Basically invovles using a ganged hook system. And what you are trying to achieve is to make/present the thing live again for the kingy's. 1. Cut off most of the beak but leave a small bit sew beak closed or other method ie small rubber band. 2. Manipulate the fish so the backbone is broken in multiple places, aids in a flexible swim presantation. 3. Cut the tail off. 4. Insert ganged hooks as appropriate for size and lenght of the Garfish. 5. The last hook at the tail attach a soft plastic, believe it or not I still find the old Mr Twister double tail lime green the best for this. Its just the perfect action for a bait this size. Can be used as is for the surface or as I prefer, I always add a lead to the front to get it near the bottom, lead size depending on depth of course. Then wind like hell!!!! like a fleeing baitfish. Absolute killer method, has worked for me on various fish from NT to Vic. Confirm very successful in JB, middle ground, north shorline and at the Tubes and the Botany Bay Kingies cannot resist it. Note the method is not suited to trolling, but structure targeting or if drifting over known structure that holds kingfish Good Luck and enjoy. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey MGJ Absolutely awesome kings!! But how damn big was the sambo ?? It looks like a absolute ripper FR record from the looks. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Wacko That is indeed extremely impressive Brilliant work. Just finished fixing my boat up so hope to start doing some posts myself. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey guys It is damn cold isn't. Its called a "Eckman effect". Its a upwelling of colder water due to the winds particular direction against the coastline Once the wind changes direction all will be good and the EAC can take over. Keep your eyes on the weather sites !!! Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Dicko Spot on!!! They changed the acceptable levels. What was safe was suddenly not and it let the govt get rid of the pro's. Don't get me wrong here fishraiders, Dioxin is really evil stuff. But what is safe and what is not still remains unknown. As no real medical clusters associated with Dioxin poisoning occurred prior to the change one can only deduce it was a political decision and not one based on fact. I still would not eat anything from gladesville to HB with good reason. The bow pressure waves from the cats and other boats wash the mud shores from Ryde to HB and that is where the most of the contaminants are in the sediments. The sediments then continue downstream with the tide. And that is why they are getting elevated readings compared to the past. As for Taylor I doubt that they are a risk equivalent to bream as they spend most of the life in and out of estuaries and up and down the coast and would generally accumulated less of the stuff. Note Dioxins are not water soluble but fat soluble hence it is stored/accumulated permanently in a animals body. Think Ciguatera poisoning and accumulation and its the same principle here. Enjoy your taylor. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Keflapod. Spot on. Yes tributyltin was banned for all vessels less than 33m from memory (length may have changed now). Yes it was really evil stuff hence the early ban some 20 years ago. If any FR want the specifics of why please ask and will post why. Most of the stuff now is not too bad, but by its nature is still not good. Ie it is designed to chemically inhibit the growth of marine organisms by being toxic to them. The good thing about the modern stuff is it doesn't hang around like Tri did. None the less, not good form on the boat owners part considering you can be fined for throwing a cigarette butt out. Oh and yes it is a EPA matter to act on, Council is also required to attend if required and provide report if necessary so that EPA can act. Above mean high water mark, both authorities can in fact act. Cheers Trapper Tom PS to all. Went down to go for a fish out from kiama on Fri. Absolutely horrible weather and atrocious washing machine conditions. Still fighting that damn storm cloud that follows anything fishy I want to do. The only upside was the schoonerburgers we had instead He He. Trapper

Hey Pretend fisherman. The simple answer is "not cool" and you do not drink if you are the skipper and, seriously consider not drinking if you are a passenger, simple as that. The enjoyment in having a beer is when you reach landfall with your mates and reflect on the great day out.etc etc. Reason being, I actual believe drink boating is far more dangerous than drink driving, if a differentiation can be made at all. On the water there are a huge amount of variable environmental factors/influences that affect the craft, your decision making and problem solving abilities. The difference is with a car most people are driving constantly every day and have higher skills in relation to problem solving, most boaties do not have this as they are only occasional. Add alcohol and problems with weather, wind,, tide, navigation etc etc etc become instantly insurmountable for a lot of general boat users. Hence the terrible tragedies we have seen on our waterways of late. Also Don't get me wrong, you are legally entitled to have a lite or 2 and be under the limit and I have no probs with that. No offence to you is meant by this post, it is also for all the other fishraiders to think about. The sea is a very very unforgiving master, do not under-estimate it ever, even in enclosed waters or landbased from the rocks. Safe Boating PF and all FR's. Regards Tapper Tom.

My My Isn't this a fiesty thread. 54 replies!!!!!! Just shows everybodies concern about the subject. And rightly so. However I do think Scotty is on the mark. It is about the big picture response to the problem. Bit busy now but will post my thoughts later tonight when I have read all the responses. Hey, gotta have my say here on this one. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Great photo's Pete. But how the hell did you get the seal to wave in the second shot? Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Poddy Top find there! Me also thinks it was being trolled a tad too quick. Greagt Post Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Steve Cracker of a game. Titans were just not in it at anytime. The chooks are really showing good stuff. Im a Wests/Tigs man so the big games tonight Woo Hoo. Hard to call but if we get up and theres a chooks and wests GF what a hoot after the last 100min game!!!!!!! Cheers Trapper Tom

Holy Hell bloopin. How big was that thing I have been chasing the 1m+ flatty for years now(best to date 94cms) and that certainly looks the goods. As a fishraider you know everybody is now waiting with baited breath for some details. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey all Fishraiders. Please Note. The Cooks is one of the most polluted Rivers in the whole of Australia. I w'ont go into the exact enviro details but its has stacks of really bad nasties. No fish at ALL should be comsumed. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Hey Days fishin. Yes absolutely they are increasing because the pro's are not netting now. As a kid we swam without fear at Mannering Park as every one basically knew any sharks were quickly caught up in the nets. Occassionaly the fisho's would bring them round to the Co-op at Wyee Bay and let every body see them. Very scary as a small kid. Most certainly would no swim the back end of the Lake anymore! As for northern species in the Lake, yes there most certainly are because of the hot water outlets. Cheers Trapper Tom.

G'day Rexy. Burley really heavily and when the schools at the back of the boat. "Throw grenade in" Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Guys Yes I have said it before I know Hold a light globe in one hand and touch the sucker with the other and watch the world light up, Cheers Trapper Tom