SCOTTYB

No, not crowded, just us. The mackerel couple were were pretty open - explained they were just using beef mince for mackerel fishing

Thanks GreyNurse - we made it over there last night. We did catch one large squid, while a couple of others were doing great pulling in slimy mackerel. No sign of any work either, so must have been completed. Thanks again.

Cool, thanks for that Gagafush. Sent from my HTC_0P6B using Tapatalk

Hi Raiders, My brother and I were thinking of trying for some squid off the wharf, although he mentioned that he thought there was some sort of works being carried out on the boat ramp, or the wharf itself. Wondering if any raiders have been there recently, and can confirm what the status of the boat ramp and wharf are? Don't want to hike out and find there is no access, or the area has been churned/dredged due to construction. Cheers,

That's an awesome post! What a fantastic day! I kept waiting for the bit where 'he got away', after reading about you getting bored (thinking that you might not have been paying attention due to boredom). Actually did a couple of air punches when you got the Kingy!

My brother used to save all the fish frames from the restaurant he worked in, and then fun them through the commercial mincer. We would use this as a kind of 'berley base' - add bread, pellets, etc. Worked well for attracting interest, although by the time we got the quantities right - at first we were using way too much - things had changed and little bro had changed jobs - no access to a mincer again. I guess because it was a mix of frames from different species, no particular species was turned off.

Hey Bud, My understanding,and experience is that flatties due down with the winter weather. Most fish species are more active during summer...

Thanks everyone - Suzanne and the remainder of the family are extremely grateful, and touched by the support and big hearts of so many people - many that they have not even met.

Hi Raiders, Most of you will have seen or read news stories this past week regarding not only the death but also the unfathomable manner in which Lynette Bradbury was taken from her friends and family. Lynette was the Sister of my Dear Friend Suzanne, who some of you will have heard me mention over the years that I have had the honour and privilege of being 'adopted' by their extended family. As you can see in the attached news release, it has been just over a year since Lynette's warmth and courage, friendship and kindness, love and cheekiness were replaced by a gaping emptiness in not only the lives of those she touched, but our world as a whole. Today, we celebrated Lynn's amazing presence and how she touched our lives, although at this stage there is no explanation as to why this heart wrenching act took place, or who was responsible for causing such grief. Our hope is that someone, somewhere may have information that may help Lynette's family and friends reach some form of closure. It is not expected that any semblance of closure will be a form of consolation - the love of a Daughter, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt and Friend can not possibly be replaced, however, any information provided to police may help bring the person(s) to justice and save another family the pain I have seen my dear friends endure over this past year. Those of you that know me well will know that I am a private person, and not one to make public displays or requests. In this case, I would consider it a great personal favour if fellow Fish Raiders would forward/post this message with the attached link to the news release to your contacts/social networks in the hope that someone may come forward with information that may help. News Release - October 31, 2012 - 4:30PM To view the entire video, click on: http://media.theage.com.au/news/national-news/bradbury-family-appeal-3758202.html I am happy to field questions regarding comments in the media that may seem conflicting or confusing. Your help is truly, and deeply appreciated in advance - thankyou. Scotty B

Thanks Guys - that's great info. Will have to just persist, and try more with lighter setups. Gazza that footage is brilliant, although see what you mean about spinning. Thanks again, Scott

Hey FR's, This post http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=65301 had a heap of mentions of the Hacking along the lines of "If you know how to fish it!". So that's my question - specifically for landbased fishing, Dad and I sometimes go to the Lilli PIlli Baths and have come back with Salmon, Bonito, Bream (although this has all been through winter). Curious to know from those who commented about knowing how to fish it - are yo uin boats, or landbased? What are the secrets as to 'How to fish it'?? Scott

G'day Gatts, We were down at Curracarang last week and other than some small, pesky brown rock cod and wrasse we got a scorpionfish also. Have caught them before and hadn't really thought they were worth it until my brother (chef) explained that they are also known as 'Poor Man's Lobster'. This time we brought it home to cook up - wear a glove when filleting, those spikes are nearly everywhere. Nice white flesh, first piece we simply steamed with nothing else just to taste. A little bland on its own, but the next piece was fried in some butter, oil, garlic, chilli - it took up the flavours really well, and while it didn't have the lobster taste on the first go from the steamer, it certainly had the same texture. A fair bit of meat on it too, for the size, if you are careful and take your time (or possibly cut off all the spines first, which would make it easier). Cheers, Scott

Thanks Mrs Swordie - early days yet, but have a friend with a product that might be of interest to fellow FR's, without competing with existing sponsors. Will pass on your information at the appropriate time. Cheers, Scott

Hi Mods, Was going to send this as a PM, but thought the response might be of interest to others. I'm curious to know what the requirements and guidelines are for becoming a site sponsor. Apologies if this has been posted, I've missed it or not been specific enough in searching. Cheers, Scott

Using bread is great to see what's around - also gets a bit of light burley going and might get some interest. As to being on the only pier around, try going the lightest possible jighead you can, and literally dropping the plastic down alongside a pylon. If nothing, try the next one, and then when you've done all of them, just let it float down under you into the shade of the wharf/pier. I haven't been using my plastics for a while, but fishing under my feet would get some good hits, and not just bream. Keep persisting, and one day it'll all click. Scott

Haven't gone for squid for a while, but my advise would be to go sloooow, and if you do get one, lift the rod tip a bit so it is skimming across the water. Make sure you hold it under the collar, (tightly) otherwise things could happen!!

Thanks Juggs, Hopefully its not too much - the deck seats/cushions are all ok, its the fabric covers in the cabin that have fallen to bits. Yep, boat is on the slip now - anti foul is meant to be done tomorrow or the next day I understand. I think the hardest thing is going to be completely killing the mold, although with the weather these past few coupla days everything is drying out nicely. Just have to hope it holds off until we finish the internal cleanup. Cheers, Scott

Thanks Guys - I think that is what we're going to find out this week. The vinyl moulded seats are actually pretty good - its the fabric ones from inside the cabin that have gone to pieces (literally), so hopefully having fabric covers done won't be so $$$. Thanks again, Scott

Hi All, Apologies if this is duplicated - initially put this in 'Workshop'... Have spent today helping a mate clean out a Bayliner 265 - apparently is 'on loan' from a client of his firm's. Sad story - the boat has been moored for 3-4 years after only being taken out ONCE! Since then, no care or maintenance has been covered. The guys have got the engine/mechanical issues sorted out, hull cleaned and we started on the deck/interior cleanup/refurb today. To keep the story short - I don't recommend being too close when a cabin door is opened on a boat that has been sealed up, and out in the weather for any extended period of time! Hard surfaces inside the cabin we managed to clean up ok, but cushions and covers range in condition from needing a really good soak in bleach/napisan to disintegrating in your hands because of mould damage and deterioration. Carpet interior seems to have come up ok after a go with the wet and dry vac, and are leaving vents/hatches open for a couple of days to let her air out. At this point am just wondering if any of you have had to replace and or repair cushion covers for your boat, and if you've got recommendations for either buying or having new ones made, in particular if you've had work done/dealt with Sydney based suppliers. Thanks FR's, Scott

Hi All, Have spent today helping a mate clean out a Bayliner 265 - apparently is 'on loan' from a client of his firm's. Sad story - the boat has been moored for 3-4 years after only being taken out ONCE! Since then, no care or maintenance has been covered. The guys have got the engine/mechanical issues sorted out, hull cleaned and we started on the deck/interior cleanup/refurb today. To keep the story short - I don't recommend being too close when a cabin door is opened on a boat that has been sealed up, and out in the weather for any extended period of time! Hard surfaces inside the cabin we managed to clean up ok, but cushions and covers range in condition from needing a really good soak in bleach/napisan to disintegrating in your hands because of mould damage and deterioration. Carpet interior seems to have come up ok after a go with the wet and dry vac, and are leaving vents/hatches open for a couple of days to let her air out. At this point am just wondering if any of you have had to replace and or repair cushion covers for your boat, and if you've got recommendations for either buying or having new ones made, in particular if you've had work done/dealt with Sydney based suppliers. Thanks FR's, Scott

No worries Bart.

No worries Dude! This can happen occaisionally - just need to experiment with beads, although I find the bead less of a hassle to get off the knot than a sinker Bart, I've used BM for heavier stuff, but only as a trace so only up to a metre. My brother and I like Sunline FC Rock if we are in snaggy territory, but if its the beach I'll sometimes just use mono. Can get a bit exxy, but as my double rod length leader gets shorter (cleaning up abrasions, retying rigs etc) I will keep going until its maybe just under a rod length, and then save it for use as shorter trace line, or leader on one of the shorter rods if its not too much overkill. As to comparing ratings, in then end I think it comes down to personal preference - if you search around older posts you'll find a few brands that seem to pop up consistently as fave's, and some that other FR's swear by. eg even between my brother, Dad and I there are brands that they love, and I consistently have problems with. Same with braid - I've had a spool of el cheapo no name stuff that went for ages, yet a branded version that would regularly snap, and vice versa.

Yeah, Dave I also used to muck around with superglue, but sometimes just got too fiddly. I sometimes use SB for leaders of 30/40lb and up, but double the braid when tying - don't know if the double helps with less catching, but you have to get the knot on the leader super tight so it is as small as possible. Other times it's just because I'm bored of the albright, but occasionally have had the SB fail. Thinking back, I'm probably using albright maybe 80% of the time now, with a double in the braid. The other thing that I do with the albright is trim the leader tag super close to the braid, then tighten the knot (using braid mainline and tags) as tight as possible, then a bit more - 99% of the time I can get the last wrap in the braid to snug down over the tag of the mono/flouro leader and get a super smooth profile. Have never had an albright fail. Doubling the braid also helps if I'm using a lightish leader as there less chance of the braid cutting the leader when tightening the knot. Have been using 30lb braid as a mainline for ages now and swapping leaders from say, 10lb - 50lb depending on whats around without any issues. Perhaps using a long leader helps, or maybe I've just been lucky with my laziness!

G'day Bart - I used to have the same issue. When using the bigger rod (rocks/beach) I might have about 2.5 rod lengths of leader, and use a small bead to protect the braid - leader knot from the sinker. Depending on the conditions/day/target fish and how fussy I'm feeling I might have a swivel and then trace of anywhere from 40 - 80cm. With the long leader I don't have trouble casting, or problems with the sinker sticking to the braid-leader knot. Worked this out when experimenting with a running dropper rig (similar to ezi rig but using a small running swivel, short dropper and then sinker). Actually that is starting to look confusing now, so the rig for me ends up as [braid] - [Albright/Slim Beauty] - [trace of a bit more than 2 rod lengths] - [small bead] - [sinker, or running dropper] - [small bead] - [swivel] - [trace] - [hook] - [fish]. Most of the time its only the last connection [hook] - [fish] that fails. Don't seem to have issues with knots, sinkers etc. I found ezi-rigs (and sinkers at times) would cause tangles in the braid, but don't have any probs with everything running off the leader + trace. Still maintain a good level of sensitivity through the braid, although like your idea of the float stopper. The only problem you might have is a slightly reduced casting distance (if that is important to you), as I expect the stopper to be running through the guides. Using a bead, you only have the knots going through the guides. Hope that helps, Scott

I'll keep this short and sweet - Dad pulled in a 4 inch starfish, but that was it. Watched about 8 different boats drift the sandflats for zilch also. Only a couple of other land based fishos on the wharf; I think everyone was going home with burgers or bbq chicken today. Not even a nibble from a toadfish, undersize pinky, or biddy. Anyone else in the area today that did ok?