jamesyjf

Yeah I know what you are talking about. I am quite sure it was not a manta ray, but I will keep this in mind next time. Thanks!

ah, thanks! you know, we were quite embarrssed in the end when the lady was quite upset and around 10 people looked at us. anyway, in fact, there was not way we counld lift the fish out of the water. my friend's line is round 15 pounds, I think the ray would break it easily if we tried pull it out of water. The ray was not struggling very hard, it's kind of very slow moving. It's not really a good sporting fish, just the shear mass makes it really heavy.

Went to Kiama yesterday and a friend of mine caught a ray. I couldn't identify which kind of ray it was --- em, actually I have no idea how to identify ray anyway. We didn't realise it's a ray until my friend managed to bring the fish close to the surface. The ray was about 1m in diameter, black on top, white underneath and, of cause with a long tail. Then a lady from a local shop came over - we fished from land - and said ray was proctected, we must release it. We told her we would as we had no intention to keep it. But we were not sure if ray was really proctected or not. My friend was a bit reluctent to release the ray right away, it's largest fish he ever caught, and he was enjoying playing with it. Then the lady said we must cut the line right now, and we were committing animal cruelty. She said she would ring the ranger right away if we didn't do what she said. So we cut the line while more and more people came around to watch what's happening. Well, as said, we had no intention to keep the ray and we didn't really do anything perticularly cruel except playing with the ray for around 5 minutes. We were pretty sure we didn't see ray on the protection list, but anyway, we had no objection to release it. Well, some guy in the mass told us people did catch ray from the same spot from time to time, which surprised us. So, besides we were still not sure why the lady picked us, we want to make sure if ray is proctected, and if playing with fish is committing animal cruelty?

I like your idea, but this task maybe too easy for the mythbusters to carry out an experiment. While on the topic, is graphite or not really matter - in terms of rod material? If it's wet, it's gonna be conductive anyway, is it?

WOW, that's shocking, feel really sorry for that guy. Now I will think twice to fish in the rain.

Just heard a friend said carbon fibre rods are more likely to attract lightening under storm, so is this true?

thank you angler07, I went to Port Kembla over the weekend, and found the south breakwater was open again! We went to our 'usual' spot, fished for the good part of the day, but got nothing... while, there were an old couple who stood 3 to 5 meters away from us, and they pulled in 20 to 30 decent sized fish: yellow tale, flathead, travelly, etc., right in front of us! We tried to use the same rig and bait as they use, also tried to cast really close to their destination, which eventually tangled our lines with theirs quite a few times... but still no avail. We finally gave up and came back home totally beaten....

thank you blokes, so many interesting experiences. I think I'd better have a chat with the other 'boater's on same street.

Thank you Stumpy! BTW, what security measure people normally take to protect the trailer? sorry, I haven't own a trailer before...

I am tempt to buy a boat, but have no place to put it. I saw people park their trailer and boat on street. But I still want to make sure if it's legal to park the trailer and boat on street - given it's legal parking area for normal cars? Thanks!

where is it? there are a few lakes around Penrith, what's the name of the location of this comp? thanks!

I used to go to Port Kembla very often. And the south breakwall (close to the boat ramp) was a quite productive land spot. And it was quite safe to me, as I always stood on the top and not too far deep into the breakwall. However, a few weeks ago there was a fatal accident - which shocked me and I have to agree there is no absolute safe spot, commen sense and care are required at any place, any time. Anyway, now the access to breakwall is locked, and I would say it's a reasonable reaction from the managing party of this breakwall. Does anyone know other spots around that area? I've heard of Hill 60, but not clear about any specific spot around that - it's a big area, and is it safe? I'm looking forward to go out fishing this long weekend...can't wait...

I saw jetboad-banning sign on the rocks close by, the water is very shallow too.