[Knot Problems]

For years I used the Albright to join my leader to mainline... this is a very good knot, I've never had one fail... 10-12 turns up... 10-12 turns back down... wet, tighten, done.

Why would you want to go away from a knot that has not failed you in the past???

[My New Toy!]

That's a damned fine looking piece of fishing equipment.

How many bearings does it have?

What is the recommended line class and capacity?

What do you intend to target with this Mercedes class reel?

Sorry, first time for me to see this model-where is it made?

Are you able to get after market service for it - or is it really just a "White Elephant"?

Not having a dig - but as mentioned - out in the boondocks here - I have just seen this reel for the first time.

Congrats on a supurb looking piece of tackle - but will it catch fish??????

[Most Memorable Catch]

My girlfriend

penguin

Gotta agree with Penguin, the was a pretty good catch.

Had to berley up for a while, got busted off a few times before reeling her in. Boated her on about the 5th go, wasn't sure if I was using the right bait for the first few fishing trips, but perserverence pays off. A combination of the right moon phases, a good burley mixture and a lot of luck.

[125kg On The Towing Ball]

Thanks STUCADZ for this question,

Huey, my tandem trailer sits pretty ordinary also, it takes 4 blokes to lift the damned thing off the towbar.

The forward tyres seem to have a lot of weight on them as against the rear which look like they're not doing too much work at all. Try to wind the jockey wheel and you need muscles in places I don't have them.

Should I move only the front axle or do both need to be moved?

Thanks

Carl

[Fishing Trip]

As an ex Sydney boy who ventured North for a holiday, I can personally recommend a trip to Tropical Cairns.

The accomodation is available from backpackers hostels (well equipped with pools), motels and then up to the 5+ star to suit all tastes.

We stayed in a typical motel with the regular facilities and pool table, etc for a very modest sum.

Plenty of shops for the to blow your hard earned cash on, many golf courses, many, many excellent tourist locations, tours, etc that will pick you up from your hotel.

Based in Cairns you can take a coach to Port Douglas, then you can take the fast cat to Cooktown or hire a 4x4 if you are proficient enough. I took a bottom fishing trip from Cairns and caught my very first Spaniard floating a pillie under a baloon. Had a great mixed bag of reef fish also.

Tours to Mission Beach with connecting ferry to Dunk Island , again pick you up from your hotel.

Trips out to Green and Fitzroy Island depart daily, by either fast or slow cat, snorkelling is magnificent in these islands. Fitzroy Island also has beautiful nature walks.

Tours up to the tablelands, the Kuranda railway trip, local markets in both Cairns and Kuranda, cable car up to the tablelands, unbelievable curtain fig tree, also the accommodation in the rainforest. Did I mention Lake Eacham - they also have tours on the lake.

Beautiful beaches at Palm Cove, Clifton Beach, Trinity Beach, Yorkeys Knob and Holloways Beach, just getting to them is a blow-out driving along the highway adjacent to the coast. You will also get to see the hangliders off double Island.

Shit!!! I should be a travel agent.

But seriously, my holiday to Cairns deeply affected me - so much so that the company I worked for had a branch in Townsville and I was successful in getting a transfer there. As a resident rep I was then able to enjoy 1 week in every month in Cairns, Port Douglas and Cooktown.

Did I forget to mention the Barra tours, hooking into your firts barra is something you will never forget - the by catch aint too bad either - fingermark, jacks

Good pubs, nightclubs, sports clubs and plenty of eateries.

I thoroughly recommend Cairns.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Carl

[St George Sportfishing Club]

Excellent read Ross,

I felt I was in the boat with you.

You're not an anonymous writer for Mills & Boon by any chance?

[Don't Eat Fish Caught West Of Harbour Bridge]

Heres an interesting fact on Dioxins from when they did all the testing on fish.

Tailor and mullet caught in balmoral had much higher levels (about 3 times if i recall) of dioxins compared to Flathead (which had borderline safe levels) caught in homebush bay!

Check the eating chart, 1 seving of mullet every 3 months only is recommended and the tailor is 1 serving only per month.

These fish are definately off my diet now!!!

[Don't Eat Fish Caught West Of Harbour Bridge]

Top info there Mariner - where did you find it??

Roberta

Hi Roberta,

I was flicking through the DPI site and stumbled over it. The ban has been in force since 2006, and I assumed that most people would be aware of the info. Thought I would put it up as a reminder as there are many posts here about fish caught in the harbour. Don't wish to see too many raiders with 3 heads or the like - do we?

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/spotli..._sydney_harbour

[Jockey Wheel]

I used to have a similar problem with a windey shaped driveway.

Fitted a towball to the front of the car and solved all the problems, especially visibility loss when reversing.

Cheers

Mariner

[Fuel Leak]

Hi billfisher, my engineers use it frequently on applications involving fuels and oils.

I would however recommend that you give the surface a good clean with a solvent cleaner, then rough it up with a wire brush or some 40 grit sandpaper.

Ensure it is fully cured prior to contact with petrol. Once cured, it sets pretty well like steel.

Maybe you could try CRC's website for further details.

Sorry I can't be of better information.

Cheers

[Hawkesbury Report]

Pictures are now added.

Regards Stewy

And might I add...... some very nice ones indeed.

Do you have any weights for them?

[Don't Eat Fish Caught West Of Harbour Bridge]

1. Why has commercial fishing been banned in Sydney Harbour?

A total ban has been placed on commercial fishing as a precautionary measure after test results revealed elevated levels of dioxin in a number of species of fish and crustaceans in Sydney Harbour.

2. What are dioxins and what effects do they have on humans?

Dioxins are a group of chlorinated compounds produced unintentionally by industrial processes, as well as through some natural processes, such as bushfires. Dioxins are found in low levels in the normal Australian diet and at these low levels present no known health risk. A recent national study concluded that the exposure to dioxins in Australia is generally lower than in other countries. Australian Health authorities have established a "safe" intake level of dioxin. This level has been set to protect individuals from health concerns including cancer.

3. Why are there high levels of dioxins in Sydney Harbour?

Residues of dioxins in seafood caught in the Harbour/Parramatta River are likely to have their sources in contaminated sediments in or near Homebush Bay. Current levels are likely due to many years of industrial activities along those waterways. Millions of dollars are being spent on cleaning up contaminated sediments in the affected areas.

4. What is the Government doing about protecting human health in the Harbour?

The Government has announced a $5.8 million package that includes a voluntary buy out of commercial fishing businesses, further testing for dioxins in the fish, and a public information campaign to advise recreational fishers and the community about the risks of eating seafood caught in the Harbour. Millions of additional dollars are being spent on cleaning up the contamination, particularly near Homebush Bay.

All commercial fishing has been banned in the Harbour, including prawn trawling. Further sampling of fish and prawns from Port Jackson has been undertaken. Warning signs have been erected around the Harbour and a multilingual brochure is being distributed to warn recreational fishers of the dangers of consuming fish and crustaceans taken from the Harbour. Information is being sent to all one year and three year fishing fee receipt holders, fishing clubs, and charter boat operators who are known to reside in the Sydney region and progressively to those fishers located elsewhere. Information is also being disseminated through FishCare volunteers, Waterways Officers, Water Police, through the print media and through the Department of Primary Industries, NSW Health, NSW Department of Environment and Conservation and NSW Food Authority websites. This information is updated as new testing results emerge.

5. Is recreational fishing banned in the Harbour?

Recreational fishing in the Harbour has not been banned, but fishers are urged to follow dietary advice on the consumption of seafood from the Sydney Harbour, Parramatta River and other connected tidal waterways. Fishers can also continue to practise catch and release.

Based on advice from an expert panel, the Government is recommending that:

• No fish or crustaceans caught west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge should be eaten. You should release your catch.

• For fish caught east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge generally no more than 150 grams per month should be consumed.

• Testing of popular species has allowed for more accurate dietary advice. The table below provides advice on the maximum consumption of single species.

Recommended maximum intake based on eating a single species caught east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Species Number of 150 gram serves Amounts per month

Prawns* ......................4 per month 600 g

Crab ......................5 per month 750 g

Bream ......................1 per month 150 g

Flounder ....................12 per month 1800 g

Kingfish ....................12 per month 1800 g

Luderick ....................12 per month 1800 g

Sand Whiting .....8 per month 1200 g

Sea Mullet ....................1 every 3 months 50 g

Silver Biddie .....1 per month 150 g

Silver Trevally .....5 per month 750 g

Tailor .....................1 per month 150 g

Trumpeter Whiting ....12 per month 1800 g

Yellowtail Scad .....8 per month 1200 g

Squid ....................4 per month 600 g

Dusky flathead 12 per month 1800 g

Fanbellied leatherjacket 24 per month 3600 g

Important Note: This advice is provided if one single species is being eaten. For example eating 150 grams of Bream and 600 grams of prawns in one month would exceed the recommended intake. Eating 300 g prawns, 300g sand whiting and 300g yellowtail scad in one month would equal the recommended maximum intake.

6. Will the Government be providing financial assistance to commercial fishers who are no longer able to take fish and prawns from the Harbour?

Yes, $5 million was allocated to buy out Port Jackson estuary prawn trawl fishing businesses and estuary general businesses with a history of operating in Port Jackson. The program was designed to enable commercial fishers to exit the industry with a fair ex-grata payment (note estuary fishers can operate in one of seven regions along the coast).

7. Do the recent test results mean that the commercial fishing ban will be lifted?

No, the commercial fishing ban will remain as the results from commercial species such as squid, bream and prawns still show elevated dioxin levels. However, some initial arrangements have been made to give commercial fishers who accepted the voluntary buyout offer the first option to re-enter the relevant fishery subject to appropriate conditions, if the harbour is found to be safe for commercial harvest in the future.

8. Will the Government be testing fish for dioxins in other estuaries?

The Department of Primary Industries acts on advice from NSW Health and the NSW Food Authority on fish contamination issues. The Department of Primary Industries also acts on advice from the Department of Environment and Conservation on ecosystem contamination issues. When advised by these agencies, the Department of Primary Industries takes action by implementing fishing closures where appropriate, communicating health warnings where appropriate, and assisting these agencies with sampling of fish.

The Department of Environment and Conservation has advised that the type of manufacturing facility that was historically located in Homebush Bay producing particularly toxic chemicals (dioxins were unintentionally produced through this production) is the reason for the elevated levels of dioxins in the Harbour. These types of facilities were not located elsewhere in NSW.

9. Will the Government be completely banning all fishing in the Harbour?

At this time, the advice from NSW Health is that it is safe to consume the recommended levels of fish and crustaceans east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. However no seafood caught west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge should be eaten. A total ban on commercial fishing has been implemented to ensure the safety of consumers and the integrity of the seafood industry.

10. Is it safe to undertake other recreational activities in the Harbour such as boating and swimming?

At this stage it is considered to be safe to undertake boating activities and swim in the Harbour. Water quality in the Harbour is the cleanest it has been in decades. The issue is with sediments on the harbour floor, which have been exposed to industrial pollution dating back over the past 100 years, and the migratory patterns of fish from polluted areas like Homebush Bay into the cleaner waters of the Harbour.

11. Will the ban on commercial fishing impact on the availability of fresh local seafood?

The ban on commercial fishing in the Harbour will not have a major impact on the supply of fish to local seafood shops and markets, as the commercial catch from the Harbour is quite small compared to the overall availability of seafood.

Commercial finfish catch in Sydney Harbour prior to the ban:

• Total annual commercial catch is less than 2% of the finfish sold in NSW.

• Volume of commercial catch per annum = 56 tonnes.

Commercial prawns caught in Sydney Harbour prior to the ban:

• Total annual commercial catch makes up less than 1% of the traditional supply of prawns to local seafood markets.

• Volume of commercial catch last year = 5.5 tonnes.

[Fuel Leak]

Try CRC Minute Mend, or a similar Epoxy Cement

[Harbour Report]

That's one thumper Whiting, and a great mixed bag.

Congrats on mastering the Minn Kota.

[Time I Share]

Great catch, the adrenalin must have been pumping.

Please, some photos.

Cheers

[Who Has Ever Heard Of The "bloodworm Run"]

Hmmm, 'bogging' for green nippers - is that muddying up the water with you feet to encourage them to swim for clean water?

I have found a few in the lake here, by lifting up rocks at low tide. Quite different from yabbies, eh? Noisy, too.

Roberta

Spot on Roberta - basically "power walking" on the spot. Not on a submerged weedbed but one that is high and dry. The area becomes somewhat of a "bog" and yes the nippers come to the surface of the mud sludge and make pretty easy pickings. Occasionally a few prawns would surface as well.

Looking back though, when the site was re-visited the following week or so, there were patches of the weedbed that had no weed on it. The weed had been pushed under the mud and or became dislodged and was possibly washed away with the incoming tide.

In those days, (Circa 1970) we were pretty well the only ones collecting bait there. I guess Illawong had a population of around 1 or 2 thousand only then, and the bait collecting was sustainable.

I guess using those methods today, with the increased population in the area, would see a barren desert in no time at all.

[Inspirational, A Dog With 2 Legs.]

I think he goes by the name "Lucky"

[Oh My!]

Go on Greg - scare us with a price of the test boat and what they weigh fully rigged a sI'll have to include a serious tow vehicle as there is always a lottery every week to win???

The hull would have to weigh somewhere around 1500Kgs

The 2 engines would weigh... what, say.................800Kgs

The fuel with oil must be around...........................725Kgs

The other bits and pieces would be say.................250Kgs

Esky, fishing gear, water, etc??............................200Kgs

Whats that add up to - something like 3.5 tons

Looks like you would need a dump truck or the likes to tow that beauty.

Have you thought about going into the landscape business Pel?

You could use the dumper as a tax right off!!

[Wolli Ck]

A tributary of the Cooks I think. It is nearly land-locked.

[Who Has Ever Heard Of The "bloodworm Run"]

When we lived on the Georges River at Illawong we used to dig for blood worms with a garden fork in front of the house. They were plentiful then - don't know about now.

We also "bogged" for green nippers on the exposed weed beds on the mud flats, they were also plentiful.

Never heard of the bloodworm run - have heard of the crayfish march though - apparently they march together in single file after storms. There can be hundreds and sometimes thousands marching to deeper water. This single file positioning is for protection from predators.

[Dory Move In]

this is the first time i ever seen a dory report on fishraider ever!

If that's true then it should be a candidate for FOTM.

[Johnson Outboards]

We used to have Johnson outboards here up until about 7 or 8 years ago.

UMW (The Komatsu dealer) were the agents for Johnson but they stopped selling them.

A few years later they left also.

What has happened to OMC?

[4 Yakkas In A Fish Tank]

Maybe we could start a poll.

Guess how long before any yakkas kark it - if at all.

Will they last 1 month and beyond.

My estimate is 12 to 14 days before a fatality occurs. If they go beyond 2 weeks then they will live forever.

[Beware Of Speeding Camera's On A Long Weekend Or Otherwise!]

Mate,

I'm glad it's you and not me having to make that decision - tough one indeed.

Light duties for 4 months, or for 12 months whilst on P's.

Being mobile, all beit subdued, or being stranded for 4 months.

I guess it wouldn't be too difficult to find a mate that could drive your car to tow your boat, and double as your fishing partner.

Does your wife work? Who normally transports the kids to and from school?

Either way it is going to be an extra burden on your wife - having to pick the boss up as well as the kids.

Good luck in your choice - is an appeal out of the question?

I guess weighing up the job factor I would have to take the 4 months.

Are you not due any holidays or long service that would pass the time a bit quicker? (would probably be worse I guess)

I would look into appealing - if unsuccessful would the penalty be more severe?

[Fishing With Et And Tetsuya]

Some people are just born with talent and modesty.

ET is a great fan of mine.

Seems that anything he does he is good at, damn champion.

Didn't do too bad yourself there Ross, your reputation is obviously widely known amongst the stars.

Great effort and look forward to seeing the programme.

Trust you didn't take any photos in the shower!!