Berleyguts

I can’t give you much advice on gear but I do advise you to check your baggage limits. When I fished LHI in 1990 there was a 15kg baggage limit on the aircraft (a DASH 8). I took as few clothes as I could in order to carry more fishing gear. I packed a Daiwa Sealine 400H loaded with 15kg mono and a 4500 Baitrunner from memory loaded with 6kg mono plus a spare spool of 4kg. I packed the 2 rods (built myself on a JS980 blank and a Super Barra blank) in a PVC tube. These days, I’d take a lever drag reel in 15 or 24kg class and something like one of my snapper outfits (20 or 30lb braid). You might want to go heavier, although the charter I fished on provided good gear in 24kg class, which is why I took lighter gear... I did have a lot of fun on smaller kings on the 4kg line and it served me in the lagoon on Trevally and bluefish. What I couldn’t fit in my suitcase, I posted ahead (lures mostly, about 5kg worth). Allow plenty of time for postage. I used to work for Australia Post and was heavily involved in mail issues to LHI. Unless you pay for Express Post, parcels go by road to Yamba, then by ship to the island. The ship only goes every 2 weeks, so allow at least 3 weeks ex Sydney but be aware that the ship goes into dry dock twice a year so it can be 6 weeks between journeys. Express Post and letters will be carried by air but there are weight and space restrictions, so it may not always get on the first flight. In low tourist seasons, there are less flights and who knows how COVID19 has affected mail carriage to LHI? My friends still with Post advise that parcel volumes (due to COVID) across Australia generally are unprecedented, heavier than Christmas volumes and they are really under the pump. Short answer, don’t post something you can’t afford to be without. Good luck and tight lines!

Not even sure I’d know how to find my first report!

Great stuff, Scratchie! That was a good listen! I don’t normally listen to podcasts or too much talking on the radio as I prefer to read (or listen to music) but that was a good listen! 😎

I agree... that’s pretty cool! Are you able to live stream it while you’re fishing? I would love to have one sitting under my boat up at Broughton Island (or elsewhere)... it would be nice to confirm what I’m looking at on the sounder and help me to read it better in future! Might even be able to spot “Whiskers”, eh @Scratchie? 😂 It would be interesting to figure out a way to use it while drifting. 🤔

And she gets to keep her feet dry too! 😂

Good onya Pete! (Baz screen shots pic... just to make sure he’s in the right area next time. Especially since Scratchie got an ass smacking there!) 🤔😂

Yeah, I have a friend from Sydney who wants to come to Port to chase them this weekend, so I have a ride out in his boat (7+m) if he does. 😎 Only thing is I don’t know where to go! I assume out to the 1000m line and beyond. I do have a mark out off Seal Rocks that a few fin were allegedly caught at a week or so ago. Guess that’s a start. 🤷‍♂️

I agree. This is a great article! Does anybody know what happened to Roberta?

When I book accomodation, I often use Booking.com and choose the free cancellation option. It might cost $10 or $20 more but if plans change you can cancel or reschedule, sometimes as late as the day before. This has saved me big $$$ plenty of times when I’ve had a drama crop up (and there have been plenty! 😂). It also means if a better deal comes up, I can take the new deal and cancel the old one. 😉

Great stuff! Fishing and music... my passions, too! Good to hear he’s getting some gigs! Nothing happening where I am and a lot of my muso friends have got nothing!

😋 😋 😋

I just showed my wife that one. She wouldn’t want to touch it but she said she’d eat it! 😋😂

Thanks guys! Mantis shrimp it is! That now rings a bell! Cheers!

We found this crustacean that we’ve never seen before with some Aussie king prawns purchased from Woolworths today. Any idea what it is? I’ve put in the freezer in case I need to send it off to Fisheries. (I wanted to put it in tonight’s laksa with the prawns, or at least in a stock, but the missus didn’t want a bar of it! 😂). Photographed alongside a teaspoon for scale.

Yes, however, once you have registered with your local MR base, they have your info on file. I just log in via the MR app on my phone and do a radio check when I feel like it. My radio stays on all the time. It gives me peace of mind. I’m still waiting for my local MR to run the VHF proficiency course (always seems to be on weekends I work), so I’m not “licensed” as such but the authorities are focussing on getting people to use their radios properly, rather than fining them for not being “licensed”. It’s not that hard.,. know the correct protocols, know the phonetic alphabet, be polite, speak clearly... be safe. 😉

I wish there was something like this when I left school! 😎 I’d almost consider doing this unit at my late stage in life. 🤔 Do you think if I did a research project on, say, snapper fishing, I’d be able to claim soft plastics, line, other tackle and fuel purchases etc. as a tax deduction? 🤔😎😂 Another possible benefit... “”Sorry dear. Yes, I have to go fishing. Really! It’s a course requirement!”

My ANSA fishing club used to have bright flouro outboard motor covers, so we could spot other members on the club outings. They didn’t cover the whole motor - just wrapped around the side. I’m not sure why they stopped using them - possibly to avoid overheating risk(?) but perhaps because members started getting bigger and bigger boats and motors, or maybe it was cost. Perhaps a pennant to go on the radio aerial might work - I’ve only got a stubby aerial but I’d proudly display it. I think flouro would be the way to go. Just a thought. PS. Wouldn’t it be good to have this for the “unofficial” Fishraider Port Stephens Snapper outing in September! 🤔

I live 5 minutes from the ramp. I keep a spare bung in the car and a spare r clip for the trailer. I carry more fishing gear in the boat than I’m ever likely to need... I still usually forget something!🤷‍♂️😂

Great stuff again, Jeff! I was working in the garden. 🤷‍♂️ Was this the same one you weighed at Brent’s shop earlier? “8.5kg... caught on a Boom Bait 5 inch forking jerk... in smoking shad colour”? 🤔 I guess I know what lures he’s trying to sell! 😂

😂 You remember the old dot matrix printer paper? My “to do” list is kinda like that. You think it’s one page but it just keeps on unravelling to more... it’s never-ending! 😂😂 If the missus had her way, she’d have me sell the boat so we could afford to rip up the carpet and put timber flooring down! 😮 Not gonna happen! 😂😂 I‘m sure I’ll make it happen this time. I’d like to put faces to user names, too! 😎

Yes, but it’s my bad for hijacking Scratchie’s thread. Didn’t mean to! Sorry!

There you go. Spear is OK, too as indicated. I was just advising that “hand held line” does not mean “handline only”.

I don’t know if the beach is in the reserve but “hand held line fishing” includes a rod and line held in the hand, i.e. no shooting fish with pointy things and you can’t leave the rod siting in a holder or unattended. Does that help?

A quick look at the calendar suggests that this might fit into my regular rotation for weekends off. Yes!

I’ve seen vehicles about. There’s usually one down at D’albora marina. Ask there. There’s a couple of outboard mechanics in George Rd at Salamander Bay and I use the local Evinrude/Suzuki dealer on Soldiers Point Rd. I don’t need a mobile.