Berleyguts

A few years ago I took my son, them about 10, fishing in Swansea channel. I launched my 10 foot punt, dragged it off to the side of the ramp and got him to stand on the rock wall and hold on to the bow line while I went to park the car and trailer. I casually strolled back then I heard, "Dad! Dad! Hurry up!" I arrived at the water's edge and there was my son holding tightly onto the rope and the punt almost full to the gunwhales with tackle boxes and bait floating around! Yes, I'd left the rubber bung out. With some difficulty, we dragged the punt up onto the rocks so we could drain it out. With no bung, I used a stick with a rag wrapped around it. My son outfished me that day - a 2kg lizard and a rock cod (of all things) on squidgies that he dragged behind the boat while he slept! All I meanged was a keeper flathead and I was using poddies and working lures constantly. Go figure! That reminds me, I need to find another bung arrangement. Baz

I fished landbased at Wisemans Ferry (short time only around the tide change) for zilch on Saturday and zilch on Sunday. Couldn't lose a bait. Was skiing at other times - the water was warmer than I thought it would be on Saturday but a whole lot colder on Sunday. Baz

I generally use a single hook in front of the dorsal fin and above the lateral line. You're possibly pinning the yakka below or through the lateral line. I think 2 hooks would restrict movement too much and find one hook is enough. If you want to slow them down a little, you can trim the tail slightly so they swim a little slower. You can also bridle rig them. Baz

That's a good site, Jewgaffer. Do you know of one that covers the Hawkesbury system? Particularly up around Wisemans Ferry, where it looks like this is the area I'm most likely to fish (due to having a van there and I'm not really into skiing!). Baz

Thanks Huey, I picked up a bottle for $10 locally yesterday (woudln't buy a boat from them though!). I forgot to ask how much to put in. It was drained recently when I had it converted back to short shaft. Cheers, Baz

Can anybody tell me how much gearbox oil I need to put in my 1972 6hp Johnson outboard? Thanks, Baz

I don't know a place near Carlingford. In the city, Kent St, I think, not far from Wynyard Travelodge. That's where I got mine a few years ago after letting it lapse. At Rozelle (?) just the other side of the Anzac Bridge. Blacktown - co-located with the RTA at St Martin's Village. Good luck. Baz

Nice rig. I'll be looking for something like that I reckon, if I can talk the into it. Baz

It might be OK for testing that your home made lures float correctly but there's probably not enough room for testing the action. If you were in the USA, I s'pose there could be a chance of crappies! Baz

Sounds good. I'm landbased until I get a towbar sorted out and my trailer finished though. When that's done, the little punt will be spending a lot of time on the water permitting! And I just realised half my tackle is in the caravan at Wiseman's Ferry but that's OK - I'll just buy more, I guess! Baz

Where do you live, Tan? And where do you fish? I have Mon Tue Wed off next week before going back to work. I've been off two weeks with my wife but been busy doing stuff around home. Wouldn't mind a weekday fish next week. Baz

Thanks Roberta. I think I know the area from another post... down near the wind sock, perhaps. A few weeks back, I cruised down there in my mate's boat for a look. Nice fishy looking water. It took about 20 minutes to cruise back to Carinya at 30mph, so I guess it would take a while in my punt with 6hp! Still, worth it when I have the time, I guess. Cheers, Baz

Great report, Roberta. I've got a van at Wiseman's Ferry but have mainly been learning to ski behind my friend's boat and haven't put the punt in yet. Hopefully I'll give it a bash soon. Were you fishing below the ferry? My van is upstream from the Webbs Creek Ferry (opposite Del Rio) and I think it's a fair way down (in the punt) to the better looking water below the Wisemans Ferry. Baz

It's Fly Point and it is definitely worth a snorkel. You can see huge whiting, flathead, luderick, mullet, bream etc. Can't fish there, of course. Go around an hour before high tide in the morning. Baz

All the best with your surgery, Byron. I've never met you but I enjoy reading your posts - they always contain a lot of useful information. I guess the jewie population can breathe a sigh of relief for a short while... until you're back into it. Baz

I must try fishing those little lakes for carp myself. You can also put a canoe or punt in on Cattai Creek, off Pitt Town Rd. Should be bass. In 20 minutes down the M4, you can be at Penrith, chasing bass. I think that paid fishing behind the Vineyard Hotel has stocked dams, so I'm thinking silver perch etc. In maybe just over 30 minutes, possibly 40, depending how you drive, you can be at Berowra Waters. Good luck, Baz

I fished it a few years ago... we had a LOT of rain... there were a few good fish caught... not much by me... I lost a prized graphite 1-2kg flick stick over the side... but I had a good time and I would go again if I had the chance. I was one ticket off the major prize - a Webster Twinfisher. Baz

Way back in 1990, I won a trip to LHI, which included 4 days fishing on Capella. I was quite happy with the experience but I don't know if Capella still operates. (Capella was also a lodge). The trip was in September, just before my wedding (and my last real fishing trip alone ). We caught a lot of kingfish and lost some monsters. I noticed that the boat tended to return close to the reefs and Balls Pyramid, rather than go out wide but I was told that March is the time to go for the tuna and marlin etc. I sometimes have contact with an island local through my work. I don't know whether he fishes but he would know everyone on the island, so I can give him a call when I get a chance and see if he knows which operator has the best rep. Cheers, Baz

Thanks Pete, When I get my punt back on the water, I will have to head down there and give that area a try. Maybe I can talk my mate into taking the ski boat down this weekend for a look, though My van is at Carinya Ski Ranch, upstream from Webbs Creek ferry, so I've only been fishing around there. Can't wait to explore further downstream. Cheers, Baz

Which caravan park? Del Rio? Baz

There was a lot of fresh in the water at Wisemans last weekend - I know because I swallowed about a gallon of the stuff trying to learn to water ski (at my age)! From what I hear, it's been a bit quiet lately but there's always the chance of bream and jew etc. I'm told that there's a deep hole under the overhead wires upstream of Webbs Creek Ferry. I saw some big mullet jumping on Sunday. Bass and estuary perch are also a possibility (try taking the dinghy up into Webbs Creek). Crabs, too near the mangroves. Please don't berley up for bull sharks this weekend - I'll be waterskiing there again and tubing with the kids! I have recently bought a share in an on-site van up there but have yet to seriously fish the area. I caught a small soapy jew a few weeks back off the jetty at the caravan park. Get some fresh Hawkesbury prawns if you can. Good luck, Baz

Pete - it's just one song. I don't know how many people would buy a CD with just one song on it. I know people buy single songs on iTunes & BigPond Music etc., but I'm still old school and I've always been an albums man! I wouldn't even know how to go about organising the logistics of organising sales of a CD or mp3, although I would happily make the song available for charitable purposes. But I thank everyone for their encoragement. Baz

Thanks... but it's only one song... and I guess I'm my own harshest critic! You should realise that a lot of magic can be performed in a professional studio with a 24 track desk! I am happy with all but my own acoustic guitar part - I would play that differently if I had the opportunity I have circulated the song to a few different radio stations, including in Vic, plus a couple of TV programs, so I will wait and see with baited breath (since this is a fishing forum!). You never know... but I'm just happy that a few people get something out of it. Cheers, Baz

I used to cut down my mum's broom handles, drill holes and twist wire into them for eyelets, then Araldite them in. Caught a few fish... Mum thought she was growing! Baz

Gid, You have a PM. Baz