Berleyguts

Paikea, I adjusted the trailer for my old 4m Stacer myself. The neighbour across the road provided his front lawn and some old tyres and I just drove the trailer out from under it. We moved the axle assembly to adjust the towball weight and I had to adjust the height of the rollers as well as they were too low. WIth a trolley jack and jack stands it was a pretty simple process. With the new Stacer (which I didn't buy from Huey, sorry, Huey, no disrespect, just went local) I am thinking of moving the axle assembly forward slightly as I suspect it is a trifle heavy over the ball (maybe I have too much stuff stored up front!). I basically can't lift the trailer off the towball myself - I have to wind up the jockey wheel to do so and it is a bitch to move around! Good luck. Baz

I just returned from 10 days holiday at Port Stephens, where my wife and I rented a little cottage on the beach at Corlette. I towed the boat up with the intention of doing some fishing but a lot of time was to be spent looking at real estate, as we are hoping to buy an investment property in the area. I had touched base with fellow Fishraider, Scratchie, prior to heading up and Jeff was kind enough to keep ringing or texting me to tell me how good it was out on the water, while I was looking at houses! I soaked a bait off the beach in front of our cottage on the first night, while my wife flicked a plastic around. She was not confident that lures work but managed a small flatty after a few casts, so there is hope. Next morning, I had two rods out, just a few steps from the cottage and I was still in my PJs!: Pumped some nippers on Sunday, again, right in front of the cottage and managed some small whiting. Didn't take the boat out until about 4:30 on Monday afternoon, when I ran into Scratchie on the water where his boys held up nice flatties they had caught. Managed a couple of small ones but ran out of light so headed back to the ramp. Next day we headed out after breakfast and managed 1 flatty around 50, a flounder, 3 cuttlefish and we managed to drop about 6 good flathead at the boat. My wife was hooking them on prawns but they would just throw the hook at the last minute. I had a nice lizard on a Squidgie but it jumped and through the lure. My wife caught this flounder but didn't want her photo taken with it because (a) she didn't want to hold it and ( because her hair "was a mess!": Next day was better. We decided to take no bait and just use lures: 60: 66: Headed outside on Thursday. Comedy of errors... got to the bait ground, put the Minn Kota down and realised I left the iPilot remote in the car, back inside to the ramp only to find it wasn't in the car but on the floor of the boat all the time! Back outside, didn't get bait so trolled out to and around Little Island. Wife said trolling is boring so head back inside to get a few more flatties. All in all, a great holiday even if I didn't get to fish as much as I had hoped. I already miss sitting on the deck taking in these views: A big THANK YOU to Scratchie for the local tips and putting me onto some good marks! You were a great help, Jeff! Cheers, Baz Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So, they were Dad's tyre marks I saw there! I tried retrieving my boat from the other side of the ramp and got bogged before I even put the boat on the trailer. Got pulled out by another bloke with an X-trail, too, who was waiting for the tide to come in. It was going to be a long wait so I drove my wife back to the cottage and bought a $5 shovel on the way back and we cleared some wheel tracks. Got out OK in the end. Bad day for us (wife had a banana on board!). I got 2 nice flatties but no good outside. Baz

Great report, Scratchie Jnr! We got out so late and only fished for half an hour or so after we saw you as it was getting dark and I am new to the Soldiers Point ramp (it could do with more lights) and that part of Port. Backing the boat into the tiny space at the beach cottage we are renting turned out to be a little tricky in the dark, too! We will be back out tomorrow morning for a serious crack at them... and I will have some gear ready for the long tail! Thanks to Dad for the tips, too! You had some cracker fish there, young man! Cheers, Baz

Great report, Jeff. Thanks for the very kind offer to join you but I didn't get to Port until about 1:30. I'm currently sitting in the lounge room of a little cottage we've rented for a couple of weeks at Corlette, looking out over the water..., it's 3 steps down to the beach and I'll be flicking a bait out around the top of the tide at first light in the morning. We've got some real estate to look at tomorrow but hope to put the boat in soon! See you on the water! Baz

Great first report Scratche Jnr! Hmmm... "Wands headland"... I'll take a note of that. I'll be arriving in Port on Friday! Baz

Downstream.

Awesome Dolly! Well done! But Scratchie, I reckon Secho's headed back towards NZ... 750 fathoms?! Baz

Gumption or Jif worked wonders on my old VW Kombi vinyl. Baz

Singing must work... I often sing t when fishing alone (doesn't matter what song) but never when fishing with someone else. So, I do OK on my own but if I fish with someone else we don't do as well, or they out fish me! Baz

I can't be certain but the sand flats near Dangar Island might be worth a look. Baz

Keep those reports coming, Scratchie! I'm heading up in a couple of weeks for 10 days. Hope they're still biting! BTW - does Marine Rescue monitor VHF during the week up there? Thanks, Baz

I like the xRap in glass ghost (white). Baz

Marlin is best grilled on the BBQ, cooked like you'd cook a rare steak. Say 5 mins on one side then half that on the other side. Cook with the skin on to keep the meat moist but remove to serve (it's rubbery). Try different marinades and sauces - plenty of recipes online. I don't mind eating marlin but admit I prefer yellowfin or albacore. Baz

The concept of Interline rods was around at least as far back as the 70s, when a South African company had the patent on the system. Back then, they were as scarce as hen's teeth in Australia and were designed for baitcasters. No braid then, just mono. I always wanted to try one but couldn't afford one if I could find one. I'd be interested in hearing of experiences with the "reborn" Interlines, too. Baz

I think he means the Royal Red prawns you can by at fish shops. Raw and already peeled. They do work well. Don't rule out bread though! Baz

You can use a float and swivel set up and i have but I like to keep it simple. An Alvey, mono straight to the hook, and maybe a small ball sinker running right to the hook. This is easy to cast with an Alvey, floats naturally in the wash and is quick to rerig if you get busted off or your line gets nicks etc. and less to carry in and out! I don't like to overcomplicate things! Baz

Great fish! Well done! Baz

Great effort! Well done! Baz

Great fish! Great solo effort! Well done! I hope I can get out there soon. With my luck, the seas will be up whenever I get a day pass from the missus! Baz

I second that. Lizards tend to saw through the line rather than bite through it as such. Keep the head down low in the water and you have a better chance. That's why I favour a long handled net with a big wide mouth - it allows me to come up from under the fish and net it whole a lot of the time. Baz

If targeting drummers, give them a few beers and 9/8 and 5/4 time signatures and that'll throw them! Lol (Sorry, I'm a guitarist!) Stevie G is right. Keep it minimal. Bread, peeled prawn or cunjie bait on a 1/0 hook. No lead if possible, or the smallest ball sinker possible running right to the hook. Let it float around in the wash. When they reef you, and they will, this is the simplest rig to rerig! Baz

You can see the channel on Google Earth. I like the northern end of the channel the best but it depends on the conditions. Baz Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you are new to fishing, you MUST be very careful on the rocks. *Don't fish the rocks if you cant swim. * Wear rock cleats on your sand shoes or rockhopping sandals. * Wear light clothing, in case you get washed in. * Ideally wear a life jacket and don't fish alone if you can help it. * Watch the wave conditions for 20 minutes before you venture down to fish. If in doubt, don't fish! * Check the weather conditions before your trip and if the seas are up, don't fish the rocks - go somewhere safer, like in an estuary. Ulladulla Channel is a spot below the lighthouse. Drive out to the lighthouse and take the track down to the rock platform. There is a reef/rock platform out from the main platform that takes some of the brunt out of the sea. (You don't fish from this outer reef of course!). It fishes best when the white water washes over the channel. Fish unweighted baits in the channel under the white water for bream and rock blackfish. If you need weight, add a small ball sinker running right to the hook. Most of the time the fish are at your feet. Cast pilchards on gang hooks or lures further out where the white water washes over the ends of the outer reef for salmon and tailor. I say again, BE VERY CAREFUL ON THE ROCKS! Good luck, Baz

Narrawallee Inlet, just north of Mollymook offers some shallow flats fishing for whiting, flathead and bream. You can also pump nippers. There is a reasonably safe rock spot I like at Ulladulla, which always produces a feed for me but if you are new to fishing perhaps it is best to stick to the beaches and estuaries initially. Tight lines! Baz