Berleyguts

I guess I never thought about as I don't have a PWC licence and aren't interested in one. $52 for a car licence and $166 for 5 years. $56 for my boat licence (including $8.13 Marine Rescue contribution) and $266 for 5 years (incl. $40.65 MR cont'n.). A little bit more expensive over the 5 years but, then, car rego and insurance is expensive in comparison to boats. I agree, our pic should be on the licence. Baz

Great effort, Steve... and solo, too! Well done! Baz

Great video! With conditions like that, I just HAVE TO get out there in my 4.5m! Baz

I suggest you get yourself a copy of Geoff Wilson's book "Knots and Rigs". If you want to tie directly to a split ring, do so at your peril. You have been given plenty of information in this and you other thread. Cheers, Baz

If you change lures a lot and you don't like cutting and retyeing loop knots, then a snap swivel or just a snap may be more suitable. Baz

Thanks! Some useful tips there! Outriggers are on my wish list but to start with I need more rod holders as I only have the 4 the boat came with. As my boat is a 4.5m side console, I assume I don't need to reverse down on the fish as I'd be able to fight from the bow (or the console)? Baz

Hope it picks up for the ANSA comp this weekend. Baz

I prefer to use 4-6kg pretest mono because I fish ANSA line classes. I sometimes tie the mainline direct to the swivel , which is clipped to the lure. Or, I use a heavier leader tied to the mainline with a double uni knot. Sometimes I use a double and tie the leader to the double. The leader is then tied to the swivel clipped to the lure.You can use braid if you want. Same principles but you would need a flouro or mono leader for sure. The metal lures are chrome. Cheers, Baz

Great fishing! I'm interested in your game plan for running solo because I will fish solo more often than not. How many lures do you troll in your spread when solo? And how do you manage the lines? Do you retrieve them all before picking up the rod with the fish on, or do you let the lures sink and hope you don't tangle the lines up? Last time out, trolling in close, I struggled just trolling two lures - landed the fish on the X-rap but the Xmas tree sunk to the bottom and got stuck. Fortunately, I was able to motor around a bit and free it. Don't know how I'd go with a double hook-up??!! lol Cheers, Baz

Good report, Scratchie. Keep 'em on the boil! I'm coming up for 10 days in May! A bit late, I know but it's all I can manage... Cheers, Baz

I use a swivel because I don't like tying direct to split rings. Baz

They come with the hole down the centre. These ones: Baz Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What is the closing date, please? I don't want to put my name down and then not be able to go. It's always a bit of a juggle with me! I'd be interested in flycasting. Cheers, Baz

I had the same problem last week at Swansea at 5:30am with my sounder/GPS (a Humminbird) too bright. I later discovered how to turn the brightness down - press the power off button and the option's there. Baz

I intend to! I'm just tweaking my new boat - when fishing solo, your system needs to be spot on, especially chasing gamefish offshore! Baz

Interesting photos. Thanks for sharing. I had a hit from a black in JB years ago while trolling a Konahead. It jumped a couple of times then threw the lure. My first and only marlin encounter, so far. I was shaking for half an hour afterwards! The sight is still vivid in my mind. I swear it had the lure sideways in its mouth, like the dolly in your pics. I still have those Konaheads from the 80s, rigged with the hook hanging out of the skirt a bit. Might be time to re-rig them. Baz

Great fish, Pete! Baz

Great work, there, Paikea. That's what it's all about! Baz

Then 6kg line is definitely sufficient on the beach. Good luck. Baz

Are you fishing the rocks or the beach? Either way, use the lightest sinker you can get away with or none at all. I like to use an Alvey and 4-6kg line. I don't think you need anything heavier. With an Alvey you want a good swivel ABOVE the terminal to minimise line twist, so I either run a ball sinker down onto the gang hooks with a swivel above it, or, if I want the sinker back from the hooks a bit, I have the gang on a short trace, then a swivel, then another short trace for the sinker then a swivel to the main line. With a thread line or an overhead, you can just run the sinker to the gang, or set back above a trace. Hope that helps. Baz

While fishing in Swansea Channel on Saturday, I experienced some strange issues with the depth alarm on my sounder (Humminbird 798cxi). The depth alarm (set at 1m) kept going off. I was fishing below the bridge and the depth should have been around 5m. I couldn't get it to do anything right and eventually had to reset to default. It improved but only marginally. The sounder had been working fine since transfer to the new boat, reading OK in Broken Bay, offshore and in Penrith gorge. It seemed to read OK from the Pelican ramp (Swansea) down to the bridge but seemed to play up after heading into the creek behind the RSL to trap poddies. It would have had a nudge on the sand, I guess but I checked it and it was sitting straight. After resetting to default, we then fished above the bridge and continued to have problems but not as bad as before. I guess I'll have to test it in the water again but since I reset to default, should I look at the depth offset? Should I set it to keel depth, waterline or leave at zero? I'm thinking waterline because I'd probably want to know actual water depth but am seeking Raider's advice. What do you set yours at? And, do I put in a negative figure for waterline or a positive? Thanks in advance, Baz Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good read and pics. Wattomolla is a nice spot. I reckon that flathead is a dusky, though. The blue tail is a giveaway. Cheers, Baz

Pillies on gang hooks, minimal weight, slowly retrieved, same as winter. Baz

Yeah, I've said the same thing to my wife... I give her nudge... she tells me to go fishing! Baz Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like them all but probably no. 3 the best. I'm curious about decals for boat names with images though. How will they get it so that the whale is in front of the name on both sides of the hull? I mean: that image is right for the starboard side but what about the port side? I'm curious because I am looking to get mine done soon , too. Cheers, Baz