zook2001

It's a pretty tough assignment catching snapper from the rocks,it's been a while since I tried however the formula used to be tough bait and 120 gram sinker cast 100m seaward to a sandy or gravel bottom so you don't snag up, then wait and wait and wait................ A good starts to look for deep water and holes drilled into the rock to leave your rod, mind you its hard too tell if the last snapper was caught two weeks or two hundred years ago just looking at a hole drilled in the rock.

In the case of accident your car insurance would generally cover any damage caused by your trailer, you can pretty much ignore anything the insurance company tells you unless its written in black and white in your policy book.

Sadly the fishway has never been finished, they just couldn't find a solid base to complete the cement work within budget.National Parks certainly don't have authority to stop you fishing there despite what they say although I've never felt it was worth pressing the issue. Slightly further north the Woranora a better option if you can find a parking spot the fish are there as long as you can bash you way through the bush

The police have been out and about on their jetskies spreading the word about the new changes and checking you have a PFD in the boat, I told him my boat was fourteen feet, confused the hell out of him, word is your allowed one warning for the first twelve months.

Owned a few Olympic reels back in the seventies,brands like Olympic,Ryobi,and Browning were mid range type of gear with all mostly killed off by the arrival of Shakespeare reels.Would have loved DAM reel but it would be like buying a Saltiga today very expensive although I always used the Damyl lines.

The government were looking at changing the tax setup particularly for pensions, it's silly to say if you sell $300 of power and buy $600 of power your making a profit but if your a pensioner I'd check carefully before investing in solar power.

My old FSU4120 had a low mount seat for bait fishing bream and pigs with the bind on fuji seat for spinning up bonito and tailer, you could use x shink for the foregrip or as I did don't bother with one.

Strange catch in the salt though ell tailed catfish are definitely found in the upper Georges river, its seems really unlikely to be a Tandanus.

I own two of those reels and even the brand new one has a slight grind to it but they are a reliable bit of gear,mine are 7000 series and have been the undoing of plenty of kingies.I did the same strip down a few months back and managed to get everything back together again but jeez I hate those AR bearings.

Customs are a law onto themselves however feathers off the skin are generally OK as long as their not protected, the worst that could happen is they need irradiation, for a cost of course, its been a few years since I dealt with this issue it might pay to check their charges.

Some great fish, I would have been out there myself except for some motor troubles, I wouldn't head much further north than that shot as your very close to the no go area and a large black rubber boat might move you on, they give a bit of leeway near the point but not much.

Flares, map and compass are required on top of your normal safety equipment, it's a similar deal in Botany bay if you sneaking out east of Bare Island on a calm day your in open waters even though you have land on each side.

I visited WA a while back and roping off is increasing common over there, their version of National Parks and Wildlife even supply the pegs to tie to. Personally I've had my life saved by a life jacket whist canoeing but I'm far from convinced their a good idea rockhopping, in any case the manual inflation models are way overrated in a real emergency situation.

I've been rockfishing for thirty five years and don't wear a life jacket, a life jacket don't make a dangerous spot safe.

Nearly brought one of those rods last year for $250 except I got a good price on the Penn surf rod, they look like a good bit of gear, cheap because its made in Korea I believe rather than being poor quality,Some of that brand is rubbish some is good good gear, sounds like a great buy.

It's fine to fish in the refuge zone, if you check the Maritime website they have a newer map which is much more informative than the paper one's,whilst the never map has grids lines I couldn't get a satisfactory calibration in my GPS program so best to rely on landmarks than a GPS reading based on this map.

It was on the TV in Sydney the other night, the protesters are saying it's full of PCB's, the navy says it's the first ship built without them, tests were conducted by the contractors but went independent if you believe the action group. There vast majority of protesters were schoolgirls rather than hippies. Personally if you look at other wrecks on the coast I reckon it's too shallow and bits will break off and end up on the beach.

That's fishing mate, caught four squid on Wednesday and returned to the same place Sunday for zip, squid usually prefer calm,clear water maybe the rain put them off a bit.

Like it or not it was cleared flagged during the last bag and size limits review that a ban was coming. I don't know why they have let this drag whist a lot of of this tackle was sold, there is sure to be a bit of ill feeling now.

Yep that's how I troll all the time, I might ocassionly use the leccy steering if its windy however 99% percent of the time I'm on the tiller handle.

Good point Dogtooth, I recently purchased one of the Marlin PFDs and their cheap because their manufactured a year ago and due for service, not a problem if you intend to to do you own maintenance however if your paying someone else you might as well buy a dearer (newer one). If you do decide buy make sure you carry a service log on board as well to stay on the right side of the water police. Regards Charles

Looks good Brickman, how long is the tube on the downrigger mount ?

A good design on paper but the one I brought from Bias was very small, only my smallest rod butts would fit, if they were larger I'd buy again

Looks like a pfd will soon be compulsorty for most nsw small boat owners. http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/docs/minist...ssion_Paper.pdf http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/hys/lifejackets_survey.html "Public comment sought on new lifejacket laws November 7, 2009 Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi today called for public comment on proposals that would see the most sweeping reforms to lifejacket rules in more than 30 years. Launching a discussion paper canvassing new categories for compulsory wearing of lifejackets, Mr Tripodi said the reforms are aimed at recreational boaters in situations of heightened risk, especially children and boaters in tinnies. “We are not looking at making the wearing of lifejackets compulsory at all times because not all boating activity has a similar risk,” Mr Tripodi said. “For example, taking a tinnie offshore has a significantly higher risk than sitting inside a motor cruiser in a quiet bay. “We’re not about taking the fun out of boating. However we want boating to be enjoyable but safe and we know if there is an accident a lifejacket can dramatically increase your chance of survival.” Of the 174 boating fatalities in NSW in the last 10 years, just over half resulted from a person falling overboard or a vessel capsizing. Drowning has been the primary cause of death and only 7% of victims were known to have been wearing a lifejacket. Currently in NSW it is compulsory to wear a lifejacket when: • crossing a coastal bar; • riding on a personal watercraft (eg. jet ski); • engaged in tow-in surfing; or • on a canoe, kayak, windsurfer or kitesurfer when 400m or more from shore. Proposed Changes It is proposed the minimum requirement would be for a lifejacket to be worn: • by children less than 10 years old in a vessel less than 4.8 metres in length; • by children less than 10 years old when underway in the open area of a boat less than 8 metres; • when waterskiing or wakeboarding; • when in a vessel less than 4.8 metres in heightened risk situations such as at night, when alone, and on ocean waters; <~hcustom1:0711 Lifejacket Discussion Paper.doc> <~hcustom1:0711 Lifejacket Discussion Paper.doc> • when operating an off-the-beach sail craft in ocean waters; • on small recreational craft such as kayaks and sailboards, at all times in ocean waters and when more than 100 metres from shore in sheltered waters; • when in a vessel less than 4.8m on alpine lakes; and • at times of ‘Skipper Judgement and Direction’ - this approach would give a skipper the right to require passengers to wear a lifejacket if, for example, a change in the weather heightened the risk of a routine boating trip. The proposals represent the biggest changes to boating safety since the Boating Safety (Equipment) Regulations were introduced in 1975. Mr Tripodi said the current “coastal bar crossing” regulation for boaters demonstrated how lifejackets can save lives. “In the six years since the lifejacket requirement for bar crossings was introduced there have been two fatalities on bars compared to 14 in the preceding 11 years.” Mr Tripodi announced the discussion paper will also seek comment on safety issues surrounding rock fishing, including whether lifejackets should be compulsory in certain conditions. “While NSW Maritime doesn’t have a role in rock fishing safety, and regulation would not be easy, stakeholders have asked us to include the issue for discussion. “So far in 2009 nine people have drowned while rock fishing and this is simply too many.” The Discussion Paper and online feedback form can be found at www.maritime.nsw.gov.au or by enquiring at NSW Maritime offices. Comments close on Friday 8 January 2010."

The only I've worn my life jacket at a spot I knew was a bit dangerous, eventually I woke up to myself that that I shouldn't fish there ever, even wearing a jacket and wetsuit. That life jacket actually saved my life in a canoeing accident but is no substitute for that thing between your ears. It was quite interesting to visit WA last year and see people tieing themselves to the rocks, this is definitely the way to go cliff fishing although you'd look pretty stupid doing it over here and your mates would rib you till you had to go home .