neilm

Posting a thingo on etiquette is an excellent idea, and has been done entitled boating etiquette. We need to ensure that we don't self-destruct by infighting when we have greenies and marine park loonies trying to destroy our sport. This is a general comment and is not directed any anyone in particular. Have a good weekend all!

quick comment on the DVD - it's good! It would be worth distributing to every tackle shop - every fisho can't help watching a video or DVD if it has fishing action in it... Cheers, Neil

I'm really jealous! Seriously though, a really good subject - I often hire a tinny and have wondered about these rules - amongst others re: etiquette (rock fishing, sharing gutters on beaches etc.) Cheers, Neil

I wouldn't be unhappy with that! All I've got recently has been a little flatty over two beach sessions. Cheers, Neil

Just got back from another beach session - started near the pipe in Collaroy - even though N.Narra had some good gutters, I just couldn't be bothered to compete with the surfers using the rip to get out the back. There were a few other fishing down the Collaroy end, and no-one was getting anything, so I went round to Brownwater to see what was happening there. Apart from a couple of giant snags all I got was a small green moray eel. Very ugly. A little while later a bloke near me got what looked like an estuary catfish, also very ugly. I hope Spizza's right and the sambos are on their way! Cheers, Neil

Sorry for late report - domestic duties had priority ( ). I went down there yesterday arvo as promised, and fished the gutter just across from the Sands. Got there about 2:00pm ready for high tide at 2:45. Not a lot of swell or whitewater for cover, water was clear. I though I'd hang around and try my luck for a while, winds went onshore gusty for a while and moved back around to a solid SW, which made bite detection a nightmare. Got one small flatty on worm and that was it, gave up around 4pm even the lowering tide was not helping as the surf started to flatten due to the offshore - I couldn't win! Ah well, I tried! Best of luck to all venturing out, I'll be out again tomorrow looking for a catch! Cheers, neil

Checked out Warriewood, Little Narra & North Narra. Warriewood looked nice, little bit of weed but some small gutters. Little Narra was very weedy in my favourite spot at the south end, the rest of the beach had weed patches. North Narra had some nice formations, so N. Narra it will be for me tomorrow arvo - I just love a week off . The beach is really steep in some places, so I'd imagine the overnight high tides will be excellent if the formations stay the same. Cheers, Neil

Mate I'm planning a session tomorrow around high tide (14:45) 'til dark. Not sure where yet, I'll go a have a look at the formations this arvo. I'll post a report. Cheers, Neil.

Nice work Big Steve. They're awesome aren't they - you did well on light tackle, Cheers, Neil

Bad luck mate. Col Buckley does a series of talks at Narrabeen bait and tackle - I went last May and enjoyed it very much. I didn't pay too much attention to the Hawkesbury (which he did talk about quite a bit) as I don't have a boat. Send him an email to find when he's running them again if you're intersted: cbuckley@fishnet.com.au Cheers, Neil

Ha ha Mine looked like that from last night at Avalon Beach! Bring on the weekend and hopefully a slightly longer report. Cheers, Neil

Col Buckley has posted a report and a photo of it on another website. A google search should turn it up! Cheers, neil

Mate I hit the beach almost every weekend, typically Mona Vale, Narrabeen, little Narra, and Avalon am sad to report that there's not a lot of action at the moment (at least for me). Had a good patch around Xmas where there were plenty of sambos, but that's got real quiet now. Went out early Sunday to Little Narra and all I got was a couple of small PJ sharks. Can't comment on the rocks as I generally fish on my own or with my son, so don't want to take the risk. Let us know if you find some action! Cheers, Neil Ahh, BTW !!

Mate. Beaut bream. Nice to hear it went back too! Cheers, Neil

Boilies are high protein balls of bait (1-1.5cm diameter) that have flavours added, and to get them to a firm consistency are literally boiled! I found a link here for recpies etc. http://www.carp.net/carp.htm They are often used with a hair rig - the boilie has a very fine line (1lb) threaded through it with a needle of some sort and attached to a very small stopper or tied on with a very small knot. The loose and of the line is then tied around the curve of the hook, and typically there would be about 2-3cm between the hook and the bait. The carp are extremely shy in the UK (probably due to overfishing?) and the theory is that they can detect a hook embedded in a bait. whereas they get a bit more confidence when they can't detect an embedded hook, and suck the bait in, hook and all. Let them run for a few yards and then bang, you're on. Theoretically. The only drawback is that you need to do some serious prebaiting to educate the carp to liking them, ie. drop them regularly in the same possie for a week, or even a month before you fish for them. Other strange baits I have tried successfully for carp and other fish include Spam cubes. Difficult to cast a long way, but very effective. Good Luck! Cheers, Neil

well done mate! A good read. A direct contrast to my lack of success early on Sunday Am at Narra! Were you up at Northy? Cheers, Neil

I agree with Matt, I'm also ex-UK and spent many hours carp fishing, best ever went 18.5 lbs, caught on an 11 foot rod and 11 lb line using a high protein 'boily' for bait. Problem with the DVDs could be that they'll be mega technical real quick and start talking about boilies etc., but they may provide some useful tips. If you're real keen on carp fishing see if you can google up a book called "confessions of a carp fisher" by a bloke called BB. Someone asked about eating them - don't, they're foul and full of bones, although some eastern europeans eat them at Xmas. As an eating fish, they're great sport! So as Mick said, compost! Cheers, Neil

Hello All, even more reason to join in this protest organised by Bob Smith of the fishing party. Red Alert, Red Alert, Red Alert NSW Community Marine Parks and “Toxic Sludge is our Grudge” Protest Rally TUESDAY 28TH FEB 2006 at 11am to 12.30 PARLIAMENT HOUSE MACQUARIE ST SYDNEY Details: Monday, February 20, 2006 NEWS ITEM & NOTICE Community Marine Parks and Toxic Fish protest rally RED DAY ALERT 28th Feb at Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney This rally will now be a Protest March from Hyde Park North down Macquarie St to Parliament House where speakers will address the crowd and Politicians responding. This is the first day back to Parliament for the politicians in 2006. The traffic police have sanctioned a street march from Hyde Park rather than provoke traffic outrage with boats on vehicles. Although nobody can control who drives up Macquarie St, the community rally will have Police in control of the march. A soapbox rally will then be held in front of parliament house. Robert Smith, The Fishing Party chairman said “we anticipate gathering in Hyde Park (north) from 10.30 am and parading down Macquarie Street at 11.00am with banners, placards, signs, flags and a few loud hailers denouncing the NSW Labor Government about taking your fishing access away with senseless, emotional and unproven sanctuary zones and Marine Parks, while not addressing the real problems of poisoned fish and the environmental degradation of our waterways through mismanagement and other major state problems”. The protest welcomes ALL concerned fishing citizens to show support. Families, people in wheel chairs who like to fish, kids, sports fishers, charter boat operators, oyster farmers, gamefishers, commercial fishers, kayakers, boaters, indigenous fishers, tackle store owners and any business who will be affected by fishing closures and polluted waterways. Even swimmers and surfboard riders who are all facing access exclusion from their recreation and business downturn need to voice their opposition to this Labor Government Green marriage for votes The NSW Fishing Clubs Association, The Fishing Party, $%^&*, The Spearfishing Association and concerned Politicians will lead the march displaying their banners and placards down Macquarie St. This is the communities chance to show and voice their concerns about the management of our marine resource. Come by bus or train or park down at the Domain. For further information or if you want to address the rally please contact Bob Smith on email: sinali@optusnet.com.au or phone 0265560338. Robert Smith TFP Chairman and appointed community rally co-ordinator

Ain't that the truth. Good advice Kingpig.

Me & my son went down to Wimbledon Ave for a SP session last night. Neither of us has ever managed to catch anything on SPs, but I'm happy to say my son got two firsts for him: His first fish on SP and his first flattie. I had a couple of SPs mangled (choppers I would suspect), but nothing for me. But this gives me confidence that SPs work, and that we have been doing the right thing so it's just a matter of time! Roll on weekend for more fishing. Have a good one all, Cheers, Neil

Mate. This is most encouraging, you've made my day. Me & my son hired a tinny from Rose Bay last Sunday and had a shocker with only one tailor between us - we tried everything to get some livies (squid & yakkas) and could not manage a thing - further compounded by me mangling the burley bucket in the prop! Cheers, Neil

Posted by Pete LeBlang last night on another forum (he has been informed of the recent plundering) I'll keep you posted. Cheers, neil Hi Everyone The protest on Pittwater is no longer needed thanks to all those that have written letters. The fisheries are in the next 2 weeks re-mapping Pittwater and all of its caulerpa weed beds. The are using divers, cameras, gps and mapping systems to locate and record the areas. I have been told that salt will be the choice of attack in many areas but the native weeds will also suffer. Depending on the weed that the caulerpa is mixed with will dictate the attack though. Please if you fish in Pittwater and have pulled any of this weed out of the area please report it to fisheries. The commercial pros will be further restricted in their practices if required. This is why its important to report any outbreaks you have found. They will dive the reported areas and ultimately stop commercial fishing in the areas. The travelling pros will not be coming to Pittwater or the Hawkesbury River. This applies to those from any part of NSW. If any commercial activity is seen in Pittwater report it to the fisheries hotline with their LFB number and location. Some haulers are allowed but let fisheries sort it out. Thanks once again to everyone and I am wondering whether I should cook the snags anyway and have a celebration instead of a protest.

Disappointing? - that was a good day! Me & my son had a shocker on Sunday - hired a tinny from Rose Bay full of expectation, with kingy fever, couldn't get any livies (yakkas or squid), mangle the burley bucket with the prop , the only decent take resulted in a bust off almost immediately around structure , lost a load of rigs on structure, found ourselves in the middle of a yacht race At least my son got a 35cm tailor and a couple of micro-snapper, whilst I got nothing. Ah well there's always next time. Cheers, Neil

Mate. Great Report! I caught my first Kingie on 23rd Jan this year when I went on a charter with Pete LeBlang (who's a legend) and I still can't forget what an amazing buzz. I have never felt a fish go like that before, it was only 59 cm and probably 1.5kg, but it out did a 10kg eurpean carp and a 5kg barra that I've caught in the past. My son also caught a couple, we're totally hooked on kingies and we're hiring a tinny this weekend to try for some more on the harbour. Very excited! Tight lines this weekend for all getting out there. Neil

The boatshed is at the lake end of Narrabeen St. I've found early evening to be a winner (I usually get the livies the night before an early session the next day). On the tails of yours SPs - it's either the toadies or perhaps tiny chopper tailor. Cheers, neil