night_rider Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 (edited) Hi Raiders, Have had a few succesful trips inside the harbour(reports pending my photo upload) with a few rat kings, tailor and Salmon landed but thinking about a first trip out the heads tomorrow morning. Conditions look okay, not thinking about going out that deep, but want to wet a line out in the big blue. Have an 18 foot boat so shouldn't have any issues there. Don't have a sounder at the moment but haven't needed to rely on one so far.. chasing boiling water, morings etc. Any tips for a location? or plan of attack. Have heard good things off manly beach 150m or so out... ? Want to try and avoid trying to work out where I'm going at 6 in the morning... Thanks in advance! Mark. Edited January 7, 2015 by Marky Wants to Fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest no one Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Weather looks ok, winds going to pick up in the afternoon so the earlier the better, incoming tide too until 11:30 so looking like a promising day. Long Reef is quite popular at the moment... why dont you have a peak around there? I'd also suggest getting a sounder right now and having it fit today... it will save you a lot of worry about reefing your boat and will also help you find the fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belligero Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Weather looks ok, winds going to pick up in the afternoon so the earlier the better, incoming tide too until 11:30 so looking like a promising day. Long Reef is quite popular at the moment... why dont you have a peak around there? I'd also suggest getting a sounder right now and having it fit today... it will save you a lot of worry about reefing your boat and will also help you find the fish! 100% agree with the sounder. It's not just about locating the fish. They are great to see drop offs, structure & water temp. Wouldn't get a combo these days as the navionics app for andriod / iphone is easier to use imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyss Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 G'day Mark. Before you start venturing off shore or buy a sounder, make sure you have a decent anchor, chain and plenty of decent rope incase something happens to go wrong. Especially when fishing in close with onshore wind. Regards Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
night_rider Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 Cheers for the quick responses guys!!! Weather looks ok, winds going to pick up in the afternoon so the earlier the better, incoming tide too until 11:30 so looking like a promising day. Long Reef is quite popular at the moment... why dont you have a peak around there? I'd also suggest getting a sounder right now and having it fit today... it will save you a lot of worry about reefing your boat and will also help you find the fish! Ed looking at a 6am start till just after high tide. Long reef is just North of Manly right? There's already a Garmin transducer in the boat.. So just need the head unit and cable kit.. 100% agree with the sounder. It's not just about locating the fish. They are great to see drop offs, structure & water temp.Wouldn't get a combo these days as the navionics app for andriod / iphone is easier to use imo. Agreed, there's a lot of value in locating drop offs and knowing what the seafloor looks like. Save loosing my anchor.. G'day Mark.Before you start venturing off shore or buy a sounder, make sure you have a decent anchor, chain and plenty of decent rope incase something happens to go wrong.Especially when fishing in close with onshore wind.Regards Nick. Cheers Nick, Valid point. I've got a good anchor with a solid chain and stacks of rope. No doubt on my first few trips out the heads I would be staying inshore. In saying all this, if the bait balls are in the harbour again I won't be leaving anyway... Thanks again lads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest no one Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 If the transducer fits then get a Garmin unit... Plenty of cheap ones around which can be a stop gap for now! Then again there's plenty of good ones around for cheap as Boxing day sales should continue until the last week of January! Be careful on the unit you buy though, a lot will offer all these magical side scans, down scans, dual beam... pretty sure some even cook the fish for you! But if you buy a unit that offers all of these and your current transducer doesn't... then you'll need swap out the transducer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
night_rider Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 I might have to have a chat to a Garmin dealer, looks like it might be a transom mount transducer installed to the hull... Will do a little research and start new thread re: sounder. Thanks again Ed.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linc Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Don't forget the extra safety gear you need when venturing past the heads (printed chart of the area, V sheet and a few litres of water per person (can't remember how many exactly, i just bring heaps to be safe). I always pick up a mix of mowies, flatties, snapper and other bits and pieces drifting a km or 2 outside north head if you don't feel like cruising too far north. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
night_rider Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 Don't forget the extra safety gear you need when venturing past the heads (printed chart of the area, V sheet and a few litres of water per person (can't remember how many exactly, i just bring heaps to be safe). I always pick up a mix of mowies, flatties, snapper and other bits and pieces drifting a km or 2 outside north head if you don't feel like cruising too far north. Thanks Linc. Reminded me I did a check of safety gear before, looks like I'm missing a v sheet. Might be staying inside the heads tomorrow. Bit of a shame. Correct water is 2L p/person. When outside. Howell lets hope the bait balls are inside the harbour tomorrow! Wish me luck! Thanks again lads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NaClH2OK9 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Hi marky. You've had some great advice above unfortunately most involves spending. It's obviously late in the day. But just to add to the burden. I would encourage a vhf radio if you don't have one. I consider this my most important piece of safety equipment after my life jacket. It's all spend but just once. Where ever you end up. I hope you have a great day out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
night_rider Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 Cheers Nacih. Obviously ended up staying inside. Found kings, salmon, bonito & tailer! Will write up a report later or tomorrow. Top day on the water! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linc Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Why go outside when u find all that inside? Just inside the heads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NaClH2OK9 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Mmmm the lure of blue water. I soo know that feeling. Sounds like you had a great day anyway. Look forward to your writeup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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