zmk1962 Posted November 25, 2022 Author Share Posted November 25, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, GoingFishing said: Well done Z - awesome write up. Boat is looking like an absolute machine. Bet you turn a few heads at the ramp and on the water. hopefully many more boating memories for you and Maria Hey thanks Sam.... all the tweaks are just about done. Everything seems to work and flow right ... Yes lots of folks want to have a chat about the rig - and that's fine ... it's def a conversation starter. Has delayed launch and retrieve on both occasions we've had her out. M's had her ankle procedure yesterday and the stitches are due to come out next week (needs to stay dry until then) .... so just need the weather gods to start coming to the party. Message me if you have an RDO or free day during the week coming up so we can sort something out ... (you know I don't like the weekend ramps). Cheers Z Edited November 25, 2022 by zmk1962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaxland Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 On 11/21/2022 at 11:25 AM, zmk1962 said: G'day Raiders, It's a somewhat delayed post as I was struggling to clear storage on my laptop for the video and photos but here it is finally ... With all the inclement weather lately, Thursday 15th November looked like a premium day to take devOcean on her first fishing trip. The rig is still very much a learning curve for Maria and I, so a day spent offshore exercising the simpler art of fishing for flatties was perfect to confirm the set up of the boat and gear, before we try anything more adventurous. The forecast was for low winds and slight seas .... well at least it started that way ! 4.30am final packing - since the running-in maiden voyage a few days back, I had been busy fabricating some small mods including side pocket rod holder racks for use during travel, and this was their first test run as well. 5.30am at the ramp launching - quite busy for a Thursday - though some boats were commercial carrying workmen, fisheries etc. The day started beautifully. We headed out to West Head to try for yakkas - all flat water hitting 75kmh with ease. It was also going to be the first opportunity to use the HelmMaster Fishpoint feature - sort of like spotlock - but using the outboard linked to GPS. The big concerns were would it hold us in position, and would the noise of the outboard idling and going in and out of gear affect bait fish. Happy to report Fishpoint did its job although it is not exactly like spotlock (it is less accurate as it relies on the GPS location, rather then working against the current wind/current conditions) BUT it didn't scare the bait fish. We had a dozen livies in the live tank in no time, a block of fresh IQF pillies in the esky, calm weather... it was seriously looking like happy days! We raced offshore to the 50m grounds - experimenting with the electronics and sounders. Again happy to report we were getting bottom read at even over 60kmh ... also here is an interesting FishEye view ... this simulates how fish see the waterway ... in this screen shot we are retracing over previously covered ground... you can see the fish symbols we passed: Now the reality.... or as @JonD said ... "Back to reality". As we approached the 50m grounds, there they were ... two trawlers carpet sweeping the flathead grounds off Broken Bay - hmmm. We motored around for an hour with down view and side view on and could not find a single bait ball ! Aaargh. Happy days NOT ! Eventually, came across a small pocket of activity at 50m and dropped baits and SPs. I was rewarded by a keeper flattie - that went straight into the kill tank with two frozen water bottles after a quick ikijime spike - so dinner was set and devOcean was christened ! Maria then hooked up ... and after a tussle, colour looked great, size looked even better.... but up came a decent sized banjo .... bugger. Back he went. Spent the next 4-5 hours drifting, changing locations out to 60m and back to 30m, criss crossing paths with the trawlers, trying for where they haven't been ... all for one dropped flattie at the boat, numerous pickers and sweet nothing extra in the kill tank .... also the wind and waves had come up as well (not in the forecast Jan!!) We called it and decided to head back ... then passing Flint & Steel came across this on the sounder: Too good to pass up, hit Fishpoint, and threw in a livie rig ...... hooked up almost immediately ... solid fight, peeling line, flashes of white colour .... wooooo 🤘 ... M's got the gaff ready ... king?...jew? .... Nope.... a juvenile hammer head about 3ft .... aaargh today was not the day for sure. Hung around for another 20min with nothing to show for it... so we cleaned up the rig and headed for the ramp. Here's a video which shows the highlights of the day : So no bag out or trophy fish for devOcean today, but nevertheless, a successful day in the end: everything worked, we had a feed, devOcean was christened with a fish 👍 ... and a scuff at the boat ramp 🤣 .... she's now a true sports fisher ready for the next adventure. Cheers and thanks for reading Zoran PS - The scuff: Thats some serious equipment wel done on the flattie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunc333 Posted November 27, 2022 Share Posted November 27, 2022 love it Z cant wait to see you out there what a rig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmck Posted November 27, 2022 Share Posted November 27, 2022 I am not jealous..... I am not jealous... I am not jealous..... I am not jealous..... I am not jealous..... I am not jealous..... Yes............................................. I am ........... Beautiful rig Zoran. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmk1962 Posted November 27, 2022 Author Share Posted November 27, 2022 (edited) On 11/25/2022 at 7:34 PM, blaxland said: Thats some serious equipment wel done on the flattie Serious overkill for one flattie tho 🤣. Thanks 12 hours ago, dunc333 said: love it Z cant wait to see you out there what a rig Thanks Dunc … it had to be something special to replace barrycuda’s high bar. See you on the water. 10 hours ago, dmck said: I am not jealous..... I am not jealous... I am not jealous..... I am not jealous..... I am not jealous..... I am not jealous..... Yes............................................. I am ........... Beautiful rig Zoran. Thanks mate. Not quite sure what to say to that …. but does this help … cheers Zoran Edited November 27, 2022 by zmk1962 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmck Posted November 29, 2022 Share Posted November 29, 2022 Doesnt help................... I'm still jealous.... .......................... and I think I've filled my................ white speedos... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishingwazza2019 Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 What a report! Looks like great times ahead for devOcean. I've never seen a cleanup of a boat so fast, and even the coffee mug stayed in place 🙂 Here's for many fun outings ahead .. enjoy! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antonywardle Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 Its a great looking boat Zoran! thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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