campr

I ùse abpout a rod length of mono leader to run sinker on.  This also adds a little stretch to rig which helps to hold hook in fish.  Ron 

Haven't tried yet.  I'm assuming that they won't be able until after long weekend. 

1 hour ago, campr said:

Haven't had boat in water for nearly two months due to health and family issues and freezer was low for Good Friday.   Decided to try repeating last years effort when we landed 4 jewies within 40 minutes.  A night fish on Botany bay was planned for when mate got home from work at 6pm even though we had little bait. Not so lucky this year tally was 2 undersize jew released, 3 huge pike eals, 3 shovelnose, 2 tiny wobbygongs and a 4 ft hammerhead shark.  No squid due to plage of small tailor but a few yakkas kept us going.   Started packing up just after midnight when my mates rod went off and he landed an 80cm mulloway.   As his family doesn't eat fish my family ate fresh fish instead of frozen for lunch today.  Surprised to find fish wore a tag # A663746 so I froze head and frame if it will help.

Due to minimal use in past 12 months I was pleased my old tub performed well with no major issues but steering was a bit stiff and sqid lights didn't work so I  have a little maintenance to do.  Boats don't like being ignored and deteriorate more when not used.  Will try to upload photo.  Ron 

Haven't had boat in water for nearly two months due to health and family issues and freezer was low for Good Friday.   Decided to try repeating last years effort when we landed 4 jewies within 40 minutes.  A night fish on Botany bay was planned for when mate got home from work at 6pm even though we had little bait. Not so lucky this year tally was 2 undersize jew released, 3 huge pike eals, 3 shovelnose, 2 tiny wobbygongs and a 4 ft hammerhead shark.  No squid due to plage of small tailor but a few yakkas kept us going.   Started packing up just after midnight when my mates rod went off and he landed an 80cm mulloway.   As his family doesn't eat fish my family ate fresh fish instead of frozen for lunch today.  Surprised to find fish wore a tag # A663746 so I froze head and frame if it will help.

Due to minimal use in past 12 months I was pleased my old tub performed well with no major issues but steering was a bit stiff and sqid lights didn't work so I  have a little maintenance to do.  Boats don't like being ignored and deteriorate more when not used.  Will try to upload photo.  Ron 

Is the area cracked over a threadbinding?   I think it's possiblethat it is just the epoxy coating that's cracked.  If so it may just need a bit of a sand back and recoat with a 2 part epoxy rod finish.  Ron 

I'm 77 and have a 5.6m Quinnie Classic that I have no problems launching and retrieveing by myself.  The best mods I have made is to fit a Boat Catch to help driving on and change the roller axles on the trailer.  I bought a short length of stainless steel rod the same diameter as the axles, cut them to length and drilled the hples for split pins.  Yòu wont believe how much easier the boat goes on and off the trailer.  PM me if any questions.   Ron 

Have you tried using frozen peas for bait ???

I have this one.  Ron 

It's getting more common to fit a fresh water tank and  deck wash to smaller boats.  I am considering it myself for my 5.6 meter Quinnie.   I guess that if fitted it would be easy to use it to flush your motor.   If you flush straight away you only need to run motor for a minute or so as thermostat is open and head gets flushed immediately.  Ron 

I was helping my mates pro fisherman dad haul his net at night near Towra Pt which was legal back then.  We got a good haul of mostly mulet wwhen his dad flicked a big num ray towards the water.  My mate decided to pee on it as young teens will do.  You can guess the rest as everyone around the Bay heard his screem.  His dad and I nearly colapsed laughing and it was always worth a laugh to retell the storey to him. Ron c

Lpve to know if motor hanles your bigger boat Frank.  I have a 5.6 Quinnie.   A bloke in my club has a 5.2 quintrex and recons it goes ok but he dousnt  go outside.  Ron 

Seive seams a good idea.  Do you just keep at room temp for salting period? 

I have an empty worm farm that should work well.   Ron 

I am also considering a snake for my boat but worried I may need 24v version .  Spoke to a guy at ramp  last week who had one and he was very happy with it.  He advised getting the  seperate gps attachment as he said the spotlock was more accurate and reponsive since adding it.

Frank.  Out of curiosity,  how big is your boat?

There is a product called NILODOR that I use to get rid of smells in things like eskis etc.  It is absolutely amazing.   Haven't tried on clothing but I'm confident it will work.   I'd put 3 or 4 drops in a bucket of warm water and soack clothes in that.  Available in most large supermarkets in a tiny green bottle.  Let me know hpw you go if you try it.  Ron 

Live is best with fresh next. 

Self caught and frozen bait beats shop bought as you don't know how it was handled and how quickly it was frozen and whether it ever defrosted.  Some baits freeze better than others with some soft baits better if salted and dried a little before freezing. 

 Golden rules are get on ice when caught if not kept alive.  Don't  wash or contact with fresh water.  Remove as much air as possible or best of all cryovac pack.  Better to have small packs with just enough for one trip.  Freeze asap. Ron 

Hi XD351.   Like you i am a big flatty trajic.  I have been lucky enough to have won abòut 20 ANSA inter club comps by specialising on chasing big flathead on 1kg pretest line.  I love lure fishing but livies are best for finding big flathead .  I like similar areas to you where a fast current suddenly slows after hitting deaper water. 

I have twice had metre + fish next to the boat and close to netting. One spat out the 40cm flathead that I  had hooked, and the other I lost when a faulty swivel pulled apart.  I don't fish the Hawksbury much but have caught two 80cm + fish on huge mullet while chasing mulloway.  My two PBs were identical 97cm fish caught 15 days and 100km apart.  

I don't think your any mader than me which may not be a good thing.  I think your on the right track but I would also consider trying well known mulloway spots as they are both top estuary predators and the big girls are eating the same prey. 

Good luck with your quest.  Ron 

Makes me think about getting the fly rods out and trying again.  I've caught a few fish on fly but am terrible at casting.  I know that feeling well where after many mediocre casts you get the timing right and the fly goes way further and you think what did I just do right?  Feels good but frustrating trying to do it again.  Ron 

More commonly used in freshwater for trout and redfin etc.   I found that spinning blade lures are best fished slowly just fast enough to get blade going.  Ron 

Quite by accident I found a change for Mulloway from 1st of September. Bag limits remain at 1 per person and size limits are also unchanged, however there is now a boat limit of 2. 

This means that our catch on Good Friday of 4 mulloway between 3 of us (one released ) would now be illegal. The most disturbing thing about this other than the further degradation of our catch allowance is that this is now enforceable without adequate notification.  Is anyone aware of this being notified to the public?   Ron 

Remindef me of a day on Botany bay a couple of years ago.  Caught 6 small occies all hanging on to the sinker but none on the bait.  Strange.  Ron 

Good on ya franks.  You usually have a solution or the tool, or both.  Ron 

I have only been the occasional ludric fisherman,  but i used to fish with a gun fisho that made his own floatant made with a 50/550 mix of vaseline and lamb fat.  Don't know why but just passing an old method on.  Ron 

Sorry I mayhave mislead you with 60l drum.  If keeping for a week or so, 20 litre bucket is fine.  Ron 

6 minutes ago, AlbertW said:

Was the 60 litre drum freshwater? If so was the water change tap water with prime?

I replace with saltwater.  Just example of how tough they are.  See my addition  on possibility to switch to fresh. Ron