campr

I've kept bait poddies for over a month in a 60 litre drum with a 240v airator. They are pretty tough and change water after 3 days and then once a week. Fed very litlle, just dried breadcrumbs as overfeeding fouls the water quickly. I have also had a few in a salt water tank with under gravel filter etc and they were easy eating bits of prawn like everyone else. Did well until I caught a 1 inch lionfish who quickly grew and ate everything in the tank. Big mistake. Ron

I have seen a couple of inovative ideas used. A long metal spike driven into the sand with hooks on top to hold bag and tie on a keeper net. At Northhaven I have seen some of the old blokes (like me) tie a light rope to their belt to tow an old baby bath which is used like a small boat to hold their fish and a bit of gear which leaves them free to roam the flats. Ron

XD351 has given you the best way without ice. Only thing I would add is to keep in shade where it catches any breeze as this helps the evaperation/cooling process. Ron

Just clarifying. When you said flat bottom i hope you meant a flat floor, not bottom. Bottany bay is no place for a flat bottom (punt) boat. I would recommend an early Quintrex from 4 to 4.5 meters with flared bow and flat floor. On the rare cases their up for sale the 4.5 meter Lazeabout was one of the most popular boats they made and I bought one new back in 1982. They are getting on a bit now but a very solid built and seaworthy boat I had no qualms about going to the peak and 12mile on a good day but an outstanding roomy little bay boat. Ron

About 30 years ago I had the same thing happen. Lost a big bream cut off in oister lease. Next day at same spot I landed a bream over 1kg when hook point went through swivel of trace I lost the previous day. I always assumed the hook picked up the line which slid along until it went through eye of swivel. Ron

Don't want to be a pooper, but maybe it counted the boat bumping on waves?

Eski or cooler bag with ice slurry using salt water. Better still, use frozen water bottles in salt water as it doesn't dilute salt content. I also ikijimi and bleed all fish kept to eat. Ron

A few weeks ago I fished an ANSA comp at the Hacking. I was using live yakkas on 1 and 2kg pretest line trying for a big flathead but the kings drove me crazy as they are hard to stop on such light line. They were from 40cm to over a metre long and I could only land the little ones. In frustration I put 10kg rod out and landed a little 69cm job that I kept to eat. Maybe the trick is to pretend you don't want them to take your bait???? Ron

As a follow-up to my report last Saturday, here are a couple of pics I managed at last to get off old phone. Sorry about quality but posted as promised. No photo of 111cm one released unfortunately. For those that asked, 3 were caught on live yakkas caught on site and 1 on whole frozen squid. Ron

Went fishing Thursday night hoping for fresh fish to feed the family on Good Friday. Had to wait for a mate to get home from work so didn't launch onto Georges River until 7pm. Fished until Midnight with only a couple of flathead and shovelnose caught. I announced my birthday and told my 2 mates that I want to see a jewey come on board as a present. 2 minutes later my mate hooks up and I net his 90cm jewie. Before he can get fish out of the net my other mate hooks up. Within a minute I hook up too and we have a rare double hook up on mulloway. His goes 88cm and mine 92cm. BAGGED OUT. Obviously a school had arrived and we had to try again. Mate who caught 1st fish hooks up 30 mins later and I net a 111cm fish that we quickly unhook and release. Now 1pm and we are pumped but too tired to continue so we pack up and 3 happy fishoes head home with good Friday sorted.. My phone has died and will try to attach a photo which I took on an old phone. Ron

i use a Posternoster Rig for squid regularly with rod in holder while I cast lures with another rod. I rig with 2 tiny 3 way swivels and smallest twist on squid clips which allows different combos of size and colour jigs. This allows jigs to be changed if they show a preference. Sinker is on loop at bottom and sinker size varied depending on depth and speed of drift. Very effective at times and nothing lost if not working on the day. Ron

Public wharves in Port Hacking display a sign stating no permanent mooring as well as a time limit. Im sure rules vary but be aware as fines are usually fairly high. Ron

It is best to have hook right at the back with curve of hook just exposed, best to position hooks with large soft lumo beads as spacers. I prefer pink lures but loved the old lead head Christmas trees and hex heads but these are hard to find. Ron

I have a mate who has been rregularly been getting marlin off Botany over the last few weeks. I agree you don't need a big boat. I have hooked a few (that jumped off) trolling for stripies and my only successful capture was from my previous 4.5 meter Quinnie on a live yakka intended for a yellowfin. Ron

Mate had a couple of quotes for having a pad fabricated and welded onto his 5.2 quintrex at $1000 to $1200. Showed him prefabricated pads on thebay at $140. He did cutting of rail etc himself and got the pad welded on for $100. Ron

Many years ago I spoke to a retired engineer who was one of oz top metallurgists who told me electrolysis occurs as a chemical reaction between 2 different metals in contact with each other. The interesting thing he told me was that the heat created by machining (drilling, grinding etc) can be enough to slightly change the structure of the metal worked (especially aluminium) and therefore create dissimilar metal within the same metal with a slight chance of electrolysis. I have since drilled any holes in my boat on slower speeds in short bursts to minimise heating just in case it makes a difference. Just passing on as an interesting possibility. Ron

Just an outside of the box suggestion. If all else fails you could try one of those paint on type white shoe cleaners to cover the stain? Ron

Only used it a couple of times. Definately a challenging ramp if there is any swell at all. Personally I wouldn't recommend it solo. Ron

Bite marks on slimey is typical squid attack. Ron

email sent. Ron

My Quintrex has a slotted bollard and I wouldn't have a boat without one now. I mostly have a Sankar anchor in mine but switch to a reef pick when appropriate. Locking pin keeps everything secure. Ron

Try looking on Internet for exploded view of reel as it will show parts and correct order to assemble. Ron

I have caught plenty of big flathead down there up to 97cm mostly drifting with live poddies. All big ones released of course. The basin is just that, a big flat dish with no structure to speak of. I have had best luck drifting around bait schools. Find the bait, find the fish. Ron

It's great to get out after a long time but unfortunately boats don't like sitting idle and you are more likely to have issues with electronics and seized steering cables after a long spell. When I bought my boat 2nd hand I decided to replace most of the wireing and filled two 40 litre buckets with old cables that had been lleft through the hull after being replaced by previous owners. I like to run one heavy positive and negative cable up under the dash to power blocks and then run power from there to other electronics. I hate working with electronics too!! Ron

Report to council as a safety issue. They usually will clean any green growth off as they worry about legal claims if there is an accident after issue reported. Ron