campr

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

I have a 5.6m Quinnie Classic with a 90hp Honda and mostly fish by myself. I'm 76yo with a heart issue (currently under control ) and lung issues and have no problem launching and retrieveing. I launch next to a wharf at Yowie Bay and when boat starts moving I climb onto wharf and follow boat to end and tie it up. You need a nice long bow rope to do this. My trailer could be designed better for driving on but I manage ok and am getting better with time and a Boat Catch was one of my better investments. I ind it easy to climb down from the bow using trailer and spare tyre on winch pole as a ladder. Main points are to not put trailer too far into the water so that V guides can do their job. Don't drive on too fast but you need just enough speed to give you steerage. Once bow is on rollers and within guides you can make adjustments to fine tune centering. Finally, keep trailer rollers greased and rolling easily. Mine rarely need maintenance as I made my own roller axles from stainless steel rod and boat goes on and off much more easily. Best mod ever. Don't be daunted by solo launch it will get easy with time and practice. Ron

Both equally good when comparing gear at similar pricing. I have a pretty equal mix of both. Repairs or parts are easyer for Shimano for me as I live near their home at Taren Point. Just check specs for what you need and compare and if equal for your needs choose on price. Ron

If you don't mind listening to the ramblings of an old fella, here's a tip to get shy cruising kingies to fire up. I used to use this method around the 3 legged posts and the pump barge in Botany Bay when they were there resulting in hook ups on kings an huge tailor. Fill a couple of buckets with water and chop up a few pillies and add to one bucket. Put a piece of pilly (or livey) on an unweighted hook and have it ready to cast. When kings get close throw bucket with water only towards kings. This sounds like bait fish splashing the water and kings should fire up and investigate. immediately throw bucket with pilly pieces to add some flavor to the mix. Now throw baited hook into middle and hopefully kings will eat bait. Ron

Haven't been in either but both were good brands. Many years ago a mate had a Vsea Seafarer which was a fantastic sea boat. Haines were also very impressive. Like all fibreglass boats, make sure you go over all parts of the transom and floor to check for any irregularities and don,t be afraid of giving these areas a good thumping to check for internal rot. Good luck and enjoy your purchase. Ron

Just a hint for anybody buying a 2nd hand tinnie. If it has a ply floor, make sure you lift it to check underneath. Not only to check for electrolysis issues, but the condition hidden under there is a good indicator of how well it has been looked after. Also be wary of rigs that haven't been used for a long time. Good luck. Ron

I have a mate who shared a flat at Chronulla with a bunch of fellow uni students. He reconds they would have all starved if he didn't catch a couple of little bronzies every week off the beach at night. He said they had a bit of an iodine taste that could be solved by cutting off their tail when caught to bleed them out. I suspected their budget was spent more on beer than food. Ron

Photo.

Weather looked good on Monday but decided not to compete with ramp crowds and took my wife for a drive down the Gong. Seas were glassed out and I regretted my decision. Tuesday morn looked ok and made a snap decision to go. Quickly chucked some gear in the boat but didn't get to the ramp untill 9am and surprised to find car park full so had a long walk to boat. Conditions were not as good as Monday with a brisk NE blowing which gradually swung to NW with seas a bit bumpy. I then realised that in my haste I had left the bait home. After giving myself a beating I went to the artificial reef and got about 8 big yakkas and a couple of small slimies on a bait jig and went looking for a flatty. Wind drift was too quick out wide where reports say they are and only small splkies closer where drift was ok. Managed 2 at 40 and 53cm when I hooked up big time. 50 metres of mono followed by 50 metres of braid quickly left my reel before I stopped him. I was hoping for a kingy but after a good fight I had a bronze whaler next to the boat. I grabbed him by the tail and brought him in the boat. They are strong little buggers but I unhooked and released him at just over a metre long. He was the prettiest bronzie I have ever seen with his back more like polished gold than bronze. I had to go then as I had a doc appointment, he proveded a bit of fun anyway. I used a rod I normally use for trolling with a mono top shot for some give and I was amazed with the lack of feel compared to braid outfit I normally use for bottom fishing. Not the best result but it was good to get out again. Ron

Oneof my neighbors bought an old tinny that had about 20 holes in it where things used to be bolted to it. He cleaned them up and used a putty designed for aluminium. After sanding smooth and a coat of paint you couldn't find them and all was still good 5 years later when he sold it. Ron

My update with photo of my transom. Note pickup just below hull line on adjustable slide and pump at max depth. Pickup used underway and pump used when stationary. Ron

When you are on the plane the whole transom will be out of the water. Have a look at other boats on the plane and you will have an idea of what happens. As an example of what happens, if you get a lot of water in your boat it is possible to take your bung out when on the plane and the water will drain out but the bung has to be put back when on the plane. Ron

Re livebait pickup. Looks too high to me, is pump underwater or are you relying on pump sucking water up through pickup tube? If you want pickup to work underway the bent tube needs to be pointed forward with tube just below the hull surface. I use 2 seperate hoses for pump and pickup. Pump is mounted on hull near bottom of hull and scoop is on a slide so I can lift tube above hull surface on the rare cases I launch from beach. I also have a plastic inline gate tap on pickup hose or tank will always be filled when underway. If this doesn't make sense let me know and I will take a photo. Ron

I'm 76yo and fished all my life. I started with rh wind threadlines but mostly fished with bait. I was lucky enough to fish with some of the pioneers of sw lure fishing when this debate started. The fact that you could have prolonged fights with fish on light line using your dominant hand on the rod and not having to switch hands to instantly start to wind when your lure landed won out and I was soon converted to winding with my left hand. Having your dominant hand on the rod also gives better lure twitching control. Funny thing was I continued winding rh when using baitcasters and overhead reels and they were difficult to source ln overheads anyway. I haven't needed to buy a rod or reel in 20 years (other than fly) as I have been lucky enough to win more than my share of comps and recently sold 6 new rods and a couple of reels won that I never used. As proof I'm getting old and silly I have decided to give slow pitch jigging a try which of course is a great excuse to buy some new gear with money from my sales. After researching I knew what I wanted but that old boggy came up, right or left hand? Ended up with right handed Daiwa LEXA and PE2 Oceans Legacy rod and now waiting for a break in weather to try out. The right/left subject will continue forever. Use what you're comfortable with but if lure fishing with threadlines using your dominant hand to twitch and controll the lure makes more sence and if you persevere till it comes naturally you will wonder why you did it any other way. Ron

I always have 2 4inch hand casters in my boat spooled with 8lb line and size 12 stainless long shank hooks with different sized split shots to suit conditions. These are only stainless hooks I use as they stay sharp and don't rust so they are always ready for use. Burley is chook pellets in a pvc dispenser with small holes. I also use size 12 bait jigs for small yakkas and larger size 1 for slimies. At times frog mouth pilchards swarm in Pt Hacking that can be caught by casting size 12 bait jigs across the surface and slowly retrieved. I also use poddy mullet caught in traps and by hook and line. Being competent in catching a wide range of baitfish and having the right gear to keep m alive will greatly improve your catch rate. Ron

Many years ago I used to moar against a bridge using a masonary anchor with a ring attached. I would insert expanding section in concrete joint crack and tighten to jam in place then loosen and remove when finished. If rocks have suitable cracks you could try so you can tie dog leash to ring. Ron

Try finding an exploded view of the rèel on the Internet to make sure you have all the parts and assembled in correct order. Exploded view usually provided for identifying and ordering parts. Make sure all parts are clean and lightly greased. Warped washers can be ground smooth with fine emery paper on a sheet of glass. Carbontex washers are the best if you want to go that far with it. Ron

When in my teens I had a mate whose dad was a pro netter in Botany Bay and I went out with them one night netting mullet near Towra. Don't know if he did it on purpose as young boys do, or an accident but he peed on one. He won't do that again. So funny (for me) I laughed for months when the memory crossed my mind. Ron

Its nice to have a premium outfit but I believe that the difference between a good off the shelf $120-180 rod and a top of the line rod to be very little were you to measure the performance results. It's better to find a rod with the feel and action you like without any consideration of whats on the price tag. With your budget you could even consider 2 rods such as a super light rod for light lures for bass and trout etc and a heavier rod for mulloway and snapper. I have matched good reels like a Certate with a $60 nibbletip rod because thats the action I needed. I had the good fortune to win 3 comps in a row winning 3 custom rods worth over $500 only to break 2 due to the brittleness of the high modulus carbon fibre blanks they were made on. My advice is listen to others opinion as a start, but buy what feels right for you. Ron

Nice reel, however I would consider 6-8lb braid next time to increase distance and make casting of small lures easier. The worlds your oister with a budget like that, I'm sure you will get plenty of recommendations on rods. Consider a shorter rod about 6ft if lobbing short casts to snags from a boat, but if you will be casting longer distances go for one about 7ft2in. Im sure you will end up with a top outfit. Ron

Just curious about the peas? Fresh, frozen, tinned, dried? Ron

Haven't been able to get out since March due to weather and health issues. Managed to get out yesterday to check the boat out and burn off old fuel. All seamed ok so I headed out to Bate Bay to try for a few flathead. It was a little choppy but not too bad but the wind from NW was about 15-20 knots and drift was way too fast making fishing difficult. Managed 2 about 44cm and decided to call it quits. It was pleasant inside the Port and had a nice cruise around to get rid of some fuel. There was quite a few mutton birds around the boat when I was outside so it may be worth trolling for stripies soon as they used to turn up about the same time. Disappointing result but great to get out again. Ron

If you must coat it, I would just use an etch primer. I would be wary of using a rubber as some rubber compounds can actually cause electrolysis. Ron

For my light flurocarbon used up to 17lb I use Berkley Vanish. It is so much cheeper especially considering how much is on spools. Ron

If only using top half of braid, I don't replace it I just reverse the line and put bottom on top. Ron