Mr Squidy

Yeah, as a sure fire way to improve snapper stocks I've heard NSW is considering doing away with location based bans and simply introducing a "scratchie" ban Seriously though, such a complicated topic. Personally I'd support localised marine parks around Sydney similar to what was done in Jervis Bay providing that it is based on science, that sufficient areas are maintained for rec fishos and that it is policed adequately. Anything that helps fish stocks is a good thing in my opinion. Sad thing is this is highly unlikely with environmentalists wanting to lock up everything in site, no resources available for policing and many fishos intent on ignoring the rules that are in place to protect the future of our sport. Its seriously pathetic how often you see people on the hacking fishing inside the shiprock marine park. There's one reserve in the whole damn river system but that's where people have to fish Rich

Without a doubt the best photo's i've ever seen of Quoll poo... Rich

Personally I think this is total rubbish. Sure it sucks if you or a family member cop it but pretty sure that goes for any type of death really. Look how many people die at the beach via drowning but just getting people to swim between flags is a struggle, but a couple of people a year get chomped and suddenly an indiscriminate slaughter of sea life is justified? You go into the ocean and you take the risk, same as you take the risk of drowning. On a side note, how do you get killed by lizards in Australia? That's an achievement. Cheers Rich

If you are talking about where the pin is then that's an exclusion zone for the port. Full map of botany bay can be found here https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/maritime/usingwaterways/maps/boating-maps/9f-botany-bay-lower-georges-cooks.pdf Cheers Rich

My brother lives down south of Hobart and we regularly get smaller models down there (more around the 1kg or so). I certainly think they eat much better than the bigger fish we get up here normally, dont dry out as much on cooking. Rich

My go to recommendation for those starting out are a shimano sonic pro/sienna combo in either 2500 reel with 2-4KG 7 foot. i've got a couple of them on sale before for about $60 a combo. Add in a cheap spool of braid and you are hopefully all good from about $100. I've used them from everything from running bait jigs off to light bream/whiting work to fishing for blackfish off the stones to casting lures at rat kings / salmon / dollies etc. For the price they are great cheap and cheerful little outfits. If you really want something heavier go the same combo with a 4000 reel and a 3-5Kg rod at 6'6". Worth noting that the Cazana is the same reel as the sienna with different stickers, they sometimes mix the reels around in those combos. Cheers, Rich

Death, taxes and Yowie catching fish... Top stuff getting a decent feed out of the river this time of year. Rich

Cheers Ryder, Very interesting stuff, I can certainly see how this becomes a side hobby of its own for many. Still need to get out and give mine a run some time soon on the black fish and see how it handles, Rich

Top stuff guys, you've certainly got the Cod dialed in. You do need to learn how a fisherman uses a measuring tape though, first time i think I've ever seen a fish called at 99cm. Angle them right, stretch a little, a slight crumple in the mat, squint your eyes and suddenly they are a meter on the dot haha. Cheers Rich

What a great session for this time of year, well done, Rich

Great stuff Brendan, sounds like a top way to spend the weekend. Its certainly a beautiful spot down there. Cheers Rich

Great bag of reds!! Interesting with what you say about the looped line around the pillies tail? Sounds like you would be rigging the pillie so you were pulling them backwards as you drift? Would have thought it would look more natural with the top hook through the pillies head and bottom hook into the tail. Otherwise looks like a good setup. Cheers, Rich

Hi Ryder, Thanks for that. Its a very whippy rod especially when im used to graphite these days but id say 3-6kg feels about right. Sure enough the first link that comes up on google for "Mitchell Conolon Companion Spiraflex Custom Line" is this thread... Looking forward to giving it a crack now. Just need to get myself some Dunlop volleys and a terry towelling hat to go with it haha. Cheers Rich

Hi Ryder, Reading this and some of your other posts on old rods had reminded me that I had two old rods under the house that I grabbed for nothing before they ended up on a council clean up heap when my Dad's old neighbor moved out a couple of years back back. I had been meaning to look into them a bit further to see if they were worth keeping, using, selling etc. Anyway, had a look last night and one of them is a Mitchell Conolon Companion, Spiraflex Custom Line 42:108, about 9 foot long. The rod pretty much looks to be in a usable condition straight off the bat with just some corrosion staining to a couple of guides and some minor fraying at the edge of a couple of bindings. It is fitted with an old Alvey that seems in pretty good condition also. My initial thinking is at 9 foot it might make a decent blackfish outfit which is something i dont have if I just clean it up and re-spool. Maybe re-epoxy a couple of the bindings. Anyway, my main question is do you know what that line classification translate to in today's terms? Would love to hear if you'd had any other interesting feedback from the investigation on yours. Where do you generally go to get information on the older gear? A couple of pics. Cheers, Rich

What a top fish!! Scombroid is a toxin so how much you eat makes a difference on how sick you'll get. If you're intent on serving it up to others best thing to do is to have a very small portion yourself in the days before and see if you develop any symptoms. If you are all good then you may be ok, if you feel crook its a no go. Definitely cooked only. Cheers, Rich

Great work landing him on 6lb. Rich

Nice work Yowie, cracker of a bream to get before you even launch the boat!! Rich

Nice work, great when the big southern calamari come into the rivers. Rich

Absolute nuggets, good stuff.

Yeah, Youfish is a top show in terms of seeing how other genuine fisherman have mastered their methods and also in showing the genuine ups and downs involved in chasing big fish. Get pretty bored of some of the celebrity presenters where its just watching some grinning idiot bringing in fish but the brains and effort behind the fishing is some charter operator or other local who you never even see. Cheers, Rich

Interesting comments, surprised people seem to think that they shutdown at night? Snapper are certainly one species I can't claim to have figured out as I have had only limited results chasing them. From what I have seen as by-catch chasing jew and on the few trips I have seriously targeted them the undersized fish certainly seem to shut down at night but the better fish still seem to bite. On top of my personal experience I've had one mate who had great success over the years bait fishing for bigger snapper at night time. Also, if anyone every watched the youfish tv series tat used to be on channel 32 those guys were in Victoria but pretty much exclusively fished for them at night and certainly had them pretty well figured out. Cheers, Rich

Thanks for the write up Scratchie, no doubt that will help a lot of fishos. Certainly a technique that i'd love to figure out one of these years and from what you say it sounds like i've always been working my plastics too hard when I have tried it. Cheers, Richard

How good is that, certainly not what you expect off the beach!! Rich

For those interested the following is the response I got from the DPI on the decision as to when to retrieve the FADs: Thank you for your email. Looks like you have had some great FAD fishing! All FADs from Port Stephens down to Eden have been retrieved, not just Sydney. Planned retrievals for FADS between Forster and Tweed Heads have been made for mid June. DPI is always looking for ways to improve its delivery to recreational fishers in NSW. Changes in seasonal removal time-frames, improvements to FAD hardware and longevity or simply more FADs are always being considered. However servicing the entire coast does mean that we will from time time have to make tough calls like taking advantage of the weather when it become available at the extreme ends of the season. This enables the best chance at recovering all the gear before the onset of winter (less than two weeks away now) which allows essential maintenance to be performed including the change-out out of GPS units, replacement of worn hardware like shackles and swivels and the replacement of mooring lines that may have become stretched, damaged or weathered beyond salvage after months at sea. DPI FADs must also be retrieved to minimise the risk of entanglement to migrating whales as part of DPIs agreement with the Commonweath as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment to deploy FADS under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. NSW DPI is always working to improve the program and your valuable comments regarding the FAD operations will be taken into consideration. Many Thanks DPI FADs Team Credit to DPI for at least responding quite promptly. Looks like whales do play a big part. Rich

Looks like tea staining, unsightly but wont generally affect the integrity of the stainless steel in the same way that rust will destroy coated mild steel. Common issue in the construction industry where 316 or 204 stainless is used in coastal areas. Anecdotally it seems to be getting worse over the years with a reduction in the quality of 316 on the market. Heaps of stuff on line if you do a google and have a read. Cheers Rich