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Twinfisher 4.9

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Everything posted by Twinfisher 4.9

  1. As I said, I admire you for your work on the tower, it was designed to sway 10 feet - that's a lot especially if you are ankle deep in water, and nothing at the sides! Yes, I do feel very fortunate to have survived that fall - I was 18 yo at the time and of course thought I was invincible........that made me rethink at lot of stuff. I'm sorry about your mates. Care, planning and thinking ahead are they keys to survival and take nothing for granted. We get that at our age, not unfortunately when you are eighteen - how did we ever survive (speaking of my own stupidity only).
  2. Pete, you worked on Centerpoint Tower? Wow, I knew very well one of the architects of that building & he would regale me with the amount of sway in high winds, lightning strikes etc. Yet when finished he refused to ever go up there. Given he designed it and wouldn't go, I never have either! Well I still have nightmares about the track into the Gorge - I can say I am one of the few survivors of falling off the track. Most of the gaps had been thoughtfully fixed by 6 x 2 planks but there was one gap, only 18 inches across and I just got my feet mixed up and stepped off my back foot, not the front. I was carrying all the rods and gaffs and my mate behind, the gear - he reached out and grabbed the rods as I went over the side. Priorities I guess! There are few places on that track that have a ledge below them - I landed on one, about 10ft down. And yes I did go back again! Still looking for the 'scapes, will get back to you. Steve
  3. Regarding rods & gear suitable for the situation - here's an example. Rock fishing for "Monster Blue Groper" with an 8ft parabolic rod from a high ledge. What is he going to do next if he even gets the fish near the rocks - put his or his mate's lives in danger? The prosecution rests its case your honour!
  4. Thats funny about the stories of the fighter jets - not so humorous when you are on the receiving end.......but if you were in the cockpit, wouldn't you just think about doing it as well? I would. Pete, "Gorge was a fairly simple walk in" - you must have had a better head for heights than I. As Crusher mentioned, my shorts had changed colour by the time I reached the ledge! Have recently moved house so still unpacking and will find the Seascapes and send pics and details - does it have to be a Major?
  5. Hi Hornet, I had fished the Currarong headland many times and had never heard of Eaves Ravine - had to look it up tonight. Hope it was easier to get into than the Gorge. Had a few scary moments on that track in the dark! Do you know if we are still allowed access into it? Used to love driving in and seeing the red double-decker buses (mostly undamaged) that the Navy used for target practice. As a teenager it was an exciting environment. Have been back with my boat a few times and have never been as successful as it was off the rocks. But times have changed. Enjoyed your pic - we didn't have much in the way of camera gear in those days (oh for a '70's iPhone) so don't have any photos. It's interesting how the "soft" approach works or doesn't. I was constantly made fun of on the rocks with my approach - "I put more pressure on a luderick than Steve does on a kingy etc". From the boat I float a live bait near a bommie in less than 2 mts of water with a very ugly bottom. Once hooked I try to simply lead them away from the rocks and they seem fine to be guided. Once I get them closer to the boat, yes I lock up. I'll dig out my old 'Scapes and see if you may like one - I don't need that many to reminisce with! Cheers, Steve
  6. Hi Hornet, I also used to fish Currarong - Devils Gorge in particular - what a spot! I still have 4 old Seascapes - those brittle pinion gears didn't last long did they! My largest kingy from the rocks was 37 lbs, at Avoca at the deep hole, live baiting and it was taken less than 10 mts from the rocks (on a Seascape). We didn't have fluro carbon in those days so it was 18 lb Tortue straight through. I learned something important that day - no matter how hard you pull, they will pull even harder - a technique I still use today. I was in trouble a few times as it went into the crevices at my feet - freespool immediately and it swims out, again and again. It took almost 30 minutes but at times softly, softly can do it. Cheers, Steve
  7. Hi Kingie, Thank you for your response. I appreciate that some of your remarks were a bit "tongue in cheek" as we didn't quite have 65lb fish all lined up. Regarding your example of catching 30kg GT's I completely agree, having caught a few and I still think it comes down to "horses for courses" - the chance of hooking a large GT off the rocks in southern NSW are pretty slim, if not zero. So how about we match our gear to the likely target fish. I use 3kg line off the rocks for luderick - yes occasionally I will get done by a black drummer. But if I were using appropriate drummer gear, I would likely not catch a luderick. Say off the beach, fishing for whiting with beach worms - perhaps a 20 kg mulloway may take my bait - in the mean time, I catch no whiting or bream were I rigged for mulloway. I still believe that fishing should still be about "sport" and enjoyment of the encounter and a real challenge between the angler and the fish. Now I'm getting far too philosophical so will shut up! Cheers, Steve
  8. Hi Fellow Fishraiders, I have fished the rocks for over 55 years and I absolutely love it still. I will also admit I'm a late adopter of youtube, which opened up an amazing new world for me. I would also recognise that technology has changed so much in the last 20 something years, which has been amazing and has changed the fishing scene and methods. Yet I am a tad concerned. There seems to be a tendency to use much shorter graphite rods - say 9ft, combined with 30 to 50 lb braid. Two questions: in the '70s we generally used around 18lb mono and landed a lot of pretty big fish - up to 60 lb tuna and 35 lb kingfish. Is using 50 lb braid a step forward to sportfishing - especially catching 2 kg bonito or tailor or salmon? My second question is: We used to use 12 ft rods - there were a number of reasons for this. The most important being controlling and landing a fish. with safety. I see the latest youtubes with fisher people putting them selves in danger by having to get so close the rock edge to fight and try to land their fish and often with parabolic rods more suited to jigging off boats and not so good at guiding fish to the rocks -and I see so many failures. Just throwing it out there, but my concerns are firstly personal safety and secondly sportfishing - 50 lb line to catch a 5lb fish? That doesn't quite make sense to me. When fishing for smaller sportfish, I would use 10 lb mono and did very well and was good sport. I had the benefit of being tutored by the late Bill Doe of Avoca Beach and he taught me so much about sportfishing from the the rocks. Would be very interested in your thoughts - I may be way off the mark - wouldn't be the first time! Regards, Steve
  9. Sorry, but that is simply not right. But it is New Zealand, so I guess anything goes.
  10. I agree with JohD, Solas are great and am sure they will help you out. Steve
  11. Oh, have done most or all of these.......including leaving the bungs out! I think we should get together and write a brochure / booklet for all of us - new or old-timers. Pilots have a checklist to go through, no matter how many hours the have had in the air. I think it would be both a humorous read but much would resonate for serious long time boat owners - we all do get complacent at times, because we have done it so many times. Steve
  12. Oh dear, welcome to the club.....has a big membership.......running out of fuel happens - but hopefully only the once. Sorry you didn't get any assistance from other vessels, despite how you waved! I firmly believe that the majority of responsible boat captains would come to your assistance. Anyway you now know how much fuel you need for a day out, and them some. Don't let it get you down, just happy that it ended well. Steve
  13. This is a challenging and serious issue. I have fished off the rocks for over 50 years - yes have been knocked over a few times, but never have been washed in, and never in danger of that happening. Is that purely good luck or good management? I prefer to think the latter. I joined a fishing club at the age of 13 and what I learned from these experienced anglers probably helped to keep me safer. But at the end of the day, it is the individuals decision as to when and where to fish and that cannot be controlled or monitored, licence or no license. It is very unfortunate that overseas born immigrants make up the majority of the fatalities. Why - well they have little understanding of the power and danger of the ocean, and I can understand that. However I would not like to think that all of us rock fisho's should have extra impositions placed upon us i.e. mandatory flotation devices. In summer I don't even wear a T-shirt! In some locations cleats are not only useless but even dangerous. I suggest, as just a thought, that NSW Fisheries, Maritime Services, or whatever they call themselves today - Yes Minister, I'm talking to you. Issue brochures to all tackle shops when someone purchases a "rock fishing" type rod, they also provide a published brochure in rock fishing safety in multi languishes. I will offer my services to provide this. We need to save more lives, through education.
  14. Hi , I am very sorry for your loss of gear, but with respect to Adsy91, when near the boat with a kingy do not loosen the drag, keep your fingers away from the line (assuming you were using braid) and use the net. They are tough when they see the boat and thats when you have to fight hard. I'm sure that he or she has freed itself from your rod and reel by now, if that's any reassurance!
  15. Can I recommend that you don't go using Singer sewing machine oil, unless you plan to sew with it. The major manufactures have their own drag grease - would advice you to go with those. A small jar will last you for years - your over-lockling and button holes may not be so good - but your drag will be much better. Steve
  16. Just to confirm, you said you are using mono? Then a plait would be a better option than a bimini twist.
  17. We've all done that......but we don't publish it.....but makes us all feel a bit better!
  18. If I may add my 2 bobs worth, back in the 1970's we used plastic sandals that had many small "knobs" on the sole. We then simply screwed s/s self-tapper screws into 50% of the knobs and they worked beautifully. Yes the screws did wear down after a time but could be easily be removed with a pair of pliers and replaced. Having tried cleats, I think they are a trip hazard. In those days, I fished South Avoca and frequently had to run across the rocks to follow the schools of tuna - you cannot do that safely wearing cleats. And the screws work just fine for scraping weed and cabbage off the rocks for burley for luderick. Steve
  19. I am very sorry for your loss, but doubt the person responsible would be a member of Fishraider. You cannot be too careful at ramps and car parks unfortunately.
  20. Yes, all us men can verify that "shrinkage" does happen but I doubt you would be pinged for 1 cm, nor on your fish!
  21. Really, 200 lbs braid? That may be touch heavy!. If outside then I would suggest a 10lb bomb but perhaps consider dropping your line to 80lbs? Also consider your trolling speed.
  22. Small metal slugs are the key for bonito.....but don't retrieve too fast. Unlike striped tuna, bonito are not that quick!
  23. I fished South Avoca rocks for many years, starting in the 70's. Standard was 18 or 20lb line (on a Seascape reel) and braid nor flurocarbon had never been invented in those days and we we didn't lose too many fish. I would just say, don't make it too complicated. With Kings, the harder you fight them, the harder they fight back. At Avoca there are very few reefs or rough bottom - gently, gently does the trick. Steve
  24. Or an hour or so marinating in lime juice will also do the trick. And yes, do not overcook, 30 seconds is enough or even try it raw after marinating in the lime juice.
  25. Another alternative is keep it whole in salt water until you get it home. That way it will be very fresh and saves on milk!
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