squizzytaylor

Glad to help mate.

Mick about 6 months ago I ordered a "refurb" HDS5X 83/200 off them via online shop, nothing for about 3 weeks and one of thier sales staff was BSing about lead times ex USA etc which was rubbish as I had paid for express shipping (3 days). I fianally got onto the business owner who admitted thay did not have stock due to a delay by Lowrance USA, at that stage he upgraded me to a brand new HDS5X 50/200 and I had it 3 days later, there online shop ads have a phone number, use it and you will get results, also they have a facebook page use it and you will get results quick!!

Unfortuantely they are way, way under resourced so most of those calls will go unanswered. Im not having a go at fisheries just the people that allocate funds! GT

Walk down to where the creek meets the lake(access through the boat and trailer carpark) and hit it, has always been a great spot for flathead. At night under Fennel Bay bridge may be worth a go as with Speers point wharf. Ive only ever fished them with plastics but anything should in theory work. GT

I fish alone 90% of the time, I fish in Lake Macquarie or one of the Hunter Dams 90% of the time, I am within 50 metres of the shoreline trolling 90% of the time, I have always worn a life jacket when I deem it necessary or appropriate and I resent being told I have to wear one by anyone. Other than that I agree.

I had a mate in Townsville who had his poly 455 Centre Console come off at about 110kph (his fault not the winches though) some gouging to the hull but still perfectly usable as it was and some skeg damage to the motor, awesome boats!!

The black crap is just 2 stroke sludge, There doesn't seem to be a great deal of the skeg missing, I would run the boat and see what if any adverse effects it has on the boats steering and tracking. I have seen a lot worse with little to no effect at all. If its all good, I would give it all a coat of paint to prevent corrosion though. GT

Excellent report and great photos, thanks for sharing!! GT

Personal taste, but a lot of older people who are in the least position to afford seafood of any description do like them so would be interested in buying black market. If treated right and killed bled and gutted straight away they are not a bad eating fish at all.

Landbased for flathead.....The back of swansea RSL where it opens on to the channel on a run out, get up on the rockwall and throw toward the other side and out into the channel and around the trawlers. Coon island near the sand flats, fish the channels. Bream.... between the Naru St rockwall and Pelican Marina. Basic map attached hope it is of help. Cheers Geoff

The only areas I spray on my reel are the bail arm pivot and guide bearing, the handles anti reverse lever etc and I only ever use Inox, I always have a small smear of inox food grade grease around the base of the drag knob which should prevent any water getting near the drag washers. From the Inox website... The only lubricant in the world with the special MX3 Anti-Corrosion, Anti-Moisture formula for the twenty first century (food grade approved). It displaces, penetrates, lubricates and protects. INOX contains no silicon, acid, kerosene or dieselene. INOX will not harm metal points or surfaces, plastics, paints, enamels, fibreglass, formica or neoprene seals. INOX doesn't dry out, gum up, become gooey or sticky or wash off with water! INOX is non- conductive, non-static, non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-staining. Most other moisture displacers/lubricants are petroleum or solvent based. I have heard of people who swear by some of these products as an attractant to fish, but I dont believe it personally, does it make a difference to catch rates? again I dont think so, having said that you have no reason to spray the spool anyway, some warm water in a hand sprayer and a wipeover with a clean cloth should be adequate. GT

I kind of agree, but what is an appropriate fine and or punishment for taking more than your limit of Tailor? 37 each over thier bag limit = $108.10 per fish and I reckon $4000 would make most people think twice. GT

It never ceases to amaze me, a few years ago myself and some like minded people removed over 500kgs of rubbish from one sand Island in Swansea Channel on clean up Australia day, but I'm afraid I'm beyond sorble, I just hate the lazy pigs who leave it there!

Ive got a couple of pots on my balcony and they have been great, they stop bearing fruit over winter but are very hardy over spring summer and autumn. Can expect a dozen or so chillis per week, these suckers are pretty hot, the variety is called nelly Kelly and came from a major hardware chain. Cheers Geoff

NSK and Koyo are japanese made other good brands include FAG, INI and NTN.