Mick

Possibly people haven’t see 40 years of degeneration of intertidal zones around the Sydney basin like I have. They have enough forces impacting on them already including us and don’t need direct destruction for no apparent reason added to the list. The fore shores were once teaming with life, turn over a rock and crabs worms, prawns etc were in abundance and even cunji, could be found growing way up the Parra River, these days you are lucky to find it on an ocean rock platform except on a very low tide. Ribbon weed was that prevalent that you were sure to slip on some approaching any part of a water waterway in Sydney. These days black fisherman are very close lipped about their rare pockets of areas that still produce the bait they treasure. I have had just about every part of my body, ripped open by oysters over the years but I haven’t started a personal vendetta on them. I think it’s great to see oysters still very prevalent in some areas of Sydney and that’s why we should be looking after these zones. If the post were about kicking a couple of oysters in to the water than who would care, but when it is stated you are “cleaning” a rock, which by the way belongs to the public, because it has oysters growing on it, then I certainly have a problem. It’s got nothing about being fun police or green, it’s to do with having respect for the environment that we all use. This post is very good fuel for organisations like the NPA and if you think things grow back, I’m still waiting 40 years later for some things, which I ‘m sure I will never see in the same areas, where they once flourished. Don’t take offence, these are only personal opinions like we all have, and probably spurred on more by a recent encounter I had when I took my kids to an area of the Parramatta River which I frequented in my youth, as I wanted to show them all the creatures that lived under the rocks. After an hour of turning over rocks and replacing them I could not find one living creature, which left a very sour taste and some very disappointed kids. If you want to see bream in a frenzy, throw in a loaf of bread. It’s a lot easier and a lot quicker.

Since when is a rock with oysters growing on it considered dirty?. Intertidal zones should be respected not destroyed.

The unfortunate thing is there is no definition that is workable. With the thousands of different vessels that use our waterways it is impossible to put one definition to cover all. What causes more wash a sleek speed boat travelling at 40 knots with 15% of its hull in the water causing minimim wash, or a very beamy fishing boat loaded with gear and people with 50% of is hull in the water doing 4 knots and pushing a lot of water and when that wake rolls over, causing a generous amount of wash. I dont blame the enforcers of the law, as they would be at a loss for a definition the same as we are, only enforcing an opinion of the rule that is given to them by a supervisor or similar.

Will be heading up to Forster early may for a quick break with the family and was wondering what is happening bream wise in the estruary. I'm not after any particular spots as I have enough of my own, but just curious if the breambos are more concentrated down stream near the paddock area or further up river. Forster used to be my second home but, havent been there for a few years and I'm a bit rusty on the location. As previously mentioned not after any spots, just whether upstream or downstream is producing, might save a bit of fuel. Thanks for any replies

If you dont plan on towing then go the stearns from Bias option, around the $400 dollar mark as previously stated, but will do the exact same job as a custom cover if the boat is just sitting in the back yard. They suit some boats for towing but not all, I purchased one in QLD and drove home to NSW and it had small rips in 2-3 places places. A custom cover is the better option if you are going to tow with it but a lot more pricey. I had one made and it was $1400, but is a sensational cover, which was cut to include covering the electric motor on front, have towed in ridiculous weather and the interior of the boat has stayed nice and dry, the cover extends down the side of the hull, so no stone chips as well.

All the marketing hype aside I would certainly be looking for a second hand merc/mariner opti or etec 90 to replace the honda, they are both very popular models and I'm sure ..there would more than a few that have been traded since BRP released their 115HO. You may have to throw a bit a cash on top of your honda, but haggling always works, especially if the motor has been sitting around for a while. Neither the opti or etec are that new technology, from memory the etec is about 6 years old now and the opti 17 years. I was watching an old Malcom Douglas show the other night and my wife picked up, that he was using an opti. Both motors would work great on your boat and as its coming in to winter there isnt a better time to buy. I was always a 4stroke person until I had a bad experience with a 6 month old honda 50 which self destructed, but since that time I have owned either etecs or the current opti and havent a bad word to say about either brand and would never think about going back to a 4. Make a few phone calls you may be surprised what is out there in the second hand market.

Over the years I have got Jacks, Diamond trevelly and estuary cod out of the harbour. Only the jacks have been mature specimens the others have been juveniles. With the current transistion from the El Nino effects, which pushed warm currents closer, to the La Nina, I think northern species catches will be greatly reduced.

Its actually a parasite that burrows in to the skin during its larve stage and has nothing to do with pelicans, although I guess they get it to, as it seeks out warm blooded critters. I've had it heaps but it has never caused any pain, but the constant itch is a major pain. Stuff like "Stop Itch" normally works, but the old man used to put vinegar on it, cant actually remember if it worked or not.

I have never been a fan of the atificial reefs installed by fisheries. The money could be best spent else where, instead of creating new dive spots for commercial dive schools. But then again if you are happy your license fee contributing to the on going success of the same dive operators who are pushing for more marine parks, then I guess they are a good idea.

For the super environmentally inclined, freeze a swivel in a block of ice. Gets the bait to the bottom and then disappears, but you get the swivel back. Only catch is your sinkers get progessivly smaller throughout the day, unless you have them on dry ice. Otherwise there are a number of sinkers on the market that are made out of tin or similar materials.

I would imagine as previously stated it is trawler by catch, the same thing happned a few months back and long lines of leatheries were seen behind trawlers. I doubt that they would all run out of food at the same time and all miraculously turn belly up, at just the same moment. They are fish, when they run out of food they move on. But they dont move very far in a net, except straight up.

They were my favourite plastic 4-5 years ago, but with hundreds of new plastics coming out each year some of the old producers get shelved. But I always carry a box of favourites which includes the minitanks just in case.

Very nice gesture, but I hope you had the owner describe what lures he had in the tackle box, before you handed it over. I had a similar experience a few years back, when I found a rather $$$ custom rod and sustain reel at a boat ramp on the Parra. Posted it on a couple of boards (Leaving out the rod details) and was amazed 20-30 people had lost a variety of custom made rods with sustain reels attached that very day (Insert sarcasm icon). Two months later I was having a chat with another fisho at the same ramp and he was showing me a new outfit he had purchased because he had left a previous outfit at the ramp. No prizes for guessing what he had left behind. He didnt frequent the net so never saw the posts, but did get his out fit back any way.

DAM, your right Craig, I want my money back, some one has painted the word "Terrova" on the side. Terrova Love the US2 Greg; I went with the freshie, as I dont think US2 is available on the salt model and the foot pedal was standard. Cheers Mick

Only a personal point of view, but I find the new foot pedal a pain in the arse to use and will be getting the cheaper flat model to use with mine. "Easy to Deply" NOT. At this time it is harder then my previous riptides, even with copious amounts of inox applied. Hopefully with a bit more use it will lossen up. But on a positive note, turns quicker then the older riptides, motor quieter and more secure on mounting plate so you dont have that familar clunk when the power is applied. I have the freshwater model as you get the transducer in the bottom which means no messy wires running down the shaft and the footpedal is included. Replace the prop nut with a sacrificial anode type and all's good. They have a 3 year warranty but damage caused by corrosion isnt covered, which is fine as I have never had a corrosion related problem with my previous minns, only circuit board failures.