notoriousTASH

Hey guys! It's been a while since I've posted. Mrs and I have finally moved house after a long process of packing, throwing stuff out, donating, moving, unpacking, etc but we finally got there in the end. Still some unpacking to do but it's all hidden in the garage so not even going to look at it until the new year (we'll call it a new year's resolution). Not to mention the fact we have no licenses at the moment and need to renew them, but we will wait until cash flow is back on track. ANYWAY, in the meantime we have been watching fishing shows, videos etc but I mainly enjoy watching fish being prepared, particularly in the beginning stages. I always get recommended videos showing up on YouTube and saw a video that caught my eye. A few minutes in to it and I thought I HAVE to share it with you guys. This is a world class Japanese restaurant (in Japan) preparing a favourite of many on here, king fish! The way the prepared it blew my mind. The Japanese use fish as an artform more than a meal. Anyway, link is below, enjoy.

I remember hearing about this while I was at work. Did you guys walk past the Downing Centre?

Not a report but wanted to share this large lady caught off the beach at Sans Souci. Little one "helped" reel it in (she just put her hands on top of mine). Her excitement was a better highlight than the fish! Didn't measure it but judging by the size up against the little one, I'd say 60-65cm. About 2kg. She was very brave and adamant to hold it, but obviously didn't let her. I did let her touch its back after it stopped thrashing around and helped me release it back to the water, and she loved watching it swim away. We taught her that the really big fish we put back in the water so they can make more baby fish. After we watched the flattie swim away, she said "good bye! Make babies please!"

Havent been on for a while. Thanks for the ID. Funnily enough, seconds after posting this, some locals came down to the jetty we were fishing off and identified it for us as a javelin. We looked up the QLD limits and she was a keeper. Also very good on the chew ?

It's too pretty to eat imo!!! ?

Hey guys need an ID and if it's edible. It's sitting in a keeper net ATM while we try to ID. Mrs caught this beauty. Caught in Carirns

Mrs and I were just having a laugh about this saying if a cop asks you where you're life jacket is and it seems inevitable you'll get a fine, jump in the water and start to pretend like you're drowning. Then they have to jump in and save you. Then when you get out, thank them for saving your life, then let them issue you a fine. At least you got them wet in the process ?

Where I'm unsure is the letters... Is N higher than S?

The one in the link says it's AS4758 but where the confusion for me is that I don't know if "150N" is of higher or lower rating than 50S. See what I mean??

Well, the legislation was put in place to help save lives. What's interesting though is that all monies collected from infringements/fines whatever are to go to the Department of Fisheries (this is also outlined in the Act)... So I suppose it's both in a sense.

OK so here are some screen shots of the Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016. I'll add a link too if anyone wishes to read the entire thing, it's only a small act (7 pages). The first screenshot is where, I'd assume, any reasonable person would stop reading because it tells you the offence and the penalty with that offence (Section 5). It says there, black and white, you, and anyone helping you, must wear a life jacket at all times while rock fishing. If you don't, it's an offence and the maximum penalty is 50 penalty units (1 penalty unit in NSW is $110 - so you're looking at $5,500 maximum) However, when you get to the very bottom of the act, that's where it states specifically what type of life jacket must be worn and the standards it must meet. If you don't comply, it's a $100 fine. The standards are in the second screenshot and below: *in relation to a child—meets performance level 100 or greater of Australian Standard AS 4758 *in any other case—meets performance level 50S or greater of Australian Standard AS 4758 It's up to us to now further research what the standards are for life jackets we buy to make sure they're at or greater than a level 50S, whatever the hell that is. here's a link to the act: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/2016/66/sch1

Not only does it need those 5 ticks, it needs to meet a specified standard with those ticks. There are different levels of life jacket standards by the looks of things. I was perusing a shop and they had all different levels of standards and I have no idea which are higher or lower than the standard specified in the Act. I'll read the legislation real quick and get back to you on exactly the standard the jacket needs to meet.

It was a great feed too, apparently. My grandma called while I was on the way out and promised her that I'd catch her lunch for today and I came good on that promise. Cleaned it up for her and drove all the way out to her place to deliver it to her last night. She gave me a buzz today and said it was very tasty (though she was skeptical about whether or not it was edible when I brought it to her ?

I asked earlier about the suspected luderick (confirmed to be a black drummer) but completely forgot to ask about this random little thing my partner caught. Any ideas folks? Same spot (Browns Rock) Returned to the water of course.

There's one major reason I'm writing this report up, being the Rockfishing Safety Act. Today was a great day, aside from the power tripping copper I had encountered right at the end of my day, which I'll get to. Not much action today at Browns Point but it's a beautiful spot if you haven't tried it. Be aware though, there is a bit of a hike to get down there. About a 10 min uphill/downhill, uneven ground bush walk. If you're not the fittest person in the world, the way down to Browns Point is pretty bad but it's worse on the way back up lol. The reward though, is that the water is nice and clear (looks great for a swim, a few folks came and went throughout the day for a dip) and it's not terribly snaggy, though there is quite a bit of weed and rocks close to the shore, so if you're casting further out, you'll be sweet. Mrs and I had two rods out each, two rods on the more heavy duty side and two light set ups. Both our big rods got nothing. Tried garfish, mullet fillets, pilchards and squid and nothing was touched with one exception - when I reeled in after casting out about 45 minutes prior with half a squid (head end) on double snelled hooks, I reel it in only to find that the squid, plus the hooks, plus a good chunk of my leader were gone. I'll take a safe bet and say a shark came across it and couldn't help himself. Our small rods is where the action was. We could see about 2m out from where we were standing on the rocks that there were some biggish, black coloured fish swimming around. They were interested in our bait and we did get quite a few pecks but nothing big enough to be able to hook em. I was about to reel my small rod in to change rigs after having it sitting in the water for about 15 minutes with a decent chunk of squid on the hook when BAM a huge hit. I pick up my rod and pray to the fishing god's that whatever it was hit again and they answered my prayers. Another big hit and I got it hooked. Put up a great fight, particularly because I was using light tackle. When it started getting closer to the surface I saw what I thought was a luderick. It kind of didn't surprise me at that point because I have caught a Luderick once before on squid (at Nambucca Heads). This fish kept trying to win the fight by going in to the weeds and under the rocks, fortunately the Mrs had the net ready to go and we managed to land a very nice fish which was later identified, thanks to my friends on fishraider, as a black drummer - my first. Measured in at 35cm and had a great weight to it. Mrs ended up catching two today on the light tackle. First up was a Port Jackson that was heavy as shit and I'd say around the 70cm mark. I was blessed (NOT - I'm terrified of sharks) with getting it in the net, which it barely fit in to. Took a happy snap and off she went to live another day. I'm curious if anyone has ever tried eating one? Reason I ask is when I was at Airlie Beach earlier this year I saw guys targeting and dispatching grey reef sharks to eat. But I digress. Next fish was a weird little red one and wouldn't have a bloody clue what it was but it was returned to the water after a timely struggle in removing the hook from her mouth (we try our best not to throw fish back in with hooks left in their mouths and avoid it as best we can). Threw her back in and she was floating on the surface. We felt so bad, thinking we should have just cut the line, but fortunately she got enough water/air through the gills and after 30 secs swam back down to live another day (and possibly lay her eggs, we think she may have been pregnant). **Word of Warning** Onto to my point about the PoPo and this, frankly puzzling, law regarding life jackets in Randwick council. Now I understand the good intentions behind this law. I understand many lives have been lost when anglers have gone rock fishing. Shit, there was yet another death just yesterday in La Perouse (though the angler was wearing a life jacket ?). You'll find where I find issue with the laws near the bottom of this post. I, as you can see in the picture, was wearing a life jacket. Mr Senior Constable Power Trip comes along and yells down at first the Mrs (who was not wearing her jacket, though she did have it and I told her numerous times to put it on) and says he wants to speak to her and she quickly pops over to the backpack to get her license and life jacket. I shake my head and have a chuckle because I couldn't wait to turn around later on and say to her "I told you so!" (it's a rare opportunity). I go back to casting. THEN I hear this guy yell out "Sir? SIR?!" I turn around (this isn't the first time it's happened, it doesn't bother me) and say "sorry, are you speaking to me?" and he says "yeah I'm speaking to you. It appears you aren't wearing a proper life vest." I look at this guy and think "are you not seeing this big, blue, ugly arse, f*** off vest I'm wearing or are you indeed seeing it and thinking I'm wearing it as some sort of fashion statement?" I bite my tongue and say "what's the matter with the vest I'm wearing, sir?" he says "it probably doesn't meet the Australian Standards. Check it for the five ticks. I said "I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that that was a requirement, the signs just say 'life jacket'". Now this is where it gets funny, and probably got my arse out of a $100 ticket. I'm facing him and take my vest off to check and see if it has these ticks on it. He then notices "the girls" which where well hidden by this stupid vest and says "oh... I'm sorry... ma'am". I say "it's all good, and no my vest doesn't have the ticks. I genuinely didn't know about it" he let's me and Mrs off with a warning, even though he had just handed out fines to 4 other people nearby us. Where my issues lie with the laws are this: 1. Signage around the area simply states "Wear a life jacket when fishing. It's the law." Nowhere does it say Australian standards. Now I'm not a lawyer, but I do know how to interpret law as it is part of my job. The council cannot expect people to read the Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016 and read, at the very bottom of the act, that is states the jacket must be of Australian Standards. The very first section and subsequent subsection states people must wear life jackets, which is where I'd assume most people would stop reading the law, because it seems very black and white. It is not until you read down to either the last or very last section where it states Australian standards. If I were fined, I would've happily taken it to court and contested it and I believe I would've had a good chance at winning. 2. This is what really bothered me about this law and where I am quite tempted in making submissions to the council and subsequent lawmakers to have changes made to the law, purely out of unfairness. There was a couple, sitting literally right next to me on the rocks, with no life jacket but weren't fishing - no worries. But because I am there with a fishing rod, I can get a fine for not wearing a life jacket. How does that make any sense? If I was swimming and had my rod out, how could they justify fining me? Would they expect me to swim with a life jacket on? These are issues within the law that, in my opinion, need to be reviewed. Nevertheless, if you guys are out fishing on the rocks, where ever you are, please wear a life jacket for your own safety. And if you don't want a $100 ticket, ensure that they meet the Australian standards. I'll be purchasing some for myself soon. The ones we had today went in the bin. Apologies for the rant and if it is inappropriate for the fishing report but I did want to voice this with you guys because it seems now the police are dead set on enforcing this law now. If you guys reckon I should add my warning to another part of the site, please refer me to the appropriate section. All in all a good day, though I can't say it ended on a high note. Happy fishing to you all and stay safe out there.

Hey BF! Haven't been out for a while because I can't bear the cold, plus started a new job right after we got back so I wanted to focus on that. Today was beautiful weather and asked the Mrs if she was keen and she was, so out we went! She obviously had to out do me today with this big girl... Mrs and I are heading up north again on another holiday/fishing trip. Cairns is the destination this time round.

Bloody oath they pull! I was literally just about to reel in my line too to check of my bait was picked off by the little peckers I saw swimming around and then bam this guy hit and I thought I caught a monster. I was using light tackle too so it made it much more exciting. Glad to have landed it.

Yes well this bugger took every opportunity he had to get in the weeds and under the rocks, right up til the end when my partner managed to get him in the net.

Sweet as! I'll know for next time. It definitely put up a great fight, kept taking me under the rocks and in the weeds but I won the fight

Hey guys just wanted to ask if this big fella I caught today is a luderick? It looks a hell of a lot like one but no stripes. Caught at Browns Rock

Here's a better pix of the Shark... We were told by the boat hire place it's possibly a white tip

Mackerel was definitely an exciting catch even though it was small. Any idea on the ID of the Shark? Definitely a shame I'm ill right now.. spewing! (Pardon the pun ? couldn't help myself)

We were actually pretty keen to get out on the boat again tomorrow but with the way I'm feeling, not sure it's gonna happen... I had no idea such an ailment existed!! I was so worried about being sea sick that I took tablets and everything... nothing could have prepared me for this ?

Sea legs... wobbles... whatever the hell it is, I want it to go away!! ?

Happy moments - that's what the other anglers told us it was called! They don't seem to result in happy moments with the way you described that spike though! ?