the skipper

Thanks mate was a great weekend windy as hell like the south coast is but we got out on Saturday with a lot of hits on the Skutes with a few just legal released to fight another day. Need to do some tweeking on my design but happy with the way they cast. Best part was time with my brother on water together which we have not done for a very long time and the odd beer and bullshit session a night over the bbq. Life is pretty good. Cheers The Skipper

Mate , what you experienced is till pretty special although devastating at the same time as a fisho there is nothing worse to see it but not land it. If there is one thing my dear old Dad taught me is that is that when you fish you hope, you dream and if you are lucky enough you will one day land that fish of your lifetime and don't get caught up in competing with someone else just be happy with what you can catch. Personally, I am hunting that kingie as well as I have caught plenty of juveniles that go hard enough so for me it is about that hoodlum that will one day be unlucky enough to take my bait and I am hoping I will be ready for the fight I can tell you it won't be for lack of trying. Cheers mate and keep on casting it will happen for you. Regards The Skipper

I didn't think drive ups had rollers ... I could be wrong.

Is that Mrs Murphy's crack.. Scratchie ?

Awesome stuff Mate mouth watering snapper must organise a return trip. c The Skipper

Any Raiders heading out to Botany Bay tomorrow to wet a line if you are give us a wave or maybe stop for a quick chat. This my tub. Cheers The Skipper

Great job fish of a lifetime and well reported awesome to see you having a crack !! Time to plan a trip. The Skipper

Thanks Longy I will be down there from Thursday. The weather forecast looks ok but the wind looks to be a bit dodgy anyway that is the south coast. I fish mostly in the basin across the east side near Oaky Island where there is a nice drop off and fish the incoming along a channel around 4.2 mt depth also don't mind a run across to Wandandian Creek. Tight lines The Skipper

That's the “ Dart “ Scratchie .

Yes mate I have done quite a few now it tends to have become an obsession. I have used 1/8 and 1/4 jig heads with different hook sizes. Took one to Broughton Island with Scratchie a few months ago and it cast really well but no joy so far. Happy to send you a couple to try if you like I need feed back on how they go and what needs to change , how they cast etc. Cheers The Skipper

Hi raiders ,. Heading down to Sussex Inlet for a few days catch up with my little brother to spend some quality time out on the water chasing lizards in the shallows. Looking to try out my home made "Skutes" to see if fish will have a crack at them. Will report bhack. Cheers The Skipper

I fished it with Scratchie in late August with no luck even though we had close to perfect conditions but water temp was still down a bit.

top job !!!!!!

I don't paint the underside

Mate I have painted a couple of tinnies lately and is not that difficult if you can use a spray gun. Ideally you need to remove all the old paint by sanding I find the orbital palm sander the best and the rest by hand . Normally 80 or 120 grit sand paper will do the job. Once you have got it sanded wash it down with aryclic lacquer thinners on a rag to remove any contaminants on the surface. Then you need apply an aluminium etch primer which will be a thin coating this grips to the aluminium and provides key for the top coats . It will have its own thinner for cleaning up and thin the primer if you need to. Primer dries pretty guickly and can be recoated in around 4 hours. Once the primer is dry then give it a light hand sand with a 1200 wet and dry sand paper to smoothe off the slight texture the primer will give the surface . After the primer then spray apply 3 to 4 coats of acrylic lacquer in the colour you want. When spraying the top coat just spray light dust coats slowly building up the finish which should eliminate any runs. I use paints from a company called EVIC Paints at Williamson Rd ,Ingleburn if you give them a call they can help you with what you need. You get a lot of satisfaction out of having a go at doing yourself. if you need any tips happy to help. The Skipper

the most important thing I have found when making sinkers make sure your moulds are always extremely hot in makes for a better flow and smoother finish . The Skipper

Hi Greg, My dad has exactly the same rod , JW 9ft Mundoon, ironically enough I thought it was lost to a garbage tip in Newcastle somewhere after he passed away some 9 years ago as he lived with my sister in her place at Adamstown after we sold the family home. My brother rang me on the weekend and told me that he had the rod and my dads home made tackle box and told me that dad always wanted me to have it but my sister never passed it on until just recently when she was cleaning out the house before selling up and gave it to my brother to give to me. It will be a special moment when I see that tackle again as it it will bring back a lot of memories for me fishing with dad on Trial Bay beach at South West Rocks as a kid watching dad cast from beach using his trusty Mundoon hoping for that bream or flathead of a lifetime which never happened for dad but he had a lot of fun trying. I miss those times so very much and I look back at them as the place my passion for fishing came from not the flashy boat , expensive gear but from a man who did not have a lot but gave so much and for me where the saying " just one more cast " resignates with me so much as I would give anything just to stand with my dad on the beach and have just one more cast with him . Cheers The Skipper

Yeah Jeff it was a tough day but I really want to thank you for taking the time out to show me your spots and the awesome waterway we are lucky to have in this country. There is always another day to fish and the experience has made me keener than ever to tackle the amazing fishing grounds around Port Stephens. Cheers mate I will be back soon. The Skipper

Mate I had the same boat next size up which I think was the 5.1 Coast runner with a 115 Yamaha Four stroke good size will do everything you are looking for. That would be my choice. the skipper

Mate , I use normal TT jig heads mostly 1/4 and 3/8 with what ever hook size you like.That YouTube with young bloke is good to get the basic idea on how to tie the skirts on. There is an online shop called Flyshop where you can get all the materials you need I use the faux buck tail which is died different colours also the buck tails . You also get some synthetics that a bit of flash or sparkle on them and tie the different colours on individually and finish a good layer of clear Gorilla glue.

I started having a crack at making my own skutes which I saw the guy from Big Angry Fish making his own and thought it would be something that would interest me but never really had the time to try it. Well I have gone from one a few now and it is very therapeutic and addictive. Don’t know whether they will catch any thing but have given one a few casts. It actually cast really well for not a lot of effort so I have named it the Dart. Anyway a lot of fun to make now let’s see if it will actually catch a fish. Tight Lines . The Skipper

Hey Gengar, I use to use them but found they did not last very long and six hooks is a pain so I make my own. I just use between 4-6lb line and make up a pater noster rig for two hooks and a small bomb sink in the loop on the bottom. Hooks I use are Mustad red extra long shank 1/0 and tie them on by cutting down one side of the loop you normally feed through the eye of the hook because you will not be able to push the loop through the eye of the very small hook. So you will be able to thread the line through the eye of the hook and tie it off do that to both loops. I normally use salted pillies cut into very small pieces as the salted pillies have a tougher flesh and will hold on the small hook better I also flatten the barbs on the hook so as to be able for quick release into your tank without damage to fish and try not to handle them to keep them in prime condition if you have to use a wet rag. Berley is key but do not over burley just enough to keep them around your boat . This system works well for me on yakkas and slimies. Cheers the Skipper

To all Fishraiders hope you are all safe and well. I would like to make the offer to provide Fishraider boat stickers to all our members. My business is involved in the outdoor media print industry and my customer base consists of large and small format printing companies. If there is a current design that I can get a hold of that would be great if not my daughter is graphic designer and I am sure I can get her to design a new one if you would like. I think it would be great to be able to identify a fellow Fishraider member at a boat ramp or on the water and this would be an easy way to do it. I am happy to fully sponsor the cost of the stickers. I do not know who to contact in this forum to ask if this would be ok to do so if someone could contact me I would appreciate it. Cheers Paul Elliott "the Skipper"

My mate had a similar problem and was looking at everything except the o rings and a simple rubber proper fitting O ring was the issue also they perish in a short space of time particularly if you slightly cross thread it when you are trying to screw it in and you nick the rubber. I always carry at least on set of spare bung plugs in the boat and check the O rings regularly it is amazing how much water they let in if they do not seal properly. The Skipper