pjred

Heard they've still been getting kingfish on the Middle Ground. I got a few (6 - 8kg)a couple of weeks ago, and a heap of bream.

A longliner out of Wollongong had a truck load of big fin (and big eye) 80 to 100+ kg the other day (and more I've since been told) out in 1500 to 2000 fath out JB way.

I have a 4.7m Stegcraft sportfisher and have lost count on how many times I've been beyond the shelf. Have even been out as far as 60km a couple of times. I have all the safety gear and keep my boat well maintained (but shit can always happen). I've seen a 8m boat get towed in from 300fath. I've been towed in, luckily from only 13km out with a sheared water pump impella (it was brand new). The big thing is reading the weather charts. If there is the slightest chance of some sort of change I won't risk it. Generally, after there has been a change, from west to south and it's on it's way back to the east and north, then I'll look at it. You don't have to be beyond the shelf to get into trouble if the wind comes up. I fished the Banks regularly back in the 70's and 80's in my Seafarer V-Sea and got caught in a couple of filthy westerly winds. Very lucky to still be here. But that was me being stupid and taking risks when I knew there was an imminent change in the weather due! I was lucky to learn from those experiences.