PlayerOne

Hi mate- Had a quick google search & looks like the 520Dory is actually rated to max 60hp.... (I've got a 40hp on a 420Dory, it goes great but I think it would be well underpowered for a 520!)

I've got a 40(2stroke) on my Quintrex 420 and would like more power!.... I think 25hp would be underpowered.

Sounds like a plan mate. I've been out of Port Kembla (in my bro inlaw's boat) few times, not to the FAD yet tho (i think they remove them for winter time?)... I seen a fair few reports of decent snapper being caught off Bellambi in the past few weeks. Also, I've got a tinny which could take out in lake illawarra when it gets warmer to chase flathead on SP's if your interested...

Hi Mate; welcome to the Illawarra, beautiful part of the world hey!.... I'm in Woonona as well, moved here 2-3yrs ago from Sydney's northern beaches (still work in Sydney though). I cant help you too much with local fishing knowledge as i'm still sussing the place out, I mostly fish SP's and had varied success land based in the area, still trying to crack the code! Happy to catch up for a fish when the weather warms up... Cheers, Alex.

Interesting read/great rant!.. I definitely can relate! I used to live in apartment in Northern Beaches and was lucky enough to park my boat on street in front of my parents house nearby for years, however it always annoyed me when i came home from fishing and someone had taken the parking spot or there was a car parked in front making it impossible to get my boat in/out!......Love owning a boat but storage has always a problem. Made the move out of Sydney recently (South Coast) and now have my boat parked in driveway (along with room for 2x cars)... happy days!

How big is the hole? I've used JB weld for a small hole (say 1mm x 3mm) on the bottom of my tinny. The hole was from when I unknowing lost a poly roller on trailer & the post rubbed a hole in the hull!).... I fixed it about 8yrs ago and doesn't leak a drop.

Well done mate, cool report! I've just moved down to the northern Illawarra area and looking to upgrade my tinny soon to head out off Bellambi ramp!

Awesome report mate!... How big a boat do you "need" to safely get out to these FADs? ... i'm thinking of upgrading my tinny (soon) to be able to get into some more offshore stuff.....

I would go 6lb braid (over 4lb) to start... 4lb begins to get really thin and i find it's more prone to wind knots if not careful.... we've caught small bream through to 75cm+ flatties on 6lb with no issues. Leader we generally use 8lb but change up 10lb/down6lb depending on area being fished.

Thanks for the reminder about Dinga!... I ordered a new electric from them today and got the Fishraider discount 🙂

55lb thrust will be fine on a 4.2 tinny - I've got a 54lb JW Watersnake on my 4.2 Dory and it goes fine (will replace it with a Minn Kota when it dies!)... I'm pretty sure any larger motor would need a 2nd battery, I run a 100AH and its pretty heavy on its own....

We don't use swivels for SP's - just braid onto flourocarbon leader & directly to SP (loop knot)....

Nice work! Good to see a successful report from Lake Illawarra! I've just moved to the area & will hopefully be doing a bit more fishing there!.... We had a morning session 2wks ago and scored about a dozen flatties (to 53cm)... I don't know much about the lake but given it's size & decent flow, it '"should" hold some decent fish right?

Nice report! You guys did much better than we did on Saturday! We did a heap of drifts inside the heads for a heap of undersized flatties (all released of course) and few flounder!

I agree with above (i.e. steer away from anything euro in this price range); I'd suggest a Mazda3.... $6k(ish) should get you into a 2004-2006 2.0L model, if you save a bit more say $7-8k(ish) it could get you into the sportier SP23 with bigger 2.3L engine.... This would be much "cooler" than a Corolla!