Warpig

Advance notice of an upcoming event. Please contact the number given for more info: I have no association with the event. Sorry if this has already been psoted elsewhere. NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES SNAPPER RESEARCH EVENT 2008 Dear angler We would like to invite you to participate in a snapper event at Botany Bay, Sydney, on the 19th and 20th of January 2008. This event is part of a five-year study funded by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts (using money from licence fees) to determine the survival of released angler-caught fish. I have provided a short summary of what we would like you to do during this work and the prizes we are offering. Event briefing If you would like to be involved, you will need to attend a briefing at 05:45, on the beach located next to the swimming enclosure at Silver Beach, Kurnell (you do not need to launch your boat at Kurnell) on the 19th of January 2008. During the briefing, you will be provided with an angler kit (see below), assigned a boat number (to be used as a call sign) and given details about the research. If you cannot attend the meeting, angler kits will be available from research boats on Botany Bay during the day. Fishing procedure You can start and stop fishing whenever you like (we will be on the water between 06:00 and 14:00). You can use any conventional gear configuration and catch all sizes of snapper (including those smaller than legal length). Each fish will need to be measured (total length) and placed into a small cage (that we will provide) tethered to the back of your boat. You will then need to raise a small red flag on a pole, radio (UHF channel 18) or phone the researchers, and complete a data sheet. We will travel to your boat and collect your cage (once two fish have been placed in it) before transferring it to a holding line near the commercial fish farm. At the end of each day of fishing, you will need to return your kit to one of the researchers. During each fishing day, we will release ‘control’ fish (that have been previously collected from fish traps) into cages positioned next to the hooked fish. If enough fish are collected on Saturday (80 - 160 fish), there will be no need to fish again on Sunday. Each angler kit will contain the following: • 2 x 110 l fish-holding cage with lid; • 1 x folder; • eraser, pencil sharpener and pencils; • angler data sheets; • 1 x yellow banner for your outboard; and • 1 x red catch flag. Prizes On the Monday following the event, all completed data sheets will be put into a box and six randomly drawn. The anglers that completed the forms will each win a fuel voucher (valued at $50 each). In addition, the boat that has the most snapper (all sizes) collected from it during the event will win $200 worth of fuel vouchers. Enquiries If you have any questions or would like to participate in this important research please contact me (02 6648 3910 or 0438 950 838 or pbutcher@nmsc.edu.au) immediately. Yours sincerely Paul Butcher (Scientific Officer)

Too right. Especially some of those "comedy" shows on the very same channel. TVS has its moments (4WD TV is the obvious highlight), but comedy ain't one of them!

I've seen every episode since it started. It ain't really my sort of thing: I reckon they've let two fish go in the five or so episodes so far, and bottom bashing for bloody reds with cheap gear is wearing very thin, but it's kinda funny, and at least it's fishing! STOP THE BUS!

Yep: I agree with that. The new gear certainly seems to break down a lot less often, and also requires a lot less maintenance. I'm flat out trying to keep up with my outboard, motorbike and 4WD, all with simple, older generation technology. But I'll still stick with it, because I CAN fix it. Eventually...

Just to be contrary: Personally I don't mind having a computer on my office desk, but I sure as hell wouldn't take one to sea with me. To add context, I do a lot of remote area travel, and have the tools and experience to fix most mechanical problems. I have rebuilt carburettors many times and it ain't that hard. EFI? Good luck. I can also tune carbs to work the way I want them: top end, bottom end, cold weather, hot weather or whatever. EFI, of course, does this automatically when it's working properly and the bloody oxygen sensor isn't dirty (again...). Being a luddite leaves me out from a lot of modern machinery, but I can synchronise the carbs on my road vehicle in 10 minutes, which is longer than it takes me to set the tappets. The modern complicated stuff I'd rather leave to those with huge wads of cash to pay someone else to do all their work for them. I can live with the lower performance. Later from Dr pig

Nope. Queenfish only eat Tsunamis!

Take out the barrel from your door lock, and if it's stuffed take it to a locksmith with the key. generally a simple fix, and it should be well under $20.

Go the double. Biminis are easy as to tie in heavy Fireline.

Apparently they've been hammering the mouth of Cowan ck as well: plenty of floating, undersized fish and weed etc., and I think many of us have noticed the increased pro activity outside the harbour mouth lately. A reaction to the harbour ban, perhaps?

Another relevant thing that potential Poly owners should know: how does the cockpit drainage system work, and how well does it work? Looking at the boats on the trailer, it seems that the carpet might restrict water draining to the grooves in the floor if you get a big dump over the transom.

This is probably even lazier...for casting I usually forego the double and just tie a double blood knot , with the finer line doubled over. I have yet to have this knot break before the mainline. Having said that, when I have bust off, it is usually in the mainline about 10 mm from the knot, so perhaps pulling the knot up weakens the line. Nonetheless, a double-less leader casts better than one with a double.

I have two packets of smaller versions. Nothing seems to like them, and I can't be bothered persisting with them in Sydney when I can just tie on a more effective SP and feel confident that I am in the hunt!

Personally, I avoid reviews from owners of anything, especially vehement, loyal owners of unusual vehicles. Having been a motorcyclist for 20+ years, I am very familiar with the syndrome where owners of certain vehicles they bought on reputation (Ducatis and Harleys are the obvious example) will defend it at all costs ("I'd rather push a Harley than ride a riceburner"), even though they know damn well they own an utter poo cart. It's called 'mystique', I believe. There is ample evidence to indicate that this is quite adequate to both maintain a high priced second-hand market, and trap new owners. It borders on sacrilege for a Harley owner to admit he rides a slow, bad handling shitbox with no brakes, lest the masses find out the inside story and the resale halves overnight. The most logical route is to READ what EVERYONE has to say, collect EVIDENCE and assess it LOGICALLY. Polys, they say, have a soft ride. The hull material is flexible, so this seems logical, and I believe it, and so on. I am always highly suspicious of owners who are defensive to the point of aggression. Makes you wonder, don't it...

I'd go the tinnie, but only because: 1. The trailering requirements of the poly are a pest. The full-length supports are OK on the supplied trailer for light-duty towing, but to set them up for heavy duty towing might be a bit fiddly. The tendency of poly to wrack also worries me for towing over very long distances on lousy roads. I may change this opinion after further research. 2. The sides of the hull are very smooth and slope outwards, and might be difficult to stand against in rough water. 3. They are cheaper than a top shelf tinny, but need to be cheaper still to interest me. 4.5 m hull with console 50 hp 4 stroke, and the full set-up needs to be closer to $17,000 on the water than $19000.

The date's down in the diary: if I can make it I'll be there. I'd hate to see it end up like that "save the slimies" fiasco a few years ago...