Berleyguts

Yes, I thought it was a lot cheaper through Marine Rescue. Whenever they’ve done one I’ve been working. They always seem to be on weekends. I’d prefer nights. 🤷‍♂️ Courses have been suspended due to COVID anyway. My first job out of school (a long time ago) I manned the radio base for an elevator company, so I was taught correct protocols, I learnt the phonetic alphabet and read up on procedures. It’s not hard but some people using the VHF or 27meg networks are just rude idiots. 🤷‍♂️

Can you pick up Marine Rescue from your home? Fortunately I can and I just call them following the normal procedures on 16. E.g.: ”Marine Rescue Port Stephens, Marine Rescue Port Stephens, Marine Rescue Port Stephens. This is Sea Miner, Sea Miner, Sea Miner, requesting radio check. Over.” They’ll then respond and either ask me to go to another channel (usually 71) and give me the answer, hopefully “Reading you loud and clear on both channels”. If it’s a quiet day with not much traffic, they sometimes respond in full on 16. On your initial call, you should repeat the call sign of the boat or station you are calling 3 times and repeat your call sign 3 times.

Good stuff, Rick! You slept in the boat?

Great stuff, Jeff, Mick and Brandon! Good idea to get out before the big low hits. 🤔 I’d planned to fish yesterday or today but I’ve been pretty crook, so stayed home and I won’t be going to work on the weekend either by the looks of it. Had another COVID test yesterday and results quickly came back this morning - negative. We’re in for some big seas from Tuesday onwards, so it might fish OK after the big blow (and after school hols)! Spent an hour or so up on the roof making some repairs so I don’t get any more leaks when the weather hits - now I’m knackered and need a rest! 😂 Can’t wait to get out there again!

Yes, that is why the charters prefer you to fish 24kg... lots of sharks! I remember I was trolling 15 and hooked a decent rat. Then the deckie said, “Get it in quick! There’s a Noah after it!” So I started cranking it in harder. Then the deckie called out, “No! Drop it back! There’s a bloody big king after it!” So I dropped it back. A huge king hit it and took off. I got reefed! 🤷‍♂️

I have the Wilson Blackfish rod paired with an Alvey Blackfish reel. Both reasonably priced and they do the job. You could also put a spin reel on the rod but it is a sloppy rod - what you need for luderick.

I can’t give you much advice on gear but I do advise you to check your baggage limits. When I fished LHI in 1990 there was a 15kg baggage limit on the aircraft (a DASH 8). I took as few clothes as I could in order to carry more fishing gear. I packed a Daiwa Sealine 400H loaded with 15kg mono and a 4500 Baitrunner from memory loaded with 6kg mono plus a spare spool of 4kg. I packed the 2 rods (built myself on a JS980 blank and a Super Barra blank) in a PVC tube. These days, I’d take a lever drag reel in 15 or 24kg class and something like one of my snapper outfits (20 or 30lb braid). You might want to go heavier, although the charter I fished on provided good gear in 24kg class, which is why I took lighter gear... I did have a lot of fun on smaller kings on the 4kg line and it served me in the lagoon on Trevally and bluefish. What I couldn’t fit in my suitcase, I posted ahead (lures mostly, about 5kg worth). Allow plenty of time for postage. I used to work for Australia Post and was heavily involved in mail issues to LHI. Unless you pay for Express Post, parcels go by road to Yamba, then by ship to the island. The ship only goes every 2 weeks, so allow at least 3 weeks ex Sydney but be aware that the ship goes into dry dock twice a year so it can be 6 weeks between journeys. Express Post and letters will be carried by air but there are weight and space restrictions, so it may not always get on the first flight. In low tourist seasons, there are less flights and who knows how COVID19 has affected mail carriage to LHI? My friends still with Post advise that parcel volumes (due to COVID) across Australia generally are unprecedented, heavier than Christmas volumes and they are really under the pump. Short answer, don’t post something you can’t afford to be without. Good luck and tight lines!

Not even sure I’d know how to find my first report!

Great stuff, Scratchie! That was a good listen! I don’t normally listen to podcasts or too much talking on the radio as I prefer to read (or listen to music) but that was a good listen! 😎

I agree... that’s pretty cool! Are you able to live stream it while you’re fishing? I would love to have one sitting under my boat up at Broughton Island (or elsewhere)... it would be nice to confirm what I’m looking at on the sounder and help me to read it better in future! Might even be able to spot “Whiskers”, eh @Scratchie? 😂 It would be interesting to figure out a way to use it while drifting. 🤔

And she gets to keep her feet dry too! 😂

Good onya Pete! (Baz screen shots pic... just to make sure he’s in the right area next time. Especially since Scratchie got an ass smacking there!) 🤔😂

Yeah, I have a friend from Sydney who wants to come to Port to chase them this weekend, so I have a ride out in his boat (7+m) if he does. 😎 Only thing is I don’t know where to go! I assume out to the 1000m line and beyond. I do have a mark out off Seal Rocks that a few fin were allegedly caught at a week or so ago. Guess that’s a start. 🤷‍♂️

I agree. This is a great article! Does anybody know what happened to Roberta?

When I book accomodation, I often use Booking.com and choose the free cancellation option. It might cost $10 or $20 more but if plans change you can cancel or reschedule, sometimes as late as the day before. This has saved me big $$$ plenty of times when I’ve had a drama crop up (and there have been plenty! 😂). It also means if a better deal comes up, I can take the new deal and cancel the old one. 😉