Andrew_P

Good on ya @Allnighter and thanks again for sharing! We are all Green with envy mate!

All good mate - thats the reel i use on the beach so if you dropped it in the sand it wouldnt be the first time! Using an alvey is like using an abacus instead of a calculator to do your sums. Like an Alvey I'm sure you can dunk an abacus in the sand and saltwater and it will still work. I prefer to use spin reels and not drop them!

Sorry Kat I wasn’t clear. I have a small waterproof grab bag that I keep the epirb in as well as my phone and car keys it sits next to me at the tiller. My big yellow lifejackets are in a waterproof bag at the front of the boat in the open anchor well and that has my other safety equipment in it (offshore flares, v-sheet etc). I wear my inflatable type PFD at all times. If I have a deckie I have another inflatable pfd for them plus I always have the 2 big bulky yellow ones up the front =4 legal lifejackets for 2 people. the yellow lifejackets are really uncomfortable BUT super buoyant and are designed to keep your head above the water when you cannot. They are cheap, meet the new laws and would float if the boat rolled that is why they will always be in my boat

Hamish they sound like mid mounts built for spin reels. If you would like a reel for each rod you are welcome to borrow my spinfisher 750. I think it has 30lb braid on it.

Does it have to be an Alvey? i.e. are the surf rods low mount (reel seat very close to butt, wire stripping guide - designed for alvey) or mid mount (designed for spin, reel seat around the middle of the grips, normal stripping guide)? If it is a mid mount A Penn spinfisher around the 650-750 size would suffice for this sort of fishing, 12-15lb mono or 20lb braid with a 20lb-30lb FC leader will stop most things on the beaches. If it is a low mount go something like an Alvey surf classic (650b) you probably want the lighter graphite backed version. The alvey website is very helpful with recommending their models with target species and line capacities etc

Good one Ed. I bought an EPIRB for my occasional offshore trips but pack it in a grab bag for my bay trips now too. I have the big yellow lifejackets in a bag (enough for my POB) but wear and make my deckies wear pull type inflatable lifejackets as well at all times. If we roll I know the grab bag with EPIRB and life jacket will float but I’ll already be wearing my lifejacket in case I fall out and the boat keeps going....which reminds me I probably need to think about attaching my kill switch to my lifejacket when we steam....

Congrats @Katfish that is an awesome name! You can change a boats name you just need appease Poseidon with a re-naming ceremony when you do it. A bit of fun too https://www.boatnames.com.au/boat-naming-ceremony/ enjoy the freedom! Ignore the costs

sorry @Angry51 i meant @Allnighter and the word i was going for was "stinky" as it rhymes with "dinghy" ...well, kinda

may as well start a guessing game for all those stuck behind their desks....(moderators please stop me if this is out of line) What word do i have for Angry51? @Allnighter The word i am thinking of rhymes with a certain type of flat bottomed boat

i have a word for you but wont use it cos i dont think Hamish knows it yet

G’day, I’ve got a couple of nice graphite rods that don’t get used enough I’m keen to part with. They are both Berkley Dropshot Tournament Pro models one is a snapper spin and the other a lighter version for bream and flatties. Specs are: Snapper spin 6’10 6-8kg one piece in good condition. I have caught snapper and grassies on this as well as an amberjack it’s a nice rod using up to 1oz jigheads. Throws a 30g slug a mile! $60 Lighter one is 7’2 2-4kg 3-13g one piece in very good condition (used once - caught 1 small cod). $75 I am negotiable on price for AFOers would prefer them to go together you can have both for $120 i also have a used Penn Spinfisher 750 SSM in good condition spooled with 30lb braid $50 items advertised elsewhere Cheers Andrew

I like to prepare my Mac tuna sashimi style. Plate it up on a set of gang hooks and feed it to an edible fish

Nah mate all within an hour from Brisbane

Imagine dropping that into your local tackle shop to fix a guide

@GregOug the Talica 8 is a 10 with a narrower spool, their drags are the same the 10 just has more line capacity. Nice light reels but you dont need to spend this much money for bay tuna. Nor do you need 2 speed for what you are chasing - it just adds to the weight of the reel. Stick to the TLD 20 - enough line capacity (even with mono), relatively light construction, plenty of drag etc. Put a good mono on it (Platypus lo-stretch 15kg) and you will be able to give it to any bay mackerel or tuna. Whack it on an old version Live Fibre (the maroon ones not the new black ones) 8-15kg overhead and you are laughing. i like 7ft so you can control the fish away from the boat/ other lines. If you cant find an old live fibre have a look at a gary howard reef rumbler 8-15kg 7ft. these are light, powerful and very nice rods. your tld 20 with 15kg line will be a perfect match for the live fibre/gary howard. some more advice - if you are on the northside (shudder), take your old TLD into Jones' tackle and get neil to service it - he will tell you if it still works and his prices are very reasonable. if it is still good then you wont need to buy a new one! while you are in there look at the gary howard too finally - spool your reel up to the red line on TLDs and set your drag at strike to 1/3 of the breaking strain of the line you choose - this is very important! you will get max line capacity and have a drag setting you are confident of and able to push above strike to shorten the fight. this will give you more of an advantage over the fish than a $1000 set up will. plenty of vids on youtube to explain how to set your drag and the physics of drags changing on overhead reels

Thanks Hamish. Best tip is Youtube! There’s such a wealth of knowledge on there. Start off doing repairs and rebuilds then go from there. I’m about 20 rods in and have learnt a heck of a lot. If you are interested I am happy to show you the basics. You and Cavy are welcome to come round one weekend

Wow how are those conditions! Looks like a sweet trip. Any theories about fish not biting in the deep?

Yeah mate. Got 2 meals out of them. Mrs was very happy

I’ve got all the safety gear and pick my days. Still stay pretty close - those macs were caught <2nm from seaway. I was the smallest boat out there but didn’t feel unsafe at all

Yeah mate it’s a lot quicker than decorative wraps and fun to do!

Thanks Ed. It marbling mate. Pigments added to epoxy

I haven't been getting out much recently but have managed a fish or two each time. So impressed by the little SeaJay! Here are a couple of shots of fish from the last 3 months. (Prawns were from an arvo session when my mate borrowed the boat) Been building a few rods in my "spare" time too. Gee its addictive!

you snooze you looze Benno! you'll just have to post some more fishing reports instead! love your Moreton trips with the family, mainly for the logistics of camping and fishing with wife + young kids in camp!

Pretty bony or pretty pony? yep. Edible

https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/536