Hweebe

Spot on all extra water would be carrying excess organic matter and microbes sucking all the oxygen out of the water. Normally the larger fish can outswim it but 1m jew would mean the inundation was rapid!

My bet is oxygen depleted water.
I was kayaking Caboolture River in 2011 when the weir breached upstream and a sudden gush of fresh water came down. All forms of life in the river started coming to the surface for oxygen...most did not find it and perished quickly....like 2 minutes and they were gone.   Hundreds of crabs, bream flathead, jew, jacks.....the fresh came down as a distinct line of fresh water weeds and 30 metres behind that was the dying critters.
I harvested a metre jew that morning by hand.
I didn't realise just how quickly it kills until that day.
I went up there for a last minute fish before the flush....did not get a bite, I got a shock.

If you have the tools and a bit of experience - I say give it a crack. This is why we buy boats (sort of) to tinker / alter / change to be the ultimate fishing weapon 🙂 
 
 

If you have the tools and a bit of experience - I say give it a crack. This is why we buy boats (sort of) to tinker / alter / change to be the ultimate fishing weapon 🙂 
 
 

So I've recently bought an electric motor and starting enquiring about the plate being fabricated to the bow.. I'm keen to add some flat gunnell to the sides of the boat and extend the casting deck to fit a livewell/ more storage...
so I got to thinking...😬🤪
Being my first boat and also being an apprentice, why not have a crack myself?
I have never welded aluminium but weld stainless and carbon pipe regularly, have access to an AC/DC tig and can get enough materials to do all the jobs for a similar price it would cost to do just the bow mount...
I think I'm going to use this topic to document and record the progress, happy to hear any advice from people that fabricate or have any constructive recommendations to the build... 
To start, I'll give a bit of history on the boat.. I sold my Hobie PA14 when this boat came up. Pretty much a clean swap. It's a Horizon 2000ish 4.2m with a 30hp 2001 Honda 30hp on the back. Trailer was only 12 months old but I believe had been mistreated (along with the boat and motor, they lived on stradbroke)
the motor wasn't running so started with new fuel , fuel lines, filters, got it started but wouldn't get on the plane... 
Carbies next...
Bought a carby gasket set, thermostat, impeller service kit, new plugs and got stuck in. Pulled down the carburettors and took them to the local small motor mechanic to be ultrasonic cleaned, reassembled 
still wouldn't get on the plane.. 
Stripped down the carbies again, somehow there was gunk in the bowl so ultrasonic cleaned again then cleaned the jets by hand with oxy tip cleaners...
My first time on the plane, beautiful! Cruises around 20kts in good conditions, to date have not assessed l/km but it really isnt concerning. Have taken it for over 40km round trips up north. Just take some extra fuel ⛽️ 
the tilt mechanism was damaged and the tiller arm didnt move vertically at all, sorted those out with replacement parts. Was very hard to steer for the first couple months until I found a bolt that restricted movement in the steering, loosened that and greased the nipples. 😄 
In a perfect world, I would have a newer motor and a newer tinny but this is what I have to work with. She's not perfect or pretty but she's honest. 
I'll post photos and updates when things happen. if you got this far into the write up I commend you.
Hope I have this in the write sub category.. 
Also, in the meantime, I'm going to keep fishing, I'm keen to catch more fish on lures, if anyone is keen to come for a burn on the water and show me some things, let me know. (Really just want your GPS marks) 🤣 

interesting stuff, thanks for the updates @Hweebe

@MattInOz  No - Membership will no longer be required once Marine Rescue QLD is fulling implemented / operational.
From their FAQs Frequently Asked Questions (vision6.com.au)
Will Marine Rescue Queensland charge users for services?

Providing marine assistance to persons or vessels in difficulty or distress will be a core function of Marine Rescue Queensland. This means that MRQ will not be charging for these services. 

The rescued party may choose to make a donation to MRQ as a subsequent action, however the request or requirement for donation is not tied to the on-water response. Where someone chooses to make a donation, that donation can be directed to their local unit or to Marine Rescue Queensland.

Definitely don't recommend that link as it is way over the top pricing.
But that's just so you get the idea  as an option. I'm sure bunnings would have something you could use for probs less than $10 hahaha

@MattInOz  No - Membership will no longer be required once Marine Rescue QLD is fulling implemented / operational.
From their FAQs Frequently Asked Questions (vision6.com.au)
Will Marine Rescue Queensland charge users for services?

Providing marine assistance to persons or vessels in difficulty or distress will be a core function of Marine Rescue Queensland. This means that MRQ will not be charging for these services. 

The rescued party may choose to make a donation to MRQ as a subsequent action, however the request or requirement for donation is not tied to the on-water response. Where someone chooses to make a donation, that donation can be directed to their local unit or to Marine Rescue Queensland.

I run a Crewsaver manual inflate. A bit pricey if not on special, but super comfy. I wear it when I boat solo and I don't even notice it.
You'll be loving the electric in no time.
This fella did a mounting plate for a few of the AFO members -
Steve
Independent Metal Fabrications
Unit 1, 44 Baldock Street
Moorooka
0416 273351
No affiliation with him, just a good job at a good price. Mounted the electric for me too.

Just to clarify, I always wear the kill switch lanyard and my daughters jacket, though a bit hot and cumbersome is always secured properly before being on the boat. Also, my partner has her license.  
 
man the deaths on the water are a bit much, if only they had the same luck as “old mate” 
out of curiosity, what jackets are you guys running? Stupidly mine are currently stowed under the bow after moving back home to QLD I’ve become complacent in not wearing it … Victoria law was its to be worn on any vessel under 5m IIRC…
On a brighter note, I bit the bullet on a trolling motor, got a water snake geo spot , fingers crossed I don’t have problems with it and hopefully will have me sorted until I’m at least qualified.
need to fabricate or purchase a mounting bracket as the bow is curved. Anyone have some extrusions/plate they’re willing to part with for beer or cash? 😂

Got out with my partner and daughter on Friday, just caught the top of the run in and spent some time exploring some of the drains . As the tide turned we started to fish.
I was focused on drifting around with lures, running motor oil coloured grubs , paddle tails and shrimp. Laser ayu double clutch when I though a flatty might be sitting in the shallows. 

I missed a couple of hits throughout the day (amateur hour) and spite our efforts neither of us landed any fish.
 
The next day we took out a frozen mullet I netted a while ago to target the same drains, this time fishing the top 2 hours of the run in. We both caught at least 8 legal bream , at least another 12 undersized. the largest just on 30cm, all released to fight another day.
all bream caught on a 1/0 circle on strips of mullet. 10lb leader.
 
It was my partners first time on the boat since April last year so there was no complaints until it was time to load the boat….
When approaching the ramp my partner threw the rope around the cleat but not secured and stupidly I jumped off onto the jetty , pushing the boat off and away to the abyss. My partner panicked as it had been some time since she operated the tiller . I was struggling not to laugh which later cost me some snarls and awkward words. 
 
I obviously take full responsibility as I should have secured the boat to the ramp myself or at least checked what she had done … a valuable lesson … 
🤪
Take-offs from the day:
-it’s a juggling act having a toddler on a boat , definitely need to find more ways to entertain her and also keep her cool, keeping her under an umbrella did okay but she was definitely too hot. 
-need to spend some more time training my partner in boat operations in case of an emergency. 
-need to train myself more to try and avoid said emergency.

The answer to your question is another two questions: Are the batteries charging to 100% during the day, and are they discharging to below a usable voltage with normal use overnight? A volt meter will answer the question for you... a lead acid battery at full charge will read just under 14 volts, and once below about 11 volts it'll probably be too discharged for your fridge. If your batteries are not charging completely you need a bigger solar panel, and if they're charging to 100% during the day and discharging too quickly at night you need bigger batteries (or possibly just new ones, get them load tested).
Of course, putting bigger batteries in might also require bigger solar panels to charge them too... have to suck it and see. If your current batteries are already at 100% by say 11am you can probably afford to put a bigger battery on it but if they struggle to get to 100% by say 4pm a bigger battery will require a bigger panel.
As for the type of battery, a deep cycle battery is specifically designed to be fully discharged and charged repeatedly, while a cranking battery is designed for the heavy, brief load of a starter motor and then immediately recharged by the alternator. If replacing your house batteries you want deep cycle (or dual use) ones ideally.

Nice idea, but ridiculously expensive. Think I'd just get a plastic garbage bin and cut it to suit instead. Suppose I could do that and put 3-4 jerry cans of water in the ute... fill them up in Gin Gin or somewhere else close by to save carting water all the way from Brisbane. Still, as Huxstang pointed out it's probably not worth it if I'll be using the boat daily, just do it when I get back.

Good one @Huxstang I wired up a VSR on my 4wd starter / aux battery setup so I'm familiar with them.
I'm not sure why I didn't think of this as an option for the boat as well. 🙂 

So back in the day I used to fish land based under Boyd's Bay Bridge (on the southside). Bream / Flathead / Trevally and Tailor (during winter)
Caveat being we only fished at night and with live or freshly caught dead bait (herring). Never fished there during the day and never had much success with frozen bait around there.
Collecting baits was a bit of a mission as you can't use cast nets in NSW. So on our way down we would collect bait from some of the Gold Coast canals in preparation for a nights fishing.
Current can get strong there so targeting turn of the tide and slowly floating / drifting lightly weighted baits with the current is key. Keep your bait looking natural and moving and not anchored to down with a heavy sinker.
We were cheapskates back in the day as students, but if it was worth a drive from Brisbane and worth the fishing permit that should tell you there is fish there.
That spot under the bridge we have had some awesome trevally sessions. Where you hear them bust up, throw out a popper and hold on.

Grab a pair of pointy nose pliers, and keep them on you when lure fishing.
You need to slightly, emphasis on slightly, bend the little metal ring to the left or right on the nose of the lure. This is the ring that you would attach a split ring to.  
Start with a slight adjustment to the left and swim the lure. 
If it's worse, go back the other way. If it's getting better, make another adjustment the same way. 
You will eventually have it swimming dead straight, however it may take several adjustments to achieve. 
It's not uncommon to have to tune a lure to swim correctly. 

This worked about 40 years ago:
Pump some squirt worms and fish them at night on a fine gauge size 6 long shank, in dark and quiet areas of the river, cast just a few metres from shore. Huge whiting cruise the shallows at night, but they spook easy. If no squirt worms use pea sized soldier crabs.
Day time, jig live herring at Boyds bay bridge on the ebb tide, and walk them along the rock wall with the current on a long leader = catch flathead. 

Headed out with Steve ( @Old Scaley ) this morning. The plan was to take a window in the weather and fish the Rous early and head back to Green Island around 10. The weather didn't play ball and it was fairly rough as we approached my mark, so the call was made and we headed back to Green, hopeful of a few grassies and maybe a squire or two.
Things were quiet to start, as the tide was on the verge of turning. A couple of small grassies and tuskies were landed by Steve and a couple of tiny squire pestered me. I threw the bait jig over to see if there was any about and landed this little trev -
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZg3pijBjwQGyGZCu5K5t_C9VillVOhVsjALmyOfIHF9KCGXZ-LCN_adCwq4BjJw/photo/AF1QipP-MD0uT7V7np4H_nVKx5JVJFYWh0acOu-T29xk?key=Mm1JY0RtVXZ5Z0JCc1MySV9ZTDR4Y0hjQThJaFpR
One for the comp. haha
The tide eventually changed and the grassies came on the chew. They took a liking to cuttlefish as well as some flesh baits from grinners and whiptails. We threw a couple of just legals back, but managed to score 8 in the low to mid thirties. A couple of good feeds coming up.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZg3pijBjwQGyGZCu5K5t_C9VillVOhVsjALmyOfIHF9KCGXZ-LCN_adCwq4BjJw/photo/AF1QipMzGUDIKX7esyr1uKg1BLZKkX9JDJTkCC3hinHW?key=Mm1JY0RtVXZ5Z0JCc1MySV9ZTDR4Y0hjQThJaFpR
Also caught a bream for the comp, but failed to measure the shark that started my score for the day. It was only around 70cm, and took a pillie under a float.
Breambo -
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZg3pijBjwQGyGZCu5K5t_C9VillVOhVsjALmyOfIHF9KCGXZ-LCN_adCwq4BjJw/photo/AF1QipNEq-WfLnF_3scwcJqEf81B0ebp7Txq0xMWf5mL?key=Mm1JY0RtVXZ5Z0JCc1MySV9ZTDR4Y0hjQThJaFpR
 
Looks like it'll be a while before we can get out again, unfortunately.
 
Apologies to those who returned to work or school today. We weren't thinking about you. haha

So back in the day I used to fish land based under Boyd's Bay Bridge (on the southside). Bream / Flathead / Trevally and Tailor (during winter)
Caveat being we only fished at night and with live or freshly caught dead bait (herring). Never fished there during the day and never had much success with frozen bait around there.
Collecting baits was a bit of a mission as you can't use cast nets in NSW. So on our way down we would collect bait from some of the Gold Coast canals in preparation for a nights fishing.
Current can get strong there so targeting turn of the tide and slowly floating / drifting lightly weighted baits with the current is key. Keep your bait looking natural and moving and not anchored to down with a heavy sinker.
We were cheapskates back in the day as students, but if it was worth a drive from Brisbane and worth the fishing permit that should tell you there is fish there.
That spot under the bridge we have had some awesome trevally sessions. Where you hear them bust up, throw out a popper and hold on.

So back in the day I used to fish land based under Boyd's Bay Bridge (on the southside). Bream / Flathead / Trevally and Tailor (during winter)
Caveat being we only fished at night and with live or freshly caught dead bait (herring). Never fished there during the day and never had much success with frozen bait around there.
Collecting baits was a bit of a mission as you can't use cast nets in NSW. So on our way down we would collect bait from some of the Gold Coast canals in preparation for a nights fishing.
Current can get strong there so targeting turn of the tide and slowly floating / drifting lightly weighted baits with the current is key. Keep your bait looking natural and moving and not anchored to down with a heavy sinker.
We were cheapskates back in the day as students, but if it was worth a drive from Brisbane and worth the fishing permit that should tell you there is fish there.
That spot under the bridge we have had some awesome trevally sessions. Where you hear them bust up, throw out a popper and hold on.

So back in the day I used to fish land based under Boyd's Bay Bridge (on the southside). Bream / Flathead / Trevally and Tailor (during winter)
Caveat being we only fished at night and with live or freshly caught dead bait (herring). Never fished there during the day and never had much success with frozen bait around there.
Collecting baits was a bit of a mission as you can't use cast nets in NSW. So on our way down we would collect bait from some of the Gold Coast canals in preparation for a nights fishing.
Current can get strong there so targeting turn of the tide and slowly floating / drifting lightly weighted baits with the current is key. Keep your bait looking natural and moving and not anchored to down with a heavy sinker.
We were cheapskates back in the day as students, but if it was worth a drive from Brisbane and worth the fishing permit that should tell you there is fish there.
That spot under the bridge we have had some awesome trevally sessions. Where you hear them bust up, throw out a popper and hold on.

Bit slow today at eastern arm. Could not find quite a few of our new pots that we deployed a fortnight ago as they are now under water. The ones we located were reasonably full but the ones in deeper water the shrimp were all dead. Ended up with 26 bass from different locations but some locations hard to find with the high water levels and marks submerged. Water is a bit murky with all the fresh with visibility around 2 to 3 feet, Best bass 46cm rest varied from 18cm upwards. One spot we thought we were being hit by barred grunter but turned out a school of 18cm bass that we moved on from. Hai had left his rods at home but fortunately he had a 3ft ice rod stashed in the boot and it was interesting watching him land a 45cm bass on it as it was spooled with 3lb mono.

Great catches for Team South @Neil Stratford You got Photo uploads working again!
Are you on PC, Tablet, Mobile? How did you get it working? 

Great catches for Team South @Neil Stratford You got Photo uploads working again!
Are you on PC, Tablet, Mobile? How did you get it working?