Junky

You're on the right path. A hinged bow roller is for auto deployment of the anchor. Normal non hinged won't allow the anchor to drop, therefore the anchor may just sit on the bow roller and you'd have to manually push it out. Hinged will drop down as soon as you hit the switch, allowing the anchor to fall out easily and no need for your physical involvement . Then when you retrieve the anchor, it will come up into the bow roller vertically and as the chain gets tighter it will pull the anchor up to horizontal and sit all nice and neat on the bow spirit. Exactly what you're trying to achieve.

If you're chasing kings etc (not sure what Pittwaters are) then spend the coin on the reel and get a second hand rod or look for a 7ft spin, 5 to 8kg ish, in the cheaper rods, untill you can afford a better one. Abu used to have a fantastic 7ft spin rod that was super cheap, could even roll it around for a small overhead if required. Cheap rod will work, cheap reel will go bang. Daiwa and shimano offer up some good reels for around $300. You'd be looking for a 4000 size reel. They will last, and will give you confidence in fighting larger species.

https://www.windy.com/?47.621,-122.344,5

Many years ago fishing out of Waddy Pt I caught my biggest, whole green jobfish on braid tied straight to hook. Just over 9kg, and I say whole because I've retrieved parts of the same species that would have been a larger, complete fish. If memory serves me it was 60lb platyl braid (dark green) or similar, not platypus. I had made the double using a figure 8 knot, then just looped the hook on and a running 8 ball. Yep, full not giving a toss. Well, I found out that jobbies that size fight extremely hard. I was sitting up the bow, with rod butt under my thigh. I was sick of fighting what I thought was a shark. This thing just would not give up. I raised it three times, then I saw it and could not believe that A, it's not a shark, and B, the braid held with all my carelessness. No leader, full dodge houso style fishing and its still my PB jobbie. From the on. I use braid. Leader, can sometimes be the weak point. Every time I loose a big fish, it's leader breaking or hook straightening. Never the braid breaking.

Allbright or double uni in the situation you describe. However, my fg has held on and I have not been required to tie leader in said situation.

Great read mate. What a shame the fish, and the weather were off. Least you caught some before you got there. Be interesting to see the leaderboard.

While you're trawling lures, watch that sounder and mark the lumps, bumps and drop offs etc. Also, drift occasionally. You'll be surprised how much good ground you'll drift over, but you won't know it if your eyes not on that sounder.

Good on you Hamish. Awesome fish mate.

Brian's better off hanging with Hamish on the pontoons...

Cracking fish there mate. Well done. https://media.tenor.com/iRDEt6V-Wm4AAAAM/absolutely-massive-hunter-engel.gif

Very well written. 42 is a good fish. What was the bait of choice?

Welcome aboard certainly.

Welcome aboard Lil Peep.

Well that sucks. Shame you couldn't reach the reef. At least you managed to sort your issues with both motors. Nothing worse than that feeling of essential items playing up 1500k from home. Next time you'll just have to make it a month, at the bare minimum, just to be certain you get a day or two of nice conditions.

Great questions. It's very hard to put down on paper without writing a novel, however I recommend a visit to your local tackle shop. Could be shown to you in about 10 minutes. Don't over think it. Light rods, small reels, light line and leader. Medium rods, medium sized reels, medium sized line. See the pattern yet? Don't worry to much about Max drag capacities. Most reels above the $120 mark will give you endless hours of enjoyment. Always back drag off after use. Next time you use it, wind it up a bit, peel some line out by hand, and adjust accordingly. No need to be over the top with exact figures. You'll understand when you start hooking up to fish. Buy name brand gear. Shimano, daiwa, Penn, Abu Garcia, are great starting points and will have something in whatever size you're after. Most new graphite rods will only break from defect manufacturing on first load up. Be sure to test before you walk out of shop. They'll show you how to do it. If it breaks after that, it's 99% operator error. High sticking is a major contributor, also poor treatment meaning the blank is impacting a surface that is causing it damage and creating a possible breaking point. Next time it loads up, snap. So look after your rod.

My way is so unorthodox it's hard to explain on paper. Have to see it but. Wrap braid around RH pinky finger a few times so I can pull tension on braid from end of rod tip. Right hand hand then wraps the fluro while using my left index finger and thumb to pinch the join after every wrap. I basically cannot see the join as it's always pinched between my fingers however this allows me to pause if required and also very reliable when tying in rough seas. I do 30, to 50 passes, then finish with 2 x half hitch around braid and fluro end, then 2 x half hitched around braid only. No need to pull tension like others do because I've tied it under tension. It also has very little waste line to cut off. Can do it eyes closed, and I've never had one let go. Same as this... https://youtu.be/ZPTzkep9xlI?si=YiYXBb3ROhALeLpE

Normally you'd use about 2 rod lengths of fluro leader. This would then have to be wound through the guides and onto the reel. To be able to cast a lure, plastic or bait and not have big knots getting caught up in and around the guides, other lays of line etc, you need a join that is slim, and strong. FG is all of that. Find your technique. There are several ways to achieve the same result, so master your way of tying it blindfolded and you will not regret it.

Stuff that. You're retired. An estuary outfit will last you for years, it will supply food for your epic voyage, gives you another rod to look after and fiddle with , she can join you and no doubt, catch more than you, and most of all, you're going to enjoy your time using it. Just buy it and cop the silent treatment, and loud dish placements on the bench, the rattling of knives and forks as the sink is filled for washing up etc. The minute she sits down and sinks her laughing gear into a delicious fish fillet, it'll all be history. Then you can get yourself an offshore setup and perhaps do a few charters, or get on board someone's rig as a decky, around this fine continent. A wise old salt once told me, "it's easier to ask for forgiveness, than it is to ask for permission", so true. Good luck, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of your situation.

Google photo. Pardon my ignorance and the fact Im a complete computer/phone dumbarse, where can I see this google photo? Maybe I need to get my kids to start reading these pages with me. Edit..... Sorry hwebee, I can see the link now.

Hux. Are they both nmea2000 backbones? Connect the power to the backbone you installed. Cut the power to the existing backbone by disconnecting the yellow power lead from the end. In place of the power lead you can then connect a link cable an link it to the backbone you fitted you fitted. It's an easy fix and you can then have engine data on your plotter. Hope that makes sense.

Same here. We asked for the initials of my late sister inlaw. They came back and said no problem with the letters, and then told us the numbers, which were random picks by the computer, however the numbers turned out to be her date of birth. My wife broke down in tears at the counter. Meant to be imo. I see you have 3 letters HUX. Could really personalise with 3 letters and 2 numbers. Almost like car plates.

Try it out. That's the best thing about fishing. Careful tying braid to the swivel. Braid knots can slip. Bimini twist with a catspaw onto swivel will stop that problem.

Not on the bayside but close enough. Rowland Street boat trimmers will be able to help you with, a custom bimini.

Geez you've got a good spot down there pal. They are some quality fish.

Geez I hope not, not that I have to worry at this stage but every other season I had snapps in the freezer. I'd say they'd have to get you returning to ramp with them in the esky, otherwise like you say, how can it be proven they are caught in the closed season.