Ed.

Excellent, your first Mullaway will be one you won't ever forget.👏. They can be elusive, took me over 6 months to catch my first, after that for some reason or other they became easier to catch then.

Excellent, your first Mullaway will be one you won't ever forget.👏. They can be elusive, took me over 6 months to catch my first, after that for some reason or other they became easier to catch then.

Are you guy's trying to get me into trouble? 😀

Are you guy's trying to get me into trouble? 😀

Are you guy's trying to get me into trouble? 😀

The missus would have my head if I bought more, I now have way more than enough rods. I traveled down with 6 but unfortunately I could not go fishing. The Ugly Stiks were 37kg rods and I only had one spare reel to put on which I spooled up today and fitted it, but I will replace one of my old short strokers with the second rod so that helps me resist  the temptation to buy another reel, otherwise I will be sleeping out in the shed at nights if I get another reel as well. 🙄

My wife and I managed to complete the 5.2K Klm trip to Melbourne and back in one piece, we now have a new grand daughter and after a shakey start to life she is now doing well and putting on heaps of weight.  Didn't manage to catch up with my old diver friend down in Melbourne as he was in the US at the time and only got back the day after we arrived home.
However I will be catching up with him at X'Mas as we are flying down there for a quick family X'Mas reunion and he has invited me to his 70th birthday, so will get more details on Port Phillip Bays condition then, I drove by my old diving location at Mt.Martha rocks and although I didn't go in the water, from the cliff above it looked healthier than the last time I was there.
Didn't manage to do any fishing at all down there due do to complications with the birth so all my time was spent helping out, although I did buy two new Ugly stik rods  to bring back and add to my collection😀.
 

The missus would have my head if I bought more, I now have way more than enough rods. I traveled down with 6 but unfortunately I could not go fishing. The Ugly Stiks were 37kg rods and I only had one spare reel to put on which I spooled up today and fitted it, but I will replace one of my old short strokers with the second rod so that helps me resist  the temptation to buy another reel, otherwise I will be sleeping out in the shed at nights if I get another reel as well. 🙄

My wife and I managed to complete the 5.2K Klm trip to Melbourne and back in one piece, we now have a new grand daughter and after a shakey start to life she is now doing well and putting on heaps of weight.  Didn't manage to catch up with my old diver friend down in Melbourne as he was in the US at the time and only got back the day after we arrived home.
However I will be catching up with him at X'Mas as we are flying down there for a quick family X'Mas reunion and he has invited me to his 70th birthday, so will get more details on Port Phillip Bays condition then, I drove by my old diving location at Mt.Martha rocks and although I didn't go in the water, from the cliff above it looked healthier than the last time I was there.
Didn't manage to do any fishing at all down there due do to complications with the birth so all my time was spent helping out, although I did buy two new Ugly stik rods  to bring back and add to my collection😀.
 

About the only place that I know of that fishing has apparently improved after commercial scallop dredging and fish netting was restricted/ banned is Port Phillip Bay. Apparently the fishing really improved. I personally don't know first hand as I haven't  been fishing there for about 5 decades but I am going down there in several weeks so will give it a good bash. Corio Bay still is permitted to netfish and scallop dredge but that will be stopped in 2022.
I used to go snorkeling/spearfishing in the bay when I was 16 off the rocks at Mt.Martha there were nice weed beds with plenty of fish, cuttlefish, octopus ect. then about 8 years later I went there again and the area was a desert, with a slime/sludge/silt covering most of the reef areas there, no more seaweed and no life, it was totally devastated. The cause from what I was told was the scallop dredging.
It will be interesting to see if the sea life has returned. Although I won't  be snorkeling, too damned cold for me now, I don't go in the water nowadays unless it's at least 23C now, but will try and throw in a line there if I get a chance and see if I can catch something.
I have a buddy down Seaford who still dives inside and outside the bay about 2-3 times a week for the same period of years and will ask him if he has noticed any change.
 

Is anyone else going out fishing from Bribie Island on Saturday? Looking at the weather forecast it seems that this week end should be great out on the water, (unless I have misread the forecast)  thinking of going out with the missus to the North/East of Cape Morton as I haven't taken the boat out for a very long while and would like to put some fish in the freezer.

Gotta be jelly 'cause jam don't shake like that!😉 and this is from where the conversation goes downhill!!😁

These are the ones I got:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Knipex-71-02-200-CoBolt-Compact-Bolt-Cutters-7102200/271257050182?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
There are a couple of variations of these ones, 1) Thinner rubber on the handle, 2) Angled head, 3) Spring in between handle, and there is even a 160mm version.
I ordered mine from Germany (where they are made) due to the cost of locally  sourced ones, that is if you can find them and they can be up to 2  times the price so you need to shop around.
With the GST added it will end up costing  me $71.39 delivered and these will cut up to 3.6mm piano wire which is extremely hard so most hooks should not be a problem. Big hooks are extremely hard, I ended up getting a HIT red jaw 600mm pair of bolt cutters for the big shark hooks, I tried several different brands of bolt cutters and some were left with a dimple in the jaws after one cut. The HIT ones are designed for high tensile wire so no issues.

These are the ones I got:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Knipex-71-02-200-CoBolt-Compact-Bolt-Cutters-7102200/271257050182?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
There are a couple of variations of these ones, 1) Thinner rubber on the handle, 2) Angled head, 3) Spring in between handle, and there is even a 160mm version.
I ordered mine from Germany (where they are made) due to the cost of locally  sourced ones, that is if you can find them and they can be up to 2  times the price so you need to shop around.
With the GST added it will end up costing  me $71.39 delivered and these will cut up to 3.6mm piano wire which is extremely hard so most hooks should not be a problem. Big hooks are extremely hard, I ended up getting a HIT red jaw 600mm pair of bolt cutters for the big shark hooks, I tried several different brands of bolt cutters and some were left with a dimple in the jaws after one cut. The HIT ones are designed for high tensile wire so no issues.

These are the ones I got:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Knipex-71-02-200-CoBolt-Compact-Bolt-Cutters-7102200/271257050182?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
There are a couple of variations of these ones, 1) Thinner rubber on the handle, 2) Angled head, 3) Spring in between handle, and there is even a 160mm version.
I ordered mine from Germany (where they are made) due to the cost of locally  sourced ones, that is if you can find them and they can be up to 2  times the price so you need to shop around.
With the GST added it will end up costing  me $71.39 delivered and these will cut up to 3.6mm piano wire which is extremely hard so most hooks should not be a problem. Big hooks are extremely hard, I ended up getting a HIT red jaw 600mm pair of bolt cutters for the big shark hooks, I tried several different brands of bolt cutters and some were left with a dimple in the jaws after one cut. The HIT ones are designed for high tensile wire so no issues.

These are the ones I got:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Knipex-71-02-200-CoBolt-Compact-Bolt-Cutters-7102200/271257050182?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
There are a couple of variations of these ones, 1) Thinner rubber on the handle, 2) Angled head, 3) Spring in between handle, and there is even a 160mm version.
I ordered mine from Germany (where they are made) due to the cost of locally  sourced ones, that is if you can find them and they can be up to 2  times the price so you need to shop around.
With the GST added it will end up costing  me $71.39 delivered and these will cut up to 3.6mm piano wire which is extremely hard so most hooks should not be a problem. Big hooks are extremely hard, I ended up getting a HIT red jaw 600mm pair of bolt cutters for the big shark hooks, I tried several different brands of bolt cutters and some were left with a dimple in the jaws after one cut. The HIT ones are designed for high tensile wire so no issues.

Ouch! that's gotta hurt, I had just ordered a pair of 200mm Knipex bolt cutters for that very same reason,  I do have a larger HIT 600mm pair for large shark hooks but also wanted a much smaller pair to carry around i my tackle bag for moments like these, should that happen to me or someone nearby. The 200mm ones are much  easier to handle one handed and will cut though most (up to 3.5mm) hooks easily as well.
Only ever had one small hook into my thumb, it didn't hurt that much but by the time I got medical treatment hours later, the old thumb was well and truly "sensitive". The hook didn't go right through so the Doc aesthetically ring blocked my thumb, now that hurt! jabbed me about 15 times to try and make my thumb go numb, then they cut the hook tip out! That little episode left a lasting impression on me, don't want a repeat! 😬

Ouch! that's gotta hurt, I had just ordered a pair of 200mm Knipex bolt cutters for that very same reason,  I do have a larger HIT 600mm pair for large shark hooks but also wanted a much smaller pair to carry around i my tackle bag for moments like these, should that happen to me or someone nearby. The 200mm ones are much  easier to handle one handed and will cut though most (up to 3.5mm) hooks easily as well.
Only ever had one small hook into my thumb, it didn't hurt that much but by the time I got medical treatment hours later, the old thumb was well and truly "sensitive". The hook didn't go right through so the Doc aesthetically ring blocked my thumb, now that hurt! jabbed me about 15 times to try and make my thumb go numb, then they cut the hook tip out! That little episode left a lasting impression on me, don't want a repeat! 😬

Quality work, ☹️, at least whatever was screwed down won't move too much😬, might add a bit of drag in the water though, those screws seem to have a bit of corrosion on them as well, probably not stainless. Someone deserves to be sacked on the spot.

Ouch! that's gotta hurt, I had just ordered a pair of 200mm Knipex bolt cutters for that very same reason,  I do have a larger HIT 600mm pair for large shark hooks but also wanted a much smaller pair to carry around i my tackle bag for moments like these, should that happen to me or someone nearby. The 200mm ones are much  easier to handle one handed and will cut though most (up to 3.5mm) hooks easily as well.
Only ever had one small hook into my thumb, it didn't hurt that much but by the time I got medical treatment hours later, the old thumb was well and truly "sensitive". The hook didn't go right through so the Doc aesthetically ring blocked my thumb, now that hurt! jabbed me about 15 times to try and make my thumb go numb, then they cut the hook tip out! That little episode left a lasting impression on me, don't want a repeat! 😬

Ouch! that's gotta hurt, I had just ordered a pair of 200mm Knipex bolt cutters for that very same reason,  I do have a larger HIT 600mm pair for large shark hooks but also wanted a much smaller pair to carry around i my tackle bag for moments like these, should that happen to me or someone nearby. The 200mm ones are much  easier to handle one handed and will cut though most (up to 3.5mm) hooks easily as well.
Only ever had one small hook into my thumb, it didn't hurt that much but by the time I got medical treatment hours later, the old thumb was well and truly "sensitive". The hook didn't go right through so the Doc aesthetically ring blocked my thumb, now that hurt! jabbed me about 15 times to try and make my thumb go numb, then they cut the hook tip out! That little episode left a lasting impression on me, don't want a repeat! 😬

Ouch! that's gotta hurt, I had just ordered a pair of 200mm Knipex bolt cutters for that very same reason,  I do have a larger HIT 600mm pair for large shark hooks but also wanted a much smaller pair to carry around i my tackle bag for moments like these, should that happen to me or someone nearby. The 200mm ones are much  easier to handle one handed and will cut though most (up to 3.5mm) hooks easily as well.
Only ever had one small hook into my thumb, it didn't hurt that much but by the time I got medical treatment hours later, the old thumb was well and truly "sensitive". The hook didn't go right through so the Doc aesthetically ring blocked my thumb, now that hurt! jabbed me about 15 times to try and make my thumb go numb, then they cut the hook tip out! That little episode left a lasting impression on me, don't want a repeat! 😬

The missus and I are primarily going down as my oldest daughter is having a bub so spending about a month down there with her, so driving down there instead of flying, taking about 5 rods and hopefully will take the son in law fishing. I also used to go diving for abs and crays when I was a lot younger mainly the back beaches  of Rye, Blairgowrie and Cape Woolalmai.  Those days are long gone now as I am used to enjoying a bit of warmth in Queensland waters.
I remember diving in my youth, going in warm and coming out frozen, shivering and cramping all over, 23C plus water for me now or I don't go in! 😀

The missus and I are primarily going down as my oldest daughter is having a bub so spending about a month down there with her, so driving down there instead of flying, taking about 5 rods and hopefully will take the son in law fishing. I also used to go diving for abs and crays when I was a lot younger mainly the back beaches  of Rye, Blairgowrie and Cape Woolalmai.  Those days are long gone now as I am used to enjoying a bit of warmth in Queensland waters.
I remember diving in my youth, going in warm and coming out frozen, shivering and cramping all over, 23C plus water for me now or I don't go in! 😀

About the only place that I know of that fishing has apparently improved after commercial scallop dredging and fish netting was restricted/ banned is Port Phillip Bay. Apparently the fishing really improved. I personally don't know first hand as I haven't  been fishing there for about 5 decades but I am going down there in several weeks so will give it a good bash. Corio Bay still is permitted to netfish and scallop dredge but that will be stopped in 2022.
I used to go snorkeling/spearfishing in the bay when I was 16 off the rocks at Mt.Martha there were nice weed beds with plenty of fish, cuttlefish, octopus ect. then about 8 years later I went there again and the area was a desert, with a slime/sludge/silt covering most of the reef areas there, no more seaweed and no life, it was totally devastated. The cause from what I was told was the scallop dredging.
It will be interesting to see if the sea life has returned. Although I won't  be snorkeling, too damned cold for me now, I don't go in the water nowadays unless it's at least 23C now, but will try and throw in a line there if I get a chance and see if I can catch something.
I have a buddy down Seaford who still dives inside and outside the bay about 2-3 times a week for the same period of years and will ask him if he has noticed any change.