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Tony, I’ve got basically a heavier combo of what you use now. I’ve got a compact size 5000 Sedona SP and a Daiwa TD Black 7 foot, 6-8kg. The rod has a nice fast action and a nice tip. It’s super sensitive and casts lures well too. I run 30lb braid on it. I find this to be possibly too heavy at times but suits many fishing applications. I can still catch the little 15cm pickers taking my baits so I can’t complain about the sensitivity.

It was early morning. The little platform is actually locked off to stop people mooring boats there but all the locals go down there. I just walked down there and cast dead under the jetty. Caught way too many fish and ended up freezing bucketloads of them.

We had a good session off the jetty with live herring. Didn’t land anything unfortunately but had numerous hook ups in only a few hours. Just kept on pulling hooks.

Thanks mate. If it's all good and I get it. I will definitely log in and out with the Coast Guard. If I do get caught out. The spots I will be fishing are only half an hour to an island each. Some spots are only 10 minutes away.

I understand the weather may blow up, but the days I would be fishing are the day's that there are at least a few hours of 'buffer' (good weather) even when I return home. The weeks where 2 or 3 days in a row are good are the times I would be fishing. It's fairly low risk if properly planned.

That's a reef fishing machine! There aren't many plate boats that ride like a Stabicraft or are as stable at rest.

The weather patterns here are very consistent and true to the forecasts. People go out to the shelf overnight in Quintrex 420 Renegade's. I am obviously not going to be reef fishing every weekend, maybe once or twice a month if the weather permits and more during the summer time. I would also bring at least 100 litres of fuel until I understand how much the boat uses (with a 20L jerry can as a backup). This boat's actually got a rather deep freeboard as it's a Quintrex, and not some beaten up old tinny. I'm more afraid of crocs in the creeks we fish than sharks out the reef. All the stories I have been told (like sharks ramming the boat) have occurred because fish were being cleaned at the end of the day before heading back in. They are a problem to be aware of, but not as deadly as a crocodile.

Okay. I guess this boat has a huge fuel tank because the reefs off Cairns are around 40-50km out. It would also improve the ride by about 0.01 percent.

It won’t burn at all. I freeze all the bait I castnet and they work well. Herring go a bit soft but still are usable. I don’t properly vacuum seal them and they are still fresh after 3 months.

Hi all, I am still in the market of looking for a boat and have gotten some experienced opinions from people I know but I would like some more. I am looking at a Quintrex 420 Dory with a 2015 Yamaha 40hp two stroke with 50 hours on the back. The boat is fully kitted out with a 75 litre fuel tank, 7 inch Garmin sounder, custom bait board, Bimini, stereo and safety gear. I have checked the specs of the hull and the overall length is more like 4.35 metres. Does this mean that I am looking at a slightly bigger boat in reality? It would definitely be reef fishing on the good days and headland/creek fishing on the not so good ones. The guy claims the boat ‘flys’ and I have heard of them doing more than 50km per hour. What are your thoughts on a boat like this (I know it’s not a proper ‘reef boat’, but I will have to make do) and it’s top speed? Thanks

Hello everyone, I am in the process of searching for the perfect boat with the good Covid19 prices. As there is another year of good buying (especially when JobKeeper ends next year), I could be waiting a while. I have decided to purchase a tinny to use while I wait and sell it when I get a bigger boat. The tinny I am looking at is a 3.8m V-hull savage. It has a 10hp Honda 4 stroke on the back. The motor pumps tons of water, has no smoke and only 2 rusted bolts (easily replaced) and starts first pull. It supposedly has only 45 hours in fresh water. Basically, the outboard runs really well. The seller said he would take $1300 and we are testing it on the water in the coming days. It is cheap as the trailer needs repairs and he has a new boat (I don't need to worry about the trailer as I have a boilermaker in the family). I am just wondering if this boat could get on the plane with about 250kg of load (9 inch sounder, 16kg battery, electric outboard, 2 people, flooring, Bimini etc.)? Would a stainless steel prop and a hydrofoil help planing and speed? For both of these new, it would cost $380 all together. I don't really care about top end speed as long as it planes. It would only travel a max of 5km between spots. Thanks

Jigging braid costs so much more because it's for the rich, niche market of the 'jigger's'. Those are the blokes who spend more than $1000 for a specialised combo and can justify the expensive braid. To be fair, jigging braid is usually smoother and and thinner than other braids. I still cannot justify the price though and normal braid does the trick.

Thanks. I will send you a message when I get home this afternoon.

They won't be diving it though. Trinity Inlet is croc country. I am going to talk to some people I know about their location.

Hi everyone, Now that I have been fishing Trinity Inlet a lot lately, I would like to fish better locations. I know there are submerged wrecks in the Inlet but don't know the locations. Are there any people would be willing to tell me about them? I would also like to know where the old submarine boom is as well. I have done bait fishing and lure fishing with not to much to show for it. Have had a few follows from jacks etc. when flicking and some fish bait fishing. Thanks

Okay. It would be for ballooning. I might just wait for a good deal to come up as I already have a good game fishing outfit (spin model) with 700m of braid and a small top shot.

Thanks. I will have to consider a few more options now! I do like the TLD’s and Tyrnos series.

Hello everyone, I have been really interested in big game reels for a while now. I have a 25,000 spinning reel with a Precision rod, but I would like an overhead outfit as well. I have been told that Everol reels are the 'Ferrari' of fishing reels. Apparently the highest quality of big game reels and made in Italy. I have found an older model one for $200. The reel is a 7.5/0 in the 'Graveglia Special Series'. There are 2 of them in an isolated town near me so they won't go rapidly. I was just wondering if this reel would be able to still be used today and how old you think it is? Would it be worth the money and what is the max drag as well (I cannot find any specs on the drag)? All of your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks

It’s already sold so doesn’t matter. It was made in 1980. I’m not going to spend that much on a 40 year old boat with a 25 year old motor. There were much better deals only a few weeks ago. More will pop up soon.

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I have talked to my parents and we have decided to take our time. Many boats (and good buys) will pop up in the next 6-12 months. That Quinnie will always be sitting in his backyard (he sort of wants too much for what it is and doesn’t want to be told it’s not worth that price). Has anyone heard of ‘Star’ or ‘Starcraft’ boats? There is a 5.2m centre console an hours drive from me. It’s a 5mm plate boat with an older model 75hp Mariner which supposedly starts first go. When I checked the rego though, it said it was 4.3m and from 1977. The boat looks far bigger than 4.3m and looks like a newer design than 1977. I am not too sure whether to drive and look at this or pass it. He want $7500 for it. I have attached 6 photos of the boat. Thanks

I want to go for a centre console so I am able to stand up and drive. It will be better for my back when I drive the boat. The side console is just a home job with a plastic console. If I get the boat, my school holiday project was to gut the boat, put a custom floor with hatches and a bait tank and convert to a centre console. The boat is extremely wide so might no be a huge deal. I will certainly use food colouring. He just needs to see the hull to determine if it’s able to be used (and out the reef).

Yeah. The only problem is we have to find the leak. It’s a slow leak so filling the boat with water may not have a huge effect. The boat having a floor won’t help either. May take some work and time.

Hi everyone, I have inquired about a boat behind a family member's house. It has been sitting there for a few years and hasn't really been used. It's a Quintrex 520 Dory. The boat is a Quintrex so it's solid and has a thicker hull than most boats that size. I am happy with the boat and the trailer has been fully rebuilt with an electric winch. The motor is an old Mariner (75hp) but does run. The only problem is that the boat has a small leak. I am getting a family member (who is a boilermaker, has worked on boats and is highly skilled in welding) to look at the boat and see the condition of the hull. Providing the leak is the only problem in the boat, could it be patched up and still be a good boat to use? I like the size of it and will switch it from a side to a centre console (it's currently a side console). I have done some research and patches don't affect the boat much supposedly. If it's a crack at a weld, I assume the crack can be welded over? Thanks.

Thanks. I will have to try next time I go fishing.

Yeah. Trinity Inlet is packed with them. My spot is on the headlands so I have to wait for a good opportunity. I have't tried crabbing in the estuaries (landbased that is). Where I fish, there is minimal structure so I always wrote crabs off.