Kenne

Hi All.  Long time no reports.  Been fishing quite a bit but also some part time work keeping me busy.  Combine my addiction and work and there is no time left to do the AFO thing.  
Anyway, thought I would let you all know that @GregOug is a champion and gave me the lead on a boat "for sale" that hadn't even gone on the market.  I was fishing with him in the bay a few of weeks ago and mentioned that I was expecting the payout on an insurance policy soon and was looking at getting something as close to 5 metres as I could, preferably with a centre console.  Well blow me down two hours after I was told the money was in the bank Greg texted and said he had found a centre console that might just be right for me. 
We arranged a viewing last Friday Greg accompanying me and I then managed a test drive on Wednesday.  Was supposed to be Tuesday but thank god my luck seems to have turned and it was postponed til Wednesday (not sure the test drive would have worked out in the storm at 10am on Tuesday!).
I took a fishing mate with me on Wednesday who lives up the road and after the test drive we drove to the bank got a bank cheque and towed the boat home.  
There have been a couple of hiccups with the deal that are stressing me out and will cost me a little more but I am told by everyone who knows anything about boats that I got a bargain.
So today I took my mate (he is licensed and I am not 🐱) for a run to the "Mile" just off the Broadwater and then headed down to Jumpinpin.
Stressful but great day and the boat handles amazingly (bit what the heck do I know). 
Got some good sized whiting, my first leather jacket, my mate got a tailor and a stingray.
Thanks also to @deegee12g (Don) who spent time talking to me about the various boats he has owned and fished in, and suggested I look for a centre console!  
Now I suppose I am auditioning for deckies who have their license and are willing to put themselves in danger by letting me skipper the boat - oh and can teach me what on earth to do - ha ha.  
The advice from the boat licensing places are to get some experience before booking in and taking the tests.
I am glad that my first day out was not a 🍩.
P.s. the Bimini is the first thing coming off the boat - who wants a centre console with a Bimini?  Surely it defeats the purpose.
Formosa 4.75 - 4.8m, Suzuki 80HP with 24 hours on the clock! 12 inch Lowrance (older model), electric trailer winch etc etc.
THANK YOU GREG!!!!!!!!!

Hey All, 
After seeing @Allnighter with his few snapper from the southern bay, I thought Id get myself on the water for a go before this southerly change came through.
Managed a quick trip last night fishing for only about 2hrs, 
Managed a 3 fish,  with 2 around the mid 70cm  mark &  with my last fish going around 88cm and being released to fight another day. Gave a up a good fight in the deeper water of Moreton Bay. 
Enjoy 🙂
Cheers Josh <><
 

Yeah, well I figure I paid for the boat, the bait, the grog and the petrol so why should I have to catch the bloody fish as well!

With three of us filleting it only took the time it took to drink two stubbies. And we were thirsty!

Erm. Maybe there’s a reason it’s called Barren Island? 

A nice 75cm bay snapper caught 30 mins ago on a nice monday arvo, this one was released to swim another day

Hi all,
got a last minute invite from a mate who happens to have a holiday house on bribie, 2 doors up from my outlaws holiday house. I had no gear with me, including minimal winter woolies and no real shoes. I was assured gear was under control, I then managed to find another jumper from the “Justin” kit in the car. What could possibly go wrong? 😏
 
at a leisurely 245am, I dragged myself out of bed and we launched from bongaree and started the frigid near 40km journey to spot x. About 5 minutes in, I lost feeling in my toes and ears but thankfully the water was flat which meant no spray. We arrive at the spot and deployed anchor. After a quick lesson in how to best fish the spot, burley was deployed and some baits soon followed. 
 
Not long after, my mate was on the board with a lovely 36cm grassy. This was followed not long after by another. And then a 37cm snapper. All were released into the esky. The general ribbing about my lack of contribution and associated banter ensued before my rod finally buckled under the weight of a decent fish. Soon after I hit the board with a cracking grassy at 43 which was promptly added to the box.
 
By now the sun was just peeking over the horizon and I was looking forward to an increase in temperature to hopefully thaw my feet out. Then my mates rod buckled over hard and line started peeling from the reel. After some exceptional decky work to clear other lines, not to mention pure textbook landing net operation a 62cm slatey was boated. Think whatever you like, I quite enjoy eating them so my mate kindly donated this one to the esky on my behalf. Shortly after, I was on again and a cracking snapper right on 50cm was boated. The esky was looking really healthy now.
 
things went a little quiet before I landed the token random fish for the day - a very respectable flounder which I find completely delicious. While I was floundering about, my mate was on big time again and another slatey, slightly bigger at 64cm was boated. We wanted to release but it was deep hooked and not in a good way so it was also added to the esky.
 
we then did a couple of drifts around the area and I nabbed a nice 40cm snapper. Shorty after was headed back home, back on the trailer by 10am. Awesome morning out, short and sweet.

thanks for reading.
Cheers
benno
 
 

If I drink 1/2 a carton of beer I can find lots of wonky holes..

Huge by my standards...

Huge by my standards...

Huge by my standards...

Had a day out planned with one of AFO’s luminaries today, but unfortunately more compelling issues meant he needed to cancel yesterday arvo so I decided I would have a solo fish today. Had a bit of a sleep in and hit the water about 9am. Nice and quiet at the boat ramp and on the water. I fished the bottom of the tide and a bit of the incoming at the wall in front of the Port of Brisbane. I had the whole wall to myself for the entire session, about 3 hours.
Was a bit quiet to start with. I had a bait line out and flicking placcies at the wall. I started to get a few touches on the plastic, with the first fish landed on the plastic being a just under snap. Then I had a run of small tailor in that 25 to 30cm range, before I finally got a legal chopper at 35cm. I wasn’t sure if I was going to do any better so I kept that one for dinner.
Not long after that the bait (squid and pillies) started to work and the little snaps came on the chew. After about a dozen just unders I finally got a keeper, followed by 2 more. They weren’t huge (38, 41 and 51) but given the time of day and the number of fish coming over the side I thought it was worth letting you all know that the snaps are on the increase, so get out there if you can. The island fringes in the Bay should be starting to work. Good luck everyone.

If I drink 1/2 a carton of beer I can find lots of wonky holes..

If I drink 1/2 a carton of beer I can find lots of wonky holes..

If I drink 1/2 a carton of beer I can find lots of wonky holes..

Nice recipe but try putting a few stones in the pot and when its all cooked throw out the macy

Nice recipe but try putting a few stones in the pot and when its all cooked throw out the macy

Nice recipe but try putting a few stones in the pot and when its all cooked throw out the macy

Nice recipe but try putting a few stones in the pot and when its all cooked throw out the macy

I back onto the creek that goes behind the spillway at the end of Myola ct

Hi Kat I live at the Estuary in Coombabah and the tide is close to 1 1/2 hours behind the seaway.

I back onto the creek that goes behind the spillway at the end of Myola ct

Okay. I’ll put my two bobs worth in. I’ve had heaps of different boats over the years from 10 foot tinnies to 35 foot flybridge cruisers, so here goes. Please don’t take offence if I find fault with the boat design any of you currently have. 
Firstly, having had plenty of half cabins I personally think they are a complete waste of time unless you intend to spend the night in them, which most of us rarely, if ever, actually do. The cabin takes up a lot of the available space, and you end up with a couple of seats and a fairly small deck area, which is usually taken up, at least partially, by all your gear because half cabins have very little storage space. These observations are general only and obviously some brands are better in these areas than others. On the plus side the cabin does provide some protection from the wind and waves.
An open boat like a large centre console or tiller steer negates the drawback of wasted cabin space, but once again these usually have limited storage areas and can become rather cluttered. Downsides are minimal protection from the elements, wind and waves. Upsides are they are usually a bit cheaper, provide all round fishing and anchor access and good visibility (unless it’s raining! Lol).
Bowriders gain the extra space taken up by a cabin and usually have heaps of storage, because even though there’s more seating, those seats are also storage lockers. Visibility is good with moderate protection from the elements and wind. With regard to the waves, if they’re big enough to be coming over the bow, they’d be big enough for seawater to be hitting the windscreen on a half cabin, which can cut visibility to near zero. I’ve found this can be more dangerous than a few sprays coming into the front of a bowrider, because you can’t see the seas coming at you. As @benno573 said a lot of bowriders are not fishing friendly, being more set up for lounging and cruising, however some of the newer designs provide rear decks where you can sit and fish from quite comfortably. Upsides are heaps of storage and ability to use for more than just fishing. Convincing the Minister of Finance might be slightly easier too over an open centre console or similar. 
Then there are the larger boats like your flybridge cruisers. I would never go near another one unless I won multiple millions of dollars. They are slow to manoeuvre in tight spaces, extremely costly to own, run and maintain, require permanent berthing and did I say, costly?
In the end, I think that the boat that suits you best ultimately depends on your stage of life, financial situation and the time you have available for boating. Good luck with your search for that perfect boat!
 

Oh dear.

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