Corry

Bwahahahaha...

Only time I get to full drag is when chasing big stuff over shallow reefs. We do a lot of stickbaiting over the reef flats and on the odd occasion we'll need to lock the drags up if we connect up to a GT and we're unable to chase it, especially if it's on our smaller rigs. We use Saltiga 23's (6000's) and with 15kg of drag we're pushing something letting go, but there isn't too many other options sometimes. Our usual choice of gear for GT's are Satliga 14000's, with 25kg of drag we rarely have to lock it up, but when you do there's very little give and it get's hard to stand up and not get pulled out of the boat. When chasing the normal reef fish, preference is the least amount of drag possible, pending on the structure we might go heavy to start with then back it off, this doesn't just help to settle the fish down, but also aids in releasing if it's coming from the depth, stops the barotrauma getting too bad and gives us a better release rate. If sharks are around we'll move on, I hate losing fish to them, especially undersize fish when releasing. Up the creeks for Barra and Jacks it's pretty much the same, as little as possible. Just enough at the start to pull them out of structure if needed, and then back it off. We used to muck around in the shed with some beers and pull the scales out to test different knots and line/leader strength, sometimes it's a good learning point to see how much, or how little drag some brands or knots can actually take, and it's an eye opener for anyone who's never done it as to how heavy even 5kg of drag actually is.

Nice set up. For your future mods, when you look at the trim tabs, go the auto version, I've found them handy as. While up and moving anyone can walk around the boat and it stays level no matter what, it also helps with hole shot. Autopilot wise, I tossed up about this when we bought the boat, didn't do it, then after the first couple of trips went and got it added. One of the best mods I've done. We fish out of Cairns and do a fair bit out wide, when travelling for an hour, or even only going a few klms it makes the trip so more pleasant. One of the best add-ons I've done.

Another for Team North please? If it's not too late.

Very nice, ya gotta love a red esky. Get most on bait or jigs? I've struggled with the jigging, finding bait is working for me mostly, unless throwing stickbaits over the flats.

Looks like a great day out, making the most of the conditions. A nice few feeds out of it always tops off a day on the water, good job.

Who'd of thought the Dragons would step it up, I thought the Titans showed some good quality last year, thought they may have shown up strong after the off season... boy, was I wrong there. Same as the Panthers, Storm is one of my favourites teams but I figured the Panthers have been unstoppable for the last few years, wow, not sure if they even left Sydney for the trip to Melbourne. Going to be an interesting year if the first round of upsets is anything to go by.

Metery, my goal is to get my 1st meter Barra. It's been elusive for so many years, definitely not from lack of trying, it's not like we're not catching them, just struggling to break that meter mark.

Sounds like you had a great day. I went out around Linden Banks a few weeks ago, the sharks were bad enough that I just had to move. Haven't been up this way long so still finding ground, but loving chasing GT's then doing some surface work over the reef flats. Had two of the kids up so far and stretched their arms, they had a ball, just don't get to do it often enough.

I'm going to follow this with interest. I also like all the gadgets, when we got our new offshore boat last year we kitted it out with everything except Live, figured it'd be absolutely useless in 80-100m of water, and when trolling. Everything is Garmin... Autopilot, Radar, twin 8412's etc, but now we've just picked up our new estuary boat, I'm in the process of working out what I need to kit it out. It won't get the auto trim tabs, autopilot and radar, but I am going everything Garmin, 12" sounders, Kracken TM, and looking at Live. Interested to follow your journey with how you find it, what quirks you find with it, any issues you have using it. I really tossed up between Humminbird and Garmin, but am going to stick with Garmin to keep both boats the same.

We're lucky enough that we carry a 100l water tank under the tray of our car, I use it locally when I park the trailer in the car park for the day and give the metal bits of it a hose down, when travelling, I only do the outboard after the last day. When I get home I then take it for a run in the dam for a few hours, and run the trailer in and out a few times, gives everything a good flush out, including the deck wash and pick ups under the boat.

I use a loop knot to a split ring when throwing stick baits, and a uni knot to the solid ring of the hook on jigs, with the split ring off the other side to change jigs easily. We do a lot of lure changes when casting stick baits, and change jigs a fair bit as well. Using a split ring allows me to change as often as I like without cutting down the leader and having to tie a leader on while out.

I'm running Zenaq Sinpaa rods, which are PE 5-8, with Saltiga 14000 reels. There a heavy outfit if you're going to be throwing them for a while, I also have another Zenaq in PE4-8 with a Saltiga 10000 on it for when I'm planning on throwing for a while. For normal flats casting, not necessarily chasing GT's but have gotten plenty of 10-15kg versions on them, I use Saltiga 23's (6000's) on PE4 Spartan rods. Hope this helps.

Have you got a transducer mounting plate welded to the back of the transom? If not, I would suggest to go see an alloy welder and have a plate welded on, that way you can bolt the transducer to the plate without having to drill holes in the transom. At least then if you upgrade or change it later, your not left with holes below the water line. Be careful drilling the holes in the mounting plate that you don't drill through the transom, slide a piece of steel in between to help. As for mounting, don't worry about the transom weld, most boats have it, definitely don't go filing or grinding it away. As far as height to mount it, there is plenty of info out there in the google world, but majority of the mounting brackets allow vertical movement, I've found that I've needed to mount it lower than 'recommended' to keep good picture at higher speed, you might have to 'play' with it over time to see what works. They say centre of transducer should be level with bottom of hull, and mounted between any rakes or chines, half way between outboard and side of boat. Hope this helps somewhat. Cheers, Corry

I went for a 55lb, it was purchased for my little 4m tinny, then I worked out how much we rely on these things, I got another mount so I could mount it on our 5m tinny as well (Top Ender, so not a lot of weight). We then started using it for our Territory trips and I found it struggled keeping up with tidal run on big tides. Worked alright on the little one, but it never really seen any bigger tidal runs. I'd suggest the size and length is determined by what you're going to want it to do. If you only fish dams, smaller will do, if you are in an area with big tides, you need to go bigger. If you're using it outside, you need longer to account for waves. You're better off having something working at half it's capability than working at 90-100% and having some to spare. Much easier on battery life too. There not something that you want to have to upgrade soon after purchasing.

Yeah, mines replaced every service.

I'd guess that any service center would only do what is asked. If you go in for an outboard service, they'd only touch the outboard, if you are chasing a full service, as in Trailer, Boat and Motor, then I'd hope they'd look at Hyd Steering, but unless you're going to the same center each time, I'd say they'd keep it limited.

They're both part of the Lutjanidae family, so I'm guessing they're related. I couldn't imagine how hard these things fight when I look at how hard fighting a 60cm Jack is... that's an amazing size fish

I'm in, just joined the forum, and then seen the tipping comp, thank god the footy is on again