All because the plug fell off...

I've been watching the weather forecast ever since we got back from our Easter weekend in Jurien Bay....keen to wet a line again down here.

Thursday (today) looked the pick of the days so I lined up a mate and I ditched work and we hit the Dawesville ramp at 7am...heading out thru the Cut, we get a warning buzzer going off. Stopped an lifted the outboard to check for weed around the water pickup, even though the telltale was working fine. Nothing obvious so we tried again and as we reached the open water, the buzzer sounds again, then the sounder's 'low voltage alarm' goes off....it appears the battery is dying...but it's brand new, just like everything else in and on the boat. 

Thought we'd limp it back into the Cut but didn't get far before we're dead in the water....drop anchor and it's 'scratch our heads' time. Into the tool box and out with the multimeter on the battery; 12V...hmmm...it's as if the alternator isn't charging....lift the engine cover and the plug that's supposed to be connected to the alternator is hanging in mid-air. Pushed it back into place, heard the 'click' as it seats properly and fingers crossed we hit the key....the 125 bursts into life and we're back in business. Cancelled the call to the water rescue and we head out again.

Funny thing though, we used the boat 4 days over Easter and not a hint of a problem.

The conditions didn't really match the forecast as it was quite swelly, choppy, windy and a bit uncomfortable. Found a previous spot and although there was plenty of colour on the sounder, nothing was really interested (don't you hate that). Had 3 drifts over the spot and we decide to call it a day.

Home by 1pm so we played 9 holes and just got finished when it starts chucking it down....nice to see some rain, though.

Anyone else wet a line today....how did you go?

regards
rusty...

PS. Who was it who said 'the fishing's no good if the wind direction has NORTH in it', or is this just an old wive's tale???? The wind today definitely had NORTH in it, and the fishing wasn't very good....maybe there's something in it after all.

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If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!


sea-kem's picture

Posts: 14978

Date Joined: 30/11/09

A few of the old salts I know

Thu, 2011-05-05 21:40

A few of the old salts I know won't touch anything with North in it. They reckon the weather can turn nasty real quick and I have seen it first hand.

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Love the West!

Man Overboard's picture

Posts: 957

Date Joined: 16/01/10

I know of 2 boats that

Thu, 2011-05-05 22:13

I know of 2 boats that cleaned up down south yesterday, fishing in Northerly winds.

 

Don't believe everthing you hear .

grayzeee's picture

Posts: 2283

Date Joined: 09/07/09

we wen't out 2 trips ago in a

Fri, 2011-05-06 05:37

we wen't out 2 trips ago in a northerly

worse day out in a long time , however , the drift was nuts too , and the al;manac said stay at home.

could have been any of those things

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If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am. 

Auslobster's picture

Posts: 1901

Date Joined: 03/05/08

North wind...

Fri, 2011-05-06 06:07

...and a current flowing from the north, at least along the back of the five fathom off Mandurah. Anchored up and tried to use softies there, but had trouble getting them to go to the bottom with anything less than a half ounce jighead. Used bait instead (hate to admit that!) and landed four pinkes up to 8kg, as well as busting off two others...softie only managed one small (41cm) snapper as well as a bustoff from a sambo. So north conditions weren't too bad for me yesterday.

scotto's picture

Posts: 2470

Date Joined: 21/04/08

north shmorf!

Fri, 2011-05-06 07:02

my mate got a 22kg dhu yesterday, and anzac day was north wind and swell, and we bagged out on dhus and threw back 5 sized and were back at the ramp by lunch.

 

with that being said though, i still prefer a light easterly or light sou wester.

Posts: 2925

Date Joined: 27/12/06

Weather prediction

Fri, 2011-05-06 07:13

I found the weather prediction was a fair way off, I went out off hillaries and stayed in close to see what would happen with the wind. I caught a couple of sambos, skippy and 1 monster cuttlefish which was the only thing I kept but had a great feed off it last night and a few more to come

chesky's picture

Posts: 45

Date Joined: 21/08/08

my boat gets cleaned up in a

Fri, 2011-05-06 13:52

my boat gets cleaned up in a northly, with a mop and hose.:)

Posts: 36

Date Joined: 12/12/10

water temp yesterday was down

Fri, 2011-05-06 18:09

water temp yesterday was down to 23deg carnac/rotto 23.8 highest

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wallacewt