First of all a nice boat the Caribbean Concorde, a smaller version of the Carribbean reef runner!

introduced in 1985 and still in production today!

The distance and the swell is just so much different when you go further out plus on an land based easterly wind direction the slop can become rather big and rough.

Your best and safest option is first to learn the capabilities of your boat and then tag along with another boat venturing out that far.

There is safety in the numbers game.

Picture of your boat would be appreciated.

Cheers mate I've been bloody stoked with it I was put last weekend behind the 3 mile with one of the delightful easterly winds and it wasn't pleasant. But I did feel very safe and comfortable getting out in numbers may be a bit of a problem for me cause I don't know anyone else with a boat I'm only 19 so none of my mates do.   when you say capabilities what do ya mean exactly? I tried putting a photo up but don't think I can from my iPhone when I get a chance I'll get one up from dads laptop 

won't be long before you will be very popular with a nice boat like that.

Capabilities of your boat= getting to know what your boat does in different weather conditions and becoming familiar with how your boat handles.

enjoy the expierience

Mark 

Might have to give it a miss for the next week atleast caza seabreeze is looking pretty crappy for anything but inshore. Strong easterlies can and are pretty shitty out at rotto and offshore, anything around and over 10-15 knots from the east can be pretty uncomfy and slow going and usually stronger out at rotto.

might pay to become a little more familiar with weather forecasts

Not gonna be heading far on Saturday.

Cheers reef monkey what ya reckon about hanging around the 3 mile that was my plan for the weekend reckon it be a bit choppy for it? All I wanna do is troll for some tuna  

Brilliant to see the enthusiasm of you wanting to catch a Toonah!

There will be plenty of days coming up shortly to go in comfort.

So ya reckon hold off or? I have a little knowledge of the weather but new to the boat side of it have no idea on what's good an what's bad except now I know easterly = bad  

Easterly is good. 25knots is the problem there

 just depends on your boat your experance make sure youve got all your safety gear weather forecasts are forecasts they can change pretty quick ive been out & the forecasts was for no wind & shes blown up & vise versa said it was goin to be flat out & theres bugger all till you get used of your boat i wouldnt be heading out in anything too rough ive got a 4.4 rib & will probly head out just means you get wet & you go slower but i know what my boat can handle & ive been around boats & on them since i was little biggest thing if your unsure dont go but over time you'll figure it out & join the sea rescue mobs log in & off especialy if your just new to boating  

Easterlies usually= good, but a strong easterly not worth going far offshore. Swell isn't to much of a worry regarding a rough trip you just need to be cautious of swell when travelling through shallow water thats not protected from the open ocean as thats where breakers will form and can break where they wouldn't usually when theswell is high. Rough conditions are dependant on the "seas" choppy seas are created by the wind and direction and generally what makes a trip not worth going out. the way the chop gets worked up depends on the distance(fetch) the wind travels over the water, the further the distance the wind travels the larger it will make the waves. so you could head out in say a 20 knot easterly and have pretty flat conditions just off the beach, white caps a mile out and rough stuff two miles out for example. Also why the water all the way to the beach turns angry in a seabreeze or anything with a srong wind with west in it.

A general cut off point for most boats/people is 10-15knots then it will start be a bumpy ride.

Pack some squid jigs. 3 mile may be a go depending on how the forecast changes but i'd say no good in 20knots, just keep an eye on the forecast and real time readings on the net right up until you head out.  If its no good  out at the three mile or even on the way out  don't be afraid to turn around and head back close to shore and salvage the trip squidding off pinaroo point over the weed patches. Did pretty good there the other day.

 No point pushing the limits for a fish. as others have said good days will come. winter can have its shit weather but also some of the best weather

Mate, I almost tipped a 34 ft kevlacat over in 25 knot easterly with. 2.5 m swell. Don't risk it in a 17 ft boat!!

Stick in close for a few months and once you understand the boat and the weather, then start to go out. Only good thing about Rotto is at least you can seek shelter in one of the bays if required.

Rule of thumb for a 17 ft boat is less than 15 knots and less than 1.5 m swell, at least till you gain more experience.

Another point in your quest for catching a Tuna is how to treat it after you got it on board.

You would be wise to prepare for this with reading up what and how to do it correctly.

Some tuna species are not that crash hot to eat if not treated right at the point of catching.

Being able to indentify them is also part of it.

If you happen to catch a big one, you need to have the propper tools to deal with them.

They are the breeders and 100KG of Tuna meat is a lot to deal with, so releasing it and not killing it while fighting it would have advantages.

So maybe investigate and ask what is there to know.

There is a lot of knowledge "floating " around here on this forum

It is all great fun;  the preparation & modification in anticipation of elation & salivating tasting sensation!

I begin to understand the reason why a lot of forum members are reluctant to offer their oppinion / advise or pointing someone in the right direction when a question is asked on this forum.

I have learned a "valuable" lesson. 

Thank you very much. 

Mate, there are some spots out about 6ks behind Garden Island, or 5 fathom bank if the swell is not big, I would be hanging around that area till you get the feel for the boat.

You have a good safe boat, but it's only as good as the skipper's experience.

The back of Rotto is good, but as said before by others, the swell can be deadly with an easterly and you could find yourself "surfing the south passage" home, not pleasant I can tell ya.

Cheers Rod.

When I'm looking for a good day what should I look for on the weather side of things and I've herd about the 5 fathom wondering if it was any good for trolling for some tuna 

5 to 8 knots is great, 10 to 15 can be a bit swelly out there for a boat your size and you need to watch the swell on the 5 fathom.

I never fish in less than 9 metres out there because of un expected swells.

 When ya said behind garden island what's it like around there I've herd that it can be a bit rough I don't mind rocking around a little bit to catch something good 

Out through the 2 markers between Carnac and Garden then about 240 deg for about 5 or 6 miles, bottom comes up, have a few drifts around there, there are often other boats around there, always catch a feed, well known spot, that's why I'm sharing it lol

WARNING, dont go between the black and white stiped marker and Garden Is, the reef is about prop deep in that area as many have found out!!

Check ya maps.  

Cheers ferret what's the go for around garden island what would I be looking to catch I should have all the markers on my gps bit I'll double check don't wanna wreck my new toy  

Just find a spot and berly up mate, ya never know what you might catch, or drift around and bottom bounce.  

I have a few of my own spots out that way and always get something.

What's it like for the pelagic out those ways same as for the demersal side of things and how far should I go past GI to find some nice ground  

Just head out on 242, you'll find it Cheers.

Great little boat I had one before I upgraded to the haines /I have been out 22 miles and never felt unsafe .but I have many years of boating behind me. just go slow and get a feel for the ocean and the boat you will pick things up quickly.just don't take any chances in the shallows .As we here of boats getting upturned in the shallow water when the swell is up a little .good luck and happy boating

When ya say head on on the 242 what exactly do ya mean I'm still picking up on all the lingo don't think I'll have many chances over winter to head out but going to take any break I can with the weather I'll be avoiding the shallows cheers for the advice paul every time I've been out so far felt very safe just want to get out and catch some of the good stuff  

242 is the suggested compass bearing that ferret is suggesting.  Keep on it till you see something interesting on the sounder.

how your going to go chasing pelagics in winter in metro waters. Be far better off heading north

Ah gotcha on the bearing still on the learning curve at the moment I'm keen to catch anything decent that I can take home for dinner just need a nice break in the weather to get out and about what's it like out on the 3 mile been out there once and caught a 9 kg snapper  

There is always the Swan river to go boating in.

Great fun going from lattee shop in Deep water point to the pubs in E Perth and Kailiss in Freo.

Throw in puttering up the river all the way to the women's prison in west swan with a fair few wineries to frequent along the way is a lot of fun and entertainment.

Plus plenty of browny points with women folk. 

Even doing this on a rainy day ,if you have decent cover on the boat, is very enjoyable.

Caza

Don't rush in... Be patient there are plenty off good days to be had. Putting your self at risk for a feed of fish just isn't worth it.

As for weather sea breeze is nutorious for bad forecasts! Utilse bom... not just the marine forecast but also the synoptic chart as well.  While the weather is bad get all your rigs made up and gear sorted so when its good your ready to go!

Ben

Don't worry I'm not gonna put myself or my boat in any harms way just for some fish I've never been a fan of sea breeze they've bitten me in the ass to many times might stand a chance on getting on the weekend but have to wait and see don't mind a lil rain on the head just the swell and wind I'm praying stays down  

The river is a good place to find out about your boat.  It also pretty decent atm for dropping crab nets.

What's the river like these days for crabs always been pretty careful with shellfish in the river Ive been out and about on the river a few times now haven't been fishing or anything just cruising up and down I'm looking at buying a new reel and rod this Saturday so hoping to get out to use it