Good to see another traily owner on here! Im a north of river boy but use the search engine on here and look up five fathom bank. Get your self some Nav charts and get into it.

since its your first boat, just take it easy and get used to it within the Sound - plenty of time to get more adventerous down the track as you build your confidence. The 5 fathom bank isn't a long way off shore, but it can get a bit lumpy out there. I'd recommend tagging along with another boat forst time out there.

First things first, I'll assume you have a skippers ticket? If not, then you shouldn't be taking the boat out until you have one.

Second, if you do decide you want to head out to the 5FB, you'll need an EPIRB as it is outside the EPIRB exclusion zone. You can check the exclusion zone in your skippers ticket handbook - its outlined in it. 

Since you are new to it all, keep it simple with some squidding, burley up for herring etc in the Sound. Ease yourself into it and test your boats capabilities a step at a time.

Best bet is to get a gps with a inbuilt Nav map. I have a cheap eagle fishelite gps with a Navonics card, and it works fine. But as most guys on here will tell you, your better off putting most of your money into your sounder.

You can get out there easy from cockburn, but you will have to watch your swell out there. Seabreeze.com is a great website to use, so you can see what the wind/swell is doing.  If you are South of the river mate, go in a have a chat to Ryan at Oceanside tackle mate, he knows that area very well...and will give you an idea of tackle ect Enjoy

Another Traily Freestyle owner here as well..

Maybe even consider staying in the sound and targetting snapper (if you can find the bloody things !!).... also plenty of big squid around at the moment as well..

how much is something like that? i eventually aspire to buy smallish boat when i graduate and start earning the $$$.

Thanks,yes we have our skippers tickets,epirb all safety gear etc the boat came with a $1500 sounder rods with overhead penn reels cray pots heaps of extras 2004 model with a 60hp mercury 2stroke 50 hours  we cant wait to get on the water and have a go at some squid the bloke who used to own it told us he usually takes it out around 40km's off Mindarie bit out of our leauge at the moment.

40km in a 16 footer.........mighty keen. Have a great time in the boat. I got my first one only a couple years ago. Have been without one for 2 weeks now I it feels like I have had an arm cut off, even though boats have just been garden ornaments lately.

Have fun, and stay safe.

good bargain. Huggy has hit it right on the head. Take time to get used to your boat and the different conditions out on the water. It can change dramatically from being pleasant to being pretty scary in a pretty quick time out there.

Also take time to have a look at the action down at the boat ramp. There are a lot of wrong ways to put your boat in the water and bring it back out again - and a few right ways.

Hopefully you might be able to tag along with another member who fishes down that way and they can point you in the right direction to some good areas to fish.

I am sure you are going to have a great time with your new boat and I hope you catch some great fish.

good to see another boatie , you did get a good bargain with that one, has everything but the gps and a kitchen sink. everyone has said basically the same thing but one thing you cant forget to do is, put the bung in. dont laugh i think most of us that own boats have done it . make a check list of things to do before you leave home and double check when at the ramp, fuel , key, etc

Welcome to the site.  Squidding in the sound is top fun and we always have a great time trying to catch them without being inked. 

Head out and look for some patchy weedy ground.  Put your squid jig lines out and drift over the weed beds.  Good luck and hope you have a great time in your new boat.  Your whole life will become driven by the weather and your next boating adventure.

This is a top site you will find that members are very helpfull and give some great advice like huggy b, He is so right about getting to know your new pride and joy, If anything happens on your first outing better in the sound than 5fb... Plus there are some top catches coming out of there at the moment.. The sun will be out YE HA Cheers and good luck.. Darryl