Funny goings on at Hillarys
Submitted by Colin Hay on Thu, 2008-05-01 16:58
I saw some strange antics at Hillarys the other morning. I pitched up before dawn and noticed what looked to be a craypot float sitting about 25 metres off the northern rockwall.
Then just after dawn a cray boat came out of the harbour and pulled over and pulled a cray pot up. I thought that was strange, but then he went a little further south - again about 25 metres off the north wall - and pulled up another pot.
Maybe it was something completely innocent, but it looked a bit strange to me.
All the best, Colin Hay
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mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
yeah sometimes they will pop
yeah sometimes they will pop them in close, but normally the close ones are not the pro's , who knows maybe he was checking someones that he shouldnt have been
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Similar Experience
Had a smilar experience not long before I left Perth Colin. Was fishing for herring off the north mole on a day off, when a Cray Boat came in at high spead straight for a small runnabout (with precious little freeboard) and executed a hard turn at the last moment. The turn and subsequent wake really piched the small runnabout who was anchored close to a pot. The pots were strung easily within casting distance!
Unfortunately for the skipper of Cray Boat, I had a pair of binnoculars and my mobile on me (the latter with the water police's number already in it). I rang the water police and they were VERY interested and dispatched a boat immediately.
I was very pleased to see the crayboat intercepted by the water police vessel as it rounded Rouse Head - just justice! I'm sure the crew of the small runnabout would have been very scared and intimidated.
No room on the ocean for any of that!
Colin
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Absolutely Colin
It appeared this guy had put these pots in overnight. It was strange to see such a big cray boat that close in. He almost ended up on the rock wall as he was having trouble getting the pot that was located near the disabled platform onboard.
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Jamie Chester
Posts: 66
Date Joined: 12/11/06
Often drop their pots there
Often drop their pots there this time of year - they anchor their floats out about 30 metres from the wall with a weight and back up to the wall and drop them on the wall itself or right next to it.
Wish they wouldnt cause it makes fishing difficult.
www.accessantennas.com.au
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Yup same here Colin
Exactly the same in my situation Colin. This wasn't a small crayboat either. Lucky I could view his hull number with the nockys as he was a bit up from the wall.
Colin
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
peteman2480
Posts: 90
Date Joined: 20/05/07
this sort of thing can
this sort of thing can result in tragedy as happened in newcastle harbour a few years ago now when a 12ft tinny was parked up in the shipping lane at night. the pilot boat passed very close by the tinny at full speed throwing a 3ft wake and turned the tinny over killing an eldery fisho...result was the pilot boat skipper charged with manslaughter and a family left with the loss of a loved one. all for a cray or two...think before you act in these ways would be an appropriate comment i feel.
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Totally So Agree
The potential for thoughtfull care is out there...if we care and think
Colin
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
ROCKPOM
Posts: 625
Date Joined: 23/04/07
Soaking new pots !
Soaking new pots !
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Explain Rockpom?
For us ignorant of all things cray fishing Rockpom - can you explain please?
Colin
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
Colin
They soak new pots so they dont make noises and scare away the crays when the wood creaks
To all the virgins..............Thanks for nothing!
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Ahhhhh! Thanks FF!
Aaaaah - thanks FF!
Colin
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
GusG
Posts: 547
Date Joined: 07/04/08
Good on you
Good on you for dobbing that reckless idiot in Colin. Hopefully he got what he deserves. I was going to call in an idiot last week that came roaring into the port and kicked up some massive waves that had my girl and I scampering up the rocks to avoid getting washed in.
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Thanks Gus
Yeah, the picture of him zooming around the heads, then pulling up quickly as he was intercepted by the water police was PRETTY to watch! I was fortunate to have to mobile, nocks (to grab the hull number) and that the FWP were on the water close to the heads - so it was a very quick reponse and the guy got PINGED big time. I HATE seeing disregard/bullying from bigger boats on the water. It's ignorant, stipid, reckless and dangerous!
I don't miss nevaigating under the Freo traffic bridge with some of the Fly Bridge Cruisers either - SOME of those guys ....
Colin
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!