Hi Adam,

Back beach requires a tide of around 2.8m to get out and in (I think - long time since i have used it) there is also a couple of sand bars out there too.

I was a member of the private ramp for a few years - but find it very cramped to park, i just use the public now, easy to park and have never had a drama there. Private is good if you want to wash your boat or trailer there - mine is easier to do at home.

Sorry not sure on netting,

I just normally give the big ships a wide berth and also watch out for tug's they put out a masive rolling wake somethimes.

Welcome to karratha and if you see us on the water , please come over and say hello.  

cheers 

Steve  

Water needs to be pretty high for Back Beach, I normally only launch on big tides and try to make sure I am out in 2.8 to 3m, You can get out and in a bit lower but it is a long wait if you just miss it, (Spent 4 hours one day about 30 meters fron the ramp).

I have been here for several years and never looked at being a Nickol Bay GFC member, the public ramps are really good and with four of them now you don't have to wait to much unless it is a really calm Sunday

I just used an outboard on my tinnie but plenty of guys do use electric motors for working along the banks etc

The rules for mullet are the same as down your way, Most people tend to use throw nets and I am not really sure on the rules

At the Moment there are not any sanctuary zones (some proposed), The pipeline is a no anchor zone but every man and his dog anchor on it with small boats and I have never heard of anyone getting pinged for it, nowing the size of the Pipeline and the rock armor used there is next to no chance of doing and damage. As for the big ships just stay out of there way because even if they see you there isn't much they can do to miss you, There is a nominated passage that they use for coming into the anchor area that is a no anchor zone marked on your chart.

I am a member off Hampton Harbour, and have never used the back Beach or public ramp. Back beach because I dont like to be told by tides when to come in. If the fish is on, its on.

Private ramp is flaoting and piss easy to use. With the deckie not to experienced with boats before moving up here it was all to easy to use that one, but there is nothing wrong with the public ramp.

Sometimes just nice to stop for a beer at the club and washdown is a bonus. It does get crowded as mentioned but for $200 a year membership I cant complain, since I am there every weekend at least once.

There is an extreme tide limit at HHYC aswell, but it is only a concern during springs. For my 5.4 it is 0.7m or lower we will hit the sand outside the breakwall off the club. I am not sure about the public ramp.

As for the rest it has been answered.

CU soon.

Neels

always be aware that the ships, especially if ballasted by the stern when coming in, cant see a small boat directly in front closer than about 500-1000 meters.

Commercial vessels MUST call the Port Authority to cross the channels but that doesnt apply to recs.

Because the bulkies are so big they look deceptively slow in open sea, but most are travelling at 14+ knots.

If you find yourself in strife in or near the shipping channel (breakdown etc) call port authority on 16-once a bulky enters the channel as well theres no where for them to go.

Apparently the best place to fish is in the ship anchorage

back beach 2.5m tide and upwards.

As for the private ramp, i use it now as it makes it easier for me to lauch with the wife and kids and it has the washdown facility for cruising days but if i've been fishing i'll just take it straight home anyway, the benefit is the floating jetty as apposed to the fixed jetty at the public, 2 lanes at the private vs 4 at the public, tide can be a pain at the private too for super highs and super lows, hlf the prep area was underwater on a 4.6m high.

never seen anyone use a leccy in the creeks here.

pretty sure you can set net, could be frowned upon by others of course.

no go zones are 800m around the whole of the original gas plant and same for Pluto, this also encroaches into withnell bay too, pipeline no anchoring but take that with a grain of salt, 100m for all other berths, no tying up to channel markers, and common sense says keep clear of the shipping channels and all large ships. Port Authority use VHF 11 but most ship to ship comms is on 72.

Cheers fellas, much appreciated.  Might just offload the Minn Kota, only going to get $280 for it but doubt it will get much use up there.

Sure I will have some more questions once I get up there and will probably be looking for a deckie spot or two or happy to take deckies.  Will have a little bit of time from the 15th of May until the missus gets back from training in Perth around the 25th to do some exploring - most likely find me out on the baitballs getting a few pinheads (I hear they're going off out there)

If you see this boat cruising around it's me, come over and say g'day.  I know you won't be a pinger for atleast the first 3-6 months, after that, well.. ;)