This is the look you give others when you find them fishing at your spot

This seems appropriate for today.

I am, we are Australian.

We are the people of a free nation of blokes, sheilas and the occasional wanker. We come from many lands (although a few too many of us come from New Zealand) and although we live in the best country in the world, we reserve the right to bitch and moan about it whenever we bloody like.

We are One Nation but we're divided into many States.

First, there's Victoria, named after a queen who didn't believe in lesbians. Victoria is the realm of Mossimo turtlenecks, cafe latte, grand-final day and big horse races. Its capital is Melbourne, whose chief marketing pitch is that "it's liveable". At least that's what they think. The rest of us think it is too bloody cold and wet.

Next, there's NSW, the realm of pastel shorts, macchiato with sugar, thin books read quickly and millions of dancing queens. Its capital Sydney has more queens than any other city in the world and is proud of it. Its mascots are Bondi lifesavers who pull their Speedos up their cracks to keep the left and right sides of their brains separate.

Down south we have Tasmania, a State based on the notion that the family that bonks together stays together. In Tassie, everyone gets an extra chromosome at conception. Maps of the State bring smiles to the sternest faces. It holds the world record for a single mass shooting, which the Yanks can't seem to beat no matter how often they try.

South Australia is the province of half-decent reds, a festival of foreigners, off season carni-folk, and bizarre axe murders. SA is the state of innovation. Where else can you so effectively re use country bank vaults and barrels as in Snowtown, just out of Adelaide (also named after a queen). They had the Grand Prix, but lost it when the views of Adelaide sent the Formula One drivers to sleep at the wheel.

Western Australia is too far from anywhere to be relevant. Its main claim to fame is that it doesn't have daylight saving because if it did all the men would get erections on the bus on the way to work. WA was the last state to stop importing convicts and many of them still work there in the government and business.

The Northern Territory is the red heart of our land. Outback plains, sheep stations the size of Europe, Kangaroos, Jackaroos, Emus, Uluru and dusty kids with big smiles. It also has the highest beer consumption of anywhere on the planet and its creek beds have the highest aluminium content of anywhere too. Although the Territory is the centre piece of our national culture, few of us live there and the rest prefer to fly over it on our way to Bali.

And there's Queensland. .... While any mention of God seems silly in a document defining a nation of half-arsed sceptics, it is worth noting that God probably made Queensland as its beautiful one day and perfect the next?? Why he filled it with dickheads remains a complete mystery.

Oh yes and there's Canberra. The least said the better.

We, the citizens of Oz, are united by highways, whose treacherous twists and turns kill more of us each year than murderers. We are united in our lust for international recognition. Not that we're whinging, we leave that to our Pommy immigrants.

We want to make "no worries mate" our national phrase, "she'll be right mate" our national attitude and "Waltzing Matilda" our national anthem (So what if it's about a sheep-stealing crim who commits suicide).

We love sport so much our news readers can read the death toll from a sailing race and still tell us who's winning. And we're the best in the world at all the sports that count, like cricket, netball, rugby, AFL, roo-shooting, two-up and horse racing. We also have the biggest rock, the tastiest pies, the blackest aborigines and the worst-dressed Olympians in the known universe. And our national dress code is short shorts, thongs, and the good old t-shirt!

We shoot, we root, we vote. We are girt by sea and pissed by lunchtime. Even though we might seem a racist, closed-minded, sports-obsessed little people, at least we feel better for it.

 Who is venturing out and braving the boat ramps for skyshow?  I am going to launch up river @ bassendean and avoid the agro.  Hope everyone celebrates the day for what it means to them personally.   For me,  I celebrate it as a national day of the country I was born in.  I hope others celebrate it for the same reason, or celebrate it for a nation they have chosen to adopt. 

On a day that can be decisive,  let everyone in this great land learn from the most influential person of the last century, Nelson Mandela.   We can all learn to love each other no matter what the wrongs of our ancestors.

 I am going to be in Hong Kong for the next couple of days with Mrs Cod and the codlings. It would be great if anyone can point me to a tackle shop preferably Kowloon area. I'm mainly after terminal tackle, line, poppers, jigs trolling lures, slices etc

Cheers all

Got some vouchers for bcf for xmas and birthday, not heaps but if I throw in some cash as well could get a ok rod.

Want something for a bit of an all round boat rod.

some jigging, bottom bouncing, maybe even some trawling ?? asking alot from the rod.

Thought about a t-curve or a terez in like a 24kg as I want quite heavy.

anyone have productive comments or suggestions on what rod I should look at?

Don't know the full story but supposedly washed up on a beach at Augusta.

Now that would stretch the arms out of shape if you had it on a rod and reel.

 What is going on since the ban was lifted not a lot of reports ,of good fish have all the dhueies gone or are they becoming smart and not taking baits, everyone was getting good numbers of fish last year ,just doesn't seem to be a lot happening .And if your thinking where are my reports well I haven't been out since the ban was lifted so nothing to report. Keep thinking about it but .just can't get the mojo happening. deckies are ready to linch me I don't get them on the water soon.

I don't play much but generally have something going.  Currently back with Assassin's Creed III which, while it was frustrating to start with, is starting to grow on me a fair bit; it's not overly different to #II but still pretty cool.  Also playing Rayman Legends which is unreal; never seen so much creativity in a game.  It's a pretty standard format from stage to stage but each stage is so different it makes up for it.

So what's everyone else playing?  Anyone got anything for sale too?

River Monsters at the Fitzroy River chasing Glyphis Sharks ABC 22 on now, Monday 20/1.

What a circus , a couple of commercial fishos have pulled the pin due to personal threats , the cops are investigating a death threat towards the fisho minister . Barnett is now proposing having fisheries do the metro work and one private mob down south is still hanging in there . All fingers are pointed towards a conveniently newly formed formed group that have instigated the intimidation . The established groups therefore can maintain their non violent mantra . The activists have had a win .

Fisheries had prior opportunity to take a few easy pickings under the radar but it didn't happen . Then Barnett announces drumlines with a couple of months notice , I'm half thinking they were creating a media diversion away from other issues and playing silly buggars with all of us .

Personally I don't have issues with drumlines .. sharks big and small are increasingly dominating our coastline and need to be thinned out imo ( not eradicated btw ) otherwise at some point in the future they'll be all we catch . Currently the main recruiting spiel the activists are using is that cute dolphins  will be bycatch , never heard of a dolphin taking a hook myself and also the bait will bring more sharks in , I would think only if their in the vicinity .. but the average punters are sucked in by this sort of stuff .

Whatever , we're all not going to agree that's the nature of the beast but the other half of the populations opinion should be respected and others should abide by the umpires decision without fanatical extremism threatening violence . It's a bloody fish , a few less won't be the end of the world , put your time into more worthy causes , there's plenty out there . But I suppose the spotlight isn't focussed there and the donations ( wages ) won't be as substantial for the so called passive conservationist organisations .

Over the weekend a council worker came round and dropped off a community safety notice about the boat being parked on the side of the house (Nature strip).....great!

We have a corner block, so sits on the side of the house and doesn't obstruct any corners etc.

Anyone know if there is a way to get a permit to park boats / trailers in such locations? Have checked out the council website which states

Verge Parking
There are various locations throughout the City, where verge parking is prohibited by signs.

Under the City's Local Laws, it's an offence to park on these verges and you might receive an infringement notice. In other areas, you can only park on a verge if you have the permission of the adjacent property owners or occupiers.

However the peanut I spoke to on the phone from the council said he thought this only applies to cars, not boats, caravans etc.

Cheers
Bodie

The holiday community of Peaceful Bay in WA's Great Southern is struggling with the question of how to protect its slice of paradise against the tides of change and bureaucracy.

The picturesque community is nestled to the east of Walpole, about 50km from Denmark.

It is far from the world's most luxurious spot: there is no deep sewage, it has a primitive and non-potable water supply and the most basic of public infrastructure.  But that is countered by its proximity to one of WA's nicest beaches, the serene setting and peace and quiet without total isolation.

Peg de Landgrafft, is one of hundreds of leaseholders who considers the area her slice of heaven.  Peg is a life-long farmer from near Manjimup, whose association with the area dates back more than 60 years.

"I first went down there when I was 10 and it was quite a different place then, of course.  Then in 1956 these leasehold places came up at Peaceful Bay and my father took up one of those.  We built a three-room place there and just added-on ever since."

Now, Ms de Landgrafft is one of many leaseholders who face uncertainty due to a proposal to radically change the town.

The plan has divided the close-knit community.  It involves installing modern day infrastructure, at an estimated cost of between $25 million and $40 million, as well as replacing the 21-year leases with permanency in the form of strata or green titles.

Some leaseholders, who ultimately would have to sign off on the plan, have baulked at the cost and the loss of Peaceful Bay's identity but with the possibility that not making the changes could see them losing their piece of paradise, some say the community has to consider it.

The Shire of Denmark has put forward the idea, commissioning a pre-feasibility report which has been released to leaseholders.

There are 203 properties in the community on 21-year leases which are set to expire in 2031.  The Shire president Ross Thornton says last time those leases came to an end, the State Government had planned not to renew them.

"That time it was nearly a foregone conclusion it wasn't going to be renewed but then at the last moment, [then Labor Government minister] Alannah MacTiernan did renew the leases," he said.

That is a situation Mr Thornton is keen to avoid this time around.  He wants to ensure the risk of having the community 'shut down' could never seriously be reconsidered.

The shire proposal would see the lots sold at the end of the current leases, with each expected to raise up to $200,000.  Current leaseholders would be given first right of refusal, with the certainty of ongoing green or strata title if they chose to take it up.  The money used from those sales would be used to fund infrastructure developments, including sewage and a more advanced water supply, which the Shire says would be necessary to advance beyond the current tenure system.

To proceed to a more advanced planning stage, which the Shire estimates would cost $1million and last up to five years, would need the approval of the leaseholders.  Mr Thornton is quick to warn them of the consequences if they choose not to.

"If the normalisation process doesn't occur, it will be at the whim of the Government in 15 or 17 years time whether the leases would be renewed.  One of those leases has just sold recently for $400,000, with a 15-year period left on the lease, so you can see the demand to get one of those leases."

Much of what is in place at Peaceful Bay has been achieved through the work of a dedicated progress association, which also takes care of much of the town's maintenance.  The association president, Callum Baxter, says there's strong feelings both in favour of and against the development within the community.

"The older crowd aren't too fussed about what happens in 15 years time, but it's the younger members of the community who are thinking 'oh gee, I'd love to be able to hand it onto my kid and then they can hand it onto their kids', because it's quite a special place.  At the moment we're still undecided on how we feel about it."

He says leaseholders must weigh up a number of issues, not least of which is funding such an expensive project.  "They've made an investment to be at Peaceful Bay already and to have to put in more money to secure their block might be a bit difficult for some members of the community to find the required money," he said.

"Current residents like Peaceful Bay for what it is at the moment, which is a very unique part of WA, and it has a certain charm in its current form.  If we were to significantly increase the population through freeholding and releasing other land, it may change the flavour of Peaceful Bay as we know it and obviously the community isn't too enthusiastic about that kind of change."

Mr Thornton also sees both positives and negatives, which need to be weighed up.  "For the 203 leaseholders it gives security of tenure.  That's the advantage from their point of view.  From the council's point of view, we've always got it hanging over our head about the issues of sewage and water.  If there was a gastro outbreak out there, it'd obviously be hard to control without the full standards and health requirements in place, but obviously it's going to change the character to some degree, because there will probably be more people living there on a permanent basis."

Mr Baxter says the picture will likely become clearer later this month, when a public meeting between landholders, the shire and town planners will be held to explain the proposal in greater detail.  Until then, and possibly for the next decade, people like Ms de Landgrafft will be faced with demanding decisions.

By Jacob Kagi, Friday 17 January 2014.

Looking for some new tires for the cruiser

Had mickey thompson MTZ's but looking for some that are quieter on road with great longevity.

What do you recommend

mainly road / sand driving

 Hi everyone,

I have been toying with the idea of putting together a game chair for our up and coming Exmouth trip in April.

just wondering if anyone has had a crack at building one of their own?

i have had a look online and they are super expensive to buy!!

it would really be something that could be mounted on the rear transom area where 2x rod holders currently reside and then have stabiliser legs going down onto the rear marlin deck. Make it removable and that way when we want to do some bottom fishing it is not taking up all the rear deck space.

or if someone has an old one sitting around in the shed literally gathering dust they want to sell on at a cheap price please let me know.

curious to know if anyone has tried to make something similar or has some good ideas to throw around.

cheers

scano

another poor kid lies in hospital after being chomped up by someones beloved pets, who incidently wouldn't hurt a fly, their going to sleep now

Howdy! was just chasing a bit of info from you knowledgeable folks out there. I have a ugly stik bluewater USB-SU1561524 that was given to me as payment for a job a while back  but its too big for my overhead so im looking to sell it and buy something lighter, only thing is i dont know what its worth.I know its a couple of years old but i cant seem to find any info on the net about this particular model with the ali reel seat, length ect. Has anyone seen one of these and know what its worth???

any help would be appreciated

Cheers Matt

Looking for a Seabeeze aircon techy, near Ocean reef. To check out my air con and give me a quote on a service.

thanx.

I am trying to organise a bucks party for my best mate and was thinking of an arvo cruise around Cockburn sound with plenty of beers and entertainment. does anyone know of a boat that holds 40 passengers and would pick up and drop off in rockingham.

any help would be awesome

thanks in advance

Hi guys

Here is a question for the engineers amongst us.

What size hook do you need for a boat that weighs 1500kg? This may sound dumb, but you arent loading up the winch with the full 1500kg when pulling the boat up the trailer. Somehow I have managed to bend (deform) a 500kg rated hook on this boat. It didnt bend on the retrieve (I dont think), but it is bent now so it may have happened while towing. Obviously 500kg is not enough.

So, the question is, for my Haines Signature 600c, what size hook should I use?

Cheers

 Got to town, had a good run up. Unpacked and stretched the legs. Must fish, so down to jetty for a quick lure flick at the refueling jetty. Was hoping for a Mangrove jack. Picked up this smallish spotted estuary cod on a sinking stickbait (lure looks a little like a small Hezza). My son landed a good yellow fined Bream on the same lure. Walking the dog retrieval. We did about twenty casts in all. Itched scratched and off for tea. Must congratulate the local pizza shop, very nice pizza.

I have been off the butts for 6 weeks now still don't consider myself a non smoker

yes this a popcorn post what a spoilt ungratefull prick he is millions invested in him from th AIS , I have a mate that's daughter is a world class squash player , can she get some support from the Ais no she cant

 No talk on the weekend anyone heading out forcast is looking good on some sites and shit on others.We are heading for Jurian Bay tomorrow arvo home on Sunday ,Freediving,diving,trolling,bottom bash ,squiding and kayaking.shit need more time in the day.Anyone heading that way.

 Hi  

im a keen fisho and camping bloke. 

Does anyone have any light they can shed on the HILUX's? 

Im in te market for a 4x4 and would love to know what the best models are and why? 

My budget would be 20k (less if it doesn't have extra battery and other extras ill have to put on) 

Have also considered the navara but the HILUX's seem more reliable. 

Any info/discussion would be great.

so anyone in the know please let me know.

cheers! 

Just got sent this link, more stupid people messing with sharks to get media attention. I don't think they expected to get so much negative attention, the greenies are loving ammo like this .

http://youtu.be/yz1dxgmicVI

Clearing out some old stock items for various vehicles.
items include.....

brake rotors
shocks
steering dampers
bushes
pins
shackles
u-bolts etc

Pm for details with what you are after and we can endevour to help you out, if we dont have these items on clearance as old stock we will be able to also help out with great current new parts and prices.

Also remember we can still do our air bag kits at $595 posted (except for f series ford trucks)
just mention you are a fishwrecked member.

 Grey n white floats 2 of n greyish rope with blue specks found on beach near bird island pt peron, just putting it out there so they know, rather than search for them thinking theyre been knocked off.

Just wondering where and how much it is to get a replacement battery for a GME MT400.

m.youtube.com/watch