Enjoy 

 Heading down to Albany next Tuesday for a week. Tossing up whether to take the bigger boat so I can get out deep or just the tinny for crabs and squid.

Any of the Albany locals can tell me their thoughts on next weeks weather? To me it looks pretty good wind wise but swell is an issue. Would I be able to get out deep?

Appreciate any help 

 Hi guys. 
just wondering if anyone has any input on how the fads are going currently. I'm considering heading to either the ones behind rotto, or off ocean reef, but the ones of ocean reef haven't been in very long. Anyone have any reports on which are holding fish? Or too early still?

any advice greatly appreciated!

cheers

goat.

What are thoughts on the Fisheries commitment to reopen in Spring 2027 - it appears that a committment is indeed in place.

The question I have is related to the Snapper Spawning Closure (August-March). If they reopen the demersal fishery for Spring 2027, this would be well within the Snapper Closure and therefore lock out inshore snapper fishos until 2028.

I've posed the question to Recfish - a reopening of the fishery in 2027 should cater for all, including inshore snapper fisherman - who frequent the Sounds etc.

Cheers

 Why is it so slow?

 Had a quick crack this arvo . Bloody 

windy . Managed to knab enough for my

old duck . Crabs are her favourite . Used 

some old tailor frames and heads cut in 

half with a bit of pilchard oil to sweeten up

bait .  3 good size .Only crabbed for two hours so was 

pretty happy then got a pizza . Cheers 

pirate . 

 
Enjoy 

 can anyone give me some good tips for crabbing at madurah on a small kayak with drop nets. what are some good baits and other tips?

 Evening all,

Has anyone been out trolling recently?  Any tuna coming in? Any bait around? 

Hi All,

I've got a 2008 Tournament Bluewater 2000 with the original 150 E-Tec which is still going strong.  The E-Tec had 2 I-Command Gauges which I found good to use.  But one of the I-command Gauges died recently and all my internet searches showed that this was a discontinued item and you can't get them anymore.

I did some research and came across the Veratron VMH35 which is exactly the same size as the I-Command gauges so no extra cutting required.  It connects to my existing NMEA2000 network and shows all the engine data and sounder & Heading values from the Lowrance Elite9 I have.   It also has it's own internal GPS that can be used on the NMEA network if there is an issue with the GPS in the Lowrance.  It also setup to show any alarms from the engine.  Not cheap at just under $600 but I thought I'd need a decent gauge compatable with the E-Tec that could report any alarms just in case the the second I-Command dies in the near future.  Also, it looks mint.

I'm not a wiring expert but I have installed and wired in the Lowarance Elite, Fusion Stereo, VHF radio with no issue in the past.  The wiring setup in the boat from factory is pretty basic.  There's a positive post and a negative post behind the dash which pretty much everything is attached to.  The Nav lights, Anchor light, and Bilge are on a switch panel.

The I-command gauges were just powered through the NMEA network cable but because there is a bit more going on in the VMH35 it has to be powered through the 12 volt system.  The wiring harness that comes with VMH35 unit has the standard red(+), Black (-), Yellow (+ ignition) wires, and some other random wires if you needed to hook into analog devices.

My Lowrance Elite had a similar coloured wire setup but all I needed to connect was the Red & Black wires and the NMEA200 drop cable.  I didn't connect the Yellow wire to anything.  This just meant that I had to turn it on/off manually which is preferable anyway.

With the VMH35 it won't turn on unless the yellow wire is attached as well. I attached the Yellow wire to a slot on my switch panel, with the red and black wires on their repsective posts.  When I turn the batteries on and then turn on the switch the yellow wire is connected to the VMH35 lights up and I can toggle through all the menus with no issue.  The volt meter on the VMH35 reads ~12.5v as expected. But, when I turn on the ignition I immediately get an over-voltage warning on the VMH35 and volt meter was displaying ~55 volts. As soon as the ignition gets turned off it will return to 12 volts.  Apparently 55 volts is what the Alternator in the E-tec generates to power the electrics in the engine but didn't think this would reach the accessories.

According to the wiring diagram I've attached the Yellow wire needs to be attached to  'Terminal 15' where Terminal 30 is the positive and Terminal 31 is negative.  This is where I'm stumped.  At the moment I've got the Yellow wire attached the Terminal 30 line which is no doubt the issue.  But I have no idea how to attach the Yellow wire to the Terminal 15 line or if my boat even has one. 

If it's a matter of splicing the Yellow wire into wires coming out of the throttle ignition then I'll have to wave the white flag and get a professional involved as that is beyond my skill set and don't want to damage other systems that are currently working fine.  I've searched the Internet and Youtube and can't find anything relevent to my issue at hand.

Just hoped there might be someone on the forums that could point me in right direction, especially if it's somthing straight forward.  Photos & screensnips attached.  Any guidance will be much appricated.  If it needs an Auto Sparky any recommendations?

Cheers.

 hello, does anyone have any tips for crabbing at mandurah with scoop nets. 

 
Enjoy Merry Xmas 

 
Enjoy 

 Hi Guys,

Looking to replace the trailer on my cruiscraft 575, came across seatrail trailers while doing some research. Just wanted to know if any one owns one of these or has experience witht them that can give some feedback on quality and if there a good trailer. i believe the frames are out of Asia and the running parts are local and get assembled locally.

Cheers

Surfer

 Anyone see the ram Ute in the water at maylands boat ramp and know what actually happened ?

Have a new Asian client (Human trafficker) looking for free commercial boats to be gifted to him, to those that just went out of business please donate your boats to this worthy cause. AMEN

The National party have organised a petition to protest the ban, its at

www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/LCepetitions.nsf/petitions/25-0034

if anyone is interested.

Cheers, Wagyl

The National party have organised a petition to protest the ban, its at

www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/LCepetitions.nsf/petitions/25-0034

if anyone is interested.

Cheers, Wagyl

Does anyone know of an insurance company that will insure an aluminium boat that is at stage 1 (all hot works complete and ready for fitout). I have just got a new boat and trailer and doing the fit out myself and was hoping to insure it for theft or accident while travelling . I have to take it back down south from Perth. Most of the standard boat insurance companies will only insure a finished boat. Any help would be much appreciate.

 Hey guys,

getting back into craypots after many years out and just wondering best recommendations for type of pot.

Im using a 5.6 mtr hydrofield so fair bit of space but no tipper or winch at this stage.

should i buy new or just hang out for 2nd hand and should i go fullsize or will 3/4 do the job?

Also any improvements of the plastic pot in recent years or are they still inferior catchers??

would appreciate all experience and opinions.

cheers

Rob

 
Enjoy 

It's happening... released this morning and on ABC radio 

 Wonder if this lasts till next week 

 
Enjoy 

Hey Team, 

My 4wd recently got T-boned by someone running a red light recently, looks like its a very long wait time for new motor. I'll be sorting loan cars through insurance etc, but was considering taking my boat off trailer and leaving at Hilarys rather than messing with buying a s/hand 3.5t towing motor for the period. 

Does anyone have experience and able to offer anything up? I'll be calling through for further details in due course but chasing first hand experiences if possible.

 
Enjoy 

 If you are asked for more info by your local sea rescue group please be patient, we are all moving to the Deckee electronic LOLO system.  Once your data is in the system it will come up automatically but please be patient whilst we all build the database.  Regretfully whilst we have tons of data from Cockburn, FG and Woodman members we were told we could not preloaded due to privacy ......despite the fact they had already volunteered the info ......go figure 

 
Enjoy 

 Was a late tide and not much wind chop

wasnt sure we would see them in numbers .

but once they sun set they came on and 

bit well into dark . Got a little bronze 

Saturday night and lost two. 100pd

mono is like dental floss for the larger

sharks . Should get a couple of sessions with

this lot .. biggest went 50cm .

cheers pirate .

Enjoy