Enjoy 

 For Saturday or Monday please let me know.

My son is almost 16 and would like to obtain a recreational skippers ticket. Can anyone recommend a business in Mandurah or Rockingham area?

cheers

 I was recently on Long Service Leave and I was very keen to get a significant fishing trip in. After a few false starts on local trips, and the wind being the wind in WA ... I decided to search Australia for a fishing location with good weather and a chance to fish a different way. I had done Exmouth and Montes before, so went to choose between Broome, Darwin and north Queensland. I decided to go with Darwin as the wind was low, the fish on offer were different and there were all inclusive packages of food, accomodation, transfers and fishing at a place called Dundee Beach, 150 km south east of Darwin.

Sadly I was short a fishing buddy willing to spend $$$ and not working ... and that was a real negative. There are two versions of this report - the instagram highlights version which makes it the best fishing trip ever, and the version where not too many of the better fish were on my rod and I was the 8th in a group of 7 +1 and the most drank a lot of beer (and I just have a couple) ... but the reality it was a superb experience with reasonable fishing. Great fish were caught by the group of 8, and that is all a guide/ skipper can do. The group also caught their barra and Black jews and a sailfish the two days fishing before I got there (I was there 3 days, they were 5 days), so that changed the focus. 4 days is the amount of time I would recommend, 5 better to account for weather. The wind was low and the swell non-existent, but even a little wind reduced conditions, and tides are a big deal too!

So what was awesome was I booked this less than a week out, so knew the forecast was solid. I have probably 75% of my trips from Perth/ Exmouth cancelled due to the wind, and it actually breaks my heart a little each time. Dundee Beach has at least 3 lodge type fishing experiences with reasonable charters of groups of 4 that do bluewater (reef/ surface) fishing and creek barra fishing close to a great fishing ramp. The accomodation is good, and the food is out of this world. The lodge style of fishing hard, grabbing a shower and having a chef cook your breakfast, 3 course dinner and provide daily snacks is spectacular. Finished off with a breathtaking location and air conditioned comfortable rooms, they even do your laundry... I got picked up at the airport and driven 90 minutes straight to the accomodation, and the same on the way back. The service is really spectacular - and not to be underated. The cost is $3000 - $4000 or so for 3 to 5 days. Groups of 4 are perfect so you fish together. I went with Anglers Choice. My understanding is they are the best, best boats, definitely best accomodation and food, but a bit more expensive than the others at Dundee Beach. I would recommend them for sure.

So now about the fishing ... Day 1 and 2 morning rest of group barra and black jews all round in rough conditions. Amazing fish, hard work. Day 2 afternoon Sailfishing - 1 between 7 , great fish landed, another dropped.

I turn up day 3 and unfortunately I was with a great young guide, but he was learning the ropes and didn't have the routes to get through the tidal flats in his GPS so we didn't do the barra fishing as expected, and this was not great (he is learning, he will be great, we all learn some time, but this limited my fishing). We went out to troll with heaps of bust ups and insane looking bottom. I was maybe a bit ambitious and worked the bottom on jigs for no luck, but on the troll we got solid mack tuna, a GT and even a coral trout. A few smaller northern snapper and sharks, back to the ramp.

Day 3 night was watching the State of Origin - which was plenty of fun with Queenslanders and NSW fanatics. The lodge hade 16 or so people when I was there, and groups had fun integrating and keeping seperate. There was a 92 year old who held his own and two wives who all had a great time. 

Day 4 we went in the 'big boat' capable of fishing 12 I think, but fished as a group of 8 (usual is groups of 4 in 7m + boats that are made for getting into shallows, with great stability all round for casting and bottom bouncing too. We went 100km (not kidding) to a micro reefy spot known to hold large mouth nannygai, and we caught a fair few, some of excellent size. Sharks were an issue for sure, but not every time. Also a good cod landed and a few red emperor, and a variety of northern species. This was a good day, long way but great conditions. Again, several got not much, some got quite a few, but some great catches.

Day 4 night was a feast of a lifetime including fresh mudcrabs (again something we did), delicious prawns done two ways, calamari, oysters and scollops.. and other stuff. Insane!

Day 5 my group went barra fishing and we caught 10 in 4 hours - which I imagine is pretty great... but none were on my line. Was special to see the local crocs and mudskippers everywhere (scary place for everything that moves in the creek) Got a few salmon too. The rest of my group caught some spanish mackeral and some solid queenfish and a reasonable GT. Then back to Darwin.

I had a spare day so went fishing in Darwin too with a charter called Offshore Boats. Again great weather. Dropped some crabnets, travelled an hour to mangroves (went past plenty of barra ground on the way) and this was much cleaner water and beautiful. The water was crystal and sight casting at barra in roots and rocks was challenging (land on their head you spook them, short no interest, long its a snag). Also 90cm threadfin snapper chased my lure to the boat. I hooked a barra that did a great head shake... and spat the lure. This boat was a tank and only 4 fishing with a  guide was great. Again everyone caught a barra, and I was yet to come up tight! However lunch time I hooked up and landed after some spectacular leaps my first barra on a plastic worm. Elated and relieved.

We then went bluewater fishing and caught a lot of reef fish closer to Darwin in 20m or so, nothing special and a few sharks. Checked the pots, lots of swimmer crabs, no muddies.

Jumped on a plane and came home. Met some good people. Ate amazing food. Fishing was good, but individually just okay. The experience spectacular. The photos show a sample, but I really want to share the service and experience really was special. Emma from Anglers Choice Dundee Beach really goes out of her way to run a great show with a good team.

Next major tiip I need a fishing buddy or group to go with to make it even better, but the crew I was with were good fellas and included me which was great too.

 Gday crew 

have had a search and read a thread from 2011 about the Lee melters 

have wanted one for years but never got around to getting one 

just curious to know how anyone using them gets a 32oz mould under it being only about 10-11cm clearance under the spout. 
 

are you able to modify the base to get it under there? 
any tips would be welcomed 

cheers 

 Hi all

With Mindarie Marina groyne closed for repairs (again) I was considering heading down to North Mole chasing some snapper.

Just want to know what baits are best down there. Have been using mullet, squid and Scalies at Mindarie.

thanks

Mark

 Wow 80 charter operators  could go broke after July the 1st, who would have ever thought this could happen, what a sad outcome, plenty of other businesses will be struggling as well.

 What are the changes to commercial fishing for demersals?

I've read about the new recreational rules and the tags for charter boats but not much about commercial fishing 

Is the Government buying back licenses, or is commercail fishing for demersals banned around Perth / Mandurah? 

I'm hoping that everyone is sharing the pain.   

 
Enjoy 

Seeing if anyone can give any tips, pointers etc on the Gibb 

Been lucky enough to find myself a decent off road caravan so we have been planning a gibb river road trip in July. Im not a novice by any means with 4 wheel driving and camping and we did the Gibb back in 2014 but with a 2 man tent but this time I will be going all the way up to Kalumbaru. I will have the caravan, roof topper with 15hp engine so hoping to get out off Kalumburu. There will be another family coming with us too.

Anyway, hoping the helpful people off here could possibly give me some tips, pointers etc fishing along the Gibb. I would really like to catch Cherabin along the gibb, mud crabs at Kalumburu and hopefully get out for a fish or 2 at Kalumburu as well. Any tips in doing this would be great!!!

Also heading up to Cape Lavique for 3 nights as well so once again tips on getting muddies up there would be appreciated

Cheers

Pig

 Still smiling about this one. Got him trolling for mackies 3 weeks ago off steep point went 140cm  and 30kg  tasted great too cheers

Hey fellas 

Looking to put my mind at ease. Yesterday it was the second time that I've caught a 40+cm orangey coloured breaksea from roughly 35m. Both times I've seen the following and I'm sure I've read somewhere it's a result of barotrauma and nothing to worry about.

Immediately after the fish is landed it appeared that multiple little things were moving up the scales. When you scrape one off it just appears to be a scale. It won't move on the knife. But when you're looking at it happen it's almost like they're sliding up/across the belly of the fish. Then within around 30-40 seconds the white flesh under the gill plate appears 'puffy'. 

When filleting, the fillets look as you would expect but when comparing to baldie or dhu fillets they're more 'slimy'. There's no peculiar smell and smells exactly as you'd expect. 

Is it a trait of break sea that the flesh is 'slimy'? Or should I be suss?

Cheers

Steve 
 

 Feel free to add your picture that brings a smile to your face when flipping through your fishing pics. This one was taken in the Torres Straits of a Spaniard destroying a rubber duck lure. 

Hit Harvey for a day trip. Got there for sun

up .. banged a few Redfin first up . Went

quiet watched a little rainbow come in the

shallows circling a bee stuck on the surface.
only trout we seen all day . Arvo came along

and the reddies went nuts right upto dark.
couldn't even see the celtas we were using

but they could!! Bit of spin out ! Ended up

with maybe 800grams filleted from 24 fish.
cheers pirate.. 

Just saw a quick youtube vid on how to use this. Developer said they been testing them off Queensland and Exmouth and never lost a fish to sharks during testing. Just seen them for sale on REPLX website for  $329  has anybody on here tried one out for themself 

 
Enjoy 

Hi Lads,

Almost sorted for my annual fishing trip leaving early tomorrow morning. Nothing like some of the far and exotic trips some post about on here but good to get away all the same be it only a few days. We have fished Leeman the last two years but this year only available spot being the caravan park at greenhead. So launching from there with plans to fish the Friday and Saturday at this stage...Sunday looking to be gone with a strong northly blowing in. 3 boats...old boy coming also but he just visits the pub, then offers to cook dinner before burning most off it..but all good.

Bit of a search on here gives a bit of info on the fishing with no major distances required to land some good fish, my self leaving the bait at home and dedicating the days on the slow pitch with a plastic out the back.

Will edit and add some photos Monday / Tuesday all going well.

Anyone else heading north or south for a fish this weekend ?, any info on fishing greenhead welcome...Hoping the swell doesn't make getting out to much of an issue.

 finally broke my pb 20kgs of the best very healthy  fish hit like a train and faught its butt off one for the books

 I'm looking at having a boat built and although I've many people have commented on how good the workmanship is at Bullet Boats I haven't seen many comments from people who actually own a Bullet Boat. If you have had one of these boats or own one I'm keen to hear your feedback, please PM me. Many thanks 

 G'day all. Our trusty 2001 225 Optimax has finally expired. Since we're not keen on the price tag for a new motor, second hand seems the way to go. We want either a 225 or 200 hp. We've seen a few Hondas around and some cursory research shows they're pretty good although a trifle heavier than our Opti (30kg). If you've had experience with Hondas in this power range what are your thoughts? I've read that internal anodes are hard to get at and corrosion is/was a problem, along with crankshaft thrust bearings.  Thanks in advance, John 

 I met Guy at woodys at 4.30, off we went out past garden Island, I was given a bit of a lesson as Guy 

 caugh,  a 60, 74, 81, while I  only had 2 undersized, then I  got one at 58, only smalls on my side of the

boat, we both agreed that we had enough and headed in at 8.30

Enjoy 

 Few fish caught over recent weeks. 

snapper caught in 13m went 80cm. Epic fight on light gear fishing for skippy. Filleted and ate the wings and frame on the bbq. Fed 6 adults and 5 little kids. Nothing left to waste!

had a solo day out, was given the day off by the missus. Plan was to fish in close for snapper then head out when the wind dropped. Launched at 6:30, fisher within 3 mile, 3rd drop got at 50cm baldy, 2 drops later pulled in a 56 dhu! Well there go my plans for the day! Bagged in demersal a by 8am lol. Weather was too good to head in so went trolling.

drive to the area I thought might produced, put the lures out, within 2minuyes reel was screaming, pulled in a nice sbt. Was bleeding like hell, so kept this one, over the next hour caught and rwaleaswd about a dozen more, not quite as big , but great on light gear. Couldn't get away from them! Headed home to do some filleting! Huge school of dolphins playing around the boat was cool to see. Will try to figure out how to post videos.

took my brother out this weekend, doesn't go fishing much. First spot quiet, so moved a bit, for a double header of good sambos which released well. He was stoked, prob biggest fish he has ever caught, and had him huffing and puffing! Decided to  move as they were too much hard work lol!

fished next spot for 2 baldies 1 was 38cm. Bit smaller than I'm used too but was clearly stuffed. Can see where eliminating size limit comes into play here. Other was 46.

stopped right on a Bonny to let my bro drop and he got a 56cm dhu as soon as it hit the bottom. Then pulled up a cracker 52cm breaksea. Great day, time to head home! Breaksea for dinner in fish tacos!

hopefully can get out this weekend!

 Phew.  Just did my DF250 1100 hour service. 100 hours since my sheered shaft episode. Happy to say the leg dropped absolutely freely with no resistance and grease was still evident on the splines. I've been away for an extended period so haven't done any demersal bash since the current period opened and I'm keen to have a bash this weekend. Can anyone advise the current status of the Two Rocks Marina. Substantial work was being carried out last time I was there. Thanks  - Eric

 Hi guys, looking to upgrade sounder, aiming at a 588 paired with a tm260 or similar. 
has anyone got a second hand one they would consider parting with? 
open for other offers on other equip if suitable, out to 200m depths min...

regards 

 Went out the back of the FF last night about 2 NM north of Coventry. had the arms streched with 4 sambo's 3 big salom that pulled harder than the samb's i estimated them to be between 10 and 12 pound in the old scale, bloody great boof headed things. Also a shark and some skippy. Great night but everything went back. Only looking for snapper and the elusive dhuie. Good fun though especially when the salom start jumping.

 
Enjoy 

Anyone else see Landline on Sunday where they were speaking to the Shark Bay shire president?  Shark bay council are now evidently concerned that the demersal ban will push all fishers to Shark Bay as the first location outside of the south west bioregion zone.  They also strongly revisited the "bins full of fish frames" discussion of a few years back. Lots of gratuitous photos of an overflowing bin for effect. 

Long story short they have lobbied the Minister to reduce catch limits in Shark Bay to ease the assumed impact of the extended demersal ban on the area, unsuccessfully at this stage. They interviewed Minister Punch who said that no changes would be made unless there was solid evidence to prove it was needed (seems contrary to the approach taken for the extended south west demersal ban!!)  

The shark bay council are evidently monitoring boat launch numbers this winter and if they exceed usual numbers they will be going back to the minister/govt with this as evidence of a need for reduced catch limits.  What they are using as their control data to compare against is not clear. 

It seemed pretty clear in the interview with the Shire president that toursim is the sole focus of their interest, all discussion of the town relying on visitors to survive was aimed toward "tourists" not people coming to fish, or at least it came across that way to me. 

Hey all

Looking at buying and bring a 4500kg RAM from NSW to Perth.

Never done this and so looking for info on how someone on here has done it.

Cost estimate and more importantly time frame, rego process, insurance across the country etc etc.

Which carrier is best.

Or should i Drive and collect... it's 3700kms.

Any info - all welcome.

Thanks guys. 

 Took a young man ( Luke) who before emigrating to WA was a mad keen carp fisherman. His one wish was catch a dhu.  Mission accomplished with a really clean 7.5kg fish.  Odd day on the water, only a handful of decent bites but only one really mattered.