After finally diagnosing my fuel leak issue when filling right up I've got my poly fuel tank going in for repair to a small split around the intake.

The tank dimensions are 2145x510x110 and my tank recess dimensions are 2200x530x160 so I effectively have 2154x510x50 to play with so would I be best getting an addition water tank welded on top of my existing one while it's in getting repaired? Looking at no more than 50L just to wash down the kids after a swim etc without adding too much weight.

 Not an overly exciting report - but wanted to review my recent overnighter at rotto with the aim of increasing my content to the site. I have a 5mtr swiftcraft, which ive never camped on/with and never taken to rotto, but with plenty of deckspace i was keen to try something different and learn a few new things! 

Headed off on Wednesday morning. Was hoping the wind would settle as forecast, but naturally it didn't. The swell was good and the period didn't really factor into things - so with a good forecast for the afternoon and following day we punched into the 15kn winds to rotto from palm beach. Took it easy, and was prepared to turn around if needed, but the crossing was certainly manageable. That said it was still a great relief to roll into porpoise bay without getting wet!.

I didn't want to battle the winds to wet a line, so we headed to Crystal palace for a dive. Plugged in the GPS cords, sounded around and found a 10mtr ledge that we figured must of been the start of the cave system. Anchored up and down we went. Had to swim pretty far after letting enough rope out for the anchor but we found the ledge. It was a cool dive but I think we missed the actual dive site by a fair bit. Unfortunately we also didn't factor in depth and busted our go pro... so no pictures  will go back soon to drop down on the actual GPS cords and see if we can find the cave system!

The wind was still up, so headed to Thompson bay to refill the tanks. Had to learn how to beach moor with our anchors, but we figured it out and it held well. Tick.

By the time we had confidence to leave the boat, it was too late to fill the tanks, so back to porpoise bay to set up for the night. What a beautiful spot. Got a few good size herring on the twistys and cooked up some fish nachos. Rolled the swags on the deck, set the anchor alarm and had a pretty good night sleep! Woke up every few hours to make sure we hadn't moved. But made it through the night without issue - tick! Was happy with that.

Next morning we headed back to Thomson bay to put some more fuel in the jerries. Wasn't to hard to figure out the fuel jetty but was good to tick that off the list. Next time I will hopefully practise tieing up the boat in the fuel pens just for experience 

Wind was about 15knt from the north - we went for a snorkel at little salmon bay while waiting (Hoping) for the wind to die off so we could fish a few marks on the way back. The wind didn't happen for us so we just cruised home with the wind which was nice.

So even tho the wind was average and didn't manage much fishing, we had a heap of fun and learnt a few new things! Will be back for sure and will try to pick a better wind pattern. Next time I'll certainly need some shade - the nose got fairly scorched so I'm in the process of drawing something up that can hopefully be fabricated up! 

Hi guys

My Lowrance LMS 337 no longer works so I'm after a replacement combo GPS & fish finder. Budget is $1200 I read the comments in an earlier post however his budget is 3.5K.

I'm leaning towards the Lowrance Elite Ti2 9 inch which is on sale right now but thought I ask here for an opinion. 

Enjoy

Exmouth 200m deep fish ID, got a few of these Cod looking fish? Not quite 8bar by the looks.  

Lost a few really decent fish today 8/0 hooks straightening out. The Chinese eBay hooks just aren’t up to scratch. Can people please recommend a good brand for hooks that aren’t too exxy? Many thanks  

Heading to Gregory next week for some R+R.

Any advice on beach fishing  spots.I presume that whiting and tailor would be around?

Is it worth taking a couple of Crab nets?

Happy New Year to all

Hi all

My mate is headed up to Steep Point on the 16th of Jan and is looking partner to share driving and gaff a spaniard or 3.  He will supply food/alcohol/helium/shelter/ and most  gear, just needs a level headed dedicated fisho to tag along and help out.  The cost is pretty cheap to chip in for.

Flick me a pm for furter info.  I have probably done 15 plus trips with Graham over the past 20 years.

 Hey guys, 

Looking at the best charter option for a week mid year for the Monties. 
Give me your experiences good/bad. 
Looking for jigging mainly and the option of top water and sails. 
Have all our own gear. 
 

Cheers 

 Hey guys, I’m looking to get a good quality fish crate for taking fish off boat. I’ve got a crate from bunnings before but the plastic is too thin and they break. Is there a place in Perth that sells them, or online?

Hi, 

Was with my mate dropping new cray pots about 100-150m west of Carnac Island today. They wernt sinking very well despite having ballast. We watched for a while until it looked like they had sunk and then did some drifting.

When we came back to check before heading in, the pots were gone. Had a good look around and dont think they would have drifted away as there wasn't much current. 

They are steel bottom, jarrah and pine pots with orange floats. Gear ID SB0485.

If anybody picked them up so they didn't drift away or saw them, would appreciate your help getting them back. I know its a long shot but worth asking.

Cheers

Hi All,

Looking to head out tomorrow from Ocean Reef. Depending on how good the conditions play out I'm hoping to try deep drop here in metro waters for the first time. Not after any spots just some general advice around baits, depths etc? I have electrics and most gear including a FCV295 with 2kw trannies set up so hoping I'll be able to find some shows of fish.

Thanks in advance. Kuzi.

 Hope to spend a day down in Augusta this week fishing land based. Anyone fished Sarge bay or skippy rock ??. Any other suggestions down that way ?? Cheers guys.

 Heading to denham tomoz for a week is the there anywhere to  go for a land-based fish other than steep point around the area or a free dive.  Seems to be mostly shallow water on the maps.

I've had to remove my fuel tank to repair a split around the intake and have a one off opportunity to get access to the hull through the tank recess to install a through hull transducer. 

I have a P66 that reads at 33knots but not as well when it's choppy with a broken picture so would it be worth installing a B60 for $500+ supply and install or would the results be negligible?

 Gday All

Anyone ventured out wide this season yet? (wide i mean the Trench chasing bills) 

Few days next week where the weather looks to be good for a wide run chasing the ever elusive Bills.......... Keeping fingers crossed the reports stay good and ill be buring some fuel and hopefully turning some reels! 

anyone seen this on the forecast ?/

https://www.seabreeze.com.au/weather/wind-forecast/wa-south-west

swell is jumping from 11.5 second 9pm monday night up to around 22-23. seconds in this early 2am tuesday morning ??

thats a hella of a shift in groundswell wave energy

anyone out pulling pots of boating in shallow should be well wary from tuesday for a few days by the looks of the forecast

hezzy

 First try at Japanese style goytaku ink printing fish.  Just got to paint in the eyes. Both caught off Mindarie. Hope i get better with practice. 

 Hi Guys heading down to busso for a few days and wana do a beach fish with the new 4wd. Has anyone fished Wonnerup beach recently ??

 Hey all, can you camp overnight on coogee beach with a 4wd ?? Reading some conflicting reports. Ps Merry xmas to all

Enjoy Merry Xmas

 Merry Christmas to all.

May you have a good day wherever you are and whatever you're doing. We're in Cairns and there's a thunderstorm and it's pissing down!. All of this water and greenery makes it a wee bit different than Carnarvon. Stay safe people.

Solid fish . Couldn’t find dhues today .didn't even catch A little one.Just pinks and baldies And black ass , let all black ass go .Seen heaps of tuna , sharks and a big kick ass turtle.

Took my oldest boy out to catch some more sandies for Xmas Eve dinner with my 90y old granparents. The bite was off but we got more than we bargained for with some nice KGs. Was spewing I didn't have some pellets to drop the pick and burley up as they weren't thick but got enough for a feed.

Just need to find those elusive crabs I promised nanna now. Scoured Pt Grey yesterday for no keepers but scored a nice cobbler on the gidgee.

 Finally a crack out wide yesterday and pretty good conditions. A good day out apart from mono failure on my braid to mono leader losing a very good fish which I reckon was a good Pinky, snapped the leader so alesson learned to replace that shit at the start of the season as I reckon it was deteriorated FFS . Anyway redemption for the deckie as he hadn't caught a Dhu banger for quite some time this one coming in at 8.9kegs

Still a few crays about so all in all very happy.

 Just wondering if anyone has some info on the launching down there? found an old post but wanted some updated info. From what ive heard the sands super soft and weeds often a problem. I've got a 5.3m fibreglass and wouldnt mind trying there when the conditions are right. Deep drop ground looks hectik 

 Just wondering if anyone has any recent reports of the landbase fishing in esperance? Ill be heading down soon for a few weeks, wondering whats biting? 

Cheers 

Had the boat on a jetty in Halls Head since Fri... basically living the dream. After working crabs for 2 days for 3 keepers deciding we were heading out of Mary St to chase some whiting.... well fook me. I only caught one as the kids were having a cracking time but what beasts with a few of them pushing 32cm!

Unfortunately the day was soured by some elderly gentleman screaming at us as we drove past the Novara boat ramp about it not being whiting season but our fish tacos got us over that.

Hi all,

Im off to  Dunsborough this January for 1 week and taking down the boat (5.3m glass boat) for the first time.

Planning  to fish in the bay around Dunsborough 

Any advice on where to head for squid and whiting etc.

Also would be keen to head out deeper for demersals, can you get demersals in the bay and if so what area/depth  to look in? Is swell an issue in the deeper areas?

Recommendations  on best ramp to launch from in Dunsborough area would also be good.

Thanks

 hi Crew, 

   found 2 boat rod holders on my way to work this morning. PM me if you think they are yours. 

cheers herbs