ok so, a while I go I decided to probably say a bit too much on a forum topic about mandurahmatt's blue groper that was shot on the straight hook.
realising that I should not have said what I said about shooting a fish of that size. I apologise to mandurahmatt for my comments on that as it is not my place at all to say a comment like that on what people can shoot hook or keep when it comes to fish, size and species.
The other comments that followed that one from me were also uncalled for as it is not my place to say anything of the sort. realising that some people fish all their lives to catch certain species to a certain size and when they achieve that it is a great accomplishment to them to be able to land fish at that size. So for that one I apologise for the negative comments to that. My own rules that I apply to my fishing when It comes to species and size should be kept to myself and not be used to ridicule or upset anyone else who will have their own rules on what how and size of these species.
Also my comments about a one Mr White from Seasport Charters was totally uncalled for as I have no place to be able to say those comments about someone I don't know. obviously he was contacted about the comment from someone and hopefully the same person will contact him about this one. That's fine. I had no place for those comments and apologise to the public on this site about those comments without any justification at all.
This has been and hopefully will continue to be an awesome site and hopefully reach it full potential as it continues. Have been a member for a longtime on here and now have probably realised that it is time to move on for me if I cannot comment constructively to other posts.
Adam your an awesome bloke, proud to have you as a mate and you have put in a lot of effort to make this an effective and informative site.
Well all that said I am off, have made some awesome friends on here and have been happy to share spots, info and tips on fishing my back yard. If you are ever in ol barri town come and book a trip with me on my lb tours which will be up and running by the 3rd to 4th week in January next year. That is my focus now and trying to make it as successful as I can on startup.
catchya all and enjoy this awesome site.
Tangles signing off.

We have been working hard to get our product offering together.  We have finalised the “groups” of products and services we will provide, and this is illustrated in our final draft window graphic as shown below (it is 12m x 3m fronting Buckingham Drive).

I have finally found a burley cage design that we will be happy to sell (spent a lot of time looking and was getting close to having to get something made).  They come in small, medium and large, and I can make packs of Shore Catch Burley that fit each type.

I haven’t received my WA Fisheries Fish Processing Place and Fish Processor Licences yet but they should be close now.  It was however time to test the 1,500kg per hour mixer/mincer and the commercial cryovac machine on the burley today.  I can’t sell the product yet but need to get the method right.  I will keep this batch to myself, and provide some to mates for testing, but was very happy with how it all worked.

Our bait offering has also been coming along too.  We have decided to deal exclusively with WA Bait Supply for wholesale packaged baits.  WA Bait has recently been acquired by the Westerberg Family, that also operate Pilchard boats out of Albany and we want to support WA regional business.  Good quality Pilchards in requested size packages is a key offering from our Showroom/Warehouse and WA Bait can supply these.  We have also been able to commercially source squid tentacles, peeled prawns, local octopus, 200g whole squid, bonito fillet, mullet fillet, whole herring, and will vacuum package these in various sizes as specialty baits.

The below image shows today’s test result for burley and bait packaging, but those self-caught whiting are my Pinkie lollies for next season – if there are any big ones left (sob).  Not right yet but a reasonable start.

How does the afternoon of Thursday 10 December and Thursday 17 December sound for the FW Members pre-opening inspections?  We will open retail to the public in January 2016.  Sorry about the self-promotion but I thought Members might be interested in how it was all going.

This is bullshit

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/30223106/camper-rails-against-big-brother/?cmp=st

 I've just installed my all round white light and want to install a flood/spot pointing forward to see where I'm going, lights in the rocket launcher to see into the water next to the deck and lighting that send out filtered light in the cabin to have a rigging up area etc.

What wattage should I be looking at for my lights pointing out into the water? Is it a case of the stronger the better and should I also look at installing strip lighting under the gunwales?

 Looking at buying a leeder tomcat with a 5 lt.  260 hp stern drive . Any one fished on one or owned one ? Comments please.

Any reports from up Jurien way? Where are the whites at? Are they still in close or out a few miles in the open water already? I got my pots in too late up there last year and looking like the same again this year! Got enough for a feed but never had to work so hard for them.

 Looking for a diver have a pot stuck over at rotto its in 14 metres,anyone want to take up the challenge,Will be heading to Rotto tomorrow so if there is a diver available come and get your bag limit of crays while you free my pot 0422526513

Heard on 882 with karl langdon this morning, a guy from fisheries that apprehended just this morning, a 56 year old bloke, and his 53 year old wife, with 81 cray tails in their possesion, at one of the northern marinas this morning. 

He said as well as a $20k fine they were now facing, they would also be charged with obstruction, as they were trying to tip the cray tails back into the water when fisheries boarded their boat. He also mentioned a few other avenues they could persue to increase the fines, and also that they were definately heading to court with some "seriously life changing fines". 

Good to hear!!! Looking forward to reading the full statement when all the other details are released. 

 Hi All, just got my boat back down from Exmouth and am going to punch out today and put my pots in behind Carnac.

I'm probably a week off the pace but can anyone give me the heads up in what depth to start at to ambush these whites?

Many thx in advance

just putting this out there has anyone had any bad issues with this unit, the wifes treating me for christmas, i thought it was good value for money and comes with gold card!

 Hi everyone, 

I was hoping to get people's opinion on Fin-nor reels. I'm currently looking at the Fin-nor Lethal 100 reel for GT popping.

On paper, and after reading an incredibly thorough review by Alan Hawk, it seems to be pretty good and great value for money, but I'm still have slight reservations about whether it can hold its own with the big boys. I'm going on a trip in April chasing 40kg+ GTs, and I have the option of renting gear, but I'm thinking if I can buy reasonably priced gear then that'd be preferable since I could use it at another time when I get home from my trip.

I'm just wondering whether I'm wasting my time with a cheaper reel, and whether I have to just bite the bullet and buy the high end Shimano / Diawa gear or rent.

Note: I already have a Shimano TLD 25 for bottom bouncing, an Abu Ambassadeur 7000 for general use, and my Penn Prevail does well in the surf for me, my thoughts were that this might replace the Penn in the surf, or be kept of the popping rod for throwing metals and poppers after tailor and salmon.

I know that this was a long post, but I'd be keen to hear people's thoughts.

 if anyone  needs pots dived and un tangled etc. Me and a friend will be around diving this weekend north of the river. Your boat or our boat. Wat ever is in the pot is yours, require a small fee to cover costs. Cheers dave 0407871714

 Whats the difference. I have been told reds live mostly in the reef and whites mostly in the sand. Then I have heard that whites are the result of reds malting?

Me and my mate want to punch sh1t out of each other over who is right?

Bad day for Whittleys. This one as we were going in and another Whittley was towed to the jetty as we were pulling out.

Hi Guys

Just chasing a bit of info about potting for Crays in Albany.
Does anybody do it or is it not worth it?

Will be down there for a couple weeks over christmas and was thinking of taking the pots down.

Cheers Jayce

 The crays are on.15 boats in gront of us coming in and 15 behind us.got our bag

Enjoy

 Just got back from a few days on a live aboard charter out of shark bay with Apache charters running along dirk hartog island.

weather was pretty average the whole time, but was an unbelievable trip and would recommend them to anyone thinking of doing that sort of thing.  Skipper worked hard to continuously put us on fish, moving regularly when things got quiet.  Lots of baldies, rankins and pinkies caught with a dozen or so reds as well as few Pelagics.

cook did great with the food, plenty of fish, and the decky was brilliant.

again would throughly recommend them to anyone

 As I don't know how to add a pic to a post had to do this. Been using this for the past 4 years, reinforced it today as it was flexing the gunwhale a little to much for my liking. I don't remove the winch as it doesn't get in the way when fishing. Don't use a topper, have just installed the blue slides to protect the boat from the pots.

 So after 2 years and a fair few dollars i manged to finish this project. Boat is a Pride 22ft which had the old volvo 6 cylinder in with triple carbs, and 270 leg. After a few runs out when i bought it we figured it was probably wise to repower to get good reliability.

Picked up an engine and leg from a guy who was going outboard to gain more deck space. Motor is a 350 mercruiser and bravo 2 leg. We replaced carby with 600 Holley. Full rewire, All new cables and forward controls. Volvo to bravo adapter plate. Repainted hull which was the old mustard colour. Ive Wrapped the boat in vinyl print to update it and finished most of the interior with white and brushed alluminium panels i use for signs. Trailer got a birthday with springs, bearings, brakes, mudgaurds and wheels. Just need to paint it galv silver now. Had the boat out a few times on the river, putting in at Maylands and cruising down to freeo and back, done a couple of trips into the sound without to much luck. We caught a load of skippy and herring but nothing bigger. This was a few months ago.

Boat would do 21 knots flat out with old tired Volvo and now hits 39knots if needed. Cruising at 25knots at approx 3300rpm. Ive done a few runs to test range as it only has 130 litre tank. Last run on river saw 88kms on gps and we refilled, took 85 litres so not to bad.

Im pretty new to the boating scene as i moved from UK 7 years ago and this is my first one. Was looking for any info or recomendations on fishing in WA waters. Not a fan of the sharks but as long as i keep afloat that shouldnt be a problem lol.

I have a decent fish finder which im figuring how to use and navionics gol on a tablet which i use to keep clear from any reefs etc.

Any tips, advice or info would be greatly appreciated. Few pics of the boat to date.

Thanks in advance, George

 still heaps of deaf pinkies. Out right now and there is a whole Line of dead ones riding the current. Very sad to say the least

Gents

After snapping an envy black late last year I replaced the tip and turned it into my light inshore weapon for pinkies/salmon/skippy etc. Been heaps of fun and has claimed some really good fish this year. Unfortunately my 8 year old steez is battling to keep up with the punishment so I'm toying with the idea of retiring it and buying a new reel.

Had my heart set on a replacement Steez but the production on them has been binned so I'm looking for ideas on something which is going to stand up to some punishment. Thinking either a fi stella or an exist (steez is a 2500)at this stage - the things which are concerning me is the smaller line capacity of the stella and the flex in the exist.

Surely some people on here will be using some similar setups and without starting a shimano/daiwa debate, which reel is going to hold up better?

Cheers

Not before time I reckon, the behaviour of a good 25% of skippers up around Guildford and Bassendean is nothing short of disgraceful and on a public holiday there are ripped up reeds and mud from the banks all throughout the water. I was initially concerned that it would lead to reduced patrols in the upper Swan until I remembered that on the 30 or so 2-4 sessions I had on the dinghy up there I've never seen them once.

www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-25/cameras-planned-to-catch-bad-boat-behaviour-in-perth/6974504

 Was just doing a bit of work on our new website (still under construction) and came across a few photos I had forgot about.

 Below is a photo of a Goldband that as far as we can tell must of broken its back early in its life and still managed to survive and grow to quite a good size. Really quite amazing that with all the competion down there fish like this can survive and live long enough to get that big and then be unlucky enough to be caught by us.

We often catch fish that have had these type of things wrong with them, or have truly amazing thing that you would not believe unless you see, just dont allways think to get a photo of them. We recently had a punter drop their rod over the side only to have another person pull it up an hour later (with 4 fish, double header on his and double on the lost rod!) in 100+M of water. Also had a Rosy Jobfish with an old hole through it (billfish maybe) that you could just about poke your finger through but was doing just fine.

Anyway this got me thinking that there must be plenty of these type of captures stories out there that would be a bit of fun to read. So if you have a amazing story or photos of a bizarre capture post it up and I look forward to someone bettering mine. I know this type of post may have been up before, but I'm sure there are plenty of recent or forgotten stories. It's got to be a better read than grown men having a school yard whinge at each other or endless speculation over dead fish (at least untill we find the true cause of it). Got to have something to entertain me now the Block is over?

 Hi

I am going to dwellingup on the week end i was wondering what lures work best there. I have already caught fish in teh murray but not very successfully. so could any one give me the heads up of what lures work best.

Hey
Would anyone have a 70mm tow ball & tongue I could borrow / hire for the day...
Just need to tow a trailer from Jarrahdale to Mandurah.
Cheers

 Ok Will be checking pots for the next few weekends before the ban lifts. If we score a really good day the boys want to go and jig for Sambos. Question is we could catch Dhuies or other demersals as a by product. What's the go with this even though we are not targeting them? Cheers

With my daughter turning 10, she has been able to attend the MAAC Juniors on Sunday mornings.  This is an awesome morning for the kids with a great venue and equipment for swimming, diving, boating, pool, table tennis, beach volleyball and other ball sports, and the list of things to do goes on and on.  Backed up with a Committee and volunteers that do a wonderful job, it is really a good well managed experience for the kids.  The method that I particularly like is where the groups of kids get to choose, from the large range of activities, what they do for a few hours under supervision.

On the first day of MAAC Juniors a few weeks ago, I was asked by a parent if I could take her daughter for a fish on the beach (where they came and watched of course).  Weedy, swelly, and with “beach worn” gear, it was a challenge.  Lots of pickers but the young lady did manage to catch a fish, although very undesirable, and it was her first ever.  Kids don’t care, it was a fish that she caught and that was the best thing – never seen that much happiness over a blowie.

I found out a bit later that the person that used to help the kids with their shore fishing had recently died.  Apparently the Club lost a real character that will be missed by many.  What could I do, “yeah ok I’ll help the kids with the fishing this season” when it was explained and I was asked.

I haven’t had the hornet out for a couple of months so it was in need of a run.  I watched the Juniors dingy navigate a path through the inshore reef to the Club so knew there was a way in and out (very swell dependent though).  The Sunday weather forecast was for fresh easterly winds dropping off throughout the day, with 0.5m swell.  OK, let’s see if some kids want to go out and give it a crack.

Instead of fishing the inaugural MAAC Rock & Beach comp on Saturday, YPM’s (although he is 16 and doesn’t fish anymore!!) footy team kids and dads end of season trip to Rotto was on (booked months in advance).  One of the dads has a 6 month old 52 foot Riviera that has to be seen to be believed. My schoolboy error was to plan to get up the next morning bright and early to do all the things I had committed to.  It was a quality day for  the “boys” though.

I must say that I was very disorganised.  I had none of my burley, nothing rigged up and the boat hadn’t been used for a while (and it was the first time I had taken it out of the garage at our new place).  Get it out, start the engine, check everything, hook it all up, go to the shops, go to the MAAC to pick up anything helpful I could find, and launch at a busy ramp.  The highlight, in hind sight, was that I could scab out 4 stale bread rolls from the bin at the shop for burley – my wife was embarrassed for me when I told her I did this.

The daughter was not happy that I asked her to come to the ramp and hold the boat as I knew it would be busy (potentially missing time with her friends, and dad was going off fishing when she didn’t want to) but we did get to the Club on time.  What do you know, 4 young fellas came down the beach and hopped in.  A quick safety briefing and off we go.  We stayed close first up and the highlight for the boys was undoubtedly their first experience in seeing what the Minn does on spot lock (no anchor?, how does it hold us?, I want my dad to get one of these!).

Unfortunately, my disorganisation meant we had to waste time rigging up but while I was showing them knots and rigs the conversation was really good with the young fellas being very knowledgeable for their tender years, and their fishing stories were great.  I must say I missed my burley as the spot we went to had never failed me in the past, but it did.  After trying for a while we had no choice but to go out a bit wider to Terry’s Pike Spot, which is a noted performer.  Although I have the mark, it can be located by lining up landmarks and it was good to explain to the boys about this – the old pre-GPS tried and tested method.  I dare say they will be able to fish this productive area for many years to come.

I then remembered the rolls.  These were the only form of burly that actually worked and after a while we had a heap of herring boiling at the back of the boat – happy days.  The boys were all over it and everyone ended up with fish – I told them we would only keep a dozen (3 each).  Lots of bites and lots of action with hook-ups, drops, leaping herring and the skill needed to get them on the boat without a net (no need to net the herring).  The double and triple hook-ups were an absolute classic.

The only downer was that while one boy who was standing on the back raised deck was asked to move so a recently caught herring could be put in the live bait tank.  He stumbled and dropped the rod into the drink (lucky it was a “beach worn” model and not one of my combos – I would have been swimming for them).  That’s the second rod to go over the side recently (sarcasmo – I hope the new one works well), and I hope this is not the sign of a trend.

Time was moving on so we relocated and gave a sand whiting spot a quick go.  No luck but no matter as it was time to go in.  Dropped the boys back at the beach safely and then had to get out through the reef with not much prop in the water, not much keel on the hornet, 15+kn winds trying to blow me onto the reef and all the legend MAAC fisherman watching on from the weigh in for the Rock and Beach.  Anyway, it was close but I learned more about the reef passage that will be useful for the future – my method was critiqued back at the presentation.

What a great day.  It wasn’t about getting a big bag of fish, it was about taking kids out and trying to teach them a few things.  The smiles on their faces as they showed off their fish and walked out with the fillets made all the effort worthwhile.  I certainly look forward to doing it again when conditions allow – and being a bit more organised.

 Hi all,

I am headed to Onslow for work in January, and on my way I want to stop in at exmouth to do a bit of fishing.

Just wondering if there are any good land based spots to catch some using reasonably light gear.

I have heard of people walking out on flats and having some good fun with trevally and queenfish.

Any help is appreciated :)

Cheers

 Hey fellas just wondering if you still get Crays in pots on a full moon or is it a myth ?