Hi Everyone

We are heading to Karratha on 24 th July for a week of fishing out of Dampier. Suppoosed to be 4m tides, anyone had experience up there wheather this impacts the fishing? Current?? Etc.

Ian

 Hey guys what are peoples opinions and experiences regarding painting vs boat wrap on boats?

Plenty of Dolly's still hanging around the West End FAD today. Only managed to land a small one and hook up to another 2, but there was a school of 20+ cruising around for the hour or so we were there.

Nice day out on the water.l.

Hi all

The week starting 3/5/21 I'm heading up to Dongara for my first time taking out a bunch of guys from a local "mens-restoration-house" for a couple of days for a get-a-way fishing expedish...

I can see online that the Dongara boat ramp is in the Port Denison Marina. But that's all I know...

But don't know the local conditions, where to go - ie which way to head out of marina, shallow reefs etc etc

I'm not specifically asking for spots.

Would love to chat with someone who know this area like the back of their hand... and give me some pointers or where to go, what to avoid and what depths work best there, what wind conditions to look out for...

I'm assuming that it might be worth trolling some areas for some macks etc, and some other areas for bottom bashing Dhu's/Pinks etc...

Any assistance is appreciated... Thanks all!

Cheers in advance 

 Hi All

I'm stuck in Shark Bay. (
Terriable place to holiday NOT).

The winds are 26 knots so we want to try for a fish over at Monkey Mia, we have a boat can anyone point us in the right direction where we could find a few pinkies or spangles? 
Tried straight only  blowies.

Appreciate any tips

I want to buy a few long sleeve fishing shirts 50spf. Do most people buy online or shop like BCF?

 Looks like there will be a story on sharks and rec fishing in WA on landline today.

 Easterlies were up this morning. 
maneged too get few early on in 

the morning.. little spread out . 
went on too the herring but little 

slow  dropped back too the squid

started too pin a few . Then back too

the herring on metals and got our 

bag !! Good day with a good mate 

cheers pirate ..

 Gday guys gonna go off hillarys tomorrow and wanna use the wash down when get back, never used it before do i need a special fitting for the hose to connect to their tap? or can i just use the standard garden hose clip - on        thanks for any advice cheers dave

 Hello all.

Let's be brutally honest here.

Over the last fortnight two people have lost their lives after boats have been found running with no occupants on board. This has given me a wake up call as I fish solo 90% of the time in a pretty remote part of the country. I've been pathetic with my safety and the only thing I've been doing is letting my wife know where I'm going and when I'm due back. Theres no log on log off on Thursday Island so it's up to you to work out your own plans for someone to send out a search party if you don't get home at the said time and log off.

As for my onboard safety I've been a fool.

No life jacket has been worn and I spend a fair bit of time down the back of the boat leaving the helm unattended with no safety lanyard on whilst setting lure spreads with a boat travelling at a good six knots.

Sounds pretty stupid yeah?. 
Yep. Let's make that fucking stupid.
One slight fuckup and I'm over the side soon to be a dead man no doubts about it, plain and simple. As I'm sitting in the water watching my boat head off to PNG without me I'll be thinking if the Tiger sharks don't get me then the crocs will, failing that I'll drown because there's no way I can swim against a five knot tidal current to an island I can just make out on the horizon.

Here's my new plan for better boating safety starting tomorrow morning.

Wear a good AUTO INFLATING life jacket at all times. Got one today for a hundred bucks from my local boat fixy fixy place. If I go over the side and knock myself out on the way over the jacket will do its job and keep me afloat.

Wear my kill switch lanyard at all times. The boat had a switch yet no lanyard so I went and bought one today. I lengthened it to give me a decent leash to move freely from the helm to the back of the boat to set lures whilst under way. If I go over board at least the boat will stop and it should be an easy swim to get back to as we're both in the same current.

Ive ordered a PLB to have attached to my life jacket at all times. If shit really gets pear shaped at least I won't be thinking of my epirb sitting in its cradle on the dashboard of the boat. I'll have one on my person to activate quick smart.

Signal mirror and disco glow stick in my jacket too for getting people's attention whether it be night or day.

Any more suggestions?.

Enjoy 

Went out ~20NM from OR yesterday and made the most of the nice conditions. Fishing was a little slow to start with but got a nice 58cm baldie around mid-morning. Found a school of pink snapper and had 10 or so hook ups in the space of 30 mins with 3 just undersized models coming on board before we ran into a shark problem! I've never had an issues with sharks taking fish in Perth unitl yesterday? Lost 2 complete fish to them and got this mangled 47cm specimen back. Moved spots after that one - no point donating fish. All fish lost within 10 meters of the bottom so not sure what was doing the damage.

Ended up with another just sized (40.5cm) baldie and decided to call it a day before the breeze came as the swell was well over 3m still.

The Fisheries research team were at the ramp on return recording fishing information and measuring catch. The small baldie ended up being 39.5cm by their measurements which I questioned as we measured it as being size before it hit the icebox. The young lass basically said it needed to be size at the ramp, and while they know fish do shrink on ice, it basically take at your own risk. I suggested photographing catch against a tape measure which she said may get you out of trouble with some officers but it's definetly not a fool proof method. Annoying kwirk in the rule that's for sure, as I always do the right thing. Also for species like baldies "releasing" a sized fish is essentially throwing a dead fish back into the ocean as they have a very high rate of mortiality from depths of 15+m. So if you throw back a size fish that dies, then go catch another one to keep you're doing more damage than good. I know there's no magic solution here but it's frustrating. 

The Spanish Mackerel has been on my bucket list for many years and has managed to evade my hook like the plague.   During the past 9 years of fishing the Perth Metro, I have put my wife onto a decent 134cm specimen and even put my boss onto a 135cm mackie on his first cast in my favourite waters.  I have spent countless hours towing Halcos and Rapalas behind the boat, but to no avail - the Spanish Mackie was not to be.

That all changed on Easter Monday and here is how it all went down. 

Good mate Glen Liebold and I decided to head out and take advantage of the good weather and hopefully boat a snapper or two.  We launched from Woodman Point just before sunrise and made our way to my favourite waters off Rottnest. After an uneventful 40-minute trip we baited our lines with scalies attached to weighted double snelled traces and allowed these to drift down slowly behind the boat as the wind gently pushed us over a bommie of choice.  Whilst my bait was slowly drifting into the "snapper zone", I took up the spinning gear and started working a soft plastic.

Out of nowhere the rod baited with the scalie suddenly burst into life, with the reel peeling off a frightful amount of line in a very short time.  The rod tip was pointing 90 degrees away from the direction that the holder was pointing which resulted in a wrestling match as I tried to free the rod from the holder - and the "gosa" continued donating line.  I pleaded for Glen to start the Yammie as the level of line on the reel was indicating that I was about to be spooled.  Glen gently manoeuvred the boat in the direction that this rocket was travelling, but line still continued disappearing off the spool.  When the black tape that supports the knot at the base of the reel became evident, I panickly pleaded for Glen to pick up speed as I was onto another hiding from a fish from the depths of these waters (lost many good fish in the Perth Metro).  The odds eventually started turning in our favour as I gained some valuable line and the panic began to abate.  After a few shorter runs the fish eventually started showing signs of exhaustion and gave a final burst just after we saw colour for the first time.  

You would not comprehend my elation when we saw the fish's "numberplate", confirming the elusive Spanish Mack.  Once on the boat I realised how lucky I was to land this fish as the hook slipped out the corner of it's mouth, the rows of razor sharp teeth missing the vulnerable 30lb mono which made up the rest of the trace.  The lie-detector put the length to 131cm, which is about 18kg.

The Spanish Mack is now well and truly ticked off my bucket list - cannot wait for the next adrenalin rush on the Perth Metro.  

https://youtu.be/azmDGB1h6p8

 Gday all

Heading to Jurien bay in a few weeks. First time fishing out of there, we'll have two 6.5M boats together
Could anyone point me in the direction of some rough areas? Happy to sound my own lumps, but some general direction would be great. 
 

Are any mackie's been caught at the moment?

Going to visit my son over east soon, so thought I had better get the jab.  Was out at the airport waiting around the corner for a plane to arrive and saw a sign saying Covid, walked over and there was a big area with about 30 chairs, a couple of security guards and staff standing around but no-one else in there.  I asked what was going on and they said a Covid immunisation clinic, would I like a jab if I qualify.  I passed as I had to pick up someone from the plane.  Got home, rang the Federal Government and after that the State government Covid lines asking for the clinics phone number to make a booking.  They said it doesn't exist.  Couldn't find it on the internet at the government sites, and the State Government guy on the phone had a list of sites but no mass immunisation clinics listed.  My wife said" why don't you go to the showgrounds, there is one there".  Drove to the showgrounds, entered gate 8, walked up to a big building with about 20 or more staff, checked in with about 5 other people and got my jab.  Asked them about it, they have no phone number for bookings, are not listed anywhere and hope people find out by social media.  And no shortage of vaccine.  Its got me stuffed, if they want to inject people, why not inform them?

 
Anyone going in the HYC Harbour Classic on Saturday some good prizes for the heaviest species 

 Looking for recommendations for a good Barra charter operator in Darwin. Small boat just me and the Mrs. 

Can anyone recommend a surveyor for a large cat in Carnarvon....needed for insurance renewal  

 Fished again today, a nice metre Mackeral. I'm getting used to eating fresh fish.

 Hit some new country a couple of days before the weather in exmouth arrived and before the barometer dropped

Kids got there arms stretched more than once !!

 Just read that the 1 Mile Jetty in Carnarvon has been totally destroyed by a combination of high tides and strong winds.

Carnarvon has recorded winds of 107kph.

Spent plenty of nights out there as a kid. 

 In Denham with tinny.

Going to chase snapper now but I will take prechotions 

Couldn't help myself 

Stay safe everyone in the path

 Being a nice husband I took my wife for out for a fish today and played skipper and deckie. Headed out to Hawkesbury Island which is about 15nm from TI. Rapala X-rap Magnum 30 did the damage today. She also collected a Barracuda that was a good 1400 and we decided to remove the lure boatside instead of it flipping a shitcake in the boat and taking off someone's toes... The fangs on this guy were like sharp pencils. Looks like we're doing it again tomorrow...:D

 After waiting for months to go we get cancelled.

Park is now closed.

I wonder why?

Enjoy  Answer to last week's puzzle is 16 Animals did anyone see the 16 ?

Hit the Perth FADs up yesterday - PGF FAD first and south

good bait on the PGF fad, no action for us.

Went to  Furuno next and no takers for our live herring.

Rec Fish #6 next and had good numbers of Dollies. They showed up on sounder and played the game a bit. They wouldn't eat the live bait, and had half a dozen runs where even with acrobatics they sent the Herring back to us.

Had a look at Rec Fish #5 and no action at all.

Went down to Yamaha FAD and couldn't find it - low swell but slightly overcast but unable to locate it.

pulled some jet heads between 40m and 30m to pick up a good sized Big Eye.

tight lines.

Glenn

 Hi all,

Was so lookiing forward to 4 days in Jurien except Mother Nature has put a spanner in the works.

Will still tow the boat as it acts as a trailer as well.  If there are any windows, we'll fish.

Just as a back up, are there any weed banks in the bay where we could possibly get away from the screaming easterlies and get the boat wet? Possibly get the odd squid.

Thank you all in advance.

 Went for a trip out to Booby Island today. Shit conditions. Ran 50 nm on 35 litres of juice, the Optimax is getting me 1.4nm to the litre as a daily average. Picked up my first pair of Barracuda and some smaller Trevally on the Troll. Awesome day on the water.

 One of the friendly locals. Hanging about near the boat ramp yesterday and near the wharf today. 

I’ve recently become the proud owner of my first boat - a quintrex renegade 460.  I’m comfortable taking it up to 15km offshore on the right day - which generally puts you in the low 30s in the metro area. My question is whether there is ground that still holds dhus in this sort of depth range.  I spent yesterday morning doing a lot of sounding in 31m about 10km out of mindarie and didn’t find any flares greater than 0.5m.  Is it worth persisting in this sort of territory? I’m running a 1971f and tm66.  Cheers.