jackmac

I don't like large KG myself and yes the occasional 1 can be infested with a worm in the flesh but 6 from a bag seem quite high,were they kept well ie put in a slurry or did you leave them banging around on ice?what area?They seem all too big to be from metro?
                    cheers b

My response is based purely on personal experience with those little stickers.
I was given a Spinfisher 950 as a present........upon spooling it up,the reel was grinding.......took it with receipt to the store it was purchased from,exchanged no drama.
Asked for it to be checked...........same prob........he went through his entire stock,same prob.........took cash back instead.
 
Previously had an Okuma bait feeder reel.......epix 80 from memory.........seized up on its first run!
Back to the store,exchanged it with a small cash injection for a shimano baitrunner 6500 B
 
Tried a banax when they first hit our shores.........coffee grinder at best.
 
Many say that they are the exception rather than the rule,and they're better now...........fair enough.
But,you only get one chance at making a first impression........I've been burnt,but that's just me.
No more little stickers in my tackle box.

ICrods7.jpg   Fox Sport Fishing Standup Trek: I had to add this one in here simply for the unique factor. Travel rods are nothing new, but until this year’s ICAST, I had never seen a stand-up roller guide outfit capable of battling massive makos or huge marlin that could break down into a travel tube. It may seem silly to some, but if you do any offshore fishing, you know how cumbersome outfits like this can be. Traveling with them is a nightmare and 99% are one-piece rods. Pick up four of these bad boys, and you can take your tuna gear along as easily as your fly rod. These bluewater packables sell for $470.
Icopener.jpg   It's almost 112 degrees is Las Vegas this week. So why on Earth am I here? Because I will face hurricanes and lightning, blizzards and hellish heat to attend the annual ICAST trade show. This is where all the tackle manufacturers unveil their latest wares for the up-coming year. When I'm on the show floor I drool a lot. I find myself awestruck by the innovation and smart designs coming out these days. I also scratch my head at certain booths, completely boggled by the ridiculousness of what I'm seeing. But it's all here, from lures to accessories, rod and reels, apparel to terminal gear. These are some of the most innovative, unique, and downright bizarre things coming to tackle shops near you.  Let me know what you think. - Joe Cermele
ICrods6.jpg   Fetha Styx NASCAR Series: Want to show your love for Dale Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Danica Patrick, Jeff Gordon or Mark Martin when you’re tearing up the lake? Now you can with Fetha Styx’s new line of NASCAR rods. That’s right, the wraps match your favorite driver’s colors and feature his or her signature. Is this a gimmick? Actually, no. These are some serious graphite bassin’ sticks that come in a wide range of sizes and powers. Though I’m not a NASCAR fan, the wrap colors are oddly cool looking. But what’s really cool is that $10 from the sale of each rod goes to a charity chosen by the driver who’s rod you purchased. These “hot rods” (sorry) range from $160 to $175.
IClures4.jpg   VersaLures V-X4 Serpent: Here’s a classic “why didn’t I think of that?” VersaLures V-X4 Serpent can be whatever you want it to be thanks to sections that snap together. Each lure comes with a tail, two heads, and middle piece. With just one lure, you can opt for a 5-inch diver or popper, or lose the mid section and make it a 3-inch bait. Buy two lures and you can mix and match colors, or make even longer models. It’s a cool idea and they seem pretty well made. The middle pieces even have slots for two little glow sticks. The Serpent sells for $12.
ICap5.jpg   Fishouflage Quarter-Zip Performance Top: Look again. That’s not Realtree. It’s 3-D Fishouflage of crappie in the brush on this company’s new quarter-zip Performance Top ($90). “Walleyeflage,” “Bassouflage” and “Muskyflage” are also available. So will this stuff hide you from the fish? According to the company’s catalog, it will not, but “it will create a new and distinct look for fishermen everywhere that they will be proud to display both on and off the water.” What say you?
ICreels2.jpg   Shakespeare E-Z Cast: This was by far one of the most innovative reels I saw on the show floor, and that innovation won’t put a dent in your wallet. The E-Z Cast low-profile baitcaster sells for $40, and I promise whether you’re 10- or 90-years-old, it will make you a master caster. A unique anti-backlash system above the spool (the blue panel) automatically pops up and brakes the spool when the line goes slack. At the booth, I launched a rubber sinker as hard as I could into a wall 5 feet away and ABS popped and locked the spool instantly. Zero backlashes. With the ABS on, there is no reason to even thumb the spool. But as the angler gets more comfortable and is ready to graduate to thumb braking, simply flip the ABS off and you’ve got a regular baitcaster. Aside from the braking features, the E-Z cast was actually a very smooth reel.
IClures16.jpg   River2Sea Dahlberg Diver Frog: Created by Mr. “Hunt For Big Fish” himself, Larry Dahlberg, this is one wicked frog. Pull it and it dives, creating a slight bubble trail with its legs. When you pause the retrieve, the legs retract like a real frog. Work it harder and it’ll dive 24 to 30 inches. When it rises back up, it sits with just its eyes breaking the surface. The unique “overhead” diving lip doubles as a weed guard and the “hook up” design lets it skip over weeds with ease. Larry’s TV show is hard to turn away from, as was the video of this bait in action. The explosions were epic and the largemouth weren’t tiny. The Dahlberg Diver Frog sells for $12.
ICac3.jpg   Old Harbor Outfitters Bucket Master: There’s no shame in being part of the bucket brigade, especially if you rig your 5-gallon “tackle box” with the Bucket Master ($50). Mesh-lined pockets inside and out hold everything you need for a day on the water. There are also separate knife and tool holders. The interior pockets are plenty big enough to fit a bunch of small- to medium-size tackle trays. A shoulder strap lets you sling it and go.
IClures9.jpg   Backstabber Lures: So why move the belly hook on a crankbait to the back? According to the fellas at Backstabber Lures, it keeps fish glued a little tighter because they get hooked in the top of the mouth. Both hooks also swivel 360 degrees to stop the lure from shaking loose if you accidently give the fish slack, if it jumps, or quickly changes direction. Finally, Backstabber claims this hook placement causes the bait to collect less salad when you’re ripping it through the weeds. Sounds intriguing to me. I’ll be getting one of these on the water soon for a serious test. Backstabbers are available in 7 colors, 3 sizes, and start at $13.
ICrods3.jpg   Duckett Fishing Micro Magic: Nope, it’s not a panfish rod. The Micro Magics were developed by bass pro Boyd Duckett to increase accuracy by using super tiny guides from end to end. The guide in the photo is from the 7-foot model. That’s the first guide closest to the reel and it’s smaller than my pinky nail. Supposedly, this guide system will increase casting distance by up to 15%. There are many models to choose from, and they also feature a removable weight system in the butt for custom tweaking.
IClures17.jpg   DelalanDe Fury Shad: I know what you’re thinking: two paddle-tails, double the kick. Not exactly. The tails on these French imports don’t work like regular paddles. Instead, the design causes them to roll back and forth. That means you can work these shads like a buzzbait, gurgling them across the top. Or rig them on a jighead and work slowly for a more subtle, twisting wobble unlike your standard paddle. U.S. prices not yet set.
ICreels4.jpg   Pflueger Patriarch: Oh how far things have come since the old Pflueger Medalist fly reel. The lightest model in the new Patriarch Series weighs just 5.6 ounces. The heaviest weighs 8.1 ounces. That’s because the rotors and sideplates are made of magnesium, the shafts are titanium, and the spools and handles are anodized aluminum and carbon fiber. Put it all together, and it doesn’t weigh much. At the booth, they had a helium balloon suspending the small model over my head. But the Patriarchs are also going to be workhorses, because although the components are light, they’re very tough materials. So how much for this technology? All models will sell for $200.
IClures13.jpg   Gulp! Crickets: Not long ago I wrote a blog post asking readers what natural baits they’d like to see “Gulpified.” Many of you said crickets. Ask and ye shall receive. Gulp! Crickets, also available in the Gulp! Alive formula, will be on shelves near you soon. They come 8 to a pack and sell for $4. Panfish, beware.
ICac7.jpg   Gear Grabbar: There are lots of suction-cup and sticky-foam-mounted lure holders out there, but I know from experience that hooks can be a pain to get out of the slots, and if you happen to bump up against one, it’s not pleasant. But the Gear Grabbar ($21.95) uses magnets to hold 9 lures, tools, and loose hooks and swivels on the top shelf. Your lures won’t come loose from the boat rocking, but if you brush up against the strip, the lures pull free…so no points buried in you past the barb. A stick-on rear magnet system lets you place the Grabbar anywhere on the boat and take it down when the trip is over.
 

Well my mate asked me along another Kangaroo Island trip last holidays! Arrived back home last week with an experience we will never forget. 

When we first arrived on Hanson bay, we got out of the car for a quick stretch and collected some fresh air on the front porch. We looked at the first bay to see a massive patch of "seaweed/reef" that was never there before? After a long analysis, I realised it was a salmon school that was incredibly close to shore!!    We quickly started to unpack but my mates mum told us to grab the rods and go so we did!   
It was the closest school I have ever seen and the salmon weren't small! We hooked up every cast for a good 25 minutes before the school moved out deeper. Biggest went 70cm and they were all around 65-70cm. Awesome fun while it lasted and we already collected a feed. lol   

 
The next day we woke up at 6:30am to find another huge school (possibly the same one) being chased in close by a couple of hungry seals!  
Same thing happened, we ran down and hooked up every cast for a solid 25 minutes before the school moved back out. Crazy stuff!! 




 
After had some time to relax and eat, we headed down to the river and realised that it was full of feeding bream!!! We used surface lures (OSP Bent Minnows) for the majority of the time, landing dozens of healthy fish including a 36.5cm one! 




 
Went back home for dinner and played a couple of board games before I headed back to the river for a solo flick. Caught another half a dozen or so before dark. 



 
The next day we woke up early once again, but this time we couldn't see any schools so we headed straight for the river. Within the first half hour of using surface lures, they seemed a bit slow because it was freezing!! So we switched to Zman grubz, cranka crabs and dragon maggots. This turned out trumps and we found ourselves catching one almost every cast in one specific spot.   Not huge but they were fun little fish. 







 
After about 3-4 hours, we went back to the shack to get our energy back, when my mates mum comes in and informs us of a big salmon school on the second bay! We grabbed the big rods and ran down to give it a suss. Standing on the cliff at the start of the second bay, I spotted the school! It was out far unfortunately so we waited (impatiently). 



 
After a long wait, we realised there was another smaller school further down the bay, but this one was closer! 
We followed it around the place, landing a fish every few casts into the school before one fish broke my hook! For the next 20 minutes, I was casting into the school with a hookless slug and watching them chase it all the way to the shore. It was an amazing sight. 




 
After the school moved out far and wide, we  decided to call it a day as we were buggered... 
 
The next day, we headed north towards Kingscote! Expecting the best, it ended up being rough and windy at the jetty but we fished it anyways. It was real slow but we managed to land 2 tiny squid (kept for bait), a few red mullet, a leather jacket and a troutie! 


 
On the way home, we stopped at Vivvone bay for a quick night flick. After landing about half a dozen nice tommies on plastics, along with a couple of tiny trevally, it was time to go. On the way home, a 4x4 with a barcrusher boat overtook us at high speeds. Then another one which looked quite familar? After a second look, I realised it was the Paul's boat, "True Blue" and the Ifish crew! LOL   Hope they didn't hit any wallabies. 
 
The next few days we only fished the river as there were no salmon schools in sight! 
We landed over 30 bream on the OSP Bent Minnows including some bruisers that were 35cm+!  We had clear visions on most of the hookups! It was insane!!!! 









 
Overall, it was one of the best holidays I've had! None of it would have happened without one of my best mates, John and his lovely family!   
 
And to finish this new thread, here's the longest video I've made on my YouTube channel!!  Cheers! 

 
 
 
 

They expect the birds to remove a large portion of the dead carp.My father always told me about the days when you could climb a tree and watch big cod swim by.It would be great to see the bottom again.

What a great story.I will have mine scattered around Rapid Bay where I did a lot of fishing as a teenager in the 70s.

Agree 100%
    My aunty grew up at blanchetown ,her father was lock master .She recall's the water very clear as well b4
the carp ,at the moment it look's like a dirty duck pond .

They expect the birds to remove a large portion of the dead carp.My father always told me about the days when you could climb a tree and watch big cod swim by.It would be great to see the bottom again.

Dare say they would be running up and down the river in sections with a net to get the floaters. Some people are carrying on like peanuts like this saying stuff like what if we drink the water in Adelaide.. we might catch the herpe's....
 
*Bangs head on the wall*

Those that don't have a smoker could try this?
 
 
 
 

looks good.
 
You didn't have to actually drink the XXXX tho did you !?
 
When i started drinking that stuff, the missus decided it was time to leave QLD!

might watch some footy......snacks done. Smoked Snapper, pickled crab, dip, bickies and celery sticks

So I don't usually keep Bream, but a nice sea run specimen makes for a very tasty meal. This one was caught on Saturday morning, marinated in lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, chilli, oregano, salt and pepper during the day and then cooked over charcoals that evening. Was absolutely beautiful. Outdoor cooking... with beer in hand... oh yes.
 

Try smoking with tea.This goes great with tuna or any other fish for that matter.

1/4 cup of both Kosher salt and Brown sugar to every litre of water..... fill it so it covers the meat... leave it for 24 hours... Add your own spices or flavours if needed to taste etc.... 

As of yet only used redgum in my cheapo box smoker.Recon most gum sould be fine just make sure it's well seasoned to get rid of as much of the voatile stuff, kinda as you would for a slow combusion heater.Have been saving up some nice seasoned plum & apple branches to drop the saw thru, recon they should smoke well. Certainly smells awesome coming out the chimney in winter.

Its a good thing that he had some obvious experience up his sleeve. The whole situation could have been a lot worse otherwise. Sounds like he didn't panic and did what a good captain should do. Hats off to that!  Certainly feel for his loss though. 

Following on from seeseacol's thread, there is more than 1 way to skin a cat (or eat a crab) 
 
traditional

 
stir fried - tomato/bbq sauce, white wine sweet chilli

 
salt, pepper, chilli and now diluted vinegar. 1 apple cider 1 white, gunna try malt next.

 
our first try at crab cakes - sensational, potato, mayo, s&p, lemon juice, home grown spinach & spring onion. dipped in egg & Panko.

 

i use too get that every now and then when i boiled them mate not sure if its because they have been over boiled or the lack of body meat 
 
since ive been steaming them have never had a bad 1 even when they are empty they still taste choice... as the guts and feelers being boiled with little body meat is what make the crab taste crap when they arent full
 
how full were they mate?? as i noticed the 1s i got the other day werent as full as previous 1s..beauty with steaming u cant over steam them either

I can't "morally justify" it, I just like killing things and the gubernment took my guns away. Last time I stabbed a human the judge didn't see the funny side so fishing it is.

Sorry, I have just sold my unicorn to this lady who plans to breed them....
Apparently she used to work at the Crazy Horse.
That would have been very yucky.

I just like sticking sharp pointy things into those tasty little buggers.Any way if they didn't want to be caught and eaten then they wouldn't swim near my boat, would they?
 
sorry about the stupid answer but it seemed a silly question.

They do seem to march as the tide moves but you will still pick up a feed on most tides if you are in the right place at the right time.

Yep 20 each up to 3 people.

"To crab or not to crab" - this is not another "morality" question, is it?!!
 
Cheers
af