Knackers

Nah, ziplocks get holes from freezing as well. Double bag it is.

I just took some gummy fillets out of the fridge after defrosting and they leaked all over the floor.I must be the biggest idiot around because they always do. Why would you market and sell a freezer bag that can be penetrated by ice crystals? I'm tired of double/triple bagging everything. Its not like they are in the 4WD and grinding against other stuff.

Why? Two reasons:1. Its snapper ban in SA at the moment.2. Its pink because when they clean it anything not for human consumption and the head is chucked in a big bin and is always last to get bagged and frozen. If the pros are specifically targeting squid for bait they often don't even bother to ice it down or cool it properly. Even my freshly caught treated local squid goes pink after a while. Pink = not fresh.

I haven't been to the Dorsal Fin for ages since they changed the road. It as the go to store for bait as I used to live at Modbury so a launch from OH, St Kilda or Yorkes took me straight past it.SFS is a pain as above because of the road. But I do re-stock with bait and tackle on the way back now. Impossible to chuck a Uie.I get a lot of stuff online but from OZ not OS. Ray and Annes online orders have been quick and been happy. I find it annoying waiting to get served whilst time wasters drone on about crap. I do not know why the dudes behind the counter can't say "excuse me but I'll just serve this customer before his bait goes off and get back to you."I like the blonde lady at BCF Richmond though. Grrrrrrr!(hope she isn't a forum members wife)

Bigfish,How far and in what direction off north haven. I have dived a massive area from the breakwater to about 3 km out for scallops on Hooka for the last 25 years. All I've seen is sand, weed and mud. That is either some good fish or somebody has made their own artificial reef. I'd be going back there for sure. If you pm me the GPS loc I can have a look at it underwater :whistle: (if it is still there and wasn't fish)

I think ther is still a ban on them. Google Port River mud cockles.

Q:?? The MPPT? You said you were running the 20amp version - I am thinking of getting the 40amp because i am thinking of running 2x 240w folding panels and want to be able to upscale if necessary....Would that be possible or do I have to upscale the mppt as I add to the system??Anyway' date=' cheers and thanks for the info.....[/quote']Mate,You should buy the regulator you'll think you need as you would have to upscale if you add more panels. You can simply add the max amount of amps each panel produces to work out the size of your regulator. My panels output max 6 amps (remember they output 19-22V to the reg)so 20 amps for me is fine.

GDK,I have an N70 100 AH wet cell under the hood and 2 x 100 AH AGM securely attached in the back of the wagon. I run both the 60 litre (evercool) fridge and 40 litre (engel)freezer off both the AGMs during the day. The solar panel are hooked up to these two. At night I take the fridge off these batteries and connect it to the one battery under the hood. The panels can run both fridges during the day whilst still recharging the AGMs. I didn't think it would be possible but it works. Longest stay in one spot with this setup was on Frances Peron Penisula at Shark Bay this March for 9 nights. Each day was 38 deg +. I had a genny back up but only used it to recharge the wet cell every 3rd day as the car didn't move. The panels are 'permamently' mounted to the roof rack so I have to park in the sun. I need to work out a better system so I can easily detach them and position them better then performance should be better + the fridges won't have to work so hard if I can park the car in the shade. I'm fairly confident now that I don't need the genny for week long trips but it is good insurance if you consider how much fish you can catch and bring back in a freezer - especially mulloway, gummies, tuna, spanish mackeral etc. I know of mates who have packed up from Yalata on the first day of a week trip because they have caught a 60lb mulloway and can't keep it so they go home rather than waste the fish.Overcast days aren't much of a problem because they are generally cooler and the fridges don't have to cycle as much to maintain temp.With the freezer I also maintain about 10 litres of ice in plastic bottles so I can take 5 litres out with me in the boat in an esky or a small bait esky when on the beach. I have noticed that I use heaps less bait once its thawed as it gos back into the fridge and lasts up to 5 days before re-use. I looked at wind turbines but the good ones are expensive. My panels and 20 Amp regulator was $620 but I did the install myself. I also buy a spare 12v power cable for the fridges and cut the plug off them and hard wire these directly to the battery. One less thing to go wrong as plugs do fall out and are not very efficient.

From many years of multiweek fishing and camping on the FWC in summer I have learnt a few things the hard way I don't use poly types tarps anymore as they are useless. I use the heavy duty shade cloth types as the wind passes through them (cooling) and as they don't catch the wind as much the eyelets don't rip out. I use good qualtiy alloy extendable poles as they don't rust. I aslo make small plates out of marine ply for bases for any poles for shade.As soon as it gets offshore the flies are ridiculous. Some sort of fly proof shelter to eat in. I'm a fan of quickshades now and found them very durable. I always take a portable am radio for tuning into the ABC for weather reports. I have found them very accurate in Summer. If it is going to be offshore and above about 37 deg I personally set up shade on the beach the evening or before dawn on the day. It is hard to do with 20+ knots of northerly and every orifice of your body full of flies @ 40+ degrees.No more ice. Two portable fridges, one as a freezer and one as a fridge. This takes time, effort and money. I installed all my own electrics into the 4WD - two 100W solar panels and MPPT regulator, two seperate isolated circuits for 3 auxillary batteries. So much easier than ice and eskys. If you are going to take spares you need to know how to replace them and what tools you need. I have had to replace two wheel bearings and a stub axle. If your wheel bearings go you will need to have pry bars, the specific tool to remove the nut (most 1/2 inch socket spanners won't have a socket big enough), punches, files, maybe heating tools etc. Far better to service them yourself and know the warning signs when they require some attention before you go or on the trip. I have a spare wheel bearing just so I don't have to wait weeks for a part to arrive but have the tools as well. I would defineatley take you OWN snatch strap and winch extension strap, I get sick of unpacking mine to get other people off the beach. If you get recovered a six pack goes a long way in thanks (just not at Yalata). If you take a trailer most of the camping spots at Yalata, Dog fence etc only have very short sections where you you need to go into low range 4WD (except the beach). I take my 12 ft tinny and drop it off at the beginning of the beach or dune and unload the 4wd at the camping spot. Go back for the boat transfer the heavier items from the boat to the 4WD like water and fuel due to the smaller footprint of the trailer tyres. Always let your trailer tyres down as well. I have seen some massive trailers on the western dog fence beach no problems. Don't be afraid to let your tyres down dependant on the conditions. I've been down to 8 psi before to get the car off the beach. Just avoid rapid acceleration and turns at speed. Pump them back up when off the sand or go slow. When sand is cold it is denser and easier to drive on so go in during the very early morning if it is going to be hot. Evening is no good as the sand holds it heat fairly well.Take a few packets of salt and newspaper. If you use any fish bait (esp pillies) when they defrost and get soggy you can use a small bait esky, line it with paper and layer the pillies with the salt - one layer pillies and salt, newspaper, and repeat. Good emergency source of bait. Plenty of soft plastics 3 - 5 inch and chrome lures as well. I take a home made oil and pellet berley, not for mulloway but more for STs and tommies for bait.

All my west coast mulloway have been full of baby sand crabs. Doesn't stop them from taking fairly large live STs as bait though.

Do the kingies run at coffins bay?Cheers

I use a Yucatan knot which looks suspiciously similar to the PR/Mid knot. It won't bite on anything less than 30 lb braid for me.edit: no its not, the Yucatan is similar/same as teh "Cairns Quicky"

This jetty is probably the best example of a sancturay zone that there is, rather than the arbitrary allocation of zones now. Its like the Port Wakefield range, the only area that doesn't get hit hard.It would be good to leave this "truer than most" sancturary zone alone. Maybe establish artificial reefs around to attract fish and have an exclusion zone around the jetty proper. Also let it degrade gracefully and fall into the sea as a permanent reef. It might take decades to do so.What are the restrictions now on it - can you go for a dive and how close can you fish off it from the boat.

Mate,I caught a heap at Fowlers Bay in the shallows this winter. I used a typical gar rig. I only fished for them when they were active and used a heap of berley, chicken pellets in my mix of tuna/pilchard oil. Was throwing out handfuls of pellets as well. Bait - used gents and small strips of squid. They came on the bite really well.

Mate,Other than the live stuff I prefer tommy fillets for bait rather than pillies or salmon. They stay on the hook for longer than either (except the salmon skin, its like kevlar) and are oily enough to attract the fish.

Everything you have mentioned is fine. I always run two rods, one for mulloway and one for bait - salmon trout, mullet or tommies. As soon as I get a live one on it goes.

Looks like my ex wife

Thanks guys but I suppose it would be better if I could remember what episode it was. It doesn't look like any of the suggestions. I'll ask him and see if he replies.

I imagine they would be okay. On occasion I'll eat Eagle Ray. Great in a Curry. Eagle Ray Rogan Josh - mmmmm

Does anybody know what the large baitrunner used by the Amazon Angler is? It is driving me crazy as I can't see brand or model in the shots.

They are at Fowlers Bay as well. Out on the ledge (poofters perch to the locals) they have a colony to the right when looking out into the bay. The sea lions are to the left. I noticed them for the first time last year.

I agree, do not use braid without a level wind on an overhead reel. Bad for your fingers.I too use ABU 7000s and a 9000. I have an ABU7000 that I bought 30 years ago. Still on its original level wind. Cost me $120 back then, made in Sweden obviously. I also use a TLD25 with 50lb mono and a 9ft LBG rod on occasion and am always surprised how well the TLD casts. If I want to fish with braid for whatever reason from the beach I use a spinning reel in the 6000 to 8000 range. I hate braid on the beach except for the times when there is absolutely no weed. If you are holding your rod then no worries, but don't put it in a rod holder as any slack when you hook some weed and you will lose most of your braid in an almighty tangle.

Mate,I've have 2 x 4120 at the moment. I use them with Abu 7000 and 9000 series reels. I also use a Shimano 8000 baitrunner on one as I don't like the action of my spinning surf rod. You don't get as good casts due to the smaller eyelets and the way the line runs off of the spinning reel as opposed to the overhead. But it is okay.I can throw a largish bait (strip of salmon/small tommy etc) with a 6 oz sinker ok. I have since got a 5120 that I now use exclusively for this though and use the ABU 9000 on this, much better for the heavier side of things.BTW 4120 means 4 wraps of glass and 120 inches long. Useless factoid.