JDP

To many Brian Lawrence's on Facebook, went on hoping to see some mako's, didn't realise all those species were so common up there. Are they getting the sharks through winter, what temp would it be in April ?

Thats what I did when I first moved here, you soon get fed up of hooking giant stingrays though!!!!....the same guy still owns the tackle store but moved in down on the flat part of town. Its a great part of the world to live and only a couple of hours from the snowy mountains, so in some ways similar to being back home if I want to freeze my tits off!!!!

Here's a small one my daughter filmed a few years back.

Its rare for me to even take a camera these days, the only reason I had one on Xmas day was to film the new Garmin decent mk2 from one of my daughters sponsors. I think we have only dived together a handful of times all year now she's busy skippering charters. This is a clip from one of the lads I take out occasionally and spears with my daughter. At one point he's watching dolphin fish when the great white sneaks up under him!!!

There have been plenty over the last few weeks, with many of the dive and snorkel charters being cancelled because of them. We've had a few close calls from them or should I say my daughter has. It seems there's almost weekly incidents theses days around the country where someone has been bitten. Ive had friends killed by them commercialy diving for abalone, its certainly a risk which seems to be on the increase, especially spearing around a 4000 strong seal colony. A mako estimated to be close to 400kg has beed feeding on a few seals lately too, not that Ive seen it but plenty of others have. I carry bleeding trauma kits and hope I never have to use them.

I know the ones we see regularly but when you get up to the tropics there are so many species it gets pretty difficult. The last few years have seen big increases in sharks over our local reefs, perhaps because of the failing marine parks .

Yes mate grey nurse, supposed to be endangered but we have very good numbers of them here.

Specially for JonC, a few more screen shots from Xmas day, even a dog fish for Andy🙃

Don’t do any of that traditional stuff anymore, Xmas day is one of the few days of the year you can head offshore and have it all to yourself. Being summer helps, couldn’t think of anything worse than spending the day having to cook and clean up for all the in-laws

Merry Xmas, love the tree with those Aussie species on it🙃

No idea, never had a problem. I’ve had them on my last 4 boats as well as all of the commercial boats I use have them. On the commercial boats I would estimate dropping anchor around 10-20 times per day while working with divers. I would imagine most would have a manual override free fall and if it stopped working on the retrieval you would have to go back to the old methods of pulling by hand or using a float. The only time I’ve ever had issues has been with the windlass styles, even while doing my coxswain’s the 48ft training vessel windlass failed, which was a bigger issue due to the size of anchor. I find the fact anchoring is simply the push of a button I tend to plan lots of locations rather than staying in one spot. Especially useful when I’m searching for lobsters, where I might anchor close to several small structures in the search for them, very similar to live bait gathering also.

A few lads have contacted me from the UK in regards to the drum winches that most boats use over here rather than windlass. Not sure if something like these might suit the boat but they are so simple and can normally be in most anchor hates, even my 14ft centre console has a lonestar one fitted. You get away with much finer braided anchor lines which cuts down on bulk.

Funny you say that, looking for acreage and an atomic 6 home to put on it https://www.atomic6.com.au/pricing. As for fishing, Im finding spear fishing so much more selective and rewarding. Back on track, some tasty offerings there. Whats with the sea looking so flat, doesn't look like a breath of wind on it.

Haven't driven anywhere for a while, not used my boat for almost 3 months and most likely sell it soon and most of my fishing gear. I love the way Im always on your mind 😍

18-28'c suits me, which used to be our winter and summer average in my area but things have dramatically changed, even water temps have gone both colder in winter and hotter during summer locally by 2'c which effects rain fall etc. According to the scientists countries like ours will see more dramatic climate change before others but the changes are claimed to be more worldwide as time moves on.

Never watched the end, I believe once they got their own way the countries wealth would increase, foreign trawlers would head into the distance, everyone could catch a tuna and the fishing would be great again. Obviously people are much to busy, spending their money and catching fish to post about it unfortunately. Some have done so well they've increased their pot noodle consumption tenfold.

Nothing left to burn form the last ones. As for tv, all we get on ours is the UK Covid figures, hence why we don't watch much tv over here. I suppose that's better than the years of Brexit we had to put up from you!!!!

Been slow coming but according the the weatherman 45-50'c on its way by the end of the week. Felt pretty hot already today after my dog walk, both myself and the hound were glad when the walk was over, might get the Mrs to drop me closer to home tomorrow to walk back🔥 Having to keep the dog on the lead with so many snakes about this summer.

A few changes for the jigger.

Xraps destroyed fish inc destroyed kingfish 6-7kg lure destroyers!!!!….same lures handled both bluefin and yellowfin tuna without issue.

Thought you would enjoy the comparison and fuel figures but Jesus H Christ you are a grumpy f*** . I apologise for distracting you from your kitchen delights to something a bit boaty, have a wonderful Xmas🤠

Ok, works fine for me, must be a UK blocking thing. Just a bunch of 600hp mercury outboards stuck the back off fuel tank that looks like a boat!!!!

While JonC touched on the point in another thread on Australia being one of the worst countries in the world emitters of pollution and environmentally suck!!!...I just cant get over the fact people seem to be heading in the wrong direction to fix the issue. One of my neighbours, young couple both have Ford F350's specked out to the max with suspension lifts, massive tyres and the full works. These aren't used off-road at all but just to head to work short distances and they need a smaller car to fit in shopping centre carparks. We seem to be chasing the USA in terms of outboards strapped to the back of boats too, with this new 10.6m boat with 1800hp of outboards sitting on it. https://www.boatsales.com.au/editorial/details/aussie-made-boat-to-hit-sanctuary-cove-with-1800hp-mercury-v12-power-133419/?fbclid=IwAR2MplaGxtuGxEYBYkVifLDlfmOH0AHMN5WV4GyzHhQDhmVJ7-M7z2XV2q4

Ive got bits of lowrance, simrad and Garmin all networked into nmea 2000 and can mix some, my point one Lowrance communicates with both simrad and Garmin all networked together. Also three transducers but these dont work together as they aren't networked, so only work on the Garmin, however the Airmar hw 175 did work off the simrad until I changed the plug to a Garmin fitting.

Thats exactly what I was referring to in terms of tweaking them, as you can see in one of those screen shots the unit has simply been left in auto for contrast which makes the screen look very lacking in detail and spotting fish very difficult. Also there is the standard 455-800khz limits of lowrance and simrad. No ultra high definition and no deep water or wide sidescan range. I really struggled to see any fish in any of those screen shots.