Where did you surf today?

lom's picture
lom started the topic in Wednesday, 23 Feb 2011 at 11:22am

A Realsurf staple-( sorry Priddes for the plagarism)
No surf today but off to Vicco tomorrow for the weekend so heres hoping!

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Friday, 18 Aug 2017 at 9:04pm

Shatner - One thing I really enjoy about Swellnet is when people discuss the coast , the waves , the weather , the things they've seen and done whilst at the beach.

And I enjoy writing on here . So it stands to reason that I'd write something about a day on the coast . Especially on a thread called Where Did you surf today. Only I'm not big on naming locations.

It's not that much of a stretch to figure out , do you think ?

You do go to the beach don't you ?

PS Sypkan isnt my biggest fan ....you are.

I can't write anything without you screaming for attention.

Maybe write something interesting about surfing or the coast . Unique concept for a surfing site , I know , but maybe give it a shot ?

60 hours represented the time you had before you've got to get up and go back to your shitty job. It's more like 56 hours now.

Clocks ticking .....go to the beach.

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tubeshooter Friday, 18 Aug 2017 at 8:57pm

I save my daily reports for the checkout pricks at Woolworths/Coles. They seem to enjoy my eloquent comebacks to their rhetorical questions about my day, the weather , parking , lack of a fly by card etc.

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Shatner'sBassoon Friday, 18 Aug 2017 at 11:04pm

Nah, Blovie, Seppo is your true believer. Your only believer.

Keep to your surf fictions. They're shit but at least they're not full of shit.

Erm, but they are too. But you get that.

Ah well, you reap what you sow.

Fuck one goat etc.

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Shatner'sBassoon Friday, 18 Aug 2017 at 11:08pm

60 hours still makes no sense.

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Blowin Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 7:09am

Friday 5 PM + 60 hours = 5 AM Monday .

Time to get up and go to work.

And your inability to figure that out explains why they've got you on the broom and not the cash register at the bottlo.

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Shatner'sBassoon Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 11:30am

Ha ha. Sounds like YOU defo got that figure hard-wired in your brain, Blovie.

As Barnaby Choice the NZ accountant says "you do the meth, bro"

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Shatner'sBassoon Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 7:14am

Just watch your piss test.

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stunet Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 7:53am

Can we give the constant bitching a rest?

It's getting annoying, it ain't funny, ain't witty, and the repetition is doing my head in and others too - going on a recent glut of emails.

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Blowin Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 8:05am

Gladly

freeride76's picture
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freeride76 Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 6:39pm

I caught a 93cm Tailor this winter. 8.7kg. Just a beesdick under 20 pound. Unfortunately on jew gear but it still managed to take a heap of line and jump like a marlin.
I would have released but it was just too beat up after landing through a heavy surf on the Point.

So I skinned it, sliced the fillets into thinner pieces and slowly, but slowly, we ate our way through it.
After a week i was the only one in the family still eating it, and obviously I couldn't give it away.
But something miraculous happened. The meat cured like salami, it went about the same consistency and I found `i could chew on it raw like biltong.
Two weeks later I finally got to the bottom of the pile of fillets.

Cooked the head and fed it to the chooks. And now there is a beautiful tailor head in the back garden. I'll take it into the DPI angler research program to see how old it was.

fun waves here today but a bit weird and underwhelming.

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Blowin Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 7:09pm

I'm hopeless with guessing weights and I was wondering how heavy they'd be at that size.

Unbelievable fish.

I was just throwing lures into a gutter for tailor when I lost two metals in quick succession. I was a bit perplexed as to what it could be as I hardly ever get bitten clean off by tailor.

So I threw on a meaty fluorocarbon leader and immediately landed the largest tailor I've ever seen on the East coast . I was losing lures because the fish were so big they were just getting inhaled completely.

I'd assumed that once they'd gotten to that size they'd be solo hunters like the largest specimens of other species such as Spaniards , but I was watching them zoom into the shallows in squads of 3-4 fish at a time. Amazing sight seeing them powering through a foot of clear water over the bank chasing down a metal slice.

You seen many of that size before around your joint ?

I've caught similar sized fish in WA a few times. I've been told that the mid west is the giant tailor holy grail but I've nailed mine on the South coast where they seem to be a bit less common but better fish.

Largest individuals I've caught have been haunting salmon schools. Lurking like a tiger slumming with a pride of lions.

A lot of people aren't into tailor . I dig them .

Aggressive , voracious and brutish to look at. Tastey food when fresh.

Like a temperate water queeny.

PS I've always wanted to try fish jerky/ biltong but I still think you're fucking keen munching out on week old fillets. Nice work.

Let us know how old it was .

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stunet Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 7:08pm

No tailor-made biltong here, not even any fishing, though I just scarfed a pack of fish fingers. How does that rate in the angling stakes?

Checked the point four times today but only went out late arvo. The whole day passed in some sort of limbo, waiting for the swell to hit...waiting, waiting. By 3pm it was still only 3-4ft, just pissy wind swell talking a big game but I decided to paddle out. I had to.

Took the Phil Myers seven-o channel bottom but it was wishful thinking. Too much chop, not enough juice, the board bucked and I bounced, though the few sets hitting right on dark bode well for the morning.

Stopped in at the IGA and had an attack of paranoia: why are people looking at me? Caught sight of my face in the fridge door at the frozen section and staring back was Barbara Cartland in inch thick zinc cream - full face to ward off the wind, which went well with my bloodshot eyes and finger-in-the-light-socket hair.

Promised my eldest a karate movie tonight and I baggsed Bruce Lee. He's never heard of him so it came down to paper, scissors, rock, and I lost - Karate Kid 3 here we come.

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Blowin Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 7:23pm

Classic.

My mums nickname for me was Barbara Cartland due to that same bronze zinc concealer look . Many times I'd stagger into a nightclub shithouse on a bender, glance in the mirror and realise I was still caked up.

Maybe get a hit out on the 10 Pack tomorrow ? Sounds like you're in love with the thing.

PS Karate kid 3 is the worst of the lot.

Haven't seen fish fingers in years. I fucking loved fish fingers. Shudder to think what's in them . Sea nuggets.

No surfing or spinning for me for a little while. Think I cracked a rib or tore a cartlidge getting slammed into a sandbank a few days ago and it's giving me grief. Waves looked fun. Pumping offshore and some straightish lines.

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freeride76 Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 7:39pm

yeah I love me tailor....I seem to get one or two every year over 10 pounds.
This part of the east coast- Lennox/Ballina definitely holds the biggest tailor on the east coast.

I've seen photos of fish well over 20lbs. One close to 30.

Funny thing is, less and less people seem to be fishing for them.

There just a staple food source in this house.

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udo Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 7:43pm

You ever smoke them freeride ?

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freeride76 Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 7:51pm

No, and theres no good reason why not.

Used to live next door to this japanese chef and he loved tailor, so I gave him fish regularly.
He'd marinade them in something like ginger, rice wine and something else then hot smoke them in a wok over banksia cones. He did it in front of me many times and it looks easy as.
Just about the most delicious meat I've ever tasted too.
But I've never done it at home. Too lazy I guess.

Dusted in seasoned flour, cooked in hot oil, squeeze of lemon and bobs your uncle.

Though I did make this fancy salsa verde a few times this winter to spoon over it.

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 8:19pm

Christ that sounds good.

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zenagain Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 8:34pm

Biggest Tailor I've caught is big greenbacks offshore while chasing other species. Love the fight and love the taste. Usually smash you on the way down in 50 metre + water.

Fishfingers make me puke. Yuck.

If you get a big fillet, slice into strips about three fingers wide and sear both sides in a super hot pan for only about 10 seconds a side so still raw/rare in the middle. Wrap in gladwrap and place in the freezer to bring the temp down. Chill for about an hour then slice thinly and dip in soy and a little wasabi. If you're a fish eater I guarantee it will change your mind about Tailor (Bonito is even better).

Sorry, it's the Jap in me.

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zenagain Saturday, 19 Aug 2017 at 8:37pm

PS We used to eat Tailor sangas as kids. Caught, bled, filleted, fried and on bread and butter with a squeeze of lemon. Still warm, yum.

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Shatner'sBassoon Sunday, 20 Aug 2017 at 12:55pm
Herc's picture
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Herc Sunday, 20 Aug 2017 at 1:38pm

'STRIKE!'

HAHA, more like strike 103.

Who ya gunna call... witbusters!!!

Imagine the bitching! The swillnutters emailin' their guts out!

Then it will be a bro fest. Dancing with the stars.

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tubeshooter Sunday, 20 Aug 2017 at 11:03pm

I,m not a smoker , but a few of my commercial mates don't do a bad job of it . Mostly tailor and mullet. Some of their kids have to live off it every now and again and they don't complain ,. although knowing their fathers I wouldn't either.
Too that , Ive caught a few big tailor this year that I've mistaken for either a decent jew or salmon while reeling in,,. and the bream off the beach this year the largest I've seen in years

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freeride76 Monday, 21 Aug 2017 at 7:27am

I honestly think the closed season on Fraser now is making an impact on tailor stocks....for the positive.

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stunet Monday, 21 Aug 2017 at 10:34am

Big couple of days around my way. In truth probably the biggest swell since last June, and I reckon first light yesterday threw up a few sets even larger than that. I spent six hours in the water yesterday and got beaten all over the park. Last night I was feeling sore and dejected 'cos I strategised and planned but it counted for little - I didn't feel like I got any great waves.

Took some consolation from conversations this morning where pretty much everybody was feeling the same - lotta beatings, not too many victories. Great swell but.

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thermalben Monday, 21 Aug 2017 at 10:54am

Very big on the Tweed y'day too, way to much size and sweep to surf.

Surfed the local point here Saturday, but even with less than half the size (of Sunday) the sweep was incredible.. managed to fight against it with a twenty five minute head-down paddle, making up 250m of lost ground from the entry, only to be whisked away back down the line again when I swung for a set, missed, and ended up back in the torrent.

Soul destroying to watch great waves go unridden just out of reach because of exhaustion. 

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freeride76 Monday, 21 Aug 2017 at 2:35pm

It had it's moments here Stu, and I agree with the biggest since the black nor-easter but when that swell fully powered up yesterday it was nigh on impossible to surf.

Joel Fitz on a 9'6" was about the only one able to get close to it.

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JMB Monday, 21 Aug 2017 at 2:52pm

Norries headland late Sunday arvo. Big set breaking way off Caba, and then another set looking back towards Hastings. Sorry about the photo blur, I had an unhappy 2 yr old in my arms and I was in a rush.

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Herc Monday, 21 Aug 2017 at 5:42pm

'Joel Fitz on a 9'6" was about the only one able to get close to it.'

Joel Fitz? The genuine legend and charger from hell Joel Fitz? Hey, hang on, that can't be right! The swillnuts history of surfees said he's just not very good, a kook in fact! Among other things! Zenns the breaks!

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lukas Monday, 21 Aug 2017 at 6:20pm

i was already to go fishing this weekend.... bloody west of all direction's, yer ya know, let's go fishin, boat & all.... yep all organised, like a month before. well last week i noticed the low.... shit.... well, to windy fa fishin. let's go ta snapper for the weekend...... i was keen, but the condition's looked not quite right... yer but na. yer... na, ... ended up just staying home this weekend.... glad i did.

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thermalben Monday, 21 Aug 2017 at 6:31pm

I really want to do a new section on Swellnet - "yer but na".

We'll document the failures of indecisive surf trips.

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crg Monday, 21 Aug 2017 at 8:00pm

It was definitely a strong swell. Like most everyone I spoke to around here, alot of paddling and getting into wave position was purely good luck or see ya later with the sweep. On a 7'6" and it felt like a fish. There's a lot of beach missing too.

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udo Monday, 21 Aug 2017 at 8:46pm

Always wonder about Elizabeth /Middleton reef on these big swells Willy weather predicted 7m swell out there

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stunet Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 1:55pm

A few years back I contacted a seaplane company about a surf trip out to Middleton Reef. Figured we'd just swing down and land in the middle of the lagoon then step off the skids and paddle over to that left which just has to pump in big souths.

Think it was just after I read Ghost Wave, Chris Dixon's book about Cortes Bank, and I was looking for my own offshore wonder reef.

Told the lady of my intention and enquired about price. She took my email then said she'd get back to me.

Except she never did.

Good waves around today but totally tide dependent. Had a tough time of it before work when the tide was high but just came in from a great low tide session at the same bank. Must be a lot of sand sitting offshore cos the beaches are denuded and it ain't in the near shore zone.

Also, testing some C-Drive fins and finding they're not ideal in smaller waves. Or to put it more correctly, they work much better in bigger waves.

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memlasurf Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 2:02pm

Stu put a smaller fin in the back or go down a size. They can be stiff if you have the wrong size and a smaller back one seems to loosen it up heaps. Mine are fine in all waves once I got the recipe correct. Are they making them again?

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mick-free Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 2:02pm

If you get a seaplane together I'd be keen to chip in on that one Stu.

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stunet Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 2:10pm

It ain't stiffness that's bothering me but the transition into turns when at low speeds - it's not smooth, feels a bit, I don't know, jagged.

In bigger waves they're unreal. Can't fault them in any way, and it feels like they'll become my standard fin setup at size. Even when travelling fast in small waves they're good, but when trying to generate speed through turns they feel unpredicatble. Gonna keep playing around with them cos my experience using them in bigger waves was real good.

Not sure if Troy is starting up again or not. Think I got some of the last pairs?

RE seaplane. If you can get her to reply I'll pony up my share.

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talkingturkey Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 3:05pm

Seaplane?? Swellnet must be a decent gig!

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fitzroy-21 Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 3:19pm

I'd be surprised if it would have the fuel range for starters. And possible wouldn't have the licence to venture that far.

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stunet Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 3:27pm

Ah, don't worry, I kinda knew it was a futile exercise. Just an inspired moment after reading a great book, which if you haven't read you most definitely should. Did you know in the 60s a bunch of crazy secessionists sunk a submarine at Bishops Rock, Cortes Bank, then planned to transport landfill and create their own country called Aballonia?

Fantastic idea!

Till the first swell hit and washed their fledgling country away.

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freeride76 Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 3:54pm

Longliners go out there.

that would be your best bet.

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Herc Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 5:33pm

A bigger set of leg and glute muscles would easily solve all those performance issues stewart, including the fobbed off seaplane one. Developing them may seem like an ever further away dream to you at this moment, but, miracles do happen.. I can get you there.

I train some owners of longliners and can also arrange for a longliner pickup and remote area jettison as well.

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fitzroy-21 Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 5:32pm

Buy/Hire a yacht, load it up with supplies and sail away.................

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tubeshooter Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 9:10pm

Herc , I know a few longliner owners , and they are a bit like a London fog ,,,just won't lift.
If you actually work on a commercial fishing boat you won't need a gym.

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Herc Tuesday, 22 Aug 2017 at 10:10pm

Haha, not that old wives tale. Every man and his dog work on them. My x is in one of the biggest fishing families in the country. Fat ones, scrawny ones, lazy ones and some fit ones. I've trained tons of them. Fucked backs ahoy. 3 last week. No gyms ya reckon. Na, sorry, not true. Then of course there's also this Dean Lukin guy.

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tubeshooter Thursday, 24 Aug 2017 at 7:53pm

If I had a dollar for everyone who knew a major player/family in the fishing game I could have retired years ago .Some of the fittest and strongest 'old' an 'young' blokes I know are fishermen who have never been to a gym. Ive been bounced around the the ocean a bit , lifting bins of fish ,ice, hauling gear , etc, round the clock ,all the bullshit. My knees and back and everything else are fine too , and I,m no pup. never had a trainer and neither have any of my colleagues , at least none that will admit to it., though a small minority do a bit of working out, I.d hardly say its standard for the industry. I was just taking a stab at slipper skippers./owners, take from it what you will.

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Herc Thursday, 24 Aug 2017 at 8:24pm

Yeh tubeshooter, and like I said, I was involved in a huge fishing family for years, and train and surf with plenty of owners, skippers, deckies. Some are the most unfit people you will meet. Lots of them here like going to the gym. The Lukin boys had their own gym years and years ago. Heaps of crew would go and workout with them. Similar I guess, around here if I had a dollar for everyone I know that's worked on a fishing boat, I would be loaded too.

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tubeshooter Thursday, 24 Aug 2017 at 8:41pm

Can't argue there, I know heaps of unfit guys too . Sacked a few in my time. I wasn't actually bagging working out /training in my first post , I failed to underscore my point about 'working' on a boat as skipper/owner, and those who really won't lift anything heavier than a coffee mug, and there's a few of these guys around.

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Herc Thursday, 24 Aug 2017 at 8:43pm

Yeh see plenty like that too. Don't like it, especially when they are rolling in it and treat the crew like dogs.

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Blowin Tuesday, 5 Sep 2017 at 2:55pm

Today was utterly stunning.

Had the South side of a very prominent headland to ourselves. Lightest offshore blowing into waist to chest high North East wedges breaking in a couple of feet of clear water.

Had my first surf in a while after crushing my ribs at the same spot.

Went up onto the grassy headland out on the tip and watched whales , schools of fish and a hammerhead shark doing their thing.

A few XXL bluebottles on the beach.

Followed up with lunch at an old school beach village bowling club. Bistro was shut . But If there's anything I've learnt from watching Bear Grylls suck the urine from a dead camel's bladder its that you've got to make do with whats at hand.

So it was chips from the vending machine with our cold schooners.

Drive up the beach to home and the neighbor is bringing over the latest season of Game of thrones to watch at my leisure.

I'm giving the day a solid 9/10.

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indo-dreaming Tuesday, 5 Sep 2017 at 5:09pm

Blowin stop talking about surfing this forum is for politics and insults only.