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Top Tips For The Travelling Fisherman
A straight forward "How to" guide to help you plan and prepare
for that big trip.
Every year thousands of eager anglers migrate form
their normal fishing grounds to explore those
seemingly greener pastures on the other side of the
fence.
Many anglers leave home
unprepared finding these annual excursions costly, time consuming, hard work but
most of all unproductive.
The travelling angler must
be prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. Along the road to success many
considerations need addressing.
The following is a brief guide on what should
be done before you set off on your adventures.
CAR
No matter how well laid the
plans are, all efforts will be fruitless if you fail to properly prepare your
car.
If your travelling just for
a couple of days all that you would probably require would be to check your tyre
pressure, oil and water levels, clean your windows and top up on fuel.
Trips of a week or more
where long distances will be travelled or remote areas crossed require a more
thorough pre-trip preparation.
Be sure to know the terrain
that you’re heading into. Will you and your vehicle be able to handle four wheel
drive, icy, wet, dusty, foggy or muddy conditions?
No matter how long your
trip always check the wheel brace, jack, spare tyre and under-vehicle jacking
points just in case you have to replace a tyre.
It is highly recommended
that a full inspection be carried out by a qualified mechanic unless you’re able
to service your own car.
Check the fuel pump for
rate of flow. Inspect the carburettor system for wear and potential blockages.
Check the condition of electric or mechanical fuel injection systems. Check all
fuel supply connections and lines for damage, poor seals and wear. Make sure
that no components of your fuel system are exposed to potential hazards such as
rocks or low clearance projections. When your fuel tank is close to empty
carefully remove your fuel drain plug and drain the tank to check the quality of
your remaining fuel.
Make sure all fluid levels
(clutch, break, radiator, washer, oil and hydraulic) are toped up, and if
necessary drained, flushed and replaced.
Check the radiator for
pressure, leaks and fluid level. Check the cap seals correctly. Check the water
pump, hoses and hose clamps for wear and condition. Replace if required.
Check your electrical
system. Check the output and condition of your battery and alternator/generator.
Clean the batteries terminals. Check the condition and connections on spark
plugs, coil, condenser, and distributor and all terminals and cables.
Remember that if your car
is fitted with an electronic ignition system it should be carefully checked to
the manufacture’s specifications.
Make sure that all your
cars lights not only work but will continue to work and are aligned properly.
Check your breaks for wear.
Check discs for runout and drums for scoring. All break dust should be removed.
Check all break lines and connections for wear, leaks, protection form rocks and
low projections. Check the parking break for cable stretch and adjustment.
Check tyres for excessive
and/or uneven wear. Check the tyre walls for cracks and stone or kerb fractures.
Check tyre pressure on all main and the spares. Make sure the spare is
compatible with the other tyres and wheels on the car.
Check that all wheel
bearings are correctly adjusted and maintained. If required replace.
Check all universal and
constant velocity joints and replace if required.
Check windscreen-wiper
blades for wear and contact. Check washer nozzles for direction and
effectiveness. Don’t over look rear wipers.
Check windscreens for
cracks and replace if required.
Check that your seat
mountings and adjustments are correct.
Check all the cars seals.
You don’t want dust, exhaust fumes, or water in side your car.
Check all roof-rack mounts,
moulds and welds for wear and cracks.
Check seatbelts for wear,
tears and sun hardening. Check inertia reels. Replace if required.
These checks should be
completed as close as practical to your departure date. Remember that there may
be unforseen delays caused by replacement and installation of parts.
Don’t take any short cuts
in your preparation as yours and others lives could be put at risk.
BOAT
There is no point in
travelling great distances if when you arrive at your destination your boat
fails to work or even worse fails on an unfamiliar waterway.
Check your hull for wear,
tear, cracks and leaks.
Check that all fittings are
correctly fastened.
Have your motor serviced
prior to departure. Make sure that fuel, cooling and electric systems are
checked.
Check the propeller for
wear and tear. Replace if necessary. It can be a good idea to take a spare
propeller assembly or two if you are travelling in to remote areas.
Make sure that your boat is
registered.
Check that all lights are
working and will continue to work correctly.
Check all wiring (including
steering) for condition and wear.
Check your electrical
system. Check the output and condition of your battery. Clean the batteries
terminals.
Check all fuel supply
connections and lines for damage, poor seals and wear. Make sure that no
components of your fuel system are exposed to potential hazards.
Check the fuel tank for
wear and contaminants.
Make sure that your oil
levels are full and that your system is working correctly. Inspect for wear and
make sure that all hoses and connections are free from potential hazards.
Check that you have all the
required safety equipment for the areas that you will be fishing. Remember that
requirements change between inland and offshore waters. Make sure that you have
life jackets for each occupant, flairs(current), radios, buckets, oars, bilge
pumps, anchors, chains, rope, lights, torches, EPIRBs and so on. Make sure that
you not only have this equipment but that it is all current and functional.
Safety gear can and will save your life and the lives of your crew. Make sure
that all safety equipment is conveniently stored (easily accessible) and that
all aboard know its location and methods of operation.
Make sure that all your
Navigation Equipment is current and functional. Your Depth Sounder should be
checked for connections and the condition of Transducer and Head Unit carefully
inspected. GPS units should also be inspected of damage and wear. Make sure that
your unit is functioning correctly and that you have a thorough knowledge on how
to operate it to its potential. You may require mapping cards, power cables,
mounting brackets, external aerials or waypoints. Be sure to obtain these items
prior to departure as sourcing these objects can be extremely difficult. Be sure
you know how to
initialise your system as
travelling long distances can cause some systems to struggle to find a fix. Make
sure that if you require a compass that it has been calibrated and that you know
how to read it and navigate by it. Make sure that your maps and charts are
current for the regions you intend to fish.
TRAILER:
When towing a boat you want
to make sure that your trailer will with stand up to the punishment your likely
to dish out to it. Firstly it’s a good idea to check the trailers structure
checking for cracks, corrosion and wear points if you find any damage fix it
before you leave for your destination. Its better to have a job done at home
than to worry about and deal with any structural failures on your prized
holiday. You my be travelling into some remote location with some hard wearing
road conditions in these situations you may need some additional welding or
reinforcing added to your trailer to see the journey out with out hassles or
break downs.
Please remember that on
long trips or any trips for that matter to have a quality spare tyre that is
inflated and of the correct size style and model. This is a major consideration
that is imperative but so often over looked.
Make sure that the
trailer’s bearings are packed your with grease, you should also consider using
bearing buddies as they help reduce wear and aid in keeping the hole system
lubricated. Also carry a spare pair of bearing caps as often the expansion of
the grease will cause them to come loose and get lost.
Registration of your
trailer is a legal requirement, check to make sure that you have paid your
registration for at least the duration of the trip. Make sure that your number
plate is clearly visible at all times and that your registration sticker is
attached to your trailer.
Make sure your trailers
tyres are not just road worthy but in very good condition. Check them for wear
on the tread, cuts, pressure and bald spots. Make sure that the nuts securing
them are tightly fastened.
It’s a good idea to have
your breaks serviced prior to any trip. I would recommend that at a very minimum
you have them serviced at the beginning of each boating or fishing season.
Reflectors on your trailer
are a very important safety feature epically if you will be travelling at night.
Inspect them for cracks, chips or damage of any kind and replace them as
required.
LICIENCES:
Fishing Licences are
mandatory in most states now. Make sure that you have a current licence for the
area that you will be fishing. No other states fishing licence is recognised in
another state. Some states may require you to have both a fresh water and salt
water licence. Licences are easily obtained for most tackle retailers, service
stations and Post offices.
Make sure your Drivers
licence is current if your planning on driving to you destination. Check the
expiry date and also be aware of how may demerit points you have left you would
not want to loose your licence on your holiday.
Boating licences are now
mandatory in most states and territories of Australia, if your planning on at
any stage being in charge or steering a boat make sure you boating licence is
current and with out restriction on the vessel you wish to operate. Your boating
licence is valid in all states for a period of time, if you move interstate you
will be required to resit the test for your new state or territories licence
SCUBA Diving is a popular
recreational activity in Australia but to hire equipment, get air refills or go
on a dive boat you need a licence applicable to the site you wish to dive or be
under the instruction of a Dive Instructor or Dive Master.
Crayfish, Crabs, Abalone
and other species require specific licences as do some forms of recreational
nets. To find out more on these licences and the rules and regulations contact
the area you plan to visits Department Of Natural Resources And Environment
Office and they will willingly point you in the right direction.
Accommodation:
Through out Australia there
are many different styles of accommodation. For a detailed example of the
accommodation in the area that you wish to travel it is advised that you check
state motoring organisations, tourist bureaus and book stores for accommodation
guides.
Many popular holiday
destinations in Australia can be booked out over a year in advance. To avoid
suffering the disappointment of arriving at your destination, only to find that
no accommodation is available. Check the availability of your desired style
accommodation a couple of months prior to your departure.
There are a number of
different aspects that should be considered when choosing your accommodation.
These include sanitary facilities, children’s facilities, pet policies and car
and boat storage options.
When travelling with your
family it is wise to consider their needs. If your out fishing all day while
your family waits for your triumphant return it is wise to have accommodation
that is not only comfortable, but has facilities to entertain the rest of your
family group. This will mean that the holiday will be enjoyable for all.
Local Facilities:
When travelling into a new
region it’s advised that you know the local facilities available.
You should do your best to
find out if your location is serviced by Hospitals and emergency facilities just
in case the unthinkable happens.
Also you should seek any
information on automotive and marine repair facilities.
It would be a absolute
crying shame if you drove hundreds of kilometres towing a boat only to find out
that your boat can’t be launched at the local ramp or that there’s no ramp at
all.
Make sure that you know the
location of bait and tackle suppliers and what they stock as this will help you
to determine how much tackle and bait you may need to take with you. When a
location is serviced by a quality tackle retailer it’s advisable that you limit
your terminal tackle and purchase lures, hooks, baits, sinkers and so on that
enable you to successfully employ local techniques. This will not only increase
you catch rate but spending a few dollars at the local tackle and bait shops is
a vital way of finding out what is biting, how to catch them and most
importantly where to look for them. Tackle shops are the ultimate brag post so a
few minutes spent in them is time well spent.
In some of Australia’s more
remote destinations it’s common to find that there are no facilities providing
petrol, groceries or even fresh water. Before leaving do your best to find out
if you will be required to carry extra supplies into your destination.
Local Hazards:
Many waterways have their
own characteristics and hazards.
These may be Rock bars,
Sand bars, Currents, Tidal movements the list is endless. Be sure to do your
utmost to get all the available information on your destination. The printed
material such as marine charts is a good starting point but the best source of
information is that from a local expert. You could once again find this sort of
information out by talking to tackle and bait shop employees or down the local
launching facility.
Take your time when
exploring a new waterway. Be careful and read all the signs and take note of all
the marine markings (buoys). Observe the other boating traffic as to how they
conduct themselves; this is usually a good way to find out where unmarked local
hazards may lay.
Many areas have local fauna
that can be quite dangerous. Examples of this are Crocodiles, Sharks and
Jellyfish. Normally such hazards are sign posted, but keep in mind that this is
not always the case. The best way to find out this vital information is to once
again talk to the locals or contact the states Department or Natural Resources
and Environment.
Insects are often the cause
of a beautiful destination turning out to be nothing short of a complete
nightmare. You should avoid as much as possible being bitten by these annoying
creatures as bites can carry disease or become easily infected. Wear long sleeve
shirts and insect repellents to avoid problems.
Weather
Local weather
considerations should be noted. When travelling to your destination you should
do your best to find the average maximum and minimum temperatures, prevailing
winds and average rainfall.
Accessibility:
When travelling to your
destination check the destinations accessibility. Recent rains or stormy weather
can severely affect your journey to your destination. You need to take note to
see if you require a four wheel drive or possibly a permit to access your
desired location.
In even further remote
areas you may consider flying into your destination. This gives you the ability
to save time and money as well as eliminating wear and tear on your car, trailer
and boat.
Light Aircraft service most
of Australia’s remote towns and offer a unique way to explore this beautiful and
vast country.
Also many people are now
taking advantage of the large range of fly and drive packages available.
Tackle
Replacement Tackle should
be limited as much as possible. Spare line, Leaders, trace material, Terminal
spares, Guides, reels, spools, rods, hooks, sinkers, swivels, lures,
floats/balloons should all be carried.
As mentioned previously if
a quality local tackle store exists limit your tackle, where a tackle store does
not exist take all the gear that you think you will need and even some things
you don’t think you’ll need. A good example of this is when I took squid jigs to
Seisia. They were fantastic on the local squid population at night and provided
us with the best fresh bait available vastly increasing our catch.
Other tackle considerations
could include Cast nets, Crab pots, Gaffs/nets, Jaw grippers, Knife, Bait pump,
Bait traps and Leatherman pillars. This all depends on your destination and the
types of fishing you wish to undertake.
Its little details like
this that make a good trip into a fantastic adventure. Safe travelling and
remember to limit your catch not, catch your limit.
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Trackair Adventures
9 Tangari Court
Greensborough, Victoria, AUST. 3088
Phone: 0417-551-373
Fax: +61-3-9432-7829
Email:
ppingiaro@hotmail.com |
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