Sunday, November 30, 2014

FishMax Team Smashes the Big Ones with Vanuatu's Ocean Blue

Ranging from all round sport fishing, exclusive popping & jigging, bluewater game, remote live on board expeditions and unique sailfish expeditions, Ocean Blue is pretty fussy about getting you on the right fishing adventure!  They run a variety of scheduled trips throughout the year offering anglers the best possible experience & fishing adventure to suit each individuals needs and Snap, Stevo, Digger and Ian  from Team Fishmax had an awesome time smashing the big ones with Ocean Blue this October.

For a week of perfect weather and near perfect fishing, Skipper Eric and Decky Tom put the FishMax team on to the fish, with Yellowfin and Dog Tooth Tuna, Pike and Barracuda, Mahi Mahi and even Marlin all succumbing to the team's razor sharp hooks.


Running a fleet of 3 centre console American made Edgewater Boats,  the Ocean Blue team quickly get you out to where the fish are. The Ocean Blue gear is also top notch, with only one failure in a full week of hard fishing, and plenty of spare rods and reels on board, so even that failure didn't stop the fishing.

The Ocean Blue team cater to all types of fishing, but we were most keen to go over the larger trophy fish, so spent many hours trolling and popping for the big stuff, with a bit of jigging to break things up. No matter what style of fishing though, we were not disappointed. As well as hooking and fighting 3 beautiful blue marlin, the highlight was the Mahi Mahi run on the last day, with 5 beautiful fish on board.

Anthony and his team are not only willing to teach, but also listen, and so make sure you let them know what level of fisherman you are. From the complete novice to the experienced blue water fishermen, they'll make sure the experience is what you're looking for.

Their relationship with the locals is also fantastic, each boat ensuring that some of the catch went to to neighbouring villages.


And at the end of the day, returning to the lodge run brilliantly by Angele and her team, was a delight. The food was almost as good as the fishing and the chance to share a table with the other boats and compare stories, was well worth it. When we were there, one of the other boats landed a monster 87Kg Yellowfin Tuna, and we're sure when you're there you'll have some amazing stories too.

Possible Vanuatu Record 87kg Yellowfin Tuna


for more info, visit www.oceanblue.com.au




Monday, November 10, 2014

IT’S FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY WITH STACER’S NEW 619 EASY RIDER

New to the Stacer Range in 2014 the 619 Easy Rider offers great value as the largest in the bowrider series.

Released due to customer demand the new 619 Easy Rider offers the largest bow and cockpit space in the range and with room for up to 8 people the whole family really can enjoy a day out on the water.

The 619 Easy Rider really puts luxury first with a large cushioned bow lounge and new rear lounge featuring a wraparound backrest design eliminating sharp edges and creating ultimate comfort.

In line with the 2014 range the 619 Easy Rider also features the Low Profile Sports Deck with a design which sees the UV stable, moulded material extend further around the corners of the dash creating an aesthetically pleasing line.

The 619 Easy Rider was very impressive with its large bow lounge area in particular.

‘This year with our bowrider range we have proportioned the size of the bow area and cockpit space specifically to each model which has a seen an increase in bow sizes across the range,’ National Account Manager Drew Jackson told us.

Complete with 4mm bottomsides and 160L fuel tank and rated up to 200hp the 619 Easy Rider will keep the family entertained for hours on end.

With a ski locker, sound system with speakers and sounder included as standard there really is no limit with how much fun you can have in the 619 Easy Rider.

The 619 Easy Rider is available as a Stacer Ready 2 Go Package complete with a boat, motor, trailer and complete with 3 year limited factory warranty.

For more information on the 619 Easy Rider or the entire Stacer Range head to www.stacer.com.au

10 Things to Check on Your Boat Trailer


Christian-2-e1374466572283A lot of people neglect to service their trailer every year and these trailers end up on the back of a tilt tray tow truck. Here are 10 trailer checks you can do yourself to help keep your trailer on the road.

1. Lights – For those of you who still have globed lights on your trailer make sure you check them to ensure all lights are working. Although your lights may have been marketed as ‘submersible’, I believe that if you can remove a lens to replace a globe then it is not fully submersible. If you have L.E.D. lights, make sure that on each light more than half of the diodes (round things in the light) light up on each light.

2. Tyres – Most trailer owners don’t think to check the condition of their tyres until it’s too late. Check the tread on your tyres for wear and the side walls for any cracks. If cracks appear in the tyre it’s an indication that the tyre is getting on in age and time to change.

3. Bearings – The cause of most trailer issues! To check the bearings jack the tyre off the road, place one hand at the top of the tyre and one on the bottom of the tyre, move the tyre back and forth to feel for any play (wobble). If you can feel play in the bearing then there’s a good chance that the bearings need to be changed. Better to do it now then be stuck on the side of the road traveling to your holiday destination.

4. Rust – Although most boat trailers are galvanised they are still prone to rust. You will usually find that cross members are the worst offender for rusting. If you notice some rust on your trailer, grab a wire brush and start rubbing it back. If you see raw metal that’s good, grab a can of cold gal (galvanised spray paint) and give it 2 coats for protection. If you can’t see raw metal then grab a solid object (like a screw driver) and start poking the rusted area. If you can poke straight through the rust then it’s time to have the trailer repaired.

5. Tow Coupling / Safety Chain – Trailer owners rarely think to check their coupling and safety chain before they hook up to their car. The coupling can easily detach from a tow ball if warn out and not locked on properly. Make sure your coupling fits onto the tow ball nicely and there is no play (movement) between the two. Ensure that there is grease in the coupling head and in the spring housing for those that have an override coupling (used on trailers with brakes). Check the safety chain for any wear or warping. It is common to see chains too long and dragging on the ground when towing. This will weaken the chain.

6. Winch Strap / Cable –The winch strap or cable can start to fray over time. Straps can tear, which although annoying, will only cause you to lose your boat back into the water. Cables can cause serious injury if the break while winching under load. The cable can flick back into the direction of the person winching and cause lacerations or worse still, loss of eye sight. Make sure you extend the strap or cable to its full reach and inspect for wear and tear.

7. Brakes – For those of you that have a trailer with a Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) over 750kg you must and will have a braking system on your trailer. If you don’t have brakes on your trailer and the GTM is over 750kg, get them fitted ASAP (it’s the law in Australia). Make sure your brakes are adjusted properly and there is plenty of brake pad left in your calipers. If you have rusted brake cable or brake line, have them changed before they break. It’s one thing to have brakes fitted to your trailer; it’s another for them to work.

8. Mud Guards – A lot of people use the mud guards on their trailer as a step to get into the boat. Make sure there are no cracks or sharp edges on the mud guard as these can cause injuries to feet and legs if the guards give way.

9. Springs – Suspension on a trailer is vital for Australian roads. If your trailer doesn’t have the right springs or they are damaged then it will cause the trailer more harm than good. If you notice gaps appearing between the leaves of the spring and compressed in the center, then it’s time to get a new set. Springs are what hold the axle, bearings, hubs and tyres to a trailer. If they break then it can cause a lot of damage.

10. Registration – It is becoming more and more common now for people to forget to register their trailer. Now that registration stickers don’t need to be displayed on a trailer, people are forgetting to take their trailers for registration checks and paying the registration. Make sure you keep your rego renewals in a visible spot until it’s due, that way you won’t be the one getting fined for not having your trailer registered.

Although this is a check list you can do yourself, if you are ever in doubt about the condition of your trailer it is always advised that you get your trailer looked at by a specialist. Make sure your trailer is safe, easy and enjoyable to use and enjoy your leisure time.

For further information contact Christian Bold  at  www.boldtrailers.com.au