Welcome to this week's episode of the High Tide Podcast with your host Grant and Alan Blake from Blake's Marine. With Karen Rickey still on the sick list, we dive straight into a jam-packed show covering the latest in boating, local industry campaigns, hot fishing spots, and a look at current marine debates.

🚤 What’s in This Episode:

• Tech Tip with Alan Blake: Learn how a simple trickle charger or a small solar panel can double or triple your boat battery life and save you hundreds of dollars.
• Sydney Boat Show & BIA Campaigns: Neil Patchett from the Boating Industry Association (BIA) joins us to discuss affordable $11 online tickets for the upcoming show (July 30 – August 2). Plus, a breakdown of the BIA's recent major initiatives, including personal watercraft (PWC) safety campaigns and drystack storage options.
• The Shark Debate: Mark Bernaysiak from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party stops by to share his perspective on the recent Sydney shark attack. We discuss the limitations of drone monitoring and his party's call to reintroduce commercial shark fisheries and adjust recreational fishing limits.
• Cooking & Queensland Fishing Report: Paul Bert calls in live from the Good Food and Wine Show at the ICC in Sydney. He serves up a comprehensive Gold Coast fishing update—covering everything from yellowfin out wide to mud crabs and garfish inshore—alongside a look at what he's cooking up this weekend.

🌐 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Check out the range or catch up on the latest details at blakesmarine.com.au.
• Book your digital tickets by searching online for the Sydney Boat Show.

Winter has officially arrived, but that isn't stopping the team from bringing you the ultimate guide to making the most of your time on the water. With co-host Kiran Reekie away on sick leave , Grant is joined in the studio by Alan Blake from Blake's Marine. Together, they break down major industry news, look ahead to the looming winter solstice , and offer crucial technical advice to keep your vessel running smoothly.

The guys also check in with top-tier local experts calling directly from the water, diving deep into everything from the science of fish sounders to using ultra-light gear on the beach.

Key Segments & Highlights

• The Big News: Australian International Boat Show (01:02:00)Alan and Grant unpack a massive industry announcement: the Australian International Boat Show is officially set to replace the Sydney Boat Show starting in 2027.
• The Tech Report: The Dangers of Prop Contact Brought to you by blakesmarine.com.au , this week’s tech segment focuses on boat ramp disasters and hitting submerged objects.
• On-the-Water Report: Justin Duggan Grant and Alan call up Justin Duggan (Sydney Fly Fishing Tours), who is actively fishing in Broken Bay with Stuart from the Penrith Bass Anglers and his partner Blair. Justin gives a live fishing report—including catching tailored flatheads and finding elusive hair tail fish. He also drops incredible knowledge on how hair tail fish register on side-scan sounders (hint: their mirror-like skin makes for a very soft return!) and shares details on his upcoming kids' lure fishing courses for the July school holidays.
• South Coast Overview: Greg Reid from Pro Lure Australia Greg Reid jumps on the line to break down the South Coast action. After a month of massive swells shaking up the coastline, conditions are finally clearing up beautifully. Greg shares a pro-tip for winter reds: you don't need to fish deeper than 10 meters early in the morning right now. He also discusses the rising trend of shore-based micro-jigging and reveals his "#1 Ultimate Lure" challenge pick—the Pro Lure hybrid shrimp.
• Local Wisdom: Captain Ross O'BrienThe legendary Captain Rosco returns to the deck to share stories from Seven Mile Beach up to Wollongong Harbour.

Links & Community Mentions

• Blake's Marine Megasale: Keep an eye out for up to $3,700 off Yamaha 150HP motors and huge upcoming package deals. Check out the range at blakesmarine.com.au.
• Justin Duggan: Follow his fishing and cooking tips on TikTok and Instagram (@SidFly / @SyidFly0) or book a school holiday course at sydneyflyfishing.com.au.
• Pro Lure Australia: Check out the hybrid shrimp and get details on Greg's upcoming Sydney Boat Show presentation at prolureaustralia.com.au.
• Join the High Tide Community: Jump on over to our Facebook page to share pictures of your favorite catches and connect with fellow anglers!

As Kiran would say: Keep your eye on the sky, stay warm, and stay safe out there!

It is freezing cold in Sydney, but the fishing and boating chat is heating up! In this week's episode, Grant and Alan cover everything from massive northern catches and high-speed yacht deliveries to essential winter safety tips and the latest political battles over our marine parks.

Here is what you will find in this episode:

• 🏝️ Swizz Island Adventures: Alan Blake returns from his northern product development trip to share how he landed (and released) a massive 1.3-metre dewfish, Spanish mackerel, and giant GTs on a private island getaway.
• ⛵ Grant's High-Speed Delivery: Grant recounts an adrenaline-pumping, twitchy weekend delivering a Far East 28 racing yacht from Abbotsford to Pittwater.
• 🚨 Crucial Safety & Tech Tips: Why you absolutely must start using your outboard kill-switch lanyards, and a critical breakdown of why keeping too much weight in the bow of a boat when crossing a lumpy ocean bar is a recipe for disaster.
• 🎣 Kieran's Comprehensive Fish Report: Your ultimate guide to what is biting across the state, from hairtail in the Hawkesbury and big dewfish at Tuross to inland yellowbelly and cod waking up after the rains.
• 💻 Steve Bowler Updates: Steve drops in from Tenterfield to explain why YouTube is an underutilized, fluff-free research tool for fishos, plus details on upcoming thermal night vision events in Deepwater and Armidale.
• ⛔ Coral Sea Lockouts: Captain Peter Sayer sounds off on proposed permanent "pink zone" closures to islands in the Coral Sea Territory, arguing against the logic of banning recreational boaties.

🎣 The Hi Tide Fishing Podcast: Wild Weather, Black Mud Crab Pots, and Gulf Adventures! 🌊

🎙️ Episode Overview

Pouring rain and sweeping low-pressure systems have trapped Sydney Metro fishers inside this week, but the Hi Tide crew is breaking through the gloom with an absolute cracker of an episode! Host Grant Boyden and Captain Kieran Reekie check in on the chaotic autumn weather patterns sliding off the east coast, before casting a wide net across Australia's premier fishing grounds to bring you the ultimate weekend intelligence.

From surprising backyard trap experiments on the Mid-North Coast to full-blown Barramundi bags in the tropical north, this week proves that even when the weather turns sour, the fish stories only get bigger.

👥 Featured Guest Profiles

• Captain Kieran ReekieOur regular co-host reporting live from Southeast Queensland. Kieran tracks a series of intense, short-burst downpours dropping up to 40mm in minutes, forcing local race cancellations but driving a surprising run of massive 7-to-8-foot Hairtail and Coobia under the local bridges.
• Craig McGill (Fishabout Tours Sydney Harbour)Broadcasting from Coffs Harbour while house-sitting, Sydney's premier charter veteran shares details from a relentless rainy stint. Craig walks listeners through his fascinating "accidental experiment" where black mesh crab pots systematically out-fished standard orange pots 10-to-1. Plus, he reveals a hilariously humbling story of spending five days aggressively casting at a massive school of fish—only to find out they were Luderick instead of Mangrove Jacks.
• Alan "Blakey" Blake (Blake's Marine)Calling in straight from his tropical product-development vacation on Sweers Island (near Mornington and Bentinck Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria). Alan breaks down the glorious 28°C weather, catching beautiful metered Cobia, 30lb Jewfish, Nannygai, and a bounty of Finger Mark.
• Peter "PJ" Johnson (Lowrance Electronics Expert)The North Coast fishing and sonar legend shares part two of their massive group expedition to Karumba with guide Josh Richards from Odds On Fishing Adventures. PJ shares their secrets to bagging out on King (Threadfin) Salmon and Barramundi using forward-scanning sonar, surviving a makeshift electric frypan mud-crab feast washed down with 15-year-old single malt, and why Alan Blake's trip started with a literal slip-up on a muddy boat ramp.

🗺️ Ultimate Regional Fishing Reports

📍 Sydney, Pittwater & The Hawkesbury

• Mitch from Narrabeen Bait & Tackle checks in with a quiet week due to brown, discolored waters. However, localized hot spots persist: look for Jewfish and Hairtail around the Hawkesbury, and flathead or salmon around Scotland Island. Look out for plague proportions of Tailer hovering west of the bridge up near Drummoyne.

⚓ Sponsoring the Fleet

This episode of the Hi Tide Podcast is proudly brought to you by Blake's Marine. For the absolute best deals on the water, visit them 6 days a week at 02 4577 6699 or browse the fleet online at blakesmarine.com.au.

As sure as yabbies bite your toes, you don't want to miss a single minute of this week's charting adventure!

On todays show, we catch up with Captain Ross O'Brien and talk shark attacks with Max Gleeson.

Cast off with the High Tide crew for the May 16th edition, where we navigate the latest fishing reports, political waves, and expert local advice from across Australia. This week, host Grant catches up with Alan Blake from Blake’s Marine as he prepares for a "product development" expedition through 1770 and Cairns, eventually landing in Karumba for five days of serious fishing. Meanwhile, Kiran Reekie reports on the recent heavy rains in Maroochydore, which have spurred a massive run of mud crabs and active fishing for local students catching bream and flathead before school.

Our deep-dive segment features Justin Duggan from Sydney Fly Fishing Tours, reporting live from Broken Bay. Justin shares a masterclass on targeting Hairtail during the day, explaining how to spot their unique vertical signatures on a sounder and why aggressive lure retrieves often outperform bait. He also touches on the current "shoulder season" transition in Sydney Harbour and the arrival of massive 70cm Bonito.

In a spirited discussion, Steve Bowler from Tenterfield Firearms joins the show to tackle the "recalculation of priorities" in the recent federal budget. From the controversial tagging of bull sharks to the preservation of local fishing access on the Northern Beaches, Steve offers a candid look at the intersection of lifestyle and politics. Finally, Isaac from One Up Fishing brings us the latest from Botany Bay and Port Hacking, reporting schools of Dolphin Fish (Mahi-Mahi) still lingering in 22.8°C waters and providing tips on how to fish the "underrated" groins for squid and flathead.

Whether you're looking for the best spots for Kingies and Jewfish or need a tech tip on why you must update your electronic charts to avoid costly insurance excesses, this episode has everything you need to gear up for the weekend.

High Tide podcast from May 9, 2026, hosted by Grant Boyden and Captain Kieran Reekie.

Weather and Maritime Safety

• The Westerly Trap: Reekie warns that westerly winds create deceptive flat water near the shore, but dangerous waves rise quickly 3–4 miles out.
• Weekend Forecast: Saturday expects 10–15 knot winds; Sunday expects southerlies reaching 15–20 knots during the day.
• Safety Debate: Following a recent rescue tragedy, the hosts urge stricter safety gear checks for large yachts and cruisers.

Regional Fishing Reports

• Sydney/Northern Beaches: The Hawkesbury has hairtail and jewfish. The beaches are excellent for whiting and tailor.
• Dams and Rivers: Split Rock and Glenbawn are 94% full. Cod are active on spinnerbaits at Keepit Dam.
• South Coast: Narooma lake features flathead and jewfish. Marlin are reported at the shelf.
• Coffs Harbour: Marlin and Yellowfin are active out wide, with Mangrove Jack in the rivers.

Boating and Technical Tips

• Vessel Choice: Paul Burt suggests 8m+ boats, like Edencraft or Stabicraft, for families of six.
• Console Preference: Burt prefers center consoles for better solo weight displacement compared to side consoles.
• Mahi-Mahi Tactics: Skip live bait at FADs; use pilchards to catch the school before they are spooked by other boats.

Politics and Advocacy

• Park Lockouts: Mark Banasiak opposes Green-led closures at Long Reef, citing a lack of scientific data.
• Illegal Trade: Ulladulla fishers report concerns of illegal abalone trade operating under the guise of cultural fishing.

Upcoming Events

• Boat Shows: Sanctuary Cove (May 21–24) and Sydney (late July).
• Tournaments: King of the Pin at Jacob’s Well (May 30–31).

A massive high-pressure system continues to deliver glorious weather across the coast. In this week's episode, Grant is joined by Alan Blake of Blake’s Marine to discuss the upcoming Hawkesbury standalone race day and essential outboard maintenance. Plus, a comprehensive fishing rundown from across New South Wales and beyond.

🎣 Regional Fishing Updates

• Northern Beaches & Hawkesbury: Great reports of Jewfish, Bonito, and Salmon. Flathead and Flounder are active around Scotland Island and Patonga.
• South Coast: Water remains warm at 21–23°C. Marlin and Yellowfin are out wide, while headlands are hosting plenty of Bonito.
• Inland & Dams: Yellowbelly and Cod are being caught on spinnerbaits and soft plastics in Chaffey, Split Rock, and Pindari.
• Coffs Harbour: Strong runs of Mackerel, Marlin, and Yellowfin closer to shore.

🛠️ Alan’s Tech Tip: The "Key" to Avoiding Grief

• Know Your Number: Most outboards have approximately 200 different key variations. Check the two- or three-digit code under the plastic cover of your key and record it in your phone or logbook.
• Spare Parts: Always carry a spare cut-out lanyard. Ensure everyone on board knows how to start and operate the motor in case the skipper is incapacitated.

🚤 Industry Highlights & Deals

• Yamaha: Save up to $1,350 on mid-range outboards (30–90 hp).
• Suzuki: Cheap finance available at a 3.85% comparison rate with a 10% deposit.
• Pro-Lure Australia: Tips on using the Hybrid Shrimp (58 mm and 92 mm) and the "Crank Crab" for lethal results on light tackle.