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CLASSIC EDENCRAFT 565

CLASSIC EDENCRAFT 565

The two 565 hulls sitting side by side have caught the attention of Eden local — and father of Edencraft — Ron Doyle. The Captain’s crew gets wind that Ron’s on location, and before long he’s looking down the lens of a large video camera answering questions.  ...
NEW EDENCRAFT 565

NEW EDENCRAFT 565

The Edencraft crew have brought the classic 565 originally developed by John Haines Sr back to life. Naturally, The Captain has scored the first ride in Aussie waters and has brought his checklist to Eden (where else?) on the NSW South Coast. Our salty inspection crew...
TASSIE TO THE TIP

TASSIE TO THE TIP

Joshua Hutchins fills up his Toyota Prado and says bon voyage to the family before heading off on an epic adventure from Tassie to the top of Cape York.     When I first hatched the plan of a road trip along the east coast of Australia, travelling from...
AT THE HELM WITH PAUL ADAMS

AT THE HELM WITH PAUL ADAMS

Outgoing Stabicraft CEO Paul Adams reflects on his time steering the ship.  I never did it for the money, the accolades or team awards. I did it because I like to make stuff — just like all those craftsmen in the pages of The Captain. I’ve always had the ability to...
MATCHING THE HATCH WITH ROD FINDLAY

MATCHING THE HATCH WITH ROD FINDLAY

One of the most interesting things I find when talking to game fishermen after a day on the ocean is how some crews are ultra-observant compared to others trolling the same stretch of water. Good crews always note the type and size of bait they encounter, as well as...
MICK’S TIPS ON WHERE TO STICK OUR RODS

MICK’S TIPS ON WHERE TO STICK OUR RODS

Mick’s rod advice is based on a decade of repairing mistreated gear. He also stocks more than 400 of them at any one time on the shelves at Pickle’s Fishing in Eden. Oh, and he’s got about 100 of his own at home. So it’s fair to say he knows what he’s on about.  ...
JESSIE CRIPPS TIPS FOR TRAVELLING THE OCEANS

JESSIE CRIPPS TIPS FOR TRAVELLING THE OCEANS

After years of spearfishing our way around the world, we decided to buy a sailing catamaran. We wanted to take our home along for the ride. Ten years later, we moved aboard Popao, a 37ft (11.3m) Peter Snell catamaran, and since then we’ve spent a small fortune — and a...
FINAL TOUCHES ON THE 445F

FINAL TOUCHES ON THE 445F

It’s been 12 months since we last reported on the Nub Tub. Since then, Jack has put a sizable dent in the Long Reef kingfish population and Alli has been working on her long, sun-kissed locks. The salty duo even made it wide to the tuna grounds, but ended up drowned...
PART I – 23′ SHARK CAT PROJECT BOAT

PART I – 23′ SHARK CAT PROJECT BOAT

The Captain’s crew never planned on buying a Shark Cat. The next project boat was supposed to be a Flybridge in the 23ft–26ft range. But Jack made two mistakes. The first was leaving Trav in charge. The second was giving him a $40,000 budget to play with. Trav set out...
HAINES HUNTER  V17L WITH FRUIT

HAINES HUNTER V17L WITH FRUIT

Mark Brayne got his hands on a rebuilt V17L, then gave it a modern refurb in the back end and bolted on the good gear. Now it’s the perfect lightweight, trailerable game-fishing machine. Tell us more about this top-secret work you do. I can’t actually say what I do...
HIGHFIELD 760 PATROL

HIGHFIELD 760 PATROL

You may have noticed a few RIBs in The Captain lately. They definitely have their place in the boating order of things. People might think of them as just tender boats, but they dominate when it comes to diving, spearfishing and, er, hooning around. But do they pass...
MCLAY 701 GEN2 CRUISER

MCLAY 701 GEN2 CRUISER

Unlike the tree-felling Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, Dave Mifsud hasn’t lost his heart. As The Captain discovers, he’s still got plenty left. We hook up with him in the fishing town of Eden on the NSW South Coast. He’s brought his brother, Joe and wife, Helen, as well...
CULVER’S TRAVELS IN A STABICRAFT 2250

CULVER’S TRAVELS IN A STABICRAFT 2250

The Captain has been trying to hitch a ride on Jamie Culver’s rugged Stabicraft 2250 for some time. Recently, the stars aligned and The Captain’s crew headed north to investigate the fishing out of Port Stephens, NSW.     For those in on the secret, Port...
JOSHUA HUTCHINS AND THE ARCTIC CIRCLE

JOSHUA HUTCHINS AND THE ARCTIC CIRCLE

Many destinations have been tagged the “End of the Earth”. Australia was even in that basket several hundred years ago. But Joshua Hutchins reckons unless it requires four flights, a boat trip and a hike, it doesn’t even make the cut.     A few years ago, I...
FISH ‘N’ CHICKS – PART 2

FISH ‘N’ CHICKS – PART 2

In the last issue of The Captain, we proudly featured six awesome women who knew their way around the pointy end of a spear. But The Captain always had a lot more to say about the joys of women who can fish. In Part 2 of our Fish ‘n’ Chicks package, we encounter seven...
SIX WORKSHOP TOOLS YOU MUST HAVE

SIX WORKSHOP TOOLS YOU MUST HAVE

Outboards are tricky bastards at the best of times, so Stuart Buckingham from Outboard Spares reckons you’d best get smart about gearing up. They say a bad tradesman always blames his tools. However, you can only blame yourself if you don’t have the right tools. Here...
JESSIE CRIPPS SPEARING TIPS

JESSIE CRIPPS SPEARING TIPS

Whether you’re new to spearfishing or a seasoned veteran, chasing new fish in new locations brings an entirely new set of challenges. From bream to dogtooth tuna, each species has unique behaviours you can exploit to become a better hunter. Here are a few tips for...
THE ART OF DECEPTION

THE ART OF DECEPTION

Mick from Pickles Fishing & Outdoors tackle store in Eden shares a few fishing trick shots. 01 LUNKERHUNT PHANTOM SPIDER This one isn’t just useful for scaring your annoying sister. It’s also handy for deceiving bass, cod and saratoga — basically anything that...
OLD-SCHOOL CARIBBEAN REBUILD

OLD-SCHOOL CARIBBEAN REBUILD

Lack of experience or budget didn’t slow the Palumbo brothers down. After three years, their Invader is finally finished and the boys are already ankle-deep in fish blood and cray legs.     How’s life on the WA coast? We’re only 5km from the coast and it’s a...
REGULATOR 34SS AND HATTERAS 68

REGULATOR 34SS AND HATTERAS 68

Will Reynolds is only 15, but the lucky bugger already rocks his father’s Regulator 34SS. Meanwhile, his developer dad is co-owner of a Hatteras 68. This father-and-son team are running dream machines and The Captain has been given the green light to take both for a...
BYRON’S BERTRAM 25 REBUILD

BYRON’S BERTRAM 25 REBUILD

The Captain plunges bravely into the fibreglass dust storm to get the drum on this superbly reconfigured Bertram 25.     Most blokes toil away on tinnies and 15ft CrapCrafts before laying tools on their first big project, but — amazingly — this beaut Berty...
SOUTHERN SESSIONS IN A NEW STABICRAFT 2250

SOUTHERN SESSIONS IN A NEW STABICRAFT 2250

Neither smoke nor flame can stop The Captain heading south on the deadly hume with the promise of a ride in the first Stabicraft 2250 Ultra Centrecab in the country — and the smell of free fishing gear in his nostrils. The Captain’s phone lit up at much the same time...
VEITCH FOR VICTORY

VEITCH FOR VICTORY

Veitch Boats has all the hallmarks of boat-building success. A steady stream of boats is rolling out the door, with a nine-month waiting list. The factory floor is full of bustling builders and apprentices, smart investors with expansion plans, plus a growing list of...
ROD FINDLAY’S TOP TUNA TIPS

ROD FINDLAY’S TOP TUNA TIPS

Rod Findlay offers some top tuna tips to keep that sashimi train chugging. The tuna fishing on the east coast of NSW has been exceptional this year. In saying that, these fish aren’t off every port at the same time. They roll through on temperature breaks and slow...