Dundee Tractor : Reef & Pelagic Fishing Trip Reports

cunno · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 10:09 am Post subject: Dundee Tractor

Heading out to Dundee tonight for a camp and a fish over the long weekend.
Anyone know if there's a minimum tide for the tractor to operate?
The low tomorrow evening (when ideally we'd want to be retrieving) is 1.9m - any issues getting pulled in at this height?
If the trips nothing like our last 10 (or so) trips, I'll post up a report.
If it's anything like our last 10, I'll be sitting and staring into the corner, quietly rocking back and forth.

slug · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 10:12 am Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

cunno wrote:

If it's anything like our last 10, I'll be sitting and staring into the corner, quietly rocking back and forth.

I'm hearing ya Cunno ....... :lol:

Sorry - no advise on Dundee tractor tho' - I don't fish that area!!

smed · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

Last time I was out there was on a fairly big shift. I did ask Jethro what was the lowest he could retrieve. I think he said that once she goes lower than 1.5m it became an issue, though don't quote me on this as I have a cr.p memory. May be worth ringing the Lodge.

Lumborghini · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 11:14 am Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

I have never had a problem being retreived, I fish there alot and usually only on the spring tides. I have a 5.2m topender.

cunno · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 11:18 am Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

Brilliant thanks for the replies - will have a chat when we arrive regardless.

Sy · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 12:35 pm Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

You should be right!

Was out Long Lost 2 weeks ago and did OK on Trickies and Trout ;-)

Been a while since I was there,they had 2 tractors going and the price is now $25, better than bogged!!

dirtyruiz · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

You'll be right with that tide, the only problem you'll have is with that cranky old p..s head Jethro. Just pretend you're deaf when he screams at you it really gets him going

fishfanatic · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

Cunno you should be right, I have been "launched" and "retrieved" at Dundee many times at low tide, off hand cannot remember "how low" though. The tractor driver will launch you but your trailer will be "swimming with the fishes". Make sure you wash it down real good when you get the trailer out of the salt.

dingaling · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

Gents I dont have any advise on tide heights at Dundee because I avoid launching there. I would really like to see a ramp with a break wall put in at dundee but i suppose the running costs of that would be behond what the government is will to spend.

Dundee Hombre · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 10:03 am Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

No body wants a ramp like that at Dundee too hard to manage. The sand continually moves north and would need removal by dredge if you built a breakwater. The tractor service is fine, Jethro doesn't like people who struggle to handle their boats and take too much time retriving that's all. Other than than it's all good to launch and retirve. 1.9 is not too low. The biggest spring lows are the issues not neaps like this weekend.

Swoffa · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

Actually, I DO want a ramp like that at Dundee.

I don't give a damn about the cost of using the tractor facility as this is a lot cheaper than the cost of replacing the car, however I often launch before the tractor gets going and would like to see a much easier ramp to launch from.

If sand build up is a problem, maybe they need to investigate a completely new ramp location rather than just at the lodge.

Dundee Hombre · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:21 pm Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

The only other place available along the Dundee foreshore is the site of the old boat ramp and it was ok if you launched and retrieved at high tide. Watch out for the rocks. 40 odd boats have used the tractor this morning, there were two tractors and no hold ups. The government has already done a survey on the ramp and they have already been lobbied to build one. It's a political thing, road first, then bridges, then finish off the road.

Every six months or so the current boat ramp gets the sand cleared and the old ramp appears. Government has been clearing it for years. Oh what did we do before the tractor service, wait a minute; we launched ourselves come to think of it........

dirtyruiz · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

It needs a decent ramp can't be that difficult I agree with Swoffa. Or a 24 hour tractor

Dundee Hombre · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

The tractor service is only run in daylight hours because of insurance. Insurance and rego are expensive.

By the way the wash down water at the ramp is salty too. Scotty from the lodge has tapped an old bore in the caravan section that is salty. I watched ole mate spend half an hour washing his boat the other day, did the engine and then had a swig of tap water and spat it out. He relalised he had wasted his time.

dingaling · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 12:12 am Post subject: Re: Dundee Tractor

yeh ya right hombre in saying if a break wall was put in the sand would be a problem. There are ramps all over Australia that suffer this same drama. A long reach PC400 or a dredge is a way around this but would the government be willing to spend the coin to keep the sand in check??

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