i`ve started using sinkers this year for the first time and i am even doing so  for shallow water now,  does the chain sliding on the rope cause any wear on the rope

Certainly far better than what I'm using.

Really simple and easy. Don't splice leads or weights in line otherwise there gone.(unless you dive) your fu&@ed. slide of weights small float. Excellent chance in getting pot back. If bow hits unexpectedl pot pushes to side. Brilliant idea. Very hard for prop or cutters to hit. I personally don't agree with most rules . This one I do. Top stuff to fisheries ( safety wise). Just remember slide of leads ( weights) with very small weight. Good luck guys:)

Doesn't make much sense. First one covers it :):). Don't listen to anyone who uses smiley faces. Good luck guys .2 days to go .over getting wet.

 How's everyone dealing with these weights when they're winching?

Wondering what the best method is, take rope off the winch and heave it past the weight then back on the winch?

I'm not a fan of this rule, just means increased risk for me as a decky with a weight coming launching at me.

Interested to see how others are handling it though?

 Can use a large shark clip to attach sinker or weight to your rope, then just unclip as it comes over the side to avoid any issues with the winch.

Great idea with the float by the way Johnny. 

Ive got a couple of pots out the back of the f/f and have been getting a couple of crays every second day or so.

For the last 3 puls that's 6 days now I have to navigate through a persons ropes that must cover close to 50 metres floating on the surface. First time I came across these ropes I thought ok, the excess rope must have come adrift from the means he has used to secure the excess rope, depth of water is only 11 12 metres and that can happen so I gave it no more thought.
Second time I come across these 2 pots there is this mass of rope floating on the surface again prohibiting anyone from getting any closer than about 50 metres closer to his pots hummm I think now after a couple of days the owner of these pots must have checked them by now and noticed this great length of rope on the surface and what a hindrance to other potters this is, surly he knows that he has to do something about the excess rope he has swinging from his floats, even if it isn't against the fishing regs common decency would make you do something about it and added to the risk of getting your pots cut off you wouldn't do it.

Today same thing, the penny has finial dropped this potter doesn't give a rats about other people he has all this rope out to keep people from dropping pots any closer than 50 metres or so to him so that his are the only pots that are present at this particular stretch of the reef.
Should you drop your pots within the arc of his rope you more than likely are going to have a tangle of his rope and yours.
You just wouldn't do it, by having this roped off "no go" zone he is excluding this area for his exclusive use only.
Now no one likes if someone drops their pots right on top of yours but I have never seen potters drop pots that close to others that it becomes dangerous or creates a problem for space.
In my view this person is just being an arrogant bastard.
Rant over, ohh and he doesn't affect me it just gives me the business seeing this sort of behaviour.

Fisheries tags on them( long ropes, 3 floats ect). Guy would cry like hell if they get cut off. Bet his old ( bad joke). Just report it , guy will only get cautioned. I personally hate reporting anything. But with swells on increase and winds could become safety issue with other boaters like yourself.

 Potentially might lose a pot. Cut our own rope . Marked the spot where dropped and then again when we realised the rope was spinning in the prop - 65 Metres between the 2 marks. Have tried looking but a little too deep to see. Should have used your little float idea - and will when we replace the pot. Question, will one of those very small crab net floats hold the rope up. Also, the hole in the crab net float is smaller than the rope. Can you advise which floats you use - Cheers

Float . Should always use floating rope in case off someone running over your gear. Doesn’t matter what depth your in . Do the sliding chain trick . Makes safer boating . What area are you in with lost pot

 Lost pot about 3 miles Noth West of Ocean Reef marina, about 12 Metres deep. Just chucked a piece of rope in the pool and it did float. Hope they all do as I will be modifying with chain as shown by you above. Cheers

Track . Take diver out . On rope slowly troll he will find it . Nothing worse than loosing your pot . There not cheap. To far away for me otherwise I would help you get it back. Get o local diver to retrieve for you . Not deep at all. Iam sure someone on site will help you. Lead lines pros use good . Down side they sink . Seen that many new pots on bottom last year sad can’t touch them. If you do weighted system hit your float any speed pushes it away . Don’t use polystyrene floats ( white ones)they explode when you hit them. Use the yellow ones made out of different stuff . I think there polyurethane don’t quote me on that .

Couple of big hooks To diver .all good . Must admit been few around .let the pros catch them instead of pinks. That way they can still have good income coming in.solves 2 problems .

 Thanks LJ, good advice. Looks like Diamond Networks sell the yellow floats and will probably also have suitable small floats. Cheers

. Of subject a bit to do with sharks . All the pros back in good old days use to be able to keep sharks as bi catch . They stopped it . I could take anyone out at night in sound and catch heaps off gummy sharks . What is main food of gummies ( crabs). What is missing in sound ( der).. Bronzies . Reef sharks and hammerhead . Sound full of them. If you go to right areas. Would solve heap of issues and keep pros happy . They would get more money for them per kilo than pinks . No brainer in my books .save crabs ,save money in buying pros out . Hardly ever caught sharks years ago . Now sound choka block.

 Couple of names  in those comments that use to post alot of of stuff on here before  ,what happened to  Axey ? And been awhile since old Meg's been on here too