Balloons and Turtles - is there a better option?

[Brett1907]

Was going through my old sharking gear and found a float I made.

It was a 600ml coke bottle, with a snap-swivel tied to the neck. The other end of the snap end can be cliped over the line, an elastic band can be placed over the but of the bottle and a loop of the line fed underneath. This would hold the bait at a set depthand when struck the line would pull out of the elastic band and the snap swivel would keep the float at the surface still attached to the line. No waste and acheap re-useable float. The bottle can be paintedwith hi-vis paint ot even glo-in-the-dark paint for night fishing. Or place a glo stick in it at night.

A bit crude but it should work, never really tried it as my mate sold his boat pretty soon after I thought of it.

Brett

[murf]

Hi Brett1907
welcome to Ausfish
thats a good idea with the 600ml bottle I will have to investigate further when the mackerel turn up down here in Coffs.
I use cheap balloons and yes it does concern me where the bits go after they pop. I usually tie the balloon directly to the line so I get most of it back after a strike.
dont like the use of foam for the turtle reason. I have picked up hundreds of pieces of foam off the beach in mackerel season. not nocking the foam users but just doing my bit to keep up the good will of fishos. also pick up all other fishing related stuff like line tangled in kelp ect.
have thought of a potato starch float like the coffey cups (edible and bio degradable) but size for storage and cost would be a factor.
cheers Murf

[Brett1907]

They make bio degradable shopping and bait bags. It shouldn't be too long before one of the fishing accessory companies produce bio degradable live bait balloons. I've seen live bait kits from Black Magic in the tackle shops so the environment friendly kit would definately sell.

Brett

[black_sheep]

Thanks Brett,

Will give it a go.

I'm still trying to source those biodegradable balloons.

Cheers
Navi

[Brett1907]

Was watching the IFISH DVD the other day and GUESS WHAT!!!

They used bio-degradeable bait ballons. I have emailed them asking for more info. Will post again when I hear from them.

Brett

[Dirtysanchez]

They make biodegradable dog poop bags nowdays for those off the leash dog parks. I grabbed one and buried it in the compost heap to see what it would do, being a little sceptical, but it did fall to bits in about a month !!

They are good when you tie them together with the crap in them, seems the material grabs well, so perhaps you could use them, tie them off well and they would work as a sort of balloon ?

Just a thought, they also have a web address on them, maybe they do other biodegradable stuff ?

[Brett1907]

Tried to post this as a new topic so everyone will read it.

Quality 100% Latex balloons are 100% biodegradable!!!

David Taylor of Mad Ballons in NSW was happy to share what he knew.

They break down at the same rate as a maple leaf. #Studies were done years ago in the US. #Just type in 'biodegradable balloons' in google, there is some good info.

http://www.balloonartists.com.au/releases.htm

http://www.partyplus.com.au/

Also, NSW Parks & Wildlife have NO reported deaths of animals or marine life that can be attributed to latex balloons, nor does the sydney zoo. #However, the plastic clips and ribbon used at fetes and shows is dangerous to wildlife.

A Cleanup Australia fact...

less than 0.25% of waste collected is rubber/latex. #This is a mixture of balloons, condoms and other rubber products. #(I heard a womans team in a fishing comp off cairns used an unusually shaped lure trolling for marlins a couple of years back)

Remember, use 100% LATEX balloons and they will break down!!!!!
You can get them from any party supplier.

I am waiting for IFISH to respond with what brand they used.


Brett

[murf]

haha back to the balloon debate

so am I correct in saying that all balloons are made of latex and are biodegradable?

so the cheaper balloons will break down quicker than the quality balloons.

Has anyone come up with a better system than balloons or foam for floats?

cheers Murf