Weekly report 31/12/07

Well I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and are looking forward to a safe and prosperous New Year. I've been out a few time between Christmas and the New Year and the results have been very varied. I have managed to get a couple of small jewfish from the Port Hacking on whole Hawkesbury River Prawns, bream, flathead, whiting and Australian salmon on a variety of soft plastics in the upper parts of the Port Hacking. I have also been out on the bay (trying to get away from the crowds) and managed to get a few silver trevally, dusky flathead, bream, tailor and Australian salmon.

Carl Dubois and Terry hit the HWO again and caught a few small kingfish on soft plastics. They also fished the drums and the oil wharf for a couple of bream. Terry had been out on the Bay earlier in the week and cleaned up on Aussie Salmon. These fish are there one day and then gone the next, only to be back again the next day.

Remember when using your local ramp, they will be crowded at this time of the year. So don't dilly dally when launching and retrieving your boat.

Molineaux Point has been jam packed with boats over the past few days, so you will need to get out early. I fished with a neighbour up the road and even though there were a few boats at Monoilex Point we did manage to get a few bream, silver trevally and heaps of slimy mackerel.

Scotty Lyons from Southern Sydney Fishing Tours http://www.fishingsydney.com.au/ reports that last week the weather has just about hit us from all directions, Rain, Wind and sunny patches along with a little cold water current the fish have shut down, I have worked hard most outing to put fish in the boat, Scored one nice Kingie around 70cms from a mooring drum on a live bait.

Trevally are around the drums in the middle of the Bay but only in small numbers there are lots of Slimmy Mackerel hanging around the drums as well. Bream are slim pickings I have found a few along the Third runway and in the Middle of the Bay and just wide from Towra Point along with a few Whiting. Also scored a few Flathead while anchored for Bream on plastics.

Early Morning trolling has produced Tailor and Salmon in Yarra Bay. The water is just starting to clear up so next week is looking rather good, The surface action should return as there is loads of bait fish around and the good water will turn turn the kingies on and the Bream will follow.

Well a few days without the bloody wind blowing was great Friday Saturday and Sunday and the fishing was rather good, The water was still a little dirty after all the rain and is slowly clearing up so the Kingies should be back, I did find a few over the last few days all around 60cm and lost a good fish right at the boat on Sunday that sucked in a Nipper on light tackle.

Trevally in good numbers on Friday, Saturday but had trouble on Sunday around the drums but then the Mackerel moved in and all hall hooked up, Big Mackerel to, top bait and top tucker cooked fresh, Well I like them. Bream a little slow but found a few in the middle of the Bay on Nippers and worth spinning this area for Flathead as we caught a few on Plastics. Nathan had the boat with a crew and found Tailor around Watts reef.

So if you would like to catch a few fish every time you are out on the water the fishing School can show you how just give me a call 0418 169 439.

Darren from Bermagui Ocean Hut Fishing Tackle, Dive and Charter Fishing Service
mailto:%20(%20enquiries@bermifishinghut.com.au reports that there have been a number of great catches over the past week or two.

Reef
Most of the reef complexes have got good stocks of fish with species varying from Flathead to Morwong, Snapper and Perch. Up around Montague Island King fish are showing up in reasonable numbers and look to be on the improve. Sand Flathead are also out from most beaches and are easily obtained in 28 metres of water.

Game
We have now had our first Marlin of the season caught and this trend looks like continuing. There are still schools of Albacore and Yellowfin Tuna being regularly encountered. Various Shark species are also frequenting the area and things are looking real hot on the game scene for the next couple of weeks.

Estuary
As we start to lead into the dark of the moon the good news is the amount of prawns in most of the lakes. This also has the fish all fired up making for good angling for most species. Flathead and Bream are especially in good numbers around the Bermagui River and Wapengo Lake with many other species also on the chew.

Freshwater
Brogo Dam is producing mixed results mainly due to the varying weather patterns. When anglers strike a good hot evening or still morning the fish are being taken regularly on both lures and bait. Warm steamy still evenings are producing best when the fish are feeding on the insect activity.

Now is the time after some recent rains to start looking at evening fly activity over the flats in both Eucumbene and Jindabyne. Water levels are staying consistent due to the little rain we have had which is allowing fish to feed in the shallower water. Trolling and bait fishing are also producing good results in most of the alpine lakes.

Rock and Beach
Recently there has been lots of large Tailor especially around the entrance of Bermagui Harbour which are being taken on both lures and bait. Mixed in have been some terrific Salmon which are frequenting the beaches as well as the rocks. Whiting and Bream have also been in good numbers on most beaches, being taken on beach worm.

If you are planing a trip down Darren’s way check out his web site at http://bermifishinghut.com.au/aboutus.htm You could also give Darren and the boys a ring on (02) 6493 4688 to find out what is coming up in the next week or so.

BOOK REVIEW – Steve Cooper’s Snapper Secrets 3.

Steve Cooper has been catching snapper for more than 30 years in Australia, New Zealand and beyond. His fascination with and depth of knowledge of the habits and manners of snapper will become apparent when you read this book. As the title states this is the third snapper book that Steve has had published through AFN. All of which I have.

Now if you already have Snapper Secrets 1 and 2 you will find a very similar resemblance to Snapper Secrets 3. There are sections on life cycle, food, migration, tagging, tackle, rigs, bait, boat and land based fishing, fishing with artificial, keeping records. Charter operations and places to go in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South and Western Australia.

I don’t want to seem negative here, but as a reviewer of books I need to let you know that of the 150 photos that are in Snapper Secrets 3, 60 of them have been used before in Snapper Secrets 2. Now to most anglers this wouldn’t make a difference, but I for one like looking at the photos, mainly because I can pick up a lot from just looking at the photos. Also the Location section (which has 240 GPS marks in it are the same in each book), so if you are looking for new GPS marks don’t bother.

Then on the other hand if you haven’t already got this book it would be a great one to have in your library as you could learn so much from it, that I am sure that it would improve your snapper fishing.

Once again AFN have brought out a great book that id definitely worth having in your library. Try your local tackle shop or call up Joy at AFN on (03) 9761 4044.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that
there has been a fair bit of dirty water coming down from the upper reaches of the river which is making it a little tough to find fish. Some nice yellowfin bream have been hugging the walls around Jerseyville, as well as dusky flathead and whiting on the flats. The Break wall has been fishing well for yellowfin bream and the odd GT but the jewfish anglers are still struggling. Flathead have been coming out of Spencer’s creek, Stuarts point and Rainbow Reach.

Paul has had reports of a few mangrove jack around the charter boat moorings. The beaches are still producing good whiting with Smoky the pick of the beaches. There have been some nice sand flathead coming in out of the drop offs. Bream and sand whiting are off Gap beach.

There has been some warm water coming in closer now that hopefully will produce the sports fish we are famous for. Legal dolphin fish are around the FAD with some yellowfin tuna to 6 kilo in a little closer. Fish Rock is loaded with rat kingfish with a few good snapper around Fish Rock and Black Rock. Grassy and Scotts have been slow with better results out in the deeper water. Expect a high presence of inspectors on the water during the holiday so check your safety gear and take care on the bars.

For daily reports and special call Paul on (02) 6566 6726.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au
Reports that in the estuaries, the recent rains have added a fair degree of fresh to our rivers which is always welcome. Bream have responded well to the added colour, with plenty of solid fish taken from the lower reaches, particularly around the coal wall and the lower section of Limeburners. Flathead too have been excellent, as they have been for some time now, with both baits and lures working well. Best results have continued to come from around Blackman’s Point and Rawdon Island, although the break walls are always worth a look when the river is dirty. Blackfish numbers remain reasonable throughout the lower reaches, however as has been the case for a few weeks now, results are somewhat patchy from day to day. Whiting numbers on the other hand are down significantly as often is the case when the river is dirty; however expect a sharp increase once some warm and clean water begins to push back upstream.

Sometimes it is so hard to get away from those soft plastic stealing leatherjackets. Tackle shops must love them.

On the beaches, conditions have not been kind, with larger than desirable swells and constant winds combining to erode the vast majority of formations and generally make life somewhat difficult. Best results have come from those fishing the more protected corners, with whiting and bream the primary species. Live worms have been the bait of choice. Whilst conditions have not been ideal for chasing tailor, there has been a significant increase in bird activity which is a sure sigh of the presence of baitfish. Furthermore, with the majority of the salmon schools now on their way down south, the chances of picking up a few tailor are looking somewhat brighter than they have for several months. The other great news for beach fisho’s has been the distinct lack of red weed in comparison to recent years. I hope I’m not tempting fate, but the combination of good rainfall and the absence of prolonged nor easters appears to have had the desired effect of keeping the weed away. Fingers crossed it will remain this way for the rest of the summer season.

Off the rocks, tailor numbers are improving which is good to see. Whilst the numbers are not significant as of yet, there have been some solid greenbacks on offer which is a little unusual, but of course most welcome, at this time of year. Bream numbers remain solid as they have been pretty well all year, whilst those chasing blackfish during the bigger seas have been reporting solid catches. Still a few pigs around for those willing to put in the time seeking the few remaining washed out gutters. No news as yet on the pelagic scene, however with the warmer currents gradually moving both south and closer to the coast, from now on you will see the land base game and high speed spin addicts begin to dust of the gear for the summer action ahead.

On the offshore scene, things are looking up with some warmer water now beginning to filter down from the north, although the conditions on most days have been challenging to say the least. On the pelagic front, marlin encounters are becoming more frequent when you can get out and chase them, which is good news with the golden lure not too far away now. Bottom bouncing in close has produced some nice snapper, pearl perch and a few small to medium kingfish when the currents have been reasonable. Plenty of solid offshore flatties to around 60cms have been on offer from around the 55 metre mark straight off the bar for those simply keen to score a great feed

When you are next up in Port Macquarie call into the shop and have a look at their great selection of tackle and bait they have on offer. You could also ask Jason and Virginia for their daily report on what’s happening on the fishing front. Call them on (02) 6583 8318.

Weekly report 18/12/07

Well, where do I start. I have found the fishing over the past few weeks to be great. I have managed to get silver trevally, yellowfin bream, snapper, sand whiting, mulloway, kingfish, tailor, australian salmon, flounder, leatherjackets and even the odd luderick or two.

The Pittwater has been producing kingfish, silver trevally and bream on the run-out tide. Places to try are Scottland Isl;and, the entrance to Carrell Bay abnd the flats at the back of Palm Beach. Palm Beach is producing australian salmnon, tailor and bream on the rising tide. Try using whole yellowtail for the mulloway and whole pilchards and garfish for the salmon and tailor. There have also been a few bream and whiting caught off the beach on beach worms.

Bream have been feeding around a few of the rack in Mullet Creek and there has been a few rather large dusky flathead been caught in Cowan Creek on live yellowtail.
Bar Point and Bar Island are worth a shot on the run-up tide for bream, mulloway and dusky flathead. Hawkesbury River pranws, nipper and bllod worms are the go for bait.

This is how they launch and retriev their boats over at Norfolk Island.

Sydney Harbour has plenty of silver tevally, bream and kingfish on the chew. Try fishing Sow and Pigs, Bradley’s Head and Luna Park. Work the drop offs into the deeper water. Lane Cove and Iron Cove Rivers are producing the odd yellowfin bream, there has also been a few kingfish being caught under the boats.

Botany Bay has silver trevally, yellowfin bream and dusky flathead on offer. You will just need to work the areas that have clearer water. Pink nipper, peeled prawns and bllod worms are the go for bait. Kingfish, tailor and Australian Salmon have been trolled up on the Kurnell Peninsular side of the bay.
I was over at Norfolk Island for work last week, but I only managed to get a couple of hours fishing in. This is a shark that was caught off the nrothern side of the island. I did manage to hook, play for about 10 minutes and loose some giant silver trevally. Estimated size of about 15 kilos.

Scotty Lyons from Southern Sydney Fishing Tours http://www.fishingsydney.com.au/ reports that a few days without the bloody wind blowing has been great. Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the fishing was rather good, but the water was still a little dirty after all the rain and is slowly clearing up so the Kingies should be back. Scott did manage to find a few over the last few days all around 60cm and lost a good fish right at the boat on Sunday that sucked in a Nipper on light tackle.

Trevally in good numbers on Friday and Saturday, but had trouble on Sunday around the drums, but then the slimy mackerel moved in and all the crew hooked up to some big slimy mackerel. These are great bait and top tucker when cooked fresh. Well Scott likes them.

Bream a little slow, but found a few in the middle of the Bay on nippers and worth spinning this area for dusky flathead as we caught a few on soft plastics.

Friday Nathan had the boat with a crew and found tailor around Watts reef and a few tailor and Australian salmon in Yarra Bay trolling.

Wednesday morning and the bream had moved from the sticks so Scott deceide to head to the Third Runway and boat a few not a big run but plate size fish, The wind was still blowing from the south at 15 to 20 knots so it was one of those days. Trevally save the day at Kurnell Point on the run in tide, a kingie proved to be a little tough today as the water was dirty from the rain we have had in Sydney of late.

Wednesday afternoon trip proved rather good with Bream from the third runway on the end of the run out tide, We then caught a few live baits and headed towards Kurnell Point to fish for Kingies after trying Trevally Alley with no results but still no Kingies in the dirty water, this weekend might be the same but should improve soon once the weather improves.

Scored well on Trevally around Kurnell point again and all were a good size up around the 750to 1kg. Just on dark we headed to the Bridge to target Jew Fish all looked good once we anchored and the wind had drop off, Slow to start but we we finished with a nice Jew of 65cms around 3kg that took a live yellowtail at about 10.20pm good way to finish a big day on the water.

So if you would like to catch a few fish every time you are out on the water the fishing School can show you how just give me a call 0418 169 439.

Darren from Bermagui Ocean Hut Fishing Tackle, Dive and Charter Fishing Service
mailto:%20(%20enquiries@bermifishinghut.com.au reports that there have been a number of great catches over the past week or two.

Reef
Flathead are the dominate catch offshore on the bottom. Both Tigers and Sand Flathead are around in good numbers, the Tigers are most predominant out in 50 metres plus while the Sand Flathead are closer in out from most beaches. There are some nice Morwong around and a few Snapper although not in great numbers.

Game
Yellowfin are featuring as a regular catch for anglers trolling over the Continental Shelf. Fish have been averaging around the 25 Kg with the odd bigger specimen being encountered. Trolling is producing most fish and by doing so is also producing many Albacore Tuna and there has been a couple of Marlin hooked but not yet captured.

Estuary
Just about every species you could think of you would like to catch there is happening at present. Recent rain has got the estuaries fishing as well as you could ever expect. Wallaga Lake has plenty of Prawns in it which has the fish on the chew while the Bermi River is fishing well all throughout. Large Flathead and Bream are being the dominate species while there is plenty of other species to keep anglers occupied.

Freshwater
The 2007 BBB has been run and done last weekend under difficult conditions. There was lots of rain making the comp difficult although the competitors still managed 296 fish to 38 cm. The dam level is well over 100% capacity which due to the recent increase in water levels has made fishing difficult. Most impoundments within the Monaro area are on the increase due to recent storms. Fishing is extremely good for which ever form you wish to choose. This meaning trolling on the lakes, bait fishing from the banks, or fly fishing whether it be in the lakes or streams.

Rock and Beach
There are plenty of schools of Salmon moving along the coast at present providing good angling on most of the beaches that have reasonable gutters. Also on these beaches Southern Yellowfin Bream are moving around and can be captured on beach worm or striped tuna. Whiting and Mullet are also being taken on worms in some of the shallower gutters and are of good size.

If you are planing a trip down Darren’s way check out his web site at http://bermifishinghut.com.au/aboutus.htm You could also give Darren and the boys a ring on (02) 6493 4688 to find out what is coming up in the next week or so.

BOOK REVIEW – Australian Fishing and Lure Encyclopaedia

Over the years AFN have brought out a number of Lure Encyclopaedia’s (which I have every one). Lures and How to use them was the first one. It started back in 1991 when a group of anglers decided to conduct test on 265 different lures to give you a lure description and size, trolling test results, best boat speed, lure action, some diver comments and a clear picture of each lure. This meant that if you had a lure in your tackle box and you didn’t know what it was and what it did you would most probably find it in this book.

Since then AFN brought out Lures in Depth (1995) which had more information and many more lures. 661 to be exact. They gave you lure description, size, some weights, the depth the lure would go to when trolled, speed range and boat speed, lure action, some diver comments and a clear picture of each.

Then they brought out Frank Prokop’s Lure Encyclopaedia (2004) with 1065 lures that where put through the same test. Now AFN have update the Australian Fishing and Lure Encyclopaedia (2007), still with 1065

Lures, but with plenty more information on How, When and Where to use them. It has a state by state guide, knots and rigs; Australian fish guide, bait rigging, lure and fly fishing, beach and rock fishing, plus much more.

Once again AFN have brought out a great book that id definitely worth having in your library. Try your local tackle shop or call up Joy at AFN on (03) 9761 4044.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that they are struggling to get good conditions outside so it’s going to be bumpy out there. If you are heading north expect Snapper and Pearlies out in the wider reefs, in close is full of Red Rockies and other nuisance fish. Heading south has been productive with good kingfish around Fish Rock with some around the 8 kilo mark.

Local Troy Eddy and his mate Julius from the Central Coast had their best session down there with Troy hooking a 5 kilo plus snapper from Black Rock on a 65gm Raider metal lure then fished Fish Rock for kings and snapper. Dolphin Fish are around the FAD in fair numbers.

Those small Cobia are still lurking along the Break Wall attracting the interest of the early morning fisho’s on the wall. Some nice bream and flathead are coming out of the same location. Whiting are on the flats in the shallows attacking worms, nippers and those poppers I have been raving about. Smithtown, Kinchela down to Jerseyville have been quiet with the water very dirty. Flathead and whiting are coming in towards Stuarts Point.

If you like the solitude of fishing the 14 or 15 kilometres of Smoky Beach now is the time with sand whiting so thick you won’t have a chance to appreciate the view. We can dream but you should get a feed anyway. Find a nice gutter and you should find Bream and Dart. Front Beach has had some Whiting towards the Jail.

With only 1 week till Christmas the shop will lay-buys for that perfect Xmas Gift.
For daily reports and special call Paul on (02) 6566 6726.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports in the estuaries, flathead continue to star however whiting numbers too remain excellent. Best results on the lizards are now coming from further up the Hastings, with whitebait, prawns and lures of all types each proving successful. Both break walls and the coal have also produced a run of large females, with a disappointing number regretfully destined to disappoint on the plate. The sooner regulations are in place to prohibit this annual breeder removal program from the walls, the better. For the whiting, beach worms and yabbies remain the pick of the baits, with Limeburners and around Blackman’s producing the better results.

To date, the Maria has not fired as well as anticipated, with the consistent flow of dirty water no doubt contributing to the better action being confined to the Blackman’s Point end. On the bream scene, numbers remain above average, with lure tossers in particular enjoying good action, with surface fizzers and the like now beginning to come into their own. Blackfish remain scattered and are simply a day to day proposition, with a feed rather than a bagful the best realistic result. Plenty of muddies and a few blue swimmer crabs are also about for those keen on a feed of these tasty crustaceans.

On the beaches, conditions have been challenging which is not unusual for this time of the season. One day you will have some nice warm water kissing the coastline, with whiting and bream numbers quite reasonable. The next however often sees one of the last pockets of cold water being pushed southward, and in it, most species significantly shut down, except of course the remaining schools of salmon whose appetite is endless. Once these cool pockets of water have disappeared, look for more consistency with the whiting and bream action, as well as an increased presence of baitfish. Once this happens, tailor numbers should improve noticeably, hopefully in tandem with a reasonable showing of mulloway.

Off the rocks, the odd tailor has shown up with Lighthouse and Blueface locally producing a few reasonable fish, whilst Plommer and surrounds have fared a little better. At present, the bite is brief with a pre dawn start, of an after dark session a must. On the drummer front, there is still the odd fish about, however the diehard pig chasers tell there is plenty of water between them. Cunjevoi has been achieving the better results. On the land based game scene, little to report locally as yet, however keen LBG addicts are quietly confident of a much improved season for bluefin, cobia and even Spanish mackerel.

Offshore reports have been quite good as far as bottom bouncing is concerned, with snapper to over 5 kilos on offer; whilst pearl perch, kingfish, big flatties and other mixed reef species have features in most boxes. As has been the case for some time now, the majority of the better quality reds are falling for soft plastics. On the pelagic front, the currents are consistently warming each week, however as yet the colour has not turned that deep cobalt hue game fishos are looking for. When that happens, look for a significant increase in the mahi mahi, marlin and other pelagic numbers.

When you are next up in Port Macquarie call into the shop and have a look at their great selection of tackle and bait they have on offer. You could also ask Jason and Virginia for their daily report on what’s happening on the fishing front. Call them on (02) 6583 8318.

Weekly report 26/11/07

A very good mate and wife of mine are over in Peru visiting their daughter and son-in-law. Now Richard is a very keen angler, and like me will have a fish where ever we go. Richard sent me a couple of photo’s of a type of sole they catch over there from the beach. The locals call them "lenguado" - they are a type of sole that lives / feeds in the surf along the west coast of South America. These took a liking to a 3" soft plastic (Berkley Realistix) worked off rocks into 4 to 6 feet of water over sand. The big one was 6 to 7cms thick posing several kilo's of muscle to tire out and work into a rock gully so you Richard could get a hand to it and lift it out of the surf. Richard said it was great fun on 8lb line and they taste delicious. So far he has caught about a dozen, although only two have been so big - most are a handy plan size. Richards reckons it’s a pity we don't get them like this in Oz.

The Gold Coast Fishing Club has finally posted up the results of the 2007 Flathead Classic that I competed in for the second year in a row. Last year we made the top 20 (17th). This year we managed a respectable 27th out of 121 teams

Flathead Classic 2007 Results

Champion Angler Senior: Brett Howell (2055pts)
Champion Angler Senior Runner-up: Ross McCubbin (2024pts)
Champion Angler Junior: Joel Gartner (832pts)
Champion Angler Junior Runner-up: Jake Neilson (488pts)
Longest Flathead Senior: Chris Strathford (90cm) - Day 1
Les Bower (90cm) - Day 3
Longest Flathead Junior: Joel Gartner (71cm)
Longest Bream: John Siggs (34cm)
Longest Mangrove Jack: Michael Phillips (43cm)
Longest Estuary Cod: Robert Payne (48cm)
Longest Mulloway: David Fletcher (143cm)
Longest Trevally: Rowland Zwart (64cm)
Longest Tarpon: Wayne Lodington (60cm)
Longest Whiting: Charles West (33cm)
Longest Tailor: Justin Kenzie (48cm)
Most Metres Senior: Brett Howell (19.69m)
Most Metres Junior: Joel Gartner (7.3m)
Most Fish: Brett Howell (45 flathead)
Total Number of Flathead caught 2693

Top 20 Teams

1. Team Atomic (5444)
2. Team Sands (4148)
3. Team Dog (3702)
4. Team Benowa Tavern 1 (2629)
5. Team 4BC (2515)
6. B B Ms (2409)
7. Team What The (2206)
8. Croc Hunters (2022)
9. The Enemy (1974)
10. Team JAM (1892)
11. Team Bush n Beach (1792)
12. Team G Loomis / Sunline (1739)
13. Plastics Paranoia (1709)
14. 3 brothers (1692)
15. The Jig-olos (1668)
16. Team Pig Lures (1660)
17. Team Hinterland Marine (1643)
18. Drop Shots (1627)
19. Dusky Dominators (1624)
20. Cloud 9 (1615)

Scotty Lyons from Southern Sydney Fishing Tours http://www.fishingsydney.com.au/ reports that one of his customers caught a blue morwong caught Tuesday at Henry Head on a Nipper . Last Sundayproduced a few kingfish and they are now a great chance as Scott has scored a few quality fish of late. Bait has been a little hard to fine on some days but if you put in the effort the results will come.
Trevally are in smaller numbers but most fish are of a good size, The drums, Oil wharf seem to be the spots worth trying, Trevally Alley a little slow.Trolling is producing the odd fish and the next day all quite Most fish that I have trolled up this week I have found down around the Third Runway, but is hot and cold. Bream are now staring to show along the end of the Third Runway and across the Bay, Best results are closer to the river mouth as the Bream near the Third Runway are a smaller run, Nippers or gut for bait. Spinning with soft plastics slow only the odd Flathead taken no real hot spots to list.

So if you would like to catch a few fish every time you are out on the water the fishing School can show you how just give me a call 0418 169 439.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that
The good weather has brought the fisho’s out in force to take advantage of the fantastic conditions. It’s still a little slow outside but with the water temperature out at the FAD at 24 it’s only a matter of time before it fires up. Not much off Grassy in close the better fish are in about 35 meters. King Fish have been in huge numbers around Fish Rock but most are under size. Small Snapper are coming out of the same location. There have been some reports of good Snapper and Pearl Perch out on the wider reefs. The current has been light which may have slowed things down over the last week.

The hot spot last week was Smoky Beach with Whiting in terrific numbers along the beach, most are legal fish taking live worms. Gap Beach is also producing good Whiting. There are a few Bream on the Beaches as well as big Salmon and Dart. The Rock Hoppers have battled again with one fish’o getting 5 fair Tailor in a session, and reports of a few Bream and Salmon.

The river is still clear even after all the rain we had and most guys are struggling to get a feed. Flat head are still the fish target with the odd Bream coming in as well. Whiting are on the flats, biting on live worms. If you want to try something different on these Whiting the Rebel Pop-R clear popper is like a magnet to metal. A couple of small Cobia have been caught in river along the Breakwall with the odd GT.

With only 10 weeks till Christmas the shop will lay-buys for that perfect Xmas Gift.
For daily reports and special call Paul on (02) 6566 6726.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that The good rainfall we have enjoyed has had a significantly positive effect on angling throughout our estuarine systems. Last Fridays nights deluge alone saw a reasonable amount of fresh come down stream, and as a result, angling has picked up noticeably. Bream numbers were up in the lower reaches particularly around the break walls. Live yabbies and gut baits were particularly successful, although competitors in the Bream grand final too enjoyed improved rewards on both soft plastic and hard bodied lures. Flathead numbers have also been excellent with basically any location downstream of the Dennis Bridge producing good numbers of quality fish. On the flip side, whiting numbers have quietened down as is often the case with the river dirty, and the fresh was insufficient to fire the mulloway up off the break walls. For those keen on chasing a few crabs, the muddies should be on fire following this fresh, whilst a few positive reports on blue swimmers have begun to filter through.

On the beaches, the consistent seas of last week has seen most formations somewhat flattened. Although this makes life difficult in the short term, as I have said on many occasions, you don’t necessarily need a significant amount of structure on a beach to attract and hold fish. Quite often, a beach with just the occasional formation here and there will yield better results than a beach with a myriad of formations from one end to the other. You just need to be prepared to move around and seek sections that look different, whether that involves a small sand spit, hole or gutter. On the positive side, before the weather set in, some nice bream and whiting were on offer from both Lighthouse and North Beach, along with plenty of salmon thrown in for entertainment value. Still no news on the tailor front, although with the salmon run due to taper off shortly, a few choppers should hopefully grace our shoreline in the coming weeks.

Off the rocks, a few more tailor are now on offer although by and large catches are spasmodic as is the size, with most bags seeing a mixture of choppers and the occasional good fish. Night time anglers continue to pick up a few reasonable bream, with Big Hill and Racecourse both producing fish. The odd pig is still around for those willing to put in the time; however the season is rapidly drawing to a close with the waters now begin to warm noticeably.

Little to report from an offshore perspective, with this past week once providing only reasonable conditions at best. A few snapper and flathead have been snared from close off Plommer, whilst wider reefs to the north continue to give up the odd king, pearl perch and other assorted reef species when the current is reasonable. No real action as yet on a pelagic front, however the waters are now beginning to warm nicely. Once that greenish tinge disappears and the currents bring more of cobalt stuff down, look for our summer pelagic scene to begin to fire.

When you are next up in Port Macquarie call into the shop and have a look at their great selection of tackle and bait they have on offer. You could also ask Jason and Virginia for their daily report on what’s happening on the fishing front. Call them on (02) 6583 8318.

Weekly report 9/11/07

I know that we need it, but I wish the rain would go away for a while, just so that I don’t get wet while I am having a fish. Even though the weather has been a bit suss latley I have had a few good reports come in. Nick from Engadine West Newsagency took his son (Aaron) out for a fish off the shore in Botany Bay and they managed to get a couple of san whiting on blood worms.

Aaron with his Botany Bay caught whiting.

Joshua Wilson from Lansvale (near Liverpool) in Sydney's South West reports that he was fishing in one of the creeks that comes off the Georges River and he has caught a variety of fish species over the years (Joshua is almost 15 years old). They are flathead, mullet, tailor, bass, eel tailed catfish, blackfish, Australian Salmon silver trevally and also some he couldn't identify.

About two weeks ago Joshua caught a 45cm Jewfish, then an hour or so later he caught an even bigger one! It measured 72cm long and weighed in at about 8 pounds (3.6kg).

Keep up the good work and keep those photos coming.

If you are going to fish in Botany Bay over the next few days you will need to try and fish the edge of the clean water. Especially after this rain we have been experiencing over the past week. Fishing around the top of the tide will get you into the cleaner water area. You could also try using chicken and mullet gut, strips of striped tuna, chicken in parmesan cheese and also have a steady stream of berley going.

Last week I was out at GoFish on NewLine Road at Dural giving a talk on soft plastics and lure fishing for kingfish, dusky flathead and mulloway. It was great to see so many people there. While I was there a fellow angler (Bill McLaughlin) came over and told me about a boat test he had seen on the web. Over the years I have done a number of boat test for magazines, but nothing like this.

When you get a chance you should have a look at this boat test. You will be amazed http://www.toughboats.com/index.cfm?page=5&subpage=RecommendATest

Bill also reported that he went for fish last Friday and didn’t do too well. He started from above the Berowra Ferry at 6.30am at the bottom of the tide, then fished around Joe Crofts bay

(3 spots). After no success then headed off to Bennett’s and Canada Bays, tried drifting over Flint and Steel reef, trolled around Lion Island twice. Drifted the up river side of Juno point for about 500 meters on the run in tide then finished at Kimmerikong Bay behind the oyster leases in 1 m of water on the run-up tide.

Bill used squid, whitebait, yakka’s, prawns, chicken gut, 5 different colored/ sizes soft plastics and acrylic and lead jig heads, berleyed up with cut up pilchards, slimy mackerel, mullet, fish cat food, stimulate pellets, tuna oil and even sprayed the lures with stimulate and fished until 3pm. Bill then asked me what he was doing wrong?

I replied back by saying he was trying too many different things at once.

Scotty Lyons from Southern Sydney Fishing Tours http://www.fishingsydney.com.au/ reports that December through to Easter is the peak fishing time for Kingfish in Botany Bay and the Port Hacking. So if you are interested in getting amoungst them early in the season there are only a few dates left on the weekends through the month of December. They are December 1st, 9th and the 22nd and 23rd these day will fill fast just give Scotty a call to book one so you don`t miss out.

Scott’s Fishing School has a few spots still free for this Monday night at Hunts Marine. This is 3hr class at Hunts covering all there is to targeting fish in Sydneys waterways. What bait, lures live bait, how to burley, types of rigs and all the right tackle to use when catching mixed species. I then follow this up with a full days fishing out on Botany Bay the day on the water is Saturday 10th 6am to 1pm cost $200.00 per person.

A couple of weeks ago Scott headed down to the snowy mountains this week with four keen anglers to have a shot at Trout fishing, The aim was trolling and fly fishing both in the streams and out on the lake and to be also guided by Steve Williamson.

First some leasons in fly casting and general fly fishing gear and to learn all there is in fishing for Trout the way they feed and there habits on the streams or out on the lake. Trolling produced some nice fish for the guys over there three days but the weather made fishing the streams a little hard but all in all a top few days in the snowy mountains.

Botany Bay over the weekend was a little quite but still found a few good fish to keep all happy Trolling produced Salmon along the Third Runway and Yarra Bay. Trevally around Trevally Alley but you will need to work for them. Bream off the Third runway and out into the middle of the Bay. The odd Kingie now starting to show but in smaller numbers, Remember that 65cms is now the legal size, The Kingies are in good numbers along the coast towards Wedding cake island. ScottI found quite a few good size sand Flathead wide from Coogee drifting. Spinning with soft plastics for Flathead we are finding the odd good fish with a little work.

So if you would like to catch a few fish every time you are out on the water the fishing School can show you how just give me a call 0418 169 439.

Darren from Bermagui Ocean Hut Fishing Tackle, Dive and Charter Fishing Service
mailto:%20(%20enquiries@bermifishinghut.com.au reports that there have been a number of great catches over the past week or two.

Reef
Continuing on from last week, large amounts of Flathead are still getting caught on the outside of the Four and Six Mile reefs. They are mostly Tigers although there is some very good Sandies and the odd Gummy being taken around the moon. There have also been some exceptional fish out in the deeper water of the Twelve Mile Reef with large Morwong dominating bags.

Game
Warm currents have now pushed in and with that so have the schools of Tuna. Albacore, Yellowfin and Striped Tuna have all been regularly caught in the past few days with some of the Albacore ranging to 15 kg. These fish are within easy reach being taken just over the Twelve Mile Reef and along the edge of the Continental Shelf. Mako Sharks are also following these schools of Tuna although there has only been a couple of small 60 kg fish taken.

Estuary
As the moon phase moves towards the dark now is the time to start looking at going prawning. I know areas like Wallaga Lake and the Bega River have a lot of small prawn and it will be interesting to see just how large they are this dark. This also means good fishing where the estuary predators such as Flathead, Bream and Jewfish are now feeding more freely and there has been good fish taken in both Wallaga and the Bermagui River.

Freshwater
With all the warm weather recent reports from Brogo Dam is there a lot of fish on the chew and it is fishing well. Most fish have been taken on lures and are of a good quality.

Rock and Beach
Not a lot of reports from this are although what I did hear was a nice bag of Whiting was taken on Beach Worm near the entrance of Cuttagee Lake, there was a couple of Bream and Mullet mixed in with the bag also. Salmon and Tailor are around although not in huge numbers, Tailor however are congregating around the entrance of Bermagui Harbour.

If you are planing a trip down Darren’s way check out his web site at http://bermifishinghut.com.au/aboutus.htm You could also give Darren and the boys a ring on (02) 6493 4688 to find out what is coming up in the next week or so.

DVD REVIEW – Going Fishing with Lowrance with Steve Starling, Scott Amon and Mark Taylor.

Even tough this DVD states on the back cover that you would use this in conjunction with your own Lowrance unit. I have found that the information found in this DVD can be used across all depth sounders. I am currently running a Humming Bird 450DX down the back of my boat for trolling and bait fishing purposes and Lowrance 87 X up the front for when I am using my electric motor.

This easy to follow instructional DVD will take the mystery out of operating any Lowrance sonar and or GPS navigation unit and as stated earlier the information can be used to help you with most of your other depth sounders on the market.

Now what is actual on this DVD is the following: This is an intro, waypoint navigation, Viewing Sonar data, how to use the sensitivity, colour line and depth range properly. It also covers how and where to place your Transducer, how to enter waypoint and how to use the GPS features.

Along with this information you can also see Starlo’ s kingfish, Mark’s snapper and kingfish plus plenty more valuable information when using a depth sounder and GPS. When I first installed my Lowrance depth sounder I couldn’t wait to get out on the water and try it, but what I did was set up my boat in my garage and turned on the simulator, grab my book and played with the controls in the comfort of my garage.

I changed so many things on the sounder while it was in simulator mode to experiment with the controls I sometimes got my self so lost. But all I had to do was turn the sounder off and then restart back in simulator mode and start learning again.

Even if you don’t own a Lowrance sounder or GPS this DVD is well worth having in the library. Try your local tackle shop or call up Joy at AFN on (03) 9761 4044.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that
the NCC are having another go at closing Fish Rock and Green Island commencing around the 16th November, this time they are targeting the government minister Ian Macdonald. Eco Fishers representative Ken Thurlow has a meeting with the minister a few days prior to discuss the recreational fishermen and local business views on this potentially disastrous decision. Please email your thoughts to my address below and I will forward them on to Ken Thurlow to support against this shut down.

Mixed results over the last week with the better catches coming from outside. Kingfish were around Fish Rock with some bigger ones to 10 kilo towards Rocks In Line. Grassy and Scotts are still producing good snapper and a few Pearlies. No reports from the FAD but the Dollies aren’t far away.

Fishing the river has slowed down with a few reports of a few bream along the Breakwalls with the odd silver trevally around as well. There has been some monster Flathead in the river taking small mullet and herring. Whiting are about feeding on worms. Most beaches are producing Whiting, Bream and Dart with some Salmon on Smoky and Gap beach.

With only 10 weeks till Christmas the shop will lay-buys for that perfect Xmas Gift.
For daily reports and special call Paul on (02) 6566 6726.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that in the estuary, flathead and whiting remain the dominate species as is usually the case at this time of year. Flathead can be found pretty well throughout the entire system with both lures and whitebait providing the better results. Best results on whiting continue to come from Lake Cathie, with daytime anglers throwing small poppers doing particularly well. Based on the participation rate of late from Lake Cathie alone, this could be the next big thing as far as estuary sport fishing is concerned.

For those fishing the darker hours, live prawns are the bait of choice, although live worms are also proving successful. Just on the prawn scene, this month has finally seen a few of these sought after crustaceans moving about, however by and large the average size is yet to reach that to make those with drag nets keen to get wet. Next moon however may be a different story.

On the beaches, some nice whiting had been offer before the seas burred up earlier in the week, with North Beach in particular fishing well. Along with the whiting, a few late season bream have been cruising the waves, along with plenty of salmon. Still no signs of any real tailor numbers, with mulloway a similar story. Whilst the big seas may put a dampener on things for a while, at least the southerly swells will hopefully keep the red weed away for a bit longer yet. Based on the signs to date, any assistance by mother nature on the weed front will be most welcome.

Little to report off the rocks, apart from the odd tailor and bream. Once the seas settle, chasing a late season drummer may well be worth the effort.

Offshore angling remains a little hit and miss affair, primarily due to the weather. However when conditions allow, good snapper continue to be taken from the closer reefs, whilst wider out has produced a few samson fish, teraglin and other mixed reef species. One lucky angler also scored a nice John Dory which is somewhat unusual for these waters. Whilst the NSW Fisheries FAD has yet to hold any real number of Mahi Mahi or other pelagics, GPS co-ordinates for those wishing to try their hand are: 31.24.567s – 153.04.725e, which is roughly in the same location as in past seasons.

When you are next up in Port Macquarie call into the shop and have a look at their great selection of tackle and bait they have on offer. You could also ask Jason and Virginia for their daily report on what’s happening on the fishing front. Call them on (02) 6583 8318.

Weekly report 27/10/07

Over the last week or two there has been plenty of fish about. Joel Peterson got amoungst a few australian salmon and tailor at the entrance to Sydney Harbour. Joel caught most of them on whole garfish and 6 inch Bass Assassin Twitches (Alewife). Joel also pick up a few bream and leatherjackets on his way back up Middle Harbour.

Col Roberts caught 6 sand whiting off Clontarff Beach during the week on live tube worms. Best time was the rising tide and early in the morning. With the high, high tides that we are currently experiencing you should work the back of the sand flats in Iron and Lane Cove Rivers. Berley Sand Worms are the go at the moment.

There have been plenty of bream caught in the upper reaches of the Parramatta River. Try working the rocky shorelines and at the base of the mangroves at high tide.

Offshore Long Reef has been producing a few snapper to 4 .6 kilos in 20 to 30 metres of water. You will need to cube with chopped up pilchards and use whole pilchards and garfish for bait. The small reef that is just off Manly beach is worth a shot for silver trevallya and amberjack.

Manly Point produce 6 yellowfin bream and 4 leatherjackets for Russell from Newport.

Further south in Botany Bay there are plenty of silver trevally, yellowfin bream, dusky flathead, flounder and tarwhine on offer. To get the best results you will need to anchor and have a berley trail going. Fish as light as the conditions will allow. When the tide is running very fast you can try using a number 2 bean sinker that is above the swivel. Have a 2 metre leader with either a prawn or nipper for bait. Cast out about 10 metres and then put the rod in the rod holder. The current and the sinking sinker will do the rest.

Dusky flathead casn be lured up while fishing over at Brighton, Dolls Point, Towra Point and Silver Beach. There are also schools of tailor, salmon and the odd kingfish working the bait schools in Yarra Bay. Blue swimmers are also coming in from these areas.

Dave Fletcher with a 91.5cm dusky flathead that was caught on a soft plastic.

The Port Hacking has started to fire on the bream, leatherjacket, luderick and silver trevally front. Make sure that you have a steady berley trail out the back of your boat.

October 21, 2007 - 10:06AM

One person is dead and another is in hospital after a boating accident on the Georges River at Sans Souci in Sydney's south. It's believed a five-metre runabout hit the pylon of the Captain Cook Bridge just after midnight, ignited and sank a short time later. A body was found at the scene and a 37-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Rescue crews have salvage the boat later that morning. Any witnesses are asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Scotty Lyons from Southern Sydney Fishing Tours http://www.fishingsydney.com.au/ reports that the fishing school that he runs once a month can put you in the right spot, show you all the right rigs, the right bait and lures to use. Scott will also show you how to use burley and what species to target, how to find live bait like squid and yellowtail. Both of which you need when targeting kingfish and dusky flathead.

Scott will also teach you how to trolling up tailor, salmon, bonito and kingfish. He can also teach you how to use soft plastics for dusky flathead. Scotty runs the Fishing School at Hunts Marine at Blakehurst once a month and he follows this up with a full day on on the water. This is when you put the lessons learnt into practice and you will have a chance to target all that we have gone over in the Night class.

Wind wind and more wind. This can make the fishing hard in Botany Bay. Scotty recommends that you try for species like trevally, yellowfin bream and kingfish at places like Trevally Alley or you can try trolling up tailor in Yarra You could also try the end of the Third runway. Brighton is a good place to try out those soft plastics dusky flathead.

So if you would like to catch a few fish every time you are out on the water the fishing School can show you how just give me a call 0418 169 439.

Carl Dubois fished with Chris, Mick, Terry a while back for yellowfin bream in the Georges River and in Oyster Bay. The conditions were perfect and they had hoped for a great session, but for some reason, the bream weren't willing to play. They still managed a few between us though, with Chris getting the best of the day - a 32cm fork battler that had him in knots amongst some jetty pylons. Great rod work extracted the fish though and the performance was duly appreciated by us onlookers.Flatties were out in force though, with Mick and Terry landing half a dozen each on a variety of HB's and SP's. They also bumped into Buj and Andrew (9Ball) from KFDU (http://www.kfdu.com.au/) that had also cleaned up on the flatties by working HB's over the flats in the upper reaches of Oyster Bay.

Kingfish are taking Soft Plastics that are skipped across the surface.

There's been some great kingfish sessions off Clovelly lately and Carl joined a group of about seven like-minded yakker’s midweek to tangle with these mighty adversaries. Gatesy had been braining them over the last week and his best session was 9 legals in just over two hours, all caught on lures. Sensational fishing when you can get it.

Finally, Terry and Carl launched from La Perouse today hoping to find some schools of salmon near the mouth of the bay. There was no surface activity first thing in the morning, so we headed over towards Molineaux Point. This turned out to be an excellent choice as birds started working within Yarra Bay as we approached. Out go the lures and yeehah! Double hook ups are on the cards. Two tailor hit the decks and its grins all round.And so it was for the next two hours but Carl and Terry had to keep our eyes peeled to find the feeding schools. They'd come up for only 20 or 30 seconds and you had to be ready to cast as soon as you were close enough. At one stage we had a school nice and close and Terry had just hooked up on his metal lure when his SX40 he had out the back took off too! In the photo you'll see one rod between his legs with its tip bent down into the water while he's playing the other fish. Bloody show-off! One of the fish I landed coughed up what they'd been feeding on and it proved that my lure had matched the hatch perfectly.

They were hoping that there'd be a few salmon underneath the schools of tailor but today it wasn't to be. If you could manage to get your lures under the surface fish, the average size was a bit better though. Most fish were in the 35-37cm range; with my two best both going 40cm's. Not monsters, sure, but on light gear they're great fun. Terry and I probably landed over a dozen each and we easily dropped that many as well. As the sun rose, the schools busted-up less, so if you're planning on chasing a few tailor, nice and early is the way to go.

Darren from Bermagui Ocean Hut Fishing Tackle, Dive and Charter Fishing Service
mailto:%20(%20enquiries@bermifishinghut.com.au reports that there have been a number of great catches over the past week or two.

Reef
Over the recent week Tiger and Sand Flathead have dominated most anglers catches whilst offshore bottom fishing. Throw in plenty of big Morwong, a few Snapper and some Red Gurnard and the fishing couldn’t be better. Out, in around 50 metres due east of Bermagui is about as far as you need to travel at present.

Game
Water temps have reached 18 deg. on the edge of the Shelf and with it some Tuna have arrived. Recently 1 vessel caught 3 Yellowfin in excess of 30 kg while on the troll and following these fish seems to be a few Makos. Another boat caught 2 of these Sharks while berleying out over the Twelve Mile Reef.

Estuary
The upper reaches of the Bermagui River is producing a host of different species on either bait or lure. Flathead have been taking lures regularly in Rose Bay and some of the deeper holes while Blackfish, Bream, Trevally and Whiting are being caught along the Weed beds and over the flats on high tide using nippers.

Freshwater
Indifferent weather over the past week has made fishing for Bass in Brogo Dam difficult. Trolling is probably the most prolific way of catching fish there at present, although the bait fishos are doing ok producing their share. On a nice warm day both in the dam and below the wall will also produce fish on lures.

Rock and Beach
Schools of very small 5 cm Slimy Mackerel are hugging the coast line and following them are large schools of Salmon and Tailor. They have pushed these small bait fish in close to the entrance of Bermagui Harbour where anglers have been luring them with small metal imitation lures, with both species being of reasonable size.

If you are planing a trip down Darren’s way check out his web site at http://bermifishinghut.com.au/aboutus.htm You could also give Darren and the boys a ring on (02) 6493 4688 to find out what is coming up in the next week or so.

DVD REVIEW – Hooked on Snapper and Tuna with David Butfield.

If this is the first time you have been to my site don’t forget to have a look at the various sections. Don’t forget to send in those questions so that I can get back to you and my other readers.

This is another great DVD that both the novice and seasoned angler can get something from. Dave Butfield covers different techniques for rigging lures and baits for tuna, tecniques for targeting snapper, squid at night, how to use overheads and threadline reels. There are also techiques on how to troll dead baits, feathers, hard bodeied lures and jigging and acasting soft plastics.

All of the filming was carried out in SA and you visit places like Rocky and Green Island and Port Lincon. There is some great footage on light tackle fishing for snapper and southern blue fin tuna. One session when there is a 4 way hook-up.

Even though this DVD was filmed in SA you can take away many of the different techniques of rigging, trolling and jigging back to your home area. David has included 71 GPS spots for you to try out. There are 19 from SA, 8 from QLD, 29 from NSW and 15 from Victoria.

Even though there are a couple of sections in this DVD that seem to go on forever , over all this is a great DVD and it will get the heart rate right up there with those big tuna and snapper. Well worth having in the library. Try your local tackle shop or call up Joy at AFN on (03) 9761 4044.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that
the NCC this week failed in a bid to impose 18 no-fishing zones including Fish Rock and Green Island. This is great news for the many fishermen who, without exception are happy to adhere to the existing restrictions around Fish Rock to protect the Grey nurse shark. I am sure it’s not over yet but let’s hope sanity prevails.

Mixed results outside over the last week where the fishing was a little tough. Snapper have been off Grassy again with floating slow sinking baits the popular method in about 30 meters. A few small yellowfin tuna have started to show up around Fish Rock taking small skirts or bibles lures. Jim Harrower landed a 2.66 kilo monster leather Jacket while Good Pearl Perch are out a little wider.

Fishing in the river has been slow with a few flathead and bream around but you need to work for them. There’s a few whiting up river taking live worms and nippers. There were some tailor around in the white water off the rocks while the seas were up last week. Good whiting are on Smoky Beach as well as the odd flathead off the North end while bream and dart are further along the Beach.

With only 8 weeks till Christmas the shop will lay-buys for that perfect Xmas Gift.
For daily reports and special call Paul on (02) 6566 6726.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that over the last week, we have had numerous reports of good flathead catches taken from many locations in the Hastings ranging from the break walls to Wauchope. Whilst there have been plenty of good quality fish of around 1 to 2 kilos being taken, there has also been stacks of juvenile fish on the chew. Although at times annoying, this is a great sign for the future with these juvenile fish seeming to be getting thicker each year. Bream numbers remain reasonable especially upstream, with lures achieving the better results which is good news with the Sundowner Bream Classic just around the corner.

Elsewhere in the estuary, blackfish have been a little quiet however the word is that there are still a considerable number of fish throughout the estuarine system. On the whiting scene, we are seeing a gradual improvement in quantity and quality, and this trend should continue as summer draws nearer. Best bet at present would be around Blackman’s Point or up the Maria with either yabbies or worms.

Off the beaches, catches have been well above average for this time of year, with good numbers of bream still cruising the waves and whiting numbers and quality steadily improving. Best results locally have come from north beach, with live worms and pipis the both working well. For those inclined to travel, Crescent Head has been excellent for both species although the distinct presence of red is not a good sign. Let’s hope a repeat of recent summer seasons is not in store. Also on the down side, tailor remain scarce and mulloway even rarer, although there are still plenty of salmon for those who enjoy a bit of sport fishing from the sand.

On the rocks, drummer reports are now a little slow although areas around Diamond Head and Forster have been fishing quite well considering the time of year. Groper and blackfish however remain viable targets depending upon sea conditions and tide phases. On the tailor front, a few reasonable fish have been snared at first light however the numbers are simply not there at this time of year. Locally, Lighthouse again has proven the pick of locations, whilst Plommer and surrounds has also produced a few nice fish.

Outside reports have been reasonable with bottom bouncers scoring good mixed bags from most locations. The ratio of snapper and pearl perch in many ice boxes has been most pleasing to those involved, especially with reds to over 5 kilos and pearlies to around 3 kilos amongst them. Little to report on the pelagic front, although we can confirm the NSW Fisheries FAD has been redeployed for the season ahead. We will advise exact GPS co-ordinates in the near future although I believe it is in the same location as per recent seasons.

When you are next up in Port Macquarie call into the shop and have a look at their great selection of tackle and bait they have on offer. You could also ask Jason and Virginia for their daily report on what’s happening on the fishing front. Call them on (02) 6583 8318.

Weekly report 15/10/07

Over the past few weeks I have been asked what type of gear that I use when fishing for different fish species. So what I have done is put a short list together that may help you out.

These are the types of rods and reels that I am currently using
1. Drummer, Snapper, Groper and kingfish from the rocks.

Shakespeare Ugly Stik Gold GPS120A2 with an Alvey 650B spooled with 12 to 15 kilo line. NOTE: I HAVE CUT THE BUTT DOWN TO A LENGTH OF 150 MM.
2. Luderick,

Snyder Glass Mag Bream 13' -6" with an Alvey 6003 spooled with 6 kilo line

Or

Shakespeare Agility AG-SP1202LM with a Pflueger Echelon ECH060 spinning reel spooled with 6 kilo line.3. Whiting, Bream, Flathead from the beach.

Snyder Glass Mag Bream 13' -6" with an Alvey 6003 spooled with 6 kilo line

Or

Shakespeare Agility AG-SP1202LM with a Pflueger Echelon ECH060 spinning reel spooled with 6 kilo line4. Mulloway from the beach

Shakespeare Ugly Stik Gold GPS120A2 with an Alvey 650B spooled with 12 to 15 kilo line. NOTE: I HAVE CUT THE BUTT DOWN TO A LENGTH OF 150 MM.5. Spin combo for Tailor and Salmon

Shakespeare Ugly Stik Gold GPS120A2, 8 - 12 kilo with a Pflueger Contender 7570 spin reel with 12 kilo line. NOTE: I HAVE CUT THE SAND SPIKE OFF A PUT ON A RUBBER BUTT CAP.

Hope that this will help you out a bit in what type of tackle you should be looking at when you are next in at your favourite tackle shop.

Over the past 2 weeks I have been fishing in the Flathead classic at the Gold Coast, our team didn’t fair to well even though we did manage to get a 1.43cm jewfish and a 84cm flathead, (report to come in a couple of weeks) and having a break at Port Stephens.

Stephen Chang with a Mondran Barra that was caught on a Tropic Angler Green Tiger Floater hard bodied lure.

Botany Bay has been fishing well over the past week or two, with trevally and yellowfin bream been caught at the Hot Water Outlet, the Oil wharf, Bare Island, the end of the third runway, the drums, Sutherland Point, Towra and Dolls Point. You could also try trolling for tailor in Yarra Bay. The rocks off Kurnell has been producing luderick, tailor, bream, silver trevally and drummer on the rising tide.

Port Hacking is a little bit slower at the moment, but you can try trolling the drop –off at Lilly Pilly, Gymea Bay and the entrance to the Port Hacking and South West Arm for tailor, Australian salmon and the odd kingfish.

There are also plenty of leatherjackets and squid about in the Port Hacking. Try fishing close to the shore at the entrance to Yowie Bay and North West Arm.

Con from Drummoyne Bait and Tackle reports that Steven Bocchi bagged 2 jewfish from the Ryde bridge last Wednesday night while using Sydney Harbour prawns. They weighted in at 6.2 and 4.9 kilos. Searls Momument has been producing whiting to 43 cm for Ray Pellagrano. He has been using blood and tube worms and Ray reckons that you should fish the run-out for the best results.

Clarkes Point is still holding a few luderick, with anglers bagging fish to 750 grams. They have been mainly fishing the run-out tide and using fresh green weed. Tom and Jim frazer fished the wharf under the Iron Cove bridge for 3 silver trevally, 2 yellowfin bream, 3 dusky flathead, 1 sand whiting and 3 tailor. What a great catch and they were using blood worms, prawns and pilchards for bait.

Mort Bay has 6 spine and fan bellied leatherjackets. They are being taken on peeled prawns and nippers. The nippers have been out fishing the prawns 2 : 1. Elizabeth and Rushcutters Bays have been producing dusky flathead, flounder and the odd bream during the week. You will need to concentrate your efforts to the areas that have sand banks. Prawns, nippers and whiting bait have been doing the job.

Clifton Gardens has been fishing well for yellowfin bream, silver trevally, tailor and the odd australian salmon and kingfish. Try using prawns, squid, garfish and pilchards.

The Spit bridge has been a popular spot for squid. Some of the anglers have been landing up to 10 squid in a session. They have been using squid jigs from 1.5 to 2.0 in pink and orange.

Australian salmon schools are still moving around the harbour. Some of the fish have been around the 3 kilo mark. Try using small metal slicers, Bass Assain 6 inch soft plastiucs, surface poppers and garfish. Some of the anglers have also been getting a few kingfish from under the schools of feeding fish. So you may want to let your lure sink for a few seconds.

Kingfish have been taken in good numbers from the Wedding Cake Island that is just off the beach at Coggee. Try trolling lures or jigging a few slicers or soft plastics just off the bottom. Live bait will also produce good fish.

12 mile reef is producing morwong, tiger flathead, silver trevally, leatherjackets and the odd big kingfish. Try using large prawns, squid and whole or half pilchards and garfish. Long Reef has snapper to three and a half kilos. Try drifting off the jail for sand flathead, morwong and leatherjackets. Sound out the area and fish at the 38 metre depth.

For more information on what is happening in Sydney, why don’t you call into Con and Peter’s shop at 104 Lyons Road at Drummoyne. They also have a great range of Bass Assassin soft plastics and TT Jig Heads that are great when chasing Australian salmon, tailor and kingfish.

The Hole in the Wall Boat Ramp at Sylvania Waters.

This boat ramp is currently under going some major changes and will be out of operation for a couple of months. It will be great when it has been fixed up, but you will have to launch else where.

Scotty Lyons from Southern Sydney Fishing Tours http://www.fishingsydney.com.au/ reports that he has just locked a week in for next year for a week fishing in Weipa up on Cape York April 7th to the 13th this is prime time in this area. Your trip is based on the water so you can fish 24-7 if you wish we have two smaller tenders with 50hp for all your fishing and exploring. Fish the vast creeks for Barra, Jacks, Fingermark, Queenfish and Trevally, Fish the coral bommies for Trevally, Coral Trout and many more.

Each day is fished in a new area and there normally plenty on offer. This trip just needs six keen anglers to join us for a great weeks fishing. But be quick as this trip always fills fast. All details of the Weipa trip please give me a call 0418 169 439.Scotty also reports that Botany Bay this week is fishing rather well yellowfin bream and silver trevally around Trevally Alley. Scott reports the fishing will be a bit slow so you will need to move around a bit to find the fish and you will need to work for them this week. Try trolling just of Kurnell Point, as over the past week Scott has had two double hookups on Tailor. Trevally worth a shot on the anchor just of the point burley is needed. To make a booking call Scott on mobile 0418169439.

DVD REVIEW – The Best of Fishin’ Trip – The Whyalla Special – Snapper.

If this is the first time you have been to my site don’t forget to have a look at the various sections. Don’t forget to send in those questions so that I can get back to you and my other readers.

In this DVD Jason, Pete, Rod and Andrew head down to fish the PENS at Whyalla for those massive snapper with baitrunner and overhead reels. If it is big snapper that you are after this DVD won’t let you down. The guys manage to get 6 very large snapper over 2 days of fishing the PENS at Whyalla. Some of them are over 13 kilo plus.

The boys take you through a few techniques on how to use bait runner reels. After watching the DVD you will notice that they lay their rods almost parrellel to the water. This is gives the fish a better chance to pick up the bait and power off with it.

There are a few extra sections in this DVD, one on how to catch blue swimmer crabs, feeding the dolphins at a marina with whole pilchards and also getting into a few calmari and squid while out crabbing.

Over all this is a great DVD and it will get the heart rate right up there with those big snapper. Well worth having in the library. Try your local tackle shop or call up Joy at AFN on (03) 9761 4044.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that
apart from a few ugly days the conditions have been terrific for heading out and wetting a line. A couple of fisho’s ventured out wide for a few bar cod in water temperature around the low 20’s. Kingfish are around Fish Rock in good numbers but there not always on the bite. Long fin perch are about in 60 Fathoms. There has been reasonable snapper off Grassy in about 30 to 40 meters along with a few pearlies and a heap of red rock cod. The FAD is out there again about 50 meters off the original location.

Flathead are on the bite in the river and there’s been some monsters being landed. Theo Zirogiannis caught a classic 4 kilo lizard on soft plastic bait. Bream are about as well amongst the many little ones. There’s still the odd Blackfish about but this week should see the end. Whiting are biting on worms on the sand flats.

Smoky beach has been fishing well for whiting and bream with a few Australian salmon coming in. Good whiting have been caught off the Front Beach and inside the Jail Breakwall. Gap Beach has whiting, bream and the odd flathead off the north end.

With only 10 weeks till Christmas the shop will lay-buys for that perfect Xmas Gift.
For daily reports and special call Paul on (02) 6566 6726.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that in the estuary, flathead remain the star attraction with quality fish on offer from most parts. Good catches are now coming from areas further upstream, with the Maria and around Rawdon Island fishing quite well, although the lower reaches are still producing plenty of big lizards.

A few bream are still on offer around Limeburners and the coal wall, and with the waters clearing and warming considerably, look for the action to begin to pick up further upstream. Increasing numbers of whiting are also beginning to show in the Hastings with Limeburners and up the Maria now producing quality fish, with live worms or yabbies the pick of baits. Lake Cathie too has been fishing well for whiting as is usually the case when the lake is open. Blackfish however are now starting to slow considerably, however a few solid fish to over a kilo are hanging around Limeburners and the break walls for those putting in the time. For crabbing enthusiasts, mud crab numbers are picking up almost daily so now is definitely time to dust off the traps and dillies if you haven’t already done so.

Off the beaches, some solid bream remain on offer with the excellent run enjoyed over winter continuing well beyond expectations. Good numbers of whiting too are about, with their earlier presence this year no doubt due to the salmon numbers not being as prolific as in recent seasons. Whilst there are still plenty of these great sport fish still about, at least this season has seen somewhat of a balance return, where a variety of species can be confidently targeted during this time of year. On the negative side however, mulloway and tailor remain elusive and a few specks of red weed have begun to show up. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the gods are kind and the inundation of recent summer seasons does not eventuate.

Off the rocks, still a few drummer on offer however the action has now begun to slow a considerably. However it is not unusual to see a cold strip of water hug the coastline at this time of year, and if this happens, look for another brief burst of activity from these tough brawlers. Tailor on the other hand have improved a little with some quality fish to over a kilo on offer from most headlands, with Lighthouse locally being the pick of locations. A few bream are also on offer although by and large the average size and condition has begun to diminish as you expect at this time of year. Blackfish numbers remain reasonable, whilst the odd groper is still on offer, with Diamond Head and Point Perpendicular the pick of locations.

Outside reports have been encouraging with snapper numbers solid from the closer reefs, a few kingfish and Sampson fish wider off Plommer, and still a few yellowfin on the shelf. Those making the trek out also report a few mahi mahi hanging around buoys and the like, which encouraging given the FAD should be back in place very soon. Paul and Carol from Aquatic Blue Charters have also been treating their customers to some great whale watching, with whale numbers at present excellent as these majestic mammals begin their journey back down the coast for the summer.

When you are next up in Port Macquarie call into the shop and have a look at their great selection of tackle and bait they have on offer. You could also ask Jason and Virginia for their daily report on what’s happening on the fishing front. Call them on (02) 6583 8318.

Weekly report 30/9/07

If this is the first time you have been to my site don’t forget to have a look at the various sections. I have just updated my web site with 7 new questions that have been sent in from readers and my answers back to them. I have also put up a new book and DVD review. So when you get a chance check them out. Also to wet your appeitite for a bit more kingfish fishing I have also included a review on the following DVD, Hooked with David Butfield.

What can I say. They fishing in Southern Sydney has been great over the past week or two. Botany Bay has silver trevally at all the usual spots, australian salmon, tailor and the odd kingfish can be trolled up along the edge of the third and old runways, yarra Bay, either side of the entrance to Botany Bay, Towra wide and along the coast down to Bate Bay.

Bate Bay has snapper, sweep, sand flathead, bream and trevally off the back of Shark Isalnd, Osbourne Shoals and the northern side of Jibbon bombora. If you work your way down to Marley Point you can fish for bream, snapper, trevally, morwong, leatherjackets, kingfish and drummer. The washes have been holding tailot and australian salmon.

The Port Hacking has plenty of luderick, bream, silver trevally, leatherjackets, squid, tailor and schools of frigate mackerel, kingfish and salmon working the deeper bays.

All and all the holidays will be a great time for fishing in the Shire if the weather keeps up like it is as the moment. Send me areport of how you go over the next week or so and include a photo and you too will be in with a chance to win this months Photo of the Month competition.

Mark Coyne, forma centre for St George with his biggest ever dusky flathead. These girls will start to show up as the water and weather starts to warm up.

Work on the Audley Fishway is completed.

The work on the Audley Fishway has finished and the contract was awarded to Civil Constructions Pty Ltd. “The Iemma Government contributing half the funding for the $400,000 project, which involves the construction of a rock-ramp fish ladder upstream from Audley Weir in Sydney’s Royal National Park,” Minister Macdonald said. “The ladder is 45 metres long, four metres wide and constructed using sandstone boulders and stone cobbles to reflect natural conditions. A series of pools will be created every two metres to enable fish to move between the freshwater habitat upstream, and the salty estuary below.

The Audley Weir has acted as a physical barrier to the movement of fish along the Hacking River for years; this Fishway will restore the natural biodiversity of the river, by enabling fish such as the Australian Bass to use the upper reaches of the river for part of their lifecycle.
Minister Macdonald said “the project would see the best available science used to improve biodiversity and fish stocks in Australia’s oldest National Park. It will bring a real lift to the riverine biodiversity values of the park, and the local catchment will be in better health as a result.”

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Department of Primary Industries, and the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority have also contributed funding to the project. This includes $70,000 from the NPWS, which has also produced the environmental assessment review. In addition to the environmental benefits, the Audley fishway will be a focus point for innovative educational programs being prepared by the NPWS, who have recently relocated their Visitor’s Centre to a site near the fishway. Source: media release from Minister for Natural Resources.

The Hole in the Wall Boat Ramp at Sylvania Waters.

This boat ramp is currently under going some major changes and will be out of operation for a couple of months. It will be great when it has been fixed up, but you will have to launch else where.

Scotty Lyons from Southern Sydney Fishing Tours http://www.fishingsydney.com.au/ reports that he is just back from two weeks fishing northern Australia. What a trip great weather and top fishing. Scott fished the creeks and found barra, jacks and cod of all sizes around the mouth of each creek queenfish and trevally jumped all over a fast moving lure loades of fun. Trolling the many rocky headlands had them tangeling with mackerel, tuna and larger trevally and queenfish. Reef fishing with bait the species just to many to list.

On this trip Scott tried out the the Schneider High Performance Braid that he has used in and around Botany Bay with good results, but up north is the real test and it did the job better than he hoped for. Scott is very impressed a great product.

BOOK NOW FOR SCOTT’S TRIP NEXT YEAR JUNE 08. HE NEEDS SIX KEEN ANGLERS TO JOIN HIM FOR A TOP WEEKS FISHING IN THE FAR NOTH OF AUSTRALIA BE QUICK AS THESE TRIPS FILL FAST.

Next fishing school is on the 5th November + Full day out fishing.Next singles day is on the 7th and I need two anglers keen to join this group.

To make a booking call Scott on mobile 0418169439.

DVD REVIEW - Hooked with Dave Butfield

This great set of 3 DVD’s around 6 hours of fishing action brought to you by Dave Butfield from the Fishing show series called Hooked on Fishing. In these 3 dvd’s you will find groper fishing off the rocks at Long Reef in Sydney, massive GT’s at Exmouth, mulloway in Botany Bay, black jewfish in Darwin Harbour, Barramundi and threadfin salmon fishing at Darwin, how to target King George whiting in Adelaide, kingfish jigging off Terrigal, Flathead in the Logan River in Queensland and last, but by no means least blue eye cod fishing in the deep waters off Kiama on the mid south coast of NSW.

Dave starts off each segment with a visit to the local Tackle World shop to take you though the types of rod and reel combinations they are going to use. Also Dave will disgust with the owner or manager of the shop what types of terminal tackle, bait and lures they are going to use when chasing the particular fish species for that segment.

One thing that I also found with this set of DVD’s is that the target fish species are not the only fish caught while putting them together. There are many other fish species caught along the way.

These 3 dvd’s would be well worth having in your library even if you are a local or you are thinking of visiting the area, or even if you are a competent angler or just a novice. I am sure that everyone who views these DVD’s will pick up something of interest.

Carl from http://www.kayakfishingsydney.com/ reports that the morning dawned when he set off onto Botany Bay in search of a few more trevally. He moved along towards the end of the 3rd runway, staying just outside the markers, casting towards the runway wall. I only had two of the Gulp 3" minnows in lime tiger so he figured I'd use them up before moving onto the Pumpkinseed ones.Carl also caught a couple of Australian salmon, some silver trevally, dusky flathead and a small under sized kingfish.

For more on what happen during the rest of the morning why don’t you pay a visit to his web site at http://www.kayakfishingsydney.com/

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that holiday makers to the Rocks area will be getting amongst a few fish both inside and out. That is if you are going to wet a line. Smoky Beach has been fishing well for good Whiting and Bream on live worms and pippies. Gap Beach has Whiting, Bream and the odd Tailor and Salmon. Rock hoppers are catching Drummer, Bream and the odd lonely Tailor or two, with a few Tuna off Hat Head.

The river is still producing good flathead and these fish are suckers for a large range of Plastic baits and lures. Blackfish surprisingly are still on the bite, finding the weed bait has been the problem. Bream are about in good numbers but the big ones are scarce. A few Jew have been landed over the last week. If you’re heading to Fish Rock expect to tangle with some King Fish or the odd Snapper amongst the loads of Bonito. Snapper have been off Grassy in close with a few Pearlies out wider while out of the same location the crew on “get it on” caught after a 2 hour fight a 50lb Cobia on 10 pound braid.

For daily reports and special call Paul on (02) 6566 6726.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that in the estuary, blackfish remain solid with good fish still available for those willing to put in the time. Both break walls and Limeburners have been the pick of locations. Bream numbers too have been reasonable despite the full moon phase, with Limeburners and the coal wall producing a few nice bags. Best results have been achieved on late afternoon sessions with either gut baits or yabbies. On the positive side, flathead numbers continue to improve almost daily with pretty well all areas downstream of Rawdon Island producing fish. The lower reaches of the Hastings have also begun to produce a few better quality whiting, although there are plenty of throwbacks amongst the better fish. No real reports of crabs as yet; however with the days slowly warming, from now on the action should improve considerably.

On the beaches, the terrific late season run of bream continues, with pretty well all stretches of sand from Crowdy to Crescent Head producing fish in varying quantities and quality. Usually by this time of year the bream run is well and truly finished, however for whatever reason this season just keep going. Along with the bream, some terrific whiting have begun to show up, with live worms as is usually the case, doing all the damage. If you are seeking a feed of these tasty critters, look to fish shallow sand spits particularly on a rising tide, with the smallest amount of lead given the conditions. On the tailor and mulloway front, little to report as has been the case for some time now; however it will be interesting to see if the current full moon phase produces an improved showing. For those seeking some salmon action, there are still plenty of fish about, with most deeper gutters yielding results.

On the rocks, drummer numbers remain steady with Point Plommer, Point Perpendicular and Diamond Head all continuing to yield quality fish. With many of the fish yet to spawn, you should be able to confidently chase a feed of pigs for a few more weeks yet. Also off the stones, a few tailor have shown up for those keen to rise well before 5.00 am, whilst the evening sessions in the lead up to the moon have yielded a few bream for those willing to put in the time. Still a few solid groper on offer for those willing to float a few crabs when the seas are flat.

On the offshore scene, the reefs of both Plommer and Lake Cathie have been producing a reasonable run of snapper to around 3 kilos, along with the increasingly common pearl perch and plenty of morwong. Flatties remain thick on the sand drifts in around 50 meters or so. On the leather jacket scene, the swarms are beginning to thin noticeably, however the odd patch is still hanging around the wider reefs, so don’t remove the wire supplies just yet. On the pelagic scene, yellow fin tuna are still around the shelf in good numbers. Those trolling skirts have also reported the odd bill fish encounter which bodes well for the season ahead.

When you are next up in Port Macquarie call into the shop and have a look at their great selection of tackle and bait they have on offer. You could also ask Jason and Virginia for their daily report on what’s happening on the fishing front. Call them on (02) 6583 8318.

Darren from Bermagui Ocean Hut Fishing Tackle, Dive and Charter Fishing Service
mailto:%20(%20enquiries@bermifishinghut.com.au reports that fishing last week has been tough with plenty of fish showing on the sounder although not that interested in feeding. Mowies and Tiger Flathead are the main catch where you need to move constantly to find them and avoid the Leather Jackets. I suspect there should be some good Snapper in close off Goalen Head on this moon.

Cold water is still the major factor for those wishing to chase Game Fish. Some anglers have tried berleying for Sharks with no success and I doubt we will see any change in the Game Fishing until next moon or even later than that. There is a patch of water south of Sydney which is holding schools of Tuna, hopefully they will move south in the near future.

Things are warming up in the estuaries and the better areas are the upper reaches around the weed beds and over the flats, especially the Bermagui River. Anglers can expect Bream, Whiting and Luderick on bait as well as Flathead are starting to make an appearance for those who like to cast lures.

The cool water is still having an effect on the beaches where very little action is to be had. There are some Salmon and I suspect those wishing to go out at night may find a Gummy Shark on this moon. Pretty much the same for the rocks with a few Trevally and Leatherjacket showing, although generally quiet.

Warmer than usual weather conditions are indicating there could be an early spring and with this the Bass in Brogo may become active a lot earlier this season. At present there have been no reports on any regular catches of Bass within our area and I suspect it will stay this way for quite a few more weeks.

If you are planing a trip down Darren’s way check out his web site at http://bermifishinghut.com.au/aboutus.htm You could also give Darren and the boys a ring on (02) 6493 4688 to find out what is coming up in the next week