This jewfish was caught while fishing with Ron Osman from Estuary Fishing Charters. Go to his report further on for more information.

I have had a number of emails from readers request more land based fishing spots in the southern areas of Sydney. So for this month’s column I had dedicated it to the land based anglers.

So in the May issue of NSW Fishing Monthly I listed 10 different land- bassed fishing spots for you to try out. Here they are:

Port Hacking – Flathead – Jibbon Beach
 It doesn’t seem to matter whether you fish near the bottom of the tide or the top of the tide. Due to the fact that most of the area is a sandy bottom.
 Try using a paternoster rig, but put the sinker on the second hook, not the bottom one.
 Early low or late light periods are better.
 If using plastics you will need to fan your cast.
 Usually work pretty well during or just after a southerly blow.

Port Hacking - Dee Ban Spit - Whiting/flathead
 Fish here during and just after there has been a big sea.
 The white water will harbour salmon and tailor.
 Fish on the eastern side of sand spit during the summer months on a run – out tide with either beach, sand, tube or blood worms for whiting.
 Fish on the eastern side of sand spit during the summer months on a run – in tide with either beach, sand, tube or blood worms for whiting.
 Good place to learn how to use soft places for flathead. No snags.

Port Hacking - Bass - Audley
 Fish either near the bottom of the tide or the top of the tide. This due to the fact that big eddies can form here making it hard to stay near the bottom.
 Try using a paternoster rig or a float. The baits needs to be suspended off the bottom.
 Early low light periods are better
 After a couple of days of rain it is worth trying either live garden worms or Power Bait. Lures should either have a lot of vibration, or rattles or be bright in colour.
 Work the eastern shoreline from the weir to the first corner in the north.

Port Hacking – Flathead – Swallow Rock / Deer Park
 Fish the top of the tide. This due to the fact that it is fairly shallow at low tide.
 Try using a paternoster rig or a float when using live poddy mullet. The baits needs to be suspended off the bottom.
 Early low light periods are better.
 After a couple of days of rain it is worth trying either live garden worms or Power Bait. Lures should either have a lot of vibration, or rattles or be bright in colour.

Salmon – Wattamolla – Rocks
 Fish out the front only when the seas are down.
 Live bait can be gathered either in the inside of the small bay to the north or out the front.
 Bread or soaked chicken pellets in a plastic bucket or onion bag for berley.
 Need to fish with a min of 10 kilo.
 Try using a balloon for a float, don’t blow up to big.
 Apply Vaseline to line to help in float while letting line out.
 Use double hook, snooded rig.
 The point just to the south is good when wind coming from the south.

Wonga Road Wharf in Yowie Bay –squid
 It doesn’t seem to matter here whether the tide is falling or rising
 Take 3 different sized jigs in 3 different colours
 Best fished at night
 A slow retrieve seems to work most of the times
 Try berleying here

Coalcliff Point –kingfish
 Fish out the front only when the seas are down
 Live bait can be gathered either in the inside of the bay or out the front
 Bread or soaked chicken pellets in a plastic bucket or onion bag for berley
 Need to fish with 20 kilo and up
 Take gaff, not many places to land big fish without one
 If seas are up you can fish up in the back of the bay
 Try using a balloon for a float, don’t blow up to big
 Apply Vaseline to line to help in float while letting line out
 Use double hook, snooded rig
 The point just to the south is good when wind coming from the south

Kingfish – Kurnell Point - Baits
 Try places like just west of Pig Rock, Little Yena and Yena itself.
 Live yellowtail, slimies, tailor or squid for bait.
 Berley for live bait with mashed up pilchards.
 Try using either poppers or soft plastics.
 You will need to have some white water, but not too much as the swell can come up over the rocks at these places.
 Good time to try is a few days before or after the full moon.

Cape Banks – yellowtail kingfish
 No good in a southerly swell
 Best fished after the swell has abated after a couple of days
 You will need to take in berley for the live yellowtail, garfish, mullet, pike, squid and slimy mackerel. Don’t be worried if you don’t get any, you can try suspending strips baits like squid, cuttlefish, pike, garfish or any think else that you may come across.
 Look for the deeper water that is in close.
 Either suspend bait under a bobby cork or a balloon, use a double hook snooded rig
 If you can get hold of a small blow up pool for live bait, it’s handy
 Try early morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is low.

Mulloway Tom Ugly’s bridge and Captain Cooks bridge
 Use either whole or half pilchards, white bait, mullet, strips of tailor, yellowtail or slimy mackerel, Hawkesbury prawns
 2 hook ganged rig for smaller mulloway to four hook ganged rig for large trophy fish
 Tide doesn’t seem to matter, as long as it is running.

So the next time you up for going out for a fish in the southern Sydney area these 10 land based spots will give you a bit of a starting chance.

What’s New
If you have never been on the Pure Fishing Australia Web Site before I would suggest that you go to www.purefishing.com.au and have a look at what is there.

You can find the latest rods, reels, lines, soft plastics, hard bodied lures, terminal tackle, accessories and clothing they have in Shakespeare, Ugly Stik, Pflueger, Berkley, Gulp, Fireline, Abu Garcia and Nitro.

There are product reviews and a new feature product catalogue for 2010.

You can also view video clips on Pure Fishing TV (PFTV) on how to rig up a whole pilchard onto a set of ganged hooks, strip baits, whole and peeled prawns, squid and worms. There are also plenty of other clips, for example, how to use blades, squid jigging and bream on soft plastics and surface poppers.

The latest articles are Jig Flicking River and Streams for trout with Andrew Mc Govern, Lure Creek Barra by Neil Shultz, Starting out with soft plastics by JB and yours truly has an article on how to go about anchoring your boat up.

If you are interested in getting a newsletter to also keep you up to date on what’s happening on www.purefishing.com.au all you need to do is subscribe to their newsletter and they will keep you up to date.

LATEST REPORTS FROM AFAR.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that the Marine Park issue has reared it ugly head once more to frustrate and anger responsible recreational fishermen. Local fisho’s please take the time to sign the petition that is currently in our shop as well as other locations around town because people power in the right direction is powerful message.

Spotted Mackerel are still being caught in ones and twos off Grassy with guys having more success with live bait. Some nice Trag have been coming out of the same area with the odd Snapper. Out wider a few Dolphin Fish, Pearl Perch and the odd Bar Cod were landed last week. Cobia have been about from Grassy down to Hat Head with the majority coming from in front of the Gaol. Fish Rock has a few Kings in a fairly strong current. There were a few Yellow Fin around the 5 kilo mark caught last week, a run of these little torpedos would be excellent . Live bait is still not abundant but enough to keep you going.

Bass fishermen are in their element up around Fredericton and Smithtown braining them with surface and shallow divers. Whiting are around the same location. Smaller Bream are in good numbers around the oyster racks while some nice Flathead were caught throughout the same area. School Jew are along the Break Wall with the odd good Bream. Herring were tough to get last week but White Bait was doing the trick.

Rock Hoppers are having some fun with Tailor and Bream with some nice Jew Fish in front of the Gaol and off the ledges at Hat Head. Local beaches are full of Dart with the odd Whiting and Bream. Smoky is fishing well for Tailor early morning and on dusk.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that on the beaches, despite the Easter break seeing a bit more wind than we would like, reasonable conditions were to be found if you fished either the protected corners or significant holes. As has been the case of late, tailor dominated catches with most beaches producing well. Lures, pillies and whitebait have been equally successful, with dawn and dusk producing the better catches as normally is the case. A few school mulloway have also been on offer with the beaches around Lake Cathie proving quite consistent. Also off the beaches, bream numbers are on the improve with north beach and Lighthouse giving up a few nice fish to around a kilo. Salmon numbers remain above average, considering this time of year has the warmest water along our coastline which is generally not to the salmons liking.

Off the rocks, long tail tuna have finally shown up in solid numbers with reports of both successful and unsuccessful encounters from most locations between Hat Head and Point Perpendicular, including the north wall at Port. Unfortunately we are also hearing reports of ill tempers and selfishness from a couple of the premier locations within driving distance of Port. Whilst I can understand long tail, or any LBG opportunities for that matter, are only available for short periods of time in comparison to bread and butter species, etiquette and patience are qualities a few of the enthusiasts seem to leave at home. Perhaps they are blackfish anglers in training. Also off the rocks, tailor and bonito remain common, whilst those floating a bit of cabbage report some excellent bronzies and the odd pig are haunting the washes in reasonable numbers. Bream and school mulloway remain viable options for those fishing the darker hours.

In the estuary, a few good bream have begun to show up, particularly for those fishing the lower reaches at dawn or dusk. Limeburners and the coal wall have both produced well. Flathead numbers remain reasonable, as too have blackfish, whilst garfish and mullet schools remain abundant. For those keen on tangling with a decent mulloway, live mullet, break walls and change of tide are the three main phrases you should fish by for the next month or so.

Offshore reports have been limited given poor conditions; however the next few days look particularly attractive, with the warm currents back in close. As such, those keen on chasing Pelagics should relish the opportunities on hand, whilst bottom bouncing should also prove productive as long as the currents does not scream too hard.

Ron Osman from ESTUARY FISHING TOURS reports that the days are getting colder but the fishing is still good with heaps of flatties and crabs, a few jewfish and Kingfish if you are lucky.

This summer has been the best Jewfish season I have experienced. We haven’t got one over 20kg in the boat but we have lost a few that were around that size and we have had plenty over 10kg with the biggest 18kg. Some days there are heaps of throw back Jewfish with the occasional keeper and up to 60cm (3kg) then the next day there are only a few big ones around. We have caught them everywhere so if you go out move around. I usually give a spot an hour and if we haven’t had any good hits or caught any we move on. We have been fishing Juno Point, Flint and Steel, Gunyah Point, Wobby Beach, The Bridges and a few other not so secret spots. Fresh squid is the best as always and the 18kg Jewie took half a squid. Butterflied yakkas are getting a few too. I prefer a butterflied yakka than a live one as long as it’s fresh they seem to work better.

We are getting heaps of Flathead on soft plastics at the moment with the occasional Jewfish as well. You can really tell the difference between them when you get them on. We are getting about 8 keeper Flathead an hour with heaps of throw backs. I use gulps when flicking for Flathead because you could catch a Flattie with a piece of string but if you use the gulps you will get other fish to. We have caught Jewfish, Bonito, Watsons Bonito, Salmon, Mack Tuna, Kingfish, Bream, Pike and a lot of crappy fish all on plastics. The only problems is the Leather Jackets and Tailor love them too and at around $1.50 each it can be costly. I like the 4 inch Minnows and the 3 inch Shrimp in any colour. It doesn’t matter for Flathead. I am not sponsored by anyone so I am not trying to flog something that doesn’t work. The best place to get them is Big W or Kmart as they are $7-$9 a pack and tackle stores sell them for $10 plus.

If your after Flathead just drift past any of the beaches down the Hawkesbury or Pittwater flicking plastics as you drift. Once you have covered the area go to the next one. It’s 90% luck with Flatties. They are just sitting there waiting for something to go over the top of them. We have also taken some huge Flathead while fishing for Jewfish mostly on butterflied or live yakkas. The biggest lately was 88cm and these big ones are mostly pregnant femailes and should be released unharmed. The big ones don’t taste as good as the smaller ones anyway, around the 45 – 55cm mark are the best eating and flatty filets are my favorite eating fish.

We had a great time on the Kingfish over Christmas but Pittwater has been dead for the last month on the Kingie front. We have been catching a few around the bommie at Barrenjoey but they are there one day and gone the next. We usually give it one run and if we don’t get any hits we leave. There has been heaps of Garfish around West Head and Iron Ladders and if the Kingfish are there they will take them everytime or you can take the Gars home to eat as some have been huge.

As I said Christmas was the best we even caught 2 Cobia although they were small they were good to see and we caught heaps of AmberJack as well. It wasn’t rare to catch Kings and Jews in the one day around Christmas and we did just that plenty of times. With the Cobia one took a live squid off the downrigger but the other took a piece of squid of the bottom at Flint and Steel while we were fishing for Jewfish. I thought it was a shark at first because he came straight to the surface and we have been catching plenty of Hammerheads to 4ft around the same area.

Blue swimmer crabs have been funny over summer being thick one week and none the next but at the moment we are getting around 10 keepers a day in our witches hats from between Juno and Croppy Head or the mouth of Mooney Creek. If the tides are big put your traps out in a bay somewhere out of the current or your traps will be sucked out to sea.

There are heaps of Mullet around at the moment with the pros beach hauling them at Iron Ladders and Little Patonga. We have been getting a few on real small metals or plastics but the fly fishos do really well. Mullet fight really well, they are great bait and they are pretty good eating too with plenty around at the moment.

There are still schools of small Mack Tuna around Pittwater and the Hawkesbury but most days they are in very small schools just popping up here and there and you have to be very quick and lucky to get them. But some days the small schools join up and they stay on the surface a lot longer and are easier to chase around. We catch them on very small metals and with 6lb line are great fun.

I have been seeing heaps of good size blackfish hanging around wharfs and pylons everywhere lately and I will be pulling out the Luderick gear soon but at the moment there are too many other fish around.

A quick tip if someone is anchored and fishing don’t anchor up behind them as that is where there lines are. Anchor up beside them but not to close. I have had this happen a few times lately and we have had to move spots after being there first. Some people are very rude when you ask them to move. They think people are fishing straight down when anchored. We fished Flint and Steel a month ago and this happened. The guy was very rude to us after doing 3 circles around our boat and then anchored up right behind us. So we moved spots and got a 4 and 5 kilo jewfish in the first 15min of being at our new spot. Must be karma.

Ron Osman - Captain, Estuary Fishing Tours http://www.estuaryfishingtours.com.au/

FISHING CLASSES FOR 2010.
WINDYBANKS BAIT AND TACKLE
My next fishing class will commence on Wednesday the 16th of June 2010. It will start at 6.30pm and will run for 3 consecutive Wednesday nights. The cost of $95.00 includes a fish barbeque and the class. To book in and pay you will need to either ring the shop or pay them a visit.
Windybanks Bait and Tackle
523 Pacific Hwy Mt Colah NSW 2079
Ph (02) 9477 1501 Contact Annette and John.

Botany Bay is alive with silver trevally. Phillip Mars and his brother went out last Friday and managed 19 to 1.05 kilos. All were caught on peeled prawns and very little weight. The key to their success was that they were the only ones berleying with bread and pilchards. Botany Bay will fire on the silver trevally front and I can see this pattern continuing for about the next 2 months. Every time I have gone out lately to target silver trevally all I have had to do is anchor up near or at the edge of a drop-off at Towra Point, marker pole or buoy, the drums, Monilex Point, the artificial reef in Yarra Bay and the end of the third runway, start berleying and fish as light as the conditions will allow. Once the trevally have got the scent of the pilchards, bread and pellets they just coming swimming up into my berley trail.

Best baits have been peeled prawns, pink nippers, blood worms and fillets of skinned yellowtail. To name all the spots that I have fished for trevally this year would take up too much space up, so here is a few of my favourites; The Wedding Cakes, North Head yellow marker, Middle Head, Bradley’s Head and Clarke Island in Sydney Harbour. The Port Hacking has places like Deer Park, Gymea Bay, and the Lilly Pilly drop off and just off sandshoes at south Cronulla.

I caught this tailor while flicking a Lucky Craft Sammy 65 at a school of feeding tailor in the Port Hacking.

Small to medium tailor to 1.35 kilos can be caught at the Hot Water Outlet. The best time has been an hour after the sun has risen. Then the fish will go off the bite as the first rays of sun hit the water near the Hot Water Outlet. I have also found that the tailor will keep on the chew when the day is an overcast one.

Rod from Gabe’s at Gymea reports that there have been a number of mulloway to 46.7 kilos caught under the Captain Cooks Bridge. The best times have been about 3 to 4 hours before the sun sets. Bream are feeding in the shallow areas of Oatley and Oyster Bays on the rising tide.

The beaches off Cronulla and Wanda have been producing whiting during the day and tailor at night. You could also try fishing Garie and Stanwell Park Beaches. That is if you can put up with the chill. The Port Hacking is worth a shot for squid and leatherjackets along the shoreline of Deer Park. Dusky flathead are been caught in Gymea Bay on live poddy mullet and small yellowtail.

Soft plastic shads are the go for flathead that have been holding up off the boat ramp at the end of Swallow Rock Drive. Australian bass and bream have been caught by anglers who have been working the shoreline from the weir at Audley and up the Grays Point. Hard body lures and soft plastics have been doing the job.

Sydney and Middle Harbour are still producing a few kingfish, both on lures and live baits. Kevin Potters from Manly fished the drop-off at Sugarloaf Point for 3 kingfish to 68cm, 4 bream to 750 grams and 1 dusky flathead. The kingfish were caught on live yellowtail and the other fish were caught on strips of stripped tuna. Tailor have been caught while fishing off the southern side of the Spit Bridge on the run-up tide using whole pilchards and garfish on ganged hooks. Leatherjackets and squid can be caught in the bay at Little Manly and the western side of the Sow and Pigs is worth a shot on the run-out tide for bream, silver trevally and the odd dusky flathead.

Further up stream in the Lane Cove and iron Cove Rivers the bream and dusky flathead have been feeding at the edges of the mangroves and rocky shoreline when the tide has been high. Try using pink nipper, peeled prawns and pilly tails that have been lightly weighted. The flats of Hen and Chicken and Five Dock Bays are worth a shot at high tide for bream, dusky flathead and whiting. You could also try worth the boat hulls in the same areas.

What’s New

If you have never been on the Pure Fishing Australia Web Site before I would suggest that you go to www.purefishing.com.au and have a look at what is there.

You can find the latest rods, reels, lines, soft plastics, hard bodied lures, terminal tackle, accessories and clothing they have in Shakespeare, Ugly Stik, Pflueger, Berkley, Gulp, Fireline, Abu Garcia and Nitro.

There are product reviews and a new feature product catalogue for 2010.

You can also view video clips on Pure Fishing TV (PFTV) on how to rig up a whole pilchard onto a set of ganged hooks, strip baits, whole and peeled prawns, squid and worms. There are also plenty of other clips, for example, how to use blades, squid jigging and bream on soft plastics and surface poppers.

David Tosland was using Berkley Big Eye Baldes to target bream and caught this healthly whiting on a Mango Ripple.

The latest articles are Jig Flicking River and Streams for trout with Andrew Mc Govern, Lure Creek Barra by Neil Shultz, Starting out with soft plastics by JB and yours truly has an article on how to go about anchoring your boat up.

If you are interested in getting a newsletter to also keep you up to date on what’s happening on www.purefishing.com.au all you need to do is subscribe to their newsletter and they will keep you up to date.

LATEST REPORTS FROM AFAR.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that
the warm water and strong currents have been the order of the day and last week was no exception. The FAD is producing Dolphin Fish in around four knots of current with the odd King Fish out of the same area. In closer to Grassy Head Spotted Mackerel are still in good numbers but very finicky Fisho’s are trying to go without the wire causing lots of bust off’s. There were no signs of Spanish last week but one or two Trag were on the bite on the bottom. The DOT has been productive with some nice Pearl Perch, Morwong and the odd Snapper. Heading south Green Island has Bream and Tailor around it while Fish Rock produced Snapper and some good Kings. Black Rock gave up a few Cobia last week. Live Slimies have been near impossible to catch there are some yakkas about which are worth a shot on the Kings. One visitor hooked a striped Marlin around 70 kilo on a Knife Jig out wider in about 4 knots of current.

Tailor and Bonito are on the end of the Break Wall in good numbers with the odd Bream. There have been a few Flathead coming in off the Tavern with some Whiting as well. Jew Fish are about with a 12 kilo and 20 kilo unit caught in the river last week on live bait. School Jew and Whiting are on the bite from Jerseyville to Kinchela taking live worms. Dust of your Black Fish gear they are on their way in the river system, I just hope the netters give them a break this season.

Some nice Tailor are off the rocks out of most locations with Bonito and small Kings down at Hat Head. Smoky and Gap Beach are fishing well for Tailor, Whiting and Bream.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that on the beaches, despite the Easter break seeing a bit more wind than we would like, reasonable conditions were to be found if you fished either the protected corners or significant holes. As has been the case of late, tailor dominated catches with most beaches producing well. Lures, pillies and whitebait have been equally successful, with dawn and dusk producing the better catches as normally is the case. A few school mulloway have also been on offer with the beaches around Lake Cathie proving quite consistent. Also off the beaches, bream numbers are on the improve with north beach and Lighthouse giving up a few nice fish to around a kilo. Salmon numbers remain above average, considering this time of year has the warmest water along our coastline which is generally not to the salmons liking.

Off the rocks, long tail tuna have finally shown up in solid numbers with reports of both successful and unsuccessful encounters from most locations between Hat Head and Point Perpendicular, including the north wall at Port. Unfortunately we are also hearing reports of ill tempers and selfishness from a couple of the premier locations within driving distance of Port. Whilst I can understand long tail, or any LBG opportunities for that matter, are only available for short periods of time in comparison to bread and butter species, etiquette and patience are qualities a few of the enthusiasts seem to leave at home. Perhaps they are blackfish anglers in training. Also off the rocks, tailor and bonito remain common, whilst those floating a bit of cabbage report some excellent bronzies and the odd pig are haunting the washes in reasonable numbers. Bream and school mulloway remain viable options for those fishing the darker hours.

In the estuary, a few good bream have begun to show up, particularly for those fishing the lower reaches at dawn or dusk. Limeburners and the coal wall have both produced well. Flathead numbers remain reasonable, as too have blackfish, whilst garfish and mullet schools remain abundant. For those keen on tangling with a decent mulloway, live mullet, break walls and change of tide are the three main phrases you should fish by for the next month or so.

Offshore reports have been limited given poor conditions; however the next few days look particularly attractive, with the warm currents back in close. As such, those keen on chasing Pelagics should relish the opportunities on hand, whilst bottom bouncing should also prove productive as long as the currents does not scream too hard.

FISHING CLASSES FOR 2010.

WINDYBANKS BAIT AND TACKLE
My next fishing class will commence on Wednesday the 16th of June 2010. It will start at 6.30pm and will run for 3 consecutive Wednesday nights. The cost of $95.00 includes a fish barbeque and the class. To book in and pay you will need to either ring the shop or pay them a visit.

Windybanks Bait and Tackle
523 Pacific Hwy Mt Colah NSW 2079
Ph (02) 9477 1501 Contact Annette and John.

LATEST LOCAL REPORT.

Well, I don’t know about you but the weather has been the biggest talking point over the past month. If it hasn’t been windy, it’s been raining and if it hasn’t been raining it has been windy or it has been both. As I put this report together the rivers, creeks, bays and beaches are running brown at the moment in Sydney. I haven’t been able to get out for a fish for just on 2 weeks now and believe me I am starting to twitch. Next weekend I have a bream comp in Sydney and I am going to get out on the water to find out where they are.

I have had a couple of reports that have come in from anglers who have been able to find that small window of time to get out on the water. Scotty Lyons has been nailing a few bream, silver trevally and the odd jewfish off the end of the third runway, the drums and the sticks. Best baits have been nippers and half pilly tails. Don’t forget to berley. For the full report go to http://www.fishingsydney.com.au/

Carl Dubois won the SBSS kayak event last Sunday and for the full report go to www.kayakfishingsydney.com.au and you will learn how Carl took out first prize.

You could also go to the www.basinlureandfly.org.au web site and read the report of how Andrew and Neil took out the first round of the SBSS team’s event on the Georges River. What a cracker of a bag of bream.

Due to the fact that there has been so much fresh water about I would suggest that if you are going to fish with bait you should try using pilchards, blood and tube worms (may be hard to get), chicken and mullet gut, strips of tuna, bonito, slimy and frigate mackerel. You could also try concentrating your fishing time to about a couple of hours either side of the top of the tide.

If the seas are still up you can still find a few calm spots to fish off the beach and rocks in Sydney and once the seas calm down offshore you can give the reefs ago for snapper, tarwhine, jewfish and tailor.

DVD’S REVEIWS

Secret Silver by Brendan Wing and Warren Carter
This is a 2 set DVD that plenty of tackle tips, techniques and secrets on how to go about targeting mulloway. Even though it has been filmed in Victoria’s Western Port and surrounds the information that is shown in this set will help you target mulloway where ever you are thinking of targeting them. I have learnt a number of techniques from watching Secret Silver. Running time is 165 minutes. Go to www.afn.com.au or visit your local tackle shop and ask them to get it in for you.

Sydney Rock and Beach Fishing with Alex Bellissimo

If you want to improve your skills as a rock and beach angler then this DVD is a must. Alex takes you through what baits to use and how to rig them. What type of equipment, rig set ups and techniques to use when targeting bream, drummer, Australian salmon, luderick, groper and silver drummer. Running time is 59 minutes. Go to www.afn.com.au or visit your local tackle shop and ask them to get it in for you.

What’s New

If you have never been on the Pure Fishing Australia Web Site before I would suggest that you go to www.purefishing.com.au and have a look at what is there.
You can find the latest rods, reels, lines, soft plastics, hard bodied lures, terminal tackle, accessories and clothing they have in Shakespeare, Ugly Stik, Pflueger, Berkley, Gulp, Fireline, Abu Garcia and Nitro.

There are product reviews and a new feature product catalogue for 2010.
You can also view video clips on Pure Fishing TV (PFTV) on how to rig up a whole pilchard onto a set of ganged hooks, strip baits, whole and peeled prawns, squid and worms. There are also plenty of other clips, for example, how to use blades, squid jigging and bream on soft plastics.
There are also species guides on Dusky Flathead, Bream, Kingfish and Mulloway.

Articles on targeting whiting, kingfish with live baits, how to berley and freshwater flats fishing with Neil Schultz and going fishing with the kids by Andrew McGovern.

If you are interested in getting a newsletter to also keep you up to date on what’s happening on www.purefishing.com.au all you need to do is subscribe to their newsletter and they will keep you up to date.

DVD RELEASE

In the Port Hacking “The Jewel of the South” Scott Lyons and I show you our techniques we use when targeting squid, what to do when blue swimmer crabs come up to the back of your boat in your berley trail, what rigs and techniques to try when chasing luderick, leatherjackets, how to target flathead on live bait, different ways to catch poddy mullet, techniques on how to pump for nippers, bream on soft plastics and some light offshore and estuary fishing for Australian salmon and bonito.

We have also put in 30 different fishing locations on easy to read maps to fish from the shore, boat and where to go to get your live bait.

Scott also explains, with the use of a white board the details of the rigs we used throughout the DVD.

We also go through the types of outfits we used and how to set them up.
Now even though this may be a DVD that has been filmed while fishing in the Port Hacking River in Sydney’s south, the types of techniques, bait and lure types, tackle and rigs can be used in the same way anywhere throughout Australia.

While you are at your local tackle shop you should also look out for our first DVD “A Day on the Bay” In this dvd we cover how to target yellowfin bream in fast running shallow and deep water, silver trevally while using small amounts of weight, how to get live squid and yellowtail, target kingfish around structure, cast and troll for tailor, soft plastic fishing for dusky flathead and even a little bit on cooking your latest catch.

There are also maps, techniques and tackle covered in this DVD.
RRP $24.95

The Port Hacking “The Jewel of the South” is now available in the following tackle shops;

Ace Fishing Tackle 3 Newbridge Road Milperra
Amazon Outdoor Centre 1273 The Horsley Drive Wetherill Park
Anglers Leisure World 3/2 Garling Road Blacktown 2148
Anglers World 1 Lawndale Avenue North Rocks
Bass Angler Batt Street Penrith
Beverley Hills Bait and Tackle 410 Stoney Creek Road Beverley Hills
Botany Bay Bait and Tackle 1a Jacobson Street Kyeemagh
Brighton Bait and Tackle 285 Bay Street Brighton-lee Sands
Cast Wide Cnr of Wollongong and Forest Road Arncliffe
Campbelltown Fishing Scene 6-12 Dumaresq Street Campbelltown
Chatswood Bait and Tackle 342 Penshurst Street Chatswood 2067
Complete Angler 938 Woodville Road Villawood
Compleat Angler 3rd Floor Dymock’s Building
438 George Street Sydney 2000
Drummoyne Bait and Tackle 104 Lyons Road Drummoyne
Equipped Fishing Bait & Tackle 115 Railway Pde Canley Vale NSW 2166
Fish Outta Water 263 Condamine Street Manly Vale 2093
Freddy’s Fishing World Cnr Griffith and Broadmeadows Roads Newcastle
Freddy’s Fishing World Erina
Fish and Dive Warehouse 238 Taren Point Road Taren Point
Hunts Marine Princes Hwy Blakehurst
Gabe’s Boating and Fishing centre 1a Somerset Avenue Narellan
Gabe’s Tackle and Bait Shop 4 Princes Highway Sylvania Waters
Kyeemagh Bait and Tackle 164 Bestic Road Kyeemagh
Macs Bait Bar Princes Highway Blakehurst
Mako Tackle and Bait 201 Newbridge Road Moorebank
Matraville Bait and Tackle 548 Bunnerong Road Matraville
One Stop Bait & Tackle Cnr of Waterloo Rd Greenacre
Otto’s Fishy Business 139 Victoria Road Drummoyne 2047
The Big Catch 12 Chapel Road Bankstown
Wattos Shop 1 & 2, Lot 7 Kurrajong Ave
North St Mary’s
Windybanks Bait 523 Pacific Highway Mt Colah
Windsor Bait and Tackle Cnr Baker and Macquarie Streets Windsor
West Engadine Newsagency 121 Anzac Avenue Engadine

FISHING CLASSES FOR 2010.

WINDYBANKS BAIT AND TACKLE

My next fishing class will commence on Wednesday the 10th of March 2010. It will start at 6.30pm and will run for 3 consecutive Wednesday nights. The cost of $95.00 includes a fish barbeque and the class. To book in and pay you will need to either ring the shop or pay them a visit.

Windybanks Bait and Tackle
523 Pacific Hwy Mt Colah NSW 2079
Ph (02) 9477 1501
Contact Annette and John.

WATTO’S TACKLE SHOP

I will be starting up my fishing classes in early February 2010 at Wattos and they are run on 3 conconsective Wednesday nights. The class will start at 7.00pm and finish at 10.00pm. For further information you will need to ring or pay them a visit at the shop. The cost will be $80.00 per person.
For further information and to book in and pay you can contact Sean at
Email: wattosfishing@gmail.com
Address: shop 1 & 2 LOT 9 KURRAJOMG AVE ST MARYS NORTH
Phone: 0416 203 507
Contact Shaun

And while you are at it you could go to their web site and see what special they have on at the moment http://www.wattosfishing.com.au/
LATEST REPORTS FROM AFAR.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that the fishing there are a lot of frustrated blue water fishermen here at the moment, where just as the fish were on the bite big seas have stopped pretty well all boats from crossing the bars. Prior to this Black Marlin have been in good numbers just off the Gaol, while most are around 40 to 50 kilo Russell Deilby weighed in a nice 70 kilo unit on 30 pound line, a small Penn Senator and unbelievably the line running outside one of the runners, you got to be lucky. Early last week there were a few Spanish off Grassy and Scotts with rumours of the odd Spotted Mackerel. The grounds off Hat Head produced a few Spanish as well. Slimies were tougher to get while Bonito are everywhere at the moment. Dolphin Fish are about with most of the Charter boats getting into these. Reef fishing has been ok with the odd Snapper off Grassy, Pearl Perch in good numbers off Rocks in Line. Fish Rock has Kings with a growing number of Mac Tuna.

The River is loaded with Whiting now jumping all over live worms and nippers. Fishing the Break Walls on the run out seems to be successful. A run up river as far as Smithtown has been productive for these fish. Good numbers of Flathead have been caught on numerous baits and plastics, just find the edge of a weed bed or some drop offs and you should be on some fish. There were a few Bream and small Schoolies along the walls.

The Beaches have been slow with the big seas. Smoky beach on the Hat Head end has been fishing well for Bream, Dart and Whiting with a few Tailor early morning last week. Off the ledges Bonito and Mac Tuna have been on the bite on small metal lures, these are great fun on light gear.
Paul Martin
rocksmarine@tsn.cc

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that On the beaches, tailor numbers are as good as we have seen for quite some time, no doubt due to the combination of reasonable water clarity and the arrival of bait fish schools. Whilst a fair proportion of the fish may be undersize, the odd better specimen is on offer. With the bulk of the whitebait schools yet to arrive, the action can only improve from here on. Whiting numbers are also beginning to pick up, and should continue to do so with the water still warming. For night time anglers, the odd bream and school mulloway are about; however you will need to battle the hoards of stingrays which are particularly ravenous at present.

Off the rocks, tailor numbers have improved with Point Plommer and Diamond Head faring best, whilst Lighthouse locally is also worth a throw. A few nice bream have been on the chew during early mornings, with tailor strips proving the bait of choice. Little to report on the land based game scene as yet apart from the occasional cobia encounter. However from this month onwards is generally when it all happens so for those inclined, and if further incentive is needed, the currents are shaping up favourably and bait schools are becoming more common each day. For those simply inclined to have a bit of fun or gather some great bait, bonito numbers are everywhere around Port and Point Plommer, with small metals the weapons of choice.
In the estuary, flathead remain excellent with fish on offer from basically all points this side of where the river turns fresh. Lures, whitebait and the humble mullet strip have been well worth throwing. Pick of the other species has been whiting with terrific fish taken from Blackmans Point, Limeburners and the back channel. A few nice bream and tarwhine have also been on offer around the break walls, along with the occasional blackfish. Best results have been achieved at night on live yabbies.

Offshore action has been curtailed temporarily due to conditions, but the news beforehand was encouraging. Bottom bashers have been scoring snapper to above 3 kilos, pearl perch and sampson fish, along with a continued excellent run on small to medium kingfish. Pelagic action has also been reasonable with a few small black marlin beginning to show up, whilst good numbers of mahi mahi are haunting the FAD and trap buoys. With nice warm currents about, this month should produce excellent pelagic action in general, and who knows, perhaps the waters south of South West Rocks may even produce a reasonable amount of mackerel action this season.

Sydney Report 26/12/09

This report and the next couple of reports I will be giving you a bit of an insight as to what DVD’s are out there for you to gain some great knowledge and techniques from.

The Fishing DVDNumber 10

Shane Mensorth takes you through a number of different techniques on how to chase Australian salmon on the beautiful beaches of the western Eyre Peninsula in South Australia while using baits and lures. Some of the salmon they catch are huge.

If you are into doing a bit of travelling overseas the segment of chasing bone fish on Christmas Island is great, especially the sight fishing parts.

One of the things I haven’t done for a while is chase wild river Australian Bass. The segmnt is filmed on the Manning River and there are some great bass caught by Steve Starling and David Seaman while fishing out of their canoes.

I have never gone fishing for Barramundia (it will happen one day), but the next time I go to Darwin I am going to try and book up guide Justin Jones for a day out chasing Barra. Both Jason and Nigel Webster diffently know their stuff when it comes to barramundia.

You can also learn heaps from watching Steve Starling and Mark Bargenquast chase flathead with those new Pro Series Sqyuidgies that have been spced up with S-Factor.

The Fishing DVDNumber 12

The Fishing DVDNumber 13

The Fishing DVDNumber 14

The Fishing DVDNumber 15

The Fishing DVDNumber 16

Pound for pound drummer would have to be the hardest and toughest fish that I have fished for off the rocks Steve Starling and Andrew Badullovich fish for these rod bending fish at a place that I have fished many times before on the far south coast. While berleying for the drummer they also catch big bream and groper. Watch and learn the techniques on how to fish off the rocks for bread and butter fish species.

This dvd also has segments on how to fish fish target fingermark or golden snapper, go fishing for cod with top water lures in the rugged gorges of NSW’s New England Plateau. Plus you can also take a trip to the Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat near Broome in WA and see how effective lures and soft plastics are so effective in the creeks up that way.

What’s New

If you have never been on the Pure Fishing Australia Web Site before I would suggest that you go to www.purefishing.com.au and have a look at what is there.
You can find the latest rods, reels, lines, soft plastics, hard bodied lures, terminal tackle, accessories and clothing they have in Shakespeare, Ugly Stik, Pflueger, Berkley, Gulp, Fireline, Abu Garcia and Nitro.

There are product reviews and a new feature product catalogue for 2010.

You can also view video clips on Pure Fishing TV (PFTV) on how to rig up a whole pilchard onto a set of ganged hooks, strip baits, whole and peeled prawns, squid and worms. There are also plenty of other clips, for example, how to use blades, squid jigging and bream on soft plastics.
There is also species guides on Dusky Flathead, Bream, Kingfish and Mulloway.

Articles on targeting whiting, kingfish with live baits, how to berley and freshwater flats fishing with Neil Schultz and going fishing with the kids by Andrew McGovern.

If you are interested in getting a newsletter to also keep you up to date on what’s happening on www.purefishing.com.au all you need to do is subscribe to their newsletter and they will keep you up to date.

GARY BROWN
Author of
Fishing Sydney's Waterways
Beach and Rock Fishing Australia

DVD's
"A Day on the Bay"
"Port Hacking - The Jewel of the South"

Sydney Report

What’s New

If you have never been on the Pure Fishing Australia Web Site before I would suggest that you go to www.purefishing.com.au and have a look at what is there.

You can find the latest rods, reels, lines, soft plastics, hard bodied lures, terminal tackle, accessories and clothing they have in Shakespeare, Ugly Stik, Pflueger, Berkley, Gulp, Fireline, Abu Garcia and Nitro.

There are product reviews and a new feature product catalogue for 2010.

You can also view video clips on Pure Fishing TV (PFTV) on how to rig up a whole pilchard onto a set of ganged hooks, strip baits, whole and peeled prawns, squid and worms. There are also plenty of other clips, for example, how to use blades, squid jigging and bream on soft plastics.
There is also species guides on Dusky Flathead, Bream, Kingfish and Mulloway.

Articles on targeting whiting, kingfish with live baits, how to berley and freshwater flats fishing with Neil Schultz and going fishing with the kids by Andrew McGovern.

If you are interested in getting a newsletter to also keep you up to date on what’s happening on www.purefishing.com.au all you need to do is subscribe to their newsletter and they will keep you up to date.

LATEST LOCAL REPORT.

I have managed to get out over the past few weeks to chase dusky flathead, bream, silver trevally, sand whiting, salmon, tailor and kingfish. Some days the fishing has been going off and some of the days have been reasonably hard, but I have still managed to get amongst a few fish.

Clive Ringler and the boys had a great time pulling in a few silver trevally while fishing at Merries Reef in Bate Bay.

Even though the water in Botany Bay has been fairly dirty (due to all the construction work going on) there has been fish about. Trevally, bream and dusky flathead have been caught at Trevally Alley, the drums, the oil wharf, Watts reef, Henry Head and at the end of the third runway. Just remember trevally seem to bite better when the water is fairly clean, so try fishing on a rising tide near the top of the tide.

There have also been a number of schools of tailor working in the bay and the kingfish have been down below them. They are feeding on very small (2 to 3 cm baitfish) so try using small metal lures and drop shot Powerbaits in the 3 inch size. I have caught the kingfish while trolling 5 and 7 inch Gulp jerk shads.

The Port Hacking still has luderick, leatherjackets and sand whiting. Try working the shoreline of Yowie and Gymea Bays. Australian salmon, tailor and kingfish have been getting stuck into the baitfish in Gunnamatta and Bate Bay. You could also try fishing the Jibbon bombora, Shark Island and Merries reef for kingfish, snapper and silver trevally.

The beaches off Cronulla and Wanda are worth a shot for whiting and bream during the day and Australian salmon and tailor in the earlier part of the morning and as the sun is setting.

DVD RELEASE No 1

In the Port Hacking “The Jewel of the South” Scott Lyons and I show you our techniques we use when targeting squid, what to do when blue swimmer crabs come up to the back of your boat in your berley trail, what rigs and techniques to try when chasing luderick, leatherjackets, how to target flathead on live bait, different ways to catch poddy mullet, techniques on how to pump for nippers, bream on soft plastics and some light offshore and estuary fishing for Australian salmon and bonito.

We have also put in 30 different fishing locations on easy to read maps to fish from the shore, boat and where to go to get your live bait. Scott also explains, with the use of a white board the details of the rigs we used throughout the DVD. We also go through the types of outfits we used and how to set them up.

Now even though this may be a DVD that has been filmed while fishing in the Port Hacking River in Sydney’s south, the types of techniques, bait and lure types, tackle and rigs can be used in the same way anywhere throughout Australia.

While you are at your local tackle shop you should also look out for our first DVD “A Day on the Bay” In this dvd we cover how to target yellowfin bream in fast running shallow and deep water, silver trevally while using small amounts of weight, how to get live squid and yellowtail, target kingfish around structure, cast and troll for tailor, soft plastic fishing for dusky flathead and even a little bit on cooking your latest catch.

There are also maps, techniques and tackle covered in this DVD.
RRP $24.95

The Port Hacking “The Jewel of the South” is now available in the following tackle shops;

Ace Fishing Tackle 3 Newbridge Road Milperra
Amazon Outdoor Centre 1273 The Horsley Drive Wetherill Park
Anglers Leisure World 3/2 Garling Road Blacktown 2148
Anglers World 1 Lawndale Avenue North Rocks
Bass Angler Batt Street Penrith
Beverley Hills Bait and Tackle 410 Stoney Creek Road Beverley Hills
Botany Bay Bait and Tackle 1a Jacobson Street Kyeemagh
Brighton Bait and Tackle 285 Bay Street Brighton-lee Sands
Cast Wide Cnr of Wollongong and Forest Road Arncliffe
Campbelltown Fishing Scene 6-12 Dumaresq Street Campbelltown Chatswood Bait and Tackle 342 Penshurst Street Chatswood 2067 Complete Angler 938 Woodville Road Villawood
Compleat Angler 3rd Floor Dymock’s Building
438 George Street Sydney 2000
Drummoyne Bait and Tackle 104 Lyons Road Drummoyne
Equipped Fishing Bait & Tackle 115 Railway Pde Canley Vale NSW 2166
Fish Outta Water 263 Condamine Street Manly Vale 2093
Freddy’s Fishing World Cnr Griffith and Broadmeadows Roads Newcastle
Freddy’s Fishing World Erina
Fish and Dive Warehouse 238 Taren Point Road Taren Point
Hunts Marine Princes Hwy Blakehurst
Gabe’s Boating and Fishing centre 1a Somerset Avenue Narellan
Gabe’s Tackle and Bait Shop 4 Princes Highway Sylvania Waters
Kyeemagh Bait and Tackle 164 Bestic Road Kyeemagh
Macs Bait Bar Princes Highway Blakehurst
Mako Tackle and Bait 201 Newbridge Road Moorebank
Matraville Bait and Tackle 548 Bunnerong Road Matraville
One Stop Bait & Tackle Cnr of Waterloo Rd Greenacre
Otto’s Fishy Business 139 Victoria Road Drummoyne 2047
The Big Catch 12 Chapel Road Bankstown
Wattos Shop 1 & 2, Lot 7 Kurrajong Ave
North St Mary’s
Windybanks Bait 523 Pacific Highway Mt Colah
Windsor Bait and Tackle Cnr Baker and Macquarie Streets Windsor
West Engadine Newsagency 121 Anzac Avenue Engadine

DVD RELEASE No 2

It has taken Carl Dubois and Adam Ford about the same time as Scott and I to put together a great DVD on Kayak Fishing in Sydney.

I had the chance last night to have a look at this great dvd and I thing that I found was the amount of information that both Carl and Adam has put into this dvd in terrific. It wouldn’t matter if you had been fishing for a long time or was just starting to get into kayak fishing there would be something that you pick up.

Carl, Adam, Mick and Terry target Australian bass, yellowfin bream, silver trevally, Australian salmon, dusky flathead, kingfish, tailor and mulloway using different techniques and lures.
Everything from soft plastics, surface lures and hard bodies is discussed and backed up with some great footage of fishing from their paddle and pedal powered kayaks.
Carl also takes you through what type of fishing structure they target these fish at and how to set up your sounder on your kayak.

Now even though this may be a DVD that has been filmed while fishing in Sydney the types of techniques, lures, tackle and rigs can be used in the same way anywhere throughout Australia while fishing out of a kayak. Maybe you would like to try some of the techniques and lures when you are either fishing off the shore or out of your own boat.

For more information on how to pick up this great DVD you can go to www.kayakfishingsydney.com or email Carl at cdubois@cdm.com.au
RRP $24.95

FISHING CLASSES FOR 2010.

WINDYBANKS BAIT AND TACKLE

I will be starting up my fishing classes in early February 2010. They will start at 6.30pm and will run for 3 consecutive Thursday nights. The cost of $95.00 includes a fish barbeque and the class. To book in and pay you will need to either ring the shop or pay them a visit.
Windybanks Bait and Tackle
523 Pacific Hwy Mt Colah NSW 2079
Ph (02) 9477 1501
Contact Annette and John.

WATTO’S TACKLE SHOP

I will be starting up my fishing classes in early February 2010 at Wattos and they are run on 3 conconsective Wednesday nights. The class will start at 7.00pm and finish at 10.00pm. For further information you will need to ring or pay them a visit at the shop. The cost will be $80.00 per person.

For further information and to book in and pay you can contact Sean at
Email: wattosfishing@gmail.com
Address: shop 1 & 2 LOT 9 KURRAJOMG AVE ST MARYS NORTH
Phone: 0416 203 507
Contact Shaun

And while you are at it you could go to their web site and see what special they have on at the moment http://www.wattosfishing.com.au/

LATEST REPORTS FROM AFAR.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that the fishing has been picking up slowly over the last few weeks. Warmer currents are helping with good stocks of live bait around the grounds. Grassy Head has been producing just legal Snapper in close while Trag are about again towards Scott’s. 60 Fathoms is fishing well for some nice Kings, Pearl and Long Fin Perch, an abundance of Morwong and the odd Cod in the deeper grounds. Fish Rock had some reports of good Kings caught on Knife Jigs, plenty of Rats and a Snapper or two. Bonito are about in close with the odd Tailor taking trolled lures.

Good Bream are coming in off the Break wall with some beauties caught on the drift. Flathead are in good numbers along the walls with around the Tavern still the hot spot. Whiting are in the river up towards Stuarts Point, Spencers Creek and shallows across from the boat ramp. Bass are biting well on the upper reaches of the Macleay past Kempsey and if you are using a Taylor Made basscada under the trees you are guaranteed a hit.

The Rock Hoppers are having mixed results with slim pickings in front of the gaol but the Light House has some good Jew off the ledges. Rod Wawrzyniak fished the rocks at Hat Head for a nice 18.5kg Jewfish.

Smoky Beach also is a hit and miss situation with the north end giving up some nice Bream and Whiting through the week and then going off the bite along the beach. Gap Beach has had little action apart from a few Whiting around mid tide. Main and Back Beach has had some Whiting at first light. We now have the range of Fin nor and Quantum Reels in stock, these strong reliable reels, some with 30kilos of drag around the $190 mark are worth a look.

TWO WEEKS AGO.

Everything is on track for a bumper season on the water. Finally some good currents bringing good colour water with plenty of bait about. We have heard some good reports from the Tweed Coast the Cobia are in good numbers and hopefully heading south. Guys fishing the north reefs around Grassy and Scott’s have battled for the odd Snapper, a few Pearlies and Trag. The FAD is out there again in its location, all too new to hold anything at this stage. Out in that depth there is plenty of Morwong and a few Long Fin Perch. Fish Rock has had some big Kings around it, one fish’o getting a 16kilo unit on a Knife Jig. There are plenty of Rats about as well. Bonito are in good numbers if you’re after fresh bait.

The Break wall has been fishing well for some nice Bream and Flathead. A few guys have hooked something off the end of the wall and haven’t been able to stop it, maybe Sharks or shovelies. Whiting are in fair numbers in the river with a few around Jerseyville and Kinchela. Clybucca around the oyster racks are working well for Bream. The boys have had success again on the north Wall with some nice Flathead, Bream and the odd School Jew.

Smoky Beach has been fishing well for Bream and Whiting on the northern end corner with live worms and Pipis great bait. In front of Black Rock, one local pulled out a couple of cracker Bream during first light. The Hat Head end of the beach has been fishing well for Bream and Whiting. Rock Hoppers are having some fun with School Jews down in front of the Lighthouse with Frenzy and Jewie 150 lures doing the trick.

Paul Martin
rocksmarine@tsn.cc

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that in the estuary, flathead and whiting have both been excellent, as you would expect at this time of year. Best results on the lizards are coming from between Rawdon Island and Pelican Island, with whitebait, prawns and lures of all types each proving successful. For the whiting, Limeburners and the Back Channel have been consistent, with beach worms and yabbies the pick of the baits, however surface lures have also accounted for some quality fish. Elsewhere in the estuary, a few bream have been taken from around the walls and co-op whilst both the Maria and Limeburners continue to produce scattered catches of blackfish. On the prawn front, Lake Cathie has been a little hit and miss this moon, with some nights seeing bag limits easily achieved, and unfortunately exceeded, whilst others have seen quite barren results. Overall however, the results are solid if you are prepared to put in the time and effort.

On the beaches, whiting numbers continue to improve, with Lighthouse in particular fishing well on the run up tide. In with the whiting are reasonable numbers of bream, with beach worms accounting for the better catches. A few school mulloway have also been snared after dark, with the beaches around Lake Cathie and Dunbogan producing the better quality fish. Tailor however; remain poor at best, although there are still a few salmon around to make sure your pilchard does not go to waste.

Off the rocks, the occasional tailor has shown up with Lighthouse and Blueface locally producing the odd reasonable catch. Night time anglers have also been scoring a few reasonable bream and school mulloway from around Plommer, whilst those floating a bit of cabbage during the day from the same location report the odd blackfish is still about.

Offshore reports have been encouraging as far as bottom bouncing is concerned, with the odd snapper to five kilos coming from the close in reefs off Port and Plommer. Wider off Plommer, kingfish and Sampson fish are still active although there is a fair sprinkling of juveniles in among the better fish. Those fishing the bottom deeper than about 60 meters also report some excellent pearl perch are still on offer if you can find them. On the pelagic front, we are beginning to see some nice warm water on occasions but unfortunately this is being regularly disrupted by the odd cold green current. Hopefully these cold pockets will some disappear and the surface action begins to really fire.

TWO WEEKS AGO

In the estuaries, after a somewhat ordinary season, a few nice blackfish have shown up much to relief of diehard float watchers. Limeburners and the coal are both apparently worth a look. Whiting continue to improve and the indications are for an excellent season ahead. Lures and baits are both working well. On the bream front, a few reasonable fish have been taken from the north wall after dark, whilst further upstream, those throwing lures of all varieties report good results. Flathead numbers remain solid with plenty of fish spread right throughout the system, including increasing numbers of large females in the lower reaches. Never mind though, the annual cull of these breeders is just about to commence from the break walls, with a small but select group of anglers once again doing their best to both eradicate the species whilst also stockpiling sustenance for the long winter season ahead. Still above average numbers of small mulloway pretty well right throughout the system, with the odd quite respectable model among them.

For crustacean enthusiasts, prawning is once again on in earnest at Lake Cathie, however results to date this dark are well below the past few months. If you are prepared to work, you can still get a nice feed. Seems the prawns know when Christmas is coming as they often become elusive just when you really want them. On the crab scene, muddies remain poor as they have been all year and we are yet to see any signs of blue swimmers. With a dry summer predicted ahead, let’s hope we get a decent showing after several lean years.

Off the beaches, the recent full moon phase produced a few reasonable school mulloway from around Lake Cathie and North Beach. Live worms as is usually the case is the bait of choice for this class of fish. Day time anglers have found the going a little tougher, with a few whiting, the odd bream and salmon the best of what’s around at present. No real signs of tailor yet which should come as no surprise.

Off the rocks however, the odd tailor has shown up, although what fish about are only in the chopper class. Also off the rocks, the odd bream and blackfish have been encountered by those putting in the time, although little reports on the drummer front. Just on this aspect, whilst drummer are traditionally known as a winter species, don’t be afraid to have a lash over the warmer months, as many good bags have been taken during the height of summer, particularly after a relatively poor winter pig season.

Offshore reports have been encouraging, with a few fish about together with a significant improvement in water colour and temperature. Kingfish and Sampson fish have both been excellent with around trag rock producing consistently. Bottom bashers have also been scoring some terrific pearl perch together with a better than average class of nannygai from around that location. On the pelagic front, a few billfish have been raised by those heading wide of the shelf, however if the warm water stays close, the bait and predators will no doubt follow in due course.

REPORT FROM Tackle World at Goulburn.

Pejar Dam
Pejar has slowed a little again due to change in weather.

The fish have gone a little deeper so a good option is bait either scrub worms or power bait.

If you’re a lure fisherman, Tassie devils are the best without question - they're easy to cast a good distance and heavy enough to get down deep where a slow retrieve will work best.

Jervis Bay

Snapper are currently the big catches around Long Nose. 6" gulp jerk shads are your best bet.

The middle grounds and cliffs are seeing good numbers of Kingies and Salmon on live baits or jigging plastics & knife jigs will bring quick action.

If you’re looking for some fresh squid for bait or to eat the broken reef off Murray’s Beach and a good squid jig will see you fill the boat very quickly.

Bateman’s Bay

Jewfish are the targets at the moment - now the netting has ceased the numbers of Jew are coming back.

The best way to catch one is working soft plastics in deep holes that have good current running through them.

Daytime fishing is quite OK for this style of fishing but if you’re a night owl, live baiting with squid and yellowtail is the answer...just be willing to put in some time and effort!

Blowering

Redfin are in huge numbers - jigging them will bring good results and using a blade will work a treat.

Cod season ends this month and Blowering is the home of big cod.

LATEST LOCAL REPORT.

Australian salmon have been schooling in along the coast of Sydney, from Lyon Island and down to Wollongong. They have also been schooling in Pittwater, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay and Bate Bays and even in parts of the Port Hacking. I have even had a report of a 1.96 kilo one been caught at the Moons in the Georges River.

With the coming of the Australian salmon there has been a number of school of under sized kingfish getting in on the act. Schooling with these kingfish has been tailor to 2 kilos and the odd bonito. If you are having trouble hooking up to these fish I would suggest that you try downsizing your metals and soft plastics. The fish have been feeding on very small baitfish.
If you are going to troll for them I will usually try using a small skirt of about 10 to 12 cm in length at about 5 to 8 knots. Lately I have been using Lucky Crafty 65 mm Sammies on an 8 to 10 kilo leader for the kingfish and downsizing to a 3 to 5 kilo leader for the Australian salmon.

Botany Bay has plenty of silver trevally to a kilo in size. All I do is anchor up, lay out a berley trail and fish as light as possible to the current you have running. I find that anglers who get lazy and don’t keep on changing their sinker weight will miss out on a lot of fish. Last time I was out on the bay I caught trevally right near the top of the tide with only the weight of a peeled prawn and the hook. As the tide increased I continually up sized my sinker weight.

Last Saturday I was on the water with Gawain and Paul and we managed to hook into a few silver trevally to 800 grams. I think that the highlight of the morning was when Gawain spent 23 minutes fighting a 1.2 metre (guessed length) thresher shark that had been hooked in the tail. Gawain did well to play the fish while I chased it with the boat. It took a peeled prawn on a 3 kilo line. Sorry no photos, but it did jump clean of the water’s surface twice.

If you are after a feed of bream and dusky flathead you could try working the edges of the shoreline off Brighton and Dolls Point with soft plastics.

Scotty Lyons from Southern Sydney Fishing tours has been fishing off shore this week which is a little different as for the last few weeks he has been fishing the Bay. Saturday Morning they headed north from the Bay trolling and it was rather productive with Bonito and small Kings loads of fun, The wind was blowing in from the east which make it a little tricky as the swell and wind slap you around a bit, just wide from the rocky ledges trolling the middle lure a small Mcgoo skirt was belted. They boated a number of kingfish with the biggest measuring it at 90cms.

Scott also anchored just off Yellow Rock and found a few Trevally, but it was tough fishing in the sloppy condition so they moved to Wedding Cake Island just off Coggee beach and pick up a few more Trevally before trolling our way back to the bay, three more fish came to the boat on our return trip a Stripe Tuna and two more Kingies what a top day and great fishing.

DVD RELEASE No 1

The Port Hacking “The Jewel of the South” is now available in the following tackle shops;

Ace Fishing Tackle 3 Newbridge Road Milperra

Amazon Outdoor Centre 1273 The Horsley Drive Wetherill Park

Anglers Leisure World 3/2 Garling Road Blacktown 2148

Anglers World 1 Lawndale Avenue North Rocks

Bass Angler Batt Street Penrith

Beverley Hills Bait and Tackle 410 Stoney Creek Road Beverley Hills

Botany Bay Bait and Tackle 1a Jacobson Street Kyeemagh

Brighton Bait and Tackle 285 Bay Street Brighton-lee Sands

Cast Wide Cnr of Wollongong and Forest Road Arncliffe

Campbelltown Fishing Scene 6-12 Dumaresq Street Campbelltown

Chatswood Bait and Tackle 342 Penshurst Street Chatswood 2067

Complete Angler 938 Woodville Road Villawood

Compleat Angler 3rd Floor Dymock’s Building

438 George Street Sydney 2000

Drummoyne Bait and Tackle 104 Lyons Road Drummoyne

Equipped Fishing Bait & Tackle 115 Railway Pde Canley Vale NSW 2166

Fish Outta Water 263 Condamine Street Manly Vale 2093

Freddy’s Fishing World Cnr Griffith and Broadmeadows Roads

Newcastle

Freddy’s Fishing World Erina

Fish and Dive Warehouse 238 Taren Point Road Taren Point

Hunts Marine Princes Hwy Blakehurst

Gabe’s Boating and Fishing centre 1a Somerset Avenue Narellan

Gabe’s Tackle and Bait Shop 4 Princes Highway Sylvania Waters

Kyeemagh Bait and Tackle 164 Bestic Road Kyeemagh

Macs Bait Bar Princes Highway Blakehurst

Mako Tackle and Bait 201 Newbridge Road Moorebank

Matraville Bait and Tackle 548 Bunnerong Road Matraville

One Stop Bait & Tackle Cnr of Waterloo Rd Greenacre

Otto’s Fishy Business 139 Victoria Road Drummoyne 2047

The Big Catch 12 Chapel Road Bankstown

Wattos Shop 1 & 2, Lot 7 Kurrajong Ave
North St Mary’s

Windybanks Bait 523 Pacific Highway Mt Colah

Windsor Bait and Tackle Cnr Baker and Macquarie Streets Windsor

West Engadine Newsagency 121 Anzac Avenue Engadine

In the Port Hacking “The Jewel of the South” Scott Lyons and I show you our techniques we use when targeting squid, what to do when blue swimmer crabs come up to the back of your boat in your berley trail, what rigs and techniques to try when chasing luderick, leatherjackets, how to target flathead on live bait, different ways to catch poddy mullet, techniques on how to pump for nippers, bream on soft plastics and some light offshore and estuary fishing for Australian salmon and bonito.

We have also put in 30 different fishing locations on easy to read maps to fish from the shore, boat and where to go to get your live bait.

Scott also explains, with the use of a white board the details of the rigs we used throughout the DVD.

We also go through the types of outfits we used and how to set them up.
Now even though this may be a DVD that has been filmed while fishing in the Port Hacking River in Sydney’s south, the types of techniques, bait and lure types, tackle and rigs can be used in the same way anywhere throughout Australia.

While you are at your local tackle shop you should also look out for our first DVD “A Day on the Bay” In this dvd we cover how to target yellowfin bream in fast running shallow and deep water, silver trevally while using small amounts of weight, how to get live squid and yellowtail, target kingfish around structure, cast and troll for tailor, soft plastic fishing for dusky flathead and even a little bit on cooking your latest catch.

There are also maps, techniques and tackle covered in this DVD.
If you find that when you go to your local tackle shop and they are not there yet, get them to give me a ring on 0422 994207. RRP $24.95

DVD RELEASE No 2

It has taken Carl Dubois and Adam Ford about the same time as Scott and I to put together a great DVD on Kayak Fishing in Sydney.

I had the chance last night to have a look at this great dvd and I thing that I found was the amount of information that both Carl and Adam has put into this dvd in terrific. It wouldn’t matter if you had been fishing for a long time or was just starting to get into kayak fishing there would be something that you pick up.

Carl, Adam, Mick and Terry target Australian bass, yellowfin bream, silver trevally, Australian salmon, dusky flathead, kingfish, tailor and mulloway using different techniques and lures.
Everything from soft plastics, surface lures and hard bodies is discussed and backed up with some great footage of fishing from their paddle and pedal powered kayaks.
Carl also takes you through what type of fishing structure they target these fish at and how to set up your sounder on your kayak.

Now even though this may be a DVD that has been filmed while fishing in Sydney the types of techniques, lures, tackle and rigs can be used in the same way anywhere throughout Australia while fishing out of a kayak. Maybe you would like to try some of the techniques and lures when you are either fishing off the shore or out of your own boat.

For more information on how to pick up this great DVD you can go to http://www.kayakfishingsydney.com/ or email Carl at cdubois@cdm.com.au
RRP $24.95

FISHING CLASSES FOR 2010.

WINDYBANKS BAIT AND TACKLE

I will be starting up my fishing classes in early February 2010. They will start at 6.30pm and will run for 3 consecutive Thursday nights. The cost of $95.00 includes a fish barbeque and the class. To book in and pay you will need to either ring the shop or pay them a visit.

Windybanks Bait and Tackle
523 Pacific Hwy Mt Colah NSW 2079
Ph (02) 9477 1501
Contact Annette and John.

WATTO’S TACKLE SHOP

I will be starting up my fishing classes in early February 2010 at Wattos and they are run on 3 conconsective Wednesday nights. The class will start at 7.00pm and finish at 10.00pm. For further information you will need to ring or pay them a visit at the shop. The cost will be $80.00 per person.

For further information and to book in and pay you can contact Sean atEmail:

wattosfishing@gmail.comAddress:

shop 1 & 2 LOT 9 KURRAJOMG AVE ST MARYS NORTH
Phone: 0416 203 507
Contact Shaun

And while you are at it you could go to their web site and see what special they have on at the moment http://www.wattosfishing.com.au/

LATEST REPORTS FROM AFAR.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that they had a much better week all round last week with some stable conditions and more fish action than we have seen for a few weeks. Outside fishermen are finding warm dirty water in close with some nice Snapper and Pearl Perch coming in off Grassy Head. Fishing the waters out a little wider are a lot cleaner but no real reports last week of Fish. There were a few Trag caught further North to Stuarts Point. Rocks in Line fished well for Jewfish and Pearlies. Fish Rock’s Rat Kings are still very active but pulling a legal King out of there has been tough. There were some nice Snapper caught from the Rock last week, with one local using 7 inch plastics with great success.

The river is still dirty but fisho’s are persevering for some good results. There have been one or two big Jews caught along the Break Wall, I have seen the photo but the location remains a secret. Salmon and the odd Tailor have been on the end of the Wall with some fair Bream coming in on the tide change. Jerseyville and further up is chocolate so the fishing has been tough. Through the Cut and towards Stuarts Point Whiting are on the bite as have the Flathead. There were a few Bream and Whiting around Clybucca but it is dirty up there.

Smoky Beach is fishing ok although a strong sweep is there at the moment. I have had reports of a couple of kilo plus Bream out of the surf with lots of small Dart and the odd Whiting. Young Max Downey fished the rocks at North Smoky for a classic 2.9 kilo Tailor and a few Salmon. Main Beach has Whiting around to Trial Bay while Back Beach Whiting and the odd sand Flathead are being caught off the gutter half way along the beach. The Rock Hoppers are getting the odd Tailor and Salmon off the ledges.

Paul Martin

rocksmarine@tsn.cc

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that in the estuaries, with the system still quite dirty the focus will be in the lower reaches, most predominately along the break walls. On the mulloway front, a few fish have been taken from the break walls on lures, although results have not been astounding. It would seem we didn’t get quite enough fresh coming down to really fire the jewies up. Bream numbers have picked up a little with the coal wall and Limeburners both producing a few nice fish. On the flattie front, numbers remain excellent despite the dirty water, with areas downstream of the Dennis bridge likely produce the better results over the next week or two. Before the fresh, some excellent whiting were taking yabbies and worms in both Big Bay and the back channel, and this should continue once a degree of clarity returns.

On the crustacean scene, hopefully this fresh will stir the mud crabs into action, with results this year to date only lack lustre at best. A different story however on the prawning front, with Lake Cathie again producing excellent results. As you would expect, the participation rate is sky high with most managing a great feed. Hopefully this action will continue for a few months yet and not die as suddenly as last year.

On the beaches, some reasonable catches of bream have been reported from most locations, with North Beach and the southern and of Lighthouse producing the better results. Whiting numbers are also on the improve with beach worms the only bait to have. A few salmon still are hanging around although generally not in the larger schools experienced over the past couple of months. Tailor however remain quiet and you would not expect this change until at least when the all the dirty water clears up. For mulloway enthusiasts, still a few schoolies around although not in the quantities seen over the winter months.

Sydney Report

DVD RELEASE No 1

Well, it has finally happened. After almost 3 years of fishing, filming, editing, re filming, re editing and more fishing, the Port Hacking “The Jewel of the South” is now available in the following tackle shops;

Amazon Outdoor Centre 1273 The Horsley Drive Wetherill Park

Bass Angler Batt Street Penrith

Beverley Hills Bait and Tackle 410 Stoney Creek Road Beverley Hills

Complete Angler 938 Woodville Road Villawood

Fish and Dive Warehouse 238 Taren Point Road Taren Point

Gabe’s Boating and Fishing centre 1a Somerset Avenue Narellan

Gabe’s Tackle and Bait Shop 4 Princes Highway Sylvania Waters

Macs Bait Bar Princes Highway Blakehurst

West Engadine Newsagency 121 Anzac Avenue Engadine

and by Friday the 16th of October will be available in the following tackle shops;

Ace Fishing Tackle 3 Newbridge Road Milperra

Anglers Leisure World 3/2 Garling Road Blacktown 2148

Anglers World 1 Lawndale Avenue North Rocks

Botany Bay Bait and Tackle 1a Jacobson Street Kyeemagh

Brighton Bait and Tackle 285 Bay Street Brighton-lee Sands

Cast Wide Cnr of Wollongong and Forest Road Arncliffe

Campbelltown Fishing Scene 6-12 Dumaresq Street Campbelltown

Chatswood Bait and Tackle 342 Penshurst Street Chatswood 2067

Complete Angler 938 Woodville Road Villawood

Compleat Angler 3rd Floor Dymock’s Building

438 George Street Sydney 2000

Drummoyne Bait and Tackle 104 Lyons Road Drummoyne

Equipped Fishing Bait & Tackle 115 Railway Pde Canley Vale NSW 2166

Fish Outta Water 263 Condamine Street Manly Vale 2093

Freddy’s Fishing World Cnr Griffith and Broadmeadows Roads Newcastle

Freddy’s Fishing World Erina

Hunts Marine Princes Hwy Blakehurst

Kyeemagh Bait and Tackle 164 Bestic Road Kyeemagh

Mako Tackle and Bait 201 Newbridge Road Moorebank

Matraville Bait and Tackle 548 Bunnerong Road Matraville

Narrabeen Bait and Tackle 1469 Pittwater Road North Narrabeen 2101

One Stop Bait & Tackle Cnr of Waterloo Rd Greenacre

Otto’s Fishy Business 139 Victoria Road Drummoyne 2047

St Mary’s Fishing Tackle 229 Queen Street St Mary’s

The Big Catch 12 Chapel Road Bankstown

Windybanks Bait 523 Pacific Highway Mt Colah

Windsor Bait and Tackle Cnr Baker and Macquarie Streets Windsor

In the Port Hacking “The Jewel of the South” Scott Lyons and I show you our techniques we use when targeting squid, what to do when blue swimmer crabs come up to the back of your boat in your berley trail, what rigs and techniques to try when chasing luderick, leatherjackets, how to target flathead on live bait, different ways to catch poddy mullet, techniques on how to pump for nippers, bream on soft plastics and some light offshore and estuary fishing for Australian salmon and bonito.

We have also put in 30 different fishing locations on easy to read maps to fish from the shore, boat and where to go to get your live bait.

Scott also explains, with the use of a white board the details of the rigs we used throughout the DVD.

We also go through the types of outfits we used and how to set them up.

Now even though this may be a DVD that has been filmed while fishing in the Port Hacking River in Sydney’s south, the types of techniques, bait and lure types, tackle and rigs can be used in the same way anywhere throughout Australia.

While you are at your local tackle shop you should also look out for our first DVD “A Day on the Bay” In this dvd we cover how to target yellowfin bream in fast running shallow and deep water, silver trevally while using small amounts of weight, how to get live squid and yellowtail, target kingfish around structure, cast and troll for tailor, soft plastic fishing for dusky flathead and even a little bit on cooking your latest catch.

There are also maps, techniques and tackle covered in this DVD.

If you find that when you go to your local tackle shop and they are not there yet, get them to give me a ring on 0422 994207. RRP $24.95

DVD RELEASE No 2

It has taken Carl Dubois and Adam Ford about the same time as Scott and I to put together a great DVD on Kayak Fishing in Sydney.

I had the chance last night to have a look at this great dvd and I thing that I found was the amount of information that both Carl and Adam has put into this dvd in terrific. It wouldn’t matter if you had been fishing for a long time or was just starting to get into kayak fishing there would be something that you pick up.

Carl, Adam, Mick and Terry target Australian bass, yellowfin bream, silver trevally, Australian salmon, dusky flathead, kingfish, tailor and mulloway using different techniques and lures.
Everything from soft plastics, surface lures and hard bodies is discussed and backed up with some great footage of fishing from their paddle and pedal powered kayaks.

Carl also takes you through what type of fishing structure they target these fish at and how to set up your sounder on your kayak.

Now even though this may be a DVD that has been filmed while fishing in Sydney the types of techniques, lures, tackle and rigs can be used in the same way anywhere throughout Australia while fishing out of a kayak. Maybe you would like to try some of the techniques and lures when you are either fishing off the shore or out of your own boat.

For more information on how to pick up this great DVD you can go to http://www.kayakfishingsydney.com/ or email Carl at cdubois@cdm.com.au
RRP $24.95

FISHING CLASSES FOR 2009.
WINDYBANKS BAIT AND TACKLE

The next Fishing class will start on Thursday the 15th October 2009. It starts at 6.30pm and will run for 3 consecutive Thursday nights. The cost of $95.00 includes a fish barbeque and the class. To book in and pay you will need to either ring the shop or pay them a visit.

Windybanks Bait and Tackle
523 Pacific Hwy Mt Colah NSW 2079
Ph (02) 9477 1501
Contact Annette and John.

WATTO’S TACKLE SHOP

The Fishing classes at Wattos are run on 3 conconsective Wednesday nights. The class will start at 7.00pm and finish at 10.00pm. For further information you will need to ring or pay them a visit at the shop. The cost will be $80.00 per person.

For further information and to book in and pay you can contact Sean at

Email: wattosfishing@gmail.com

Address: shop 1 & 2 LOT 9 KURRAJOMG AVE ST MARYS NORTH
Phone: 0416 203 507
Contact Shaun
And while you are at it you could go to their web site and see what special they have on at the moment http://www.wattosfishing.com.au/

LATEST REPORTS.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that the fishing has all but got pretty well blown away last week with the southerlies keeping some of the blue water guys land based. Hopefully this week will be much better weather wise.
The river has been fishing alright you just need to find somewhere protected from the wind. Good numbers of Flathead are about if you can get into the shallows around Clybucca, not many bigger units but some nice fish. Whiting and Bream have been about in the same location. A few of the Kayakers are doing well around Jerseyville for Whiting and Flathead around the trawlers. Small Schoolies and Bream are biting around the bridge pylons. The Break Wall is producing some nice Bream on the run out tide with the odd Flathead, Salmon and Sting Rays. The mouth Spencers Creek has had some nice Flathead and School Jew.

Before the blow Back Beach was fishing well for fair Whiting and Dart on a fuller tide. It has been slow on Smoky Beach for a few weeks now with really no change apart from the odd Bream, Dart and a few lonely Salmon. Gap Beach had a few small Tailor on the northern side with a few Bream and Whiting. Rock hoppers have had problems with the swell but there has been some Drummer, the odd Tailor and Salmon with a few Bream.

Horrible conditions at the end of last week made it tough to get reports. Earlier in the week Fish Rock was very productive for King Fish with a good number over the legal requirement. There were Flathead on the gravel in front of the lighthouse and out wider to Rocks in Line has Morwong and a few Pearlies coming in. Snapper were on the bite off Scott’s Head where good numbers were caught in fairly shallow water floating pilchards down a nice burley trail.

Paul Martin
rocksmarine@tsn.cc

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that in the estuary, flathead continue to improve with excellent numbers of fish beginning to show up from most locations. Best results however continue to come from the section of the Hastings between Blackmans Point and Rocks Ferry on both baits and lures. This action should continue over the coming weeks as the water warms, and the food and the flatties become more active. Lower down, some reasonable whiting are beginning to show up at several locations downstream of the Dennis Bridge, with live worms and yabbies being by far the best baits. Bream remain quiet however will pick up if the river gains a bit of colour. Best results in the clearer conditions continue to be achieved with both soft plastic and hard bodied lures. Blackfish numbers continue to be average at best, with even the keenest weed soaking exponents having to work for average results. Those fishing yabbies on the weed beds a faring a little better.

On the beaches, tailor remain elusive at best however hopefully once the tract of cold water hugging the coast moves on, it shouldn’t be too long before the summer run of choppers begins to show up. Plenty of salmon still about providing top sport fishing in the interim. Love them or hate them, there is no denying that the big salmon that now regularly visit this part of coast provide a great battle, particularly when using light gear.

School mulloway remain a viable option for night time anglers, however the ratio of throwbacks to keepers remains high. Thankfully most fisho’s completely disregard the size limit currently legislated by NSW Fisheries, and have set their own personal limit well above the paltry 45cm presently in place.

Off the rocks, tailor remain quiet although a few reasonable fish have been snared upon daylight from around Plommer. The odd bream has been also extracted around the same location. Drummer reports continue to be quiet however a few anglers continue to manage a fish or two each outing. By all reports, heading south of Port is the way to go if you are keen on tangling with a few late season pigs. We have also had a few reports of groper being around Diamond Head and Point Perpendicular in solid numbers, although getting the sea flat enough to access the better locations is likely to a bit of a challenge until we get a period of settled weather.

This past week’s windy weather has made offshore access awkward, with quite a few days of late seeing conditions simply not viable. The good news however is that snapper and pearl perch continue to fire quite well, albeit mixed in with increased numbers of sweep, morwong and other assorted reef species. Water temperatures remain a tad cool at around 16 to 17 degrees in close, although wider out some nice blue 20 degree plus water has begun to show up. To complement this good news, we understand the NSW Fisheries FAD is due to be re deployed next week. I will confirm GPS co ordinates when known.

Ron Osman ron@estuaryfishingtours.com.au reports that the jewfish are around at the moment.

Just last week we got a 22kg model from Juno Pt and a 12kg one from near there. Both Jewfish were caught on cut squid baits.

If you want to see the footage of the 22kg one my customers have put it on YouTube.
Both Jewfish were taken in the middle of the day and we only fished for them for about one hour and they were caught in the first 15 minutes of getting there. So if you were to spend a day chasing them I’m sure you would get them.

A few places to try on the run in tide would be Juno Pt, both bridges, The Vines, Barr Point and the mouth of Mooney Creek. Some run out spots are Flint and Steel, Gunya Pt, the shell beds between Juno and Eleanor Bluff, the wreck at Wobby Beach, both bridges and The Vines. Go to all these spots in a day and spend one hour at each and I am sure you would get some or pick one spot and sit there all day for a chance. I would go for the first option. Take heaps of fresh squid as I have caught 90% of my Jews on squid. Plus take livies and dead baits like yakkas, tailor and pike. I usually run 4 rods with 2 squid, a livie and a butter flied dead bait. Some people run 6 or even 8 rods but 4 is plenty if I do put out more it’s usually 2 small bream rods with squid or prawns for the smaller fish and I keep these lines close to the boat and the big lines out the back to stop tangles and to get the small lines out of the way fast once we get a big one on.
Kingies have been around all winter in Pittwater but it is only now that they are getting easy to catch. We have got them to 75cm over winter but now a lot of smaller ones (60cm) are turning up. Best spots are the various wrecks in Pittwater with Clareville and Scotland Island the best. Towlers Bay has had them feeding on the surface some mornings and taking lures but these are only the smaller fish.

Small squid are getting easier to find now with the Basin the best. During winter all we could get were real big squid which make great calamari rings. If you fish Pittwater and can’t catch Kingfish or Squid or don’t know where the wrecks are come out on a charter and I will show you all the good squid spots and a heap of wrecks that you can fish for years. Most people that know where they are keep them a guarded secret so they aren’t going to tell you unless you’re a good friend of theirs.

Salmon and Tailor schools have been great fun over the last month. The Tailor haven’t been on the surface much but are taking metal slices around the washers at Big and Little Box, Lion Island and Barrenjoey. We have caught Tailor to 50cm and one bit us off at the boat that must have been 60cm. I thought it was a Salmon until we saw it.

Salmon have been at the same places as the Tailor but have been on the surface most days. They just pop up here and there and if you can cast into the school you get one every 3 to 5 casts. Most have been in the 2.5 to 3kg range but one went 4kg.

Flatties only had a couple of weeks off during winter. We caught them all the way through on plastics with a bad day getting 3 keepers an hour and a good day getting 10. Not bad for winter and they should pick up even more now the waters up to 17’ and rising.

The Hawkesbury has been the best for Flatties with Croppy Head to Juno, Patonga Creek to half way to Lion Island and Little Pittwater to White Horse Beach has been the best spots.
In Brisbane Waters Lobster Beach has been quiet but we have got some from the Rip Bridge and around Paddy’s Channel, mostly towards the Gosford end.

You can just use the cheap plastics for flatties but if you use the Gulps you will get the odd Jewie, Bream or Whiting as well. I use the 3 inch shrimps and the 4 inch minnows and I don’t have a favourite colour, they all work just as good as each other for flatties. Try to get the biggest Jig head with smallest hook possible. The extra weight helps to get it down there when fishing deep and when it’s shallower you get a faster retrieve. I use a 10grm jig head with a short shanked 2/0 hook. Flatties on plastics in summer is a sure thing and is better than baits as you cover a lot more ground than dragging a bait along the bottom.

Bream and Trevally have been the main catches during winter. I usually tell the customers what we have been catching lately and ask them what they want to catch but most of the time I get the same response – “I don’t care as long as we catch fish.” So it’s off to Lion Island to fish a burly trail for Bream, Trevally, Leather Jackets, Tailor and lots of small rubbish fish. Good fun on light gear and during winter you are almost guaranteed a feed. Peeled prawns are the best but the small peckers make light work of them. Squid and cubes of Tuna are good too and last a bit longer than prawns. Remember burley is a must. Bream to 40cm, Trevally to 42cm, Leather Jackets to 45cm and Pike are there along with the odd Port Jackson to test you out. Lion Island is usually the best but big and little box, west head and Barrenjoey are good at times too.
Good Blackfish in Brisbane Waters and Pittwater but not many down the Hawkesbury. We got them to 38cm in Brisbane Waters with heaps of small ones and up to 42cm in Pittwater with not many small ones at all.

have just started putting the crab traps (witches hats) out in the Hawkesbury again for blue swimmers in the last 3 weeks, with the best day 10 keepers and the worst 2. Some are huge and some are tiny or in jenny (pregnant) and must go back, pretty good crabbing for this time of year. I reckon we are in for a good season with the water only just starting to warm up now, hopefully we can get 20 plus a day like the last 2 summers.

It is too easy just drop them off on your way out and pick them up on the way back. When you put them out put them in a straight line. It makes them easier to see for other boaties coming along and if you get back and they are all over the place you know someone has raided them. I catch a few people every now and then, mostly hire boats on weekends and tell them nicely to put out their own traps.

Funny story of the month; we were fishing Juno Pt for Jews and got a huge Port Jackson Shark on a squid bait and it swallowed the hook right down it’s throat so we cut the line took a few photos and threw it back. No more than 3 minutes later one of the other lines goes off and it’s the same PJ and when we pull him in he coughs up the other hook. He must have been pretty hungry.

Lastly just a reminder about the Jewies, get out there now or come out with us. If you want to land that big one now is the time!

Next time you get a chance go and visit Ron’s web site for more information about his charters http://www.estuaryfishingandtours.com.au/