humesy

Absolute Cracker!! Top work. I fished around there a couple of times thinking it might be a likely spot. I never had any luck but it obviously holds fish on its day. Nice baitboard too, I have one of those (Baitmate if I'm not mistaken) and rate them highly

Congrats Byron on your contributions to the site Byron. 4000 posts is an amazing effort and just about all of them make complete sense The ones that haven't have kept me guessing in a delightful way. Seriously though, your knowledge and wisdom regarding jewies is second to none and your generosity in sharing it has helped hundreds of us. Great effort

I don't know exactly which plastics to use; I've only caught 2 on lures. One was a 5" shad and the other a Pumkinseed 5" jerkshad. I don't reckon the jews are that fussy. More important is the right place at the right time. That is the appeal of the challenge in my books. I only had success after catching plenty of schoolies and having a fair idea of where they would be. So my lure caught jewies came after 1000s of casts, most of them in barren waters I suspect. It's a great way to fish though because you are a lot more alert to what is going on (or at least you should be). Be ready to strike on every bite on the line.

I am inclined towards shark too there. With the gear you had, I reckon you would have turned it or he would have stopped that first run buggered, to try to shake the hooks loose. But as Poseidon said, we'll never know. It's a haunting feeling though and enough to drive you a bit mad for a while. Congrats on the consolation prize, which ordinarily, you'd have been happy with I bet!

It was indeed sad. I had a go at removing the hook with my pliers but would have caused serious damage had I torn the hook free. There was no room to turn the hook. Hopefully it will rust out in time. Thanks for reply Byron, I will probably need to make quicker hit and run missions once the youngun comes along.

Quick report this time: i'd done a better one but stupidly pressed the back button by mistake and lost the damn thing. Fished tuesday on the hawkesbury. Early start and managed to pick up a thumper squid in pittwater and a tankful of good sized yakkas. Fished spot 1 but the pickers were out in force and I ended up churning through a lot of bait. No jewies. Moved upriver to another spot and managed a 70cm jew on a nice fresh squid strip then a soapie about 45cm which unfortunately had to be let go with an 8/0 in its throat. Got busted off on a larger fish which was prob a shark. The eels started to dominate the feeding as the pace of the tide picked up. Fished near the basin in the hope of some slimies and/or late season kings. Plenty of yakkas and a few tailor lurking underneath. Caught 1 @ 45cm which was released. Chucked a few plastics around Rip Bridge and Paddy's Channel for no success and came in at sunset. Got a few pretty pics taken on a magic day using my new toy (iphone). Lets hope this phone doesn't go the way of the last few and end up waterlogged. Good to know jewies still bite the day after the full moon. Cheers Full moon setting as day breaks Barrenjoey Messy baitboard

Hi there, In my opinion, the best way to hook up when fishing for jew is to have your rods set in a solid holder and have your reels set at fighting drag. This is really conventional wisdom and my experiences have proved it to be successful 9 times out of 10 when a jewie hits a bait in a typical smash and grab type way. The hooks are set when the bait is hit and the fish moves off against the force of the line. Jewies being the curious creatures they are do fool about with the bait on other occasions though. Sometimes timidly, sometimes with semi-force. The report that Byron has been quoted from describes this and might be worth a read (currently in the fishing reports posted by myself). Consider Byron an authority on this subject though he does target big fish with heavy gear. I wouldn't tighten your drag too tight if you are fishing 30lb line in an area known to produce big fish just in case you get smashed up. I would not fish light drag as the hooks won't set and you might even get an over-run of line/tangle if the fish really takes off as happened to me when I first started fishing for jew. You might have been lucky to have your rod there or any line on your reel after 45 minutes.

G'day Byron and Mike, I was hoping you would weigh in Byron in regards to how to hook up. I wish you could have been there to tell me to leave the rod the hell alone. Interesting to hear you describe it as tug of war as that is exactly how it seems and it has seemed to go on for extended periods (up to 30 seconds). I am used to jews hooking themselves with an initial hit on the bait and having the reels set to a tight drag. This seems a more suspicious approach on behalf of the fish and I am not sure of it's motive in hanging on to a bait in it's mouth, pulling hard enough to bend the rod but not eating it. In other instances I can remember, there has been an initial hit to the fish as if to cripple it followed by a second hit up to a few minutes later. Anyway Byron, thanks for your valuable input and I vow to leave the rods alone from now on. Mike, thanks for the offer of a marlin trip. In all honesty, chasing marlin doesn't actually appeal to me that much. I have read your reports and it seems you are getting the blue water bug. I would be very keen to chase yellowfin if they start to show up. I am not sure why I feel this way but for now, my sights are set on a big jew before winter hits. Cheers

School's out and it's time to fish. Launched down at Woy Woy after lunch in search of a jew and made my first stop the Rip Bridge to throw some plastics around. Didn't really have a serious crack as there were tailor chomping my lures to bits. Headed around to Box Head in the search of bait and possibly a few squid spots. This was also unproductive and it wasn't until I anchored up at West Head before I had so much as a yakka on board. Conditions were perfect and the tank was full in short time. I realised there was time enough to fish Juno for the peak tide time so I sped over only to find the place infested with Salmon and tailor. It was a terrible tease to see rods repeatedly buckling over only for a big salmon to surface, leaping into the air. Kept one salmon for the cat and a tailor for bait then pulled the anchor just before sunset. Headed back towards home and anchored up again with a brief stop at Lion Island to stock up on some yakkas. Anchored up for the final time and set out baits ready for the waiting game. Had a rod bend over with a large sized yakka and stay bent. The rod made the occasional bounce but stayed bent without drag for a good 30 seconds before curiousity got the better of me. I must have pulled the damn bait out of a jew's mouth as it dropped the fish and the yakka came up 5 minutes later when I went to check, with the telltale teeth marks. I have had this happen once before and it amazes (and confuses/frustrates) me the way these fish can bite. 9 times out of 10, they will hit a bait, set at drag and hook up without any input from me. But this has happened twice before. Once was on a live squid and it was exactly the same. A bent rod with obvious weight but no drag for about 30 seconds. When I picked up the rod on that occasion, the fish took off and it was instantly clear it was a 10kg+ jew. The next time was on a butterflied pilchard. That time the fish dropped the bait, then chased it up through the water column and smashed it. Another 10kg jewie got away when the line snapped. Not sure what I should do, I guess resist the urge to pick up the rod and leave it until the bait is actually swallowed; maybe go to baitrunner mode to let the fish move with the bait and hopefully swallow it. Anyway, all was not lost as I bagged a 65cm jew on a re-frozen squid. The night was marred just slightly when I managed to slice my finger open on a freshly sharpened knife. The jew was cooked to perfection to be shared with my sister who is up from Melbourne and my wife. Unfortunately, a delicious meal was wasted on my wife as pregnancy has turned her off fish completely. A cracking evening weather wise and a fish to be shared and enjoyed. Can't ask for much more.

Maybe try further downstream towards the harbour entrance.

Great effort and nice fish. Must have been skinny. I would have thought a 1.2m fish would go a bit more than 11kgs. Looking forward to pics

G'day Dave, Great post indeed. 29000+ views speaks for itself As a relatively new inductee into the 1m club, I can't speak with great authority. We have both fished the same spots in the same waterway (in the same boat at the same time even), for many hours and I reckon Middle Harbour is not much of a holding ground for big jew. There are plenty of schoolies in the system but I have only hooked up twice on big fish there (and lost them both!). I would say the beaches are a more likely spot to crack a big fish. I would say the importance of tidal flow is strictly relative to the specific spot due the the speed/power of the current and the nature of the bottom (depth, structure etc). The water in MH is relatively slack (compared to the Hawkesbury or a few other spots) and tidal flow is less important there, particularly in the deeper spots. That said, the spot I can most reliably catch school jews at the right time of year fires for 2 hrs before the top of the tide and shuts down 1-2hrs into the runout. Combined with a good high pressure system and low evening autumn light, it has been very consistent. My beach fishing experience has generally been that most of the action has come on the run up tide, up to and including the top of the tide. There has nearly always been tailor about when I have caught jews and I love chucking a butterflied fish or just a head with guts hanging out and blood and oil washing into the suds. My advice for catching a 1m+ jewie (for what it's worth) is either keep hitting the beaches or consider fishing the Hawkesbury and try to hook up with someone you know has pulled big fish from the river. I have seen 3 good fish pulled in (13-24kgs) right alongside my boat by a member and an ex member of this site both of whom have given me great advice (not to mention the one and only Jewgaffer! Great to see you back ). There are sacrificies though especially for you as it is a longer drive to get there, you need to put in longer hours and it is a much more open waterway to fish in a tinnie so much less comfortable. There is a hell of a lot of water to get to know as well. The person I regard most highly as a producer of big jews admits it is a numbers game and spends 3-4 days on the water with sleeps in the cabin between sessions. There are probably even better fishos out there who have learned to narrow the windows though. I don't buy the statement that the pros have destroyed the river. I would fully expect it to produce less fish and less big fish than the good ole days (even more so since the pros that were kicked out of the harbour moved their operations up there) but there are still good fish in the system. It is just a long learning curve to gain the know-how. Good luck and PM me if you want any specifics (except for my special spot as it is secluded and sentimental and I don't tell anyone!). I have heard whispers of some big jew having been caught in my very local waterway up here on the central coast (albeit from the guy who sells me bait). I hope to be able to offer more and better advice soon. But summing up, the bottom line for me is that the broad theories (tide changes/time of day, etc.) are fine and generally true but the fishermen who regularly produce the goods rely on an intimate knowledge of a particular spot/spots. The right spot and the specific method for that spot is the most important factor. PS I didn't touch on bait but all the old sayings are surely true and no secret. Fresh/live is best and big baits catch big fish are both well worth keeping in mind. My one and only big jew was caught using a live 30cm tailor and 2x10/0 hooks. It is hard to imagine a big predator chasing a small yakka or even small squid for a meal, though i am sure not unheard of. I am not entirely sold on the theory of squid is king and everything else is substandard. No doubt it is a great bait but I love to send down an offering that is a bit out of place. A slimie or pilchard caught somewhere and used as live or butterflied bait somewhere else. The previously mentioned producer of big fish uses only cut baits (butterflied yakkas and slimies). They need to be changed regularly too to present as fresh. (this does entail a lot of bait fishing and the death of quite a few baitfish for little result often) PPS These ramblings (bought on by procrastination) weren't really meant as advice for you Dave. I know you know your stuff and have fished the Hawkesbury. Just my aquired wisdom (probably worth 2c) from having a few years on the water and having bagged a reasonable tally of jew. To anyone reading this hoping for their first jew, you have got to get obsessive and be willing to spend hours on end, remaining as observant as possible to build up the knowledge. I read great advice in a book (by Geoff Wilson I think); that being pick a spot you know has produced fish (actual recent verifiable reports in the genuine location, not just rumours of some guy catching a monster in a place he probably lied about in the first place) and fish it 10 times. Better yet, get a mentor and fish with him asking as many questions as he can bare to listen to. It is a long and sometimes weird journey but deeply rewarding when it all comes together.

Awesome! Can I ask, are you a teacher. I am a primary teacher and have been trying to get a fishing club up and running for a few years. The problem and modern day curse seems to be risk management and potential liability. The powers that be keep saying great idea, maybe next year. Do you do wavers, risk assessments, etc or are they just part and parcel of a private school system that seems to be afraid to have kids blow their noses with written permission. Good on ya, those kids must be stoked

You can use a bent eye hook with the line running straight through the top hook, then bind tight with bait mate (the elasticised bait binder). That will let it slide under pressure. I too prefer the fixed snell. Be sure to get the fixed snell right though. I went through 2 versions and a few lost fish (coupla bigguns too) before getting it right. You need to finish then knot by pulling/tightening the line ABOVE the hook. Any knot or line failure resembling a pigs tail means the knot aint right. Sorry if you already know the snell, but it might help someone out there.

Had an action packed session for all the wrong reasons to begin with. It started with the un-forgivable. After an afternoon tinkering with the boat, trying to sort an electrical issue, then attending to the grocery shopping that was texted to me, then cooking dinner, I started in too much of a hurry. I launched the boat, parked the car and jumped in to a splash. The #^*@ing bungs. In a total panic, I managed to get them in, with the back of the boat so low, I had to put my face underwater to find the mark. Thank god the problem I fixed in the arvo included replacing the blown fuse for both the anchor light and the bilge pump. The only consequence for my stupidity was a submerged 2 week old mobile which was in a bag on the floor of the boat. Anyway to cut a long story short, I missed the tides I wanted to fish on the hawkesbury after getting distracted chasing slimies. Also managed to catch a baby cobia. The thing was no more than 30 cm long and very cute. It was like a new born as it had no fighting instincts what so ever. Ended up in the same spot as last Sunday's jewie and tried working plastics. An otherwise disasterous trip was finally salvaged with my second jew on a plastic, just a wee fish of 55cm. A great way to catch them though.

G'day Mike, good to see you back! Will definitely get in touch mid Jan. I have 2 weeks of me time as my wife is staying in NZ for a bit. Cheers mate

Thanks all for the kind words. Mike, don't forget the feeling of seeing a big silver torpedo emerging from the depths. The kingies are great but the jewies are special. Jim would be happy to hook up for a fish if you are keen. Tides look good and i am off to NZ next week so pm me if you are keen. Poacher, I didn't really take in my surrounds. I got there late in the arvo and was looking at the water most of the time.

You fellow Central Coasters will read this report with a knowing smirk. A few months ago i swapped this for this . Needless to say, a bloody great move. Once the boxes were unpacked and work finished for the year, it was time to chase jewies. Twice this week I was up at 3.30 to put the boat in at Patonga. 24 hrs fishing time in total spent on the hawkesbury for not even a run. Tonight after seeing some friends off, it was time to hit the calmer waters of Brisbane Waters. I had some left over yakkas and 1 squid. Having put in at Woy Woy, I soon noticed schools of tailor busting up on the surface. They were all around the magic 30cm mark and I managed to spin up two of the to go down as livies. Spot one didn't seem likely so I anchored up in spot 2 and deployed baits in a fast current. Low tide was the main target and after a couple of eels pinched a few precious baits, the current began to slow. Then the sweet sound we live for, a long run with heavy drag followed by headshakes. It could only mean one thing and as I was in open waters, i could remain relatively calm (for a change). He had a few good runs in him before it was finally time to christen the gaff that has adorned my three boats over several years. The result a beautiful jewie; 10kgs cleaned and 105cm. Very very stoked . Cheers from God's country

I was checked out by the water police at midnight, on a monday, in July this year while fishing peaceful, still waters in Middle Harbour. They did a breath test, inspection of fishing and boating licence and safety gear, all in a friendly manner. We were surely the only 2 boats out on the water that night and we both thought we were nuts for being out there. There is only so much the authorities can do really.

I would recommend the sunbeam too. Just make sure the extra bags you buy afterwards are compatible with the machine. It should say on the packet. I bought some cheapies on the net but they didn't seal. Damn cunning idea rick! Cheers

G'day all, Met a pro fisherman yesterday who fishes the Hawkesbury and he mentioned that size limits are being increased to 75cm. Anyone else heard anything along these lines?

Nice work Jim. I can picture it now. You shouldering kids out of the way to get through the school gate, boat hooked up in the school carpark, in and out of all three lanes to get to the boatramp. Feverish with the desire to load up the rod.

Good work Mike, you bludger. Aint self employment grand. Fishing in primo conditions this morning while the rest of us wage slaves were trudging in. Good to see that stick being put to good use too.

G'day Rick, We might have gotten our lines crossed I think. I wasn't planning on heading to Harrington again by year's end (wish i was though). Would have been happy to show the bait tank. All the best, Andrew

G'day Matt, I can highly recommend the boards. As Stacer said, the guy in Brisbane does a top job in catering for particular needs, particularly going from phone descriptions and photos sent via email. He was very reasonably priced as well. I was very lucky to have Geoff install the tank for me. As he mentioned, I replaced the cutting board with a large sized kitchen cutting board from a homewares store. This does the job very well. Cheers