twoblues

Hi Raiders, I'm heading up to Port Stephens Friday arvo for a weekend fish. May head to Broughton Island but more than likely staying inside. The barometer looks to be steady at 1024, and a high tide around 8.30pm on saturday. I hope to get a few inkers in Shoal Bay then find a hole and chase the elusive jewie. What do the experts think? Am I a chance? Any thoughts/info/help would be appreciated. Two Blues.

Off topic a little, but maybe NSW Maritime can print off some brochures using our hard earned bucks, and promote common courtesy on the water. Surely that's not too hard, is it?

For me its a toss up. Either over in the Kimberley region as Roberta says, or back up in Bougainville PNG. We had a ball there on pelagics and reef fish. Ahhhh those were the days. Two Blues.

Pete, Google "IrfanView". Its a free program I found that is very simple to use to resize pics. You just open the pic then under "image" you can resize it with a click. Two Blues.

Lots of wise advice here. About the only method not mentioned is a net between a couple of boats (Uhh, don't quote me on that).

Jason, I just sent you a PM re the tilt @ trim problem. Two Blues.

If the weather is foul, you can try the creek for flatties. I got some nice flatties using soft plastics, and there is also a report hereabouts on the Patonga creek. Two Blues.

You blokes have ALL the fun

Another "Minties" moment: Was in Bougainville and had spent a lovely weekend on one of the local islands. As I made my way back to port, a squall came in and I couldn't see 5 metres in front of me. About 15 minutes later I came out of the squall and found I was headed in the direction from whence I had come. I installed a compass before my next trip. Two Blues.

G'day Kel. I just spent this weekend there for one port jackson. You can get squid at night off the shoal bay wharf or livies around the Tomaree (south) headland as Geoff said. I've caught some soapies at the island directly north of Soldiers Point, but the tide races through there so you only get a small window at the top or bottom of the tide to fish. Make sure you get maps from the local tackle shops as there are many areas there where restrictions apply or santuaries, and they WILL nab you if you are in the wrong places. Good luck and give us a report when you return. Two Blues.

So, we'll see you out on the water on Sunday? Congrats and good luck on the big day.

Well done. Great read and your excitement shows in your report. Can't wait for next weekend to get on the water myself, and hopefully have a jewie story too.

Just another revenue raising department of this so called "State Government".

Wise advice Greg. Flattyslayer, if you do chance it on a good day and head up there, just be prepared to wait it out if the wind picks up. There a good boat havens there and you can shelter from most directions in need. Take some charts along as there are sanctuaries and restricted spots all around the island. I found on a reasonable day I can get from Lemon Tree to Broughton in 40 minutes in a 5m quinnie cuddy cab 70hp on it.

Todays Telegraph had a pic on page 3 of a guy standing on a rock ledge waaaayyy above the water, with very little support below him. I wonder if he knew what he was standing on? You couldn't pay me enough money to be where he was. Unfortunately I don't know how to link the pic to here, but someone may be able to. Two Blues.

From a boating store you can buy cable clamps (stainless) which will do the job. You will need to know the diameter of the cable and buy the appropriate size clamp. They just tighten onto the cable with small nuts. Perhaps someone may offer their views on replacing the cable altogether with a belt/strap. I'm not sure whether they are preferable to a cable. Two Blues

Some months ago I was out fishing with my mate in his 5m Quinnie. During the day we had some livies in a bucket with a battery operated aerator going, and every so often I would pour another bucket of water in and let the overflow drain onto the floor and into the bilge. When we got the boat out of the water and removed the bungs, there was a strong smell of petrol and the water had a sticky substance in it. We initially thought the petrol had come via the overflow, but we took out the underfloor tank and found a pin hole in the tank. The guts of this story is, we were extremely lucky we didn't blow ourselves out of the water when I switched on the bilge pump out on the water, and I think the only reason was that there was a fair amount of water in the bilge as well as fuel. The "sticky stuff" was melted floatation foam, which we found this weekend when we replaced the tank, to be hardened and stuck to the bottom of the boat in the bilge. So, just a helpful hint to others if you have underfloor tanks and no "fumes sensor". Try and put a few buckets of water in the bilge before you turn it on. Two Blues.

Do fish just swim around looking for something to eat? Surely there aint much else to do down there? But if fish are opportunistic feeders and basically lazy buggers, a bit like myself, then maybe they don't feel the need to grab a feed for the hack of it. Is it just possible that with a change in barometric pressure, the winds bring along fresh food at the start of the food chain? Like bugs, cicadas and anything else that can be blown into the water. So the fish don't really need to "go looking", because a barometric change will bring fresh food to them. I've never seen a fish actually starve to death (apart from my kids' goldfish). Just a theory. Twoblues.

G'day Gary. You must be a neighbour of mine. Kings Langley here also (Nicholson Cres). Anyway, reading the reports here lately it seems there is not much happening on the Hawkesbury, but that is not to say it won't start firing this weekend. You say you will be using squid, pillies etc. You will increase your chances markedly if you get fresh bait rather than frozen servo stuff. Have you ever tried soft plastics? They work very well on flatties and I have caught many under the road bridge, just cast and retrieve. A drift between the bridges is always a good start, but behind the islands and around oyster leases can be productive. An hour either side of the top of the tide is a good time for bream. Good luck and enjoy your day. It seems like it is going to be another nice weekend. Twoblues.

Thanks for the input guys. I'll try and get down there over the summer and check it out. Two Blues.

Something I have often wondered the many times I have traversed the bridge on the M4 over the Nepean. Is this a good Bass spot? What can I expect to catch if I were to toss soft plastics or HB there? Probably carp I guess. Any clues anyone?

Excellent advice Rooster. EH, I am much the same as you. Plenty of hours on the water for little or no results. I once heard that 10% of fisherman catch 90% of the fish. I am determined to become one of those 10%, and that is the reason I joined this site (as well as meeting other fishos of course). Take the time to read all the hints and tips offered here and you and I should increase our fish/hour ratio. I know I have learnt much in the few months I have been here, so I am just waiting for the boat to be ready, and I'll be out there again. Thanks to all the Raiders who have taken the time to share their knowledge. (Actually, I have already caught some squid at Balmain, bagged them, and have them on ice ready to target some jewies.)

Thanks guys. The boat I "borrow" is kept at Lemon Tree Passage, so I might drag it up the coast and give some of those northen rivers a try this summer. Armed with some valuable info from this site, I'm going to target jewies this year. (Actually I target them most years, but now I have a bit more confidence) Cheers. Two Blues.

I had reason to travel to Taree today, and as I crossed the Manning, it dawned on me that I don't think I have EVER seen anyone fishing there. I think they have speed boat races at times, but I've never even seen a boat in the water, or anyone swimming there. What gives? Any clues? It sure looks fishy. Twoblues.

"We caught 20 or 30 soapy jews" Aint no pleasin' some people . Id be happy with just one (or maybe two) soapy jews. BTW, a very comprehensive response by Jewgaffer. Its why I visit this site. I like to pick peoples brains and steal their "secret fishing holes", so that I might actually catch something next time I venture out. Two Blues.