rickster

Hi Raiders, Just letting you know that due to ongoing medical issues, I have to give up work. As the only computer I have at present is at my work, from probably Tuesday arvo, I will not be able to be contacted through this site. Hoping to get a computer for home once things have settled and get back to my favourite site. Cheers for now, Rickster

Spent an hour or so yesterday trying to find a blackfish or two in the harbour. Nil success. What i did find interesting is the unnatural colour of the water. I fished around Walsh Bay not far from the bridge and also had a look around Prymont. The water colour in both areas was the same. Slightly discoulered with a greenish tinge to it. Just doesn't look "fishy" and I don't think it could be blamed on the rain as we've had a lot of big tides lately. Have others noticed similar throughout the harbour? Rickster

I don't know where you prawn in the georges but the problem is that the water is filthy. Looked at lugarno last week and it's still brown. Rick

Hey Tony, I'm serious about being able to give it up anytime I want My last two trips in the harbour resulted in two and none. I'm not completely stupid or addicted so absolutely no more for me, enough's enough, that's it, put the rod away until next winter, finito (unless of course I can find a few on sunday) Rickster

Going by the name of the place, I'd say MOZZIES

Hey Tony, Gotta totally disagree with you about blackfishing being addictive. I took it up about 40 years ago and could give it up anytime i want. The main reason that I may spend over 2 hours chasing weed is because I love driving and putting petrol in the car. The main reason I might put up to $20 a day in parking meters is because I'd hate to see our city councils go broke. The main reason I can leave home at 5.30am in the middle of winter is that I love freezing westerlies. The main reason that I...................ok, it might be slightly addictive - but I can give it up any time I want. Rickster

"F" yeah

SCOOP!!!! I just got to watch a preview of Stewys new upcoming TV fishing show. The editors however did have to edit out the pieces where Stewy had a ciggy in his mouth, oh and they also had to cut any parts where Stewy might have been using the "F" word, but the critics still rated it as one of the best THREE AND A HALF MINUTE fishing videos they've ever seen. Rickster

That's just silly. Did you net them, gaff them, or did they just climb on board on their own? Should have a sign up "DANGER - NO SWIMMING"

I wouldn't blame the councils if they did ban fishing from all ferry wharves. A minority think nothing to just leave the place a mess after fishing. Empty pilly bags, plastic bottles, you name it, and there's usually garbage bins within walking distance. It seems to be even worse off the rocks these days, and in National Parks to boot. Please, how hard is it to take your rubbish with you or put it in a bin. I seriously wonder if these individuals don't do the same at home. The same people would throw their Maccas leftovers out the window when there's a bin 3m away, or park in disabled spots to save having to walk an extra 20m. Love this country and start taking pride in how it looks.

Hi, Are you specifically talking about blackfishing and if so what areas are you refering to. Send me a PM if you like. Cheers, Rickster

Sorry Stewy, I didn't look hard enough. I was only going on the size of the mouth. Seriously though, I'd guess you at about 1.75m tall and around 80-85kg (sorry if i'm out a little)Just wondering how bloody big and how much did that monster weigh and did you get him using one of my floats? Great fish. Rickster

IS STEWY THE ONE ONE THE RIGHT?????

What's wrong with many of us being "Honary Inspectors" and given identifaction recognition by state fisheries. I'd have no problems talking to those keeping undersize fish, flashing a card of who I am, and letting them know the consequences if caught. Having a "hotline number" that maybe able to locate the nearest inspector would be handy for those who refuse to do the right thing would make a lot think twice. Rickster

Hi fritz, Long time no hear. Just curious, where did you fish at bermagui? I've seen them get a few near the boat ramp but never seen anyone fishing off the jettys where all the boats are tied up. Is that where you got them? Well done, did you use the manly float? Cheers, Rickster

Very unlucky Terry. I just checked with the Guiness Book of Records people and if you just let one more person handle the rod, you would have broken the record. Rick

You'd have to get sick of looking at that everyday!!! I'd move. I'm mad into dolphins myself, there's few better sights than seeing half a dozen or so just cruising past the rocks you're fishing. Rick

Hi Chris, Originally sorry that i couldn't join you but when i saw the rain keep coming down, i thought to myself, what sort of people would fish in this sort of weather? Answer, blackfisherman. Glad the weed was put to good use and a shame that chippo still doesn't seem to have bigger fish yet. Nearly back to 100% and will we'll definetely join up at next opportunity. Cheers, Rick

I share your anguish. We have the same when fishing for blackfish off the rocks. A couple of these spots really only fish 3 and if you're all mates that's fine. It's when others see you catching fish and think nothing of getting onto the same ledge that really annoys me. We've been there for an hour or so, got the berley going and into the fish when this happens. There is nothing worse that landing a fish, go back and put him in the swimmer, you turn around and two a...holes are now standing on your rock. As i'm getting older and crankier, I let them know in no uncertain terms. Sometimes they just don't think. My favourite saying to these clowns is " Gee, that's the problem with Australia, NOT ENOUGH XXXXING COASTLINE! " Rick

Nice catch Joe. Just wondering how far up the river you found them, not specific spot but general area. PM if you prefer. I'm looking at heading up into chipping norton on sunday, got small fish there about a month ago so hopefully the bigger ones may have moved up. Cheers, Rick

I cannot get enough of Hook, Line and Sinker. Funny, and as well as they do target different species. Not every fisherman has an 25ft cruiser, goes a thousand miles offshore catching big sportsfish. This is what the majority of the other shows seem to concentrate on. I'd much rather see fishos getting bream and flathead etc on SPs up the rivers than 50kg mack tuna being hauled over the side. Rick

Only called in to say Hi and your were starting to get busy. PLUS I was told by Smitty that I would not be allowed to weigh-in my seven "black&white stipped trevally"

I haven't posted about any harbour blackies for a while but there's been a very good reason. It's not that I haven't been catching many, it's just that..............................OK I haven't been catching many. I've been hitting the rocks more recently with mixed success due to the ordinary weather we've been getting on the weekends. Again with the combination of a big morming high tide and predicted (correctly) southeasters, it was time to get some nice weed and find a cosy spot to relax. My plan was to try and get a few fish yesterday morning then head to the Bay weigh-in and say hello to a few raiders. Found a comfy spot near Walsh Bay, kicked off around 7.30 and had three in the bag by 8.00. Good start. Was still getting a fair seven in the bag including two good fish at 43cm and 42cm. I could tell by the flags on the bridge that that the southeaster was blowing but didn't realise just how strong until I got to Cook Park, white tips everywhere on the Bay. Very unfortunate for the social but things like this do happen. Said my hellos and seemed like most still enjoyed the day. Well done again to Stewy and Donna and the rest of the helpers. Cheers, Rick

Considering the clear sky and water with not much wash, I think you did exceptionally well. Rickster

My main point in this post is it's now getting towards the time when more anglers want to try their luck fishing the rocks but aren't learning from previous disasters. We definetely don't need another summer like last year. I headed off the rocks on saturday with Steve and Kev to see if the blackies are really starting to show up. With the bigger high tide mid-morning and a medium swell we had to be a bit cautious but we've fished this spot a hundred times so knew what to look out for. Fish were there straight away and between the three of us we ended up in the mid forties in about 5 hours, with Steve bagging out - SORRY NO PICS, CAMERA IN THE GLOVE BOX . I backed up again on sunday morning, sea had dropped a little but fished for an hour or so with a couple of others and not a single bite, conditions were not as good but still not too bad so where did they go and why???? Back to the inexperienced-while we were getting fish consistently on saturday, four young guys decided they too would try their luck with the blackfish. I've already explained the wave conditions. Their attire included jeans and no cleats. At one stage one of the more daring decided to stand down next to Steve and Kev on a lower rock as they were catching fish one after another. This ledge had a faif bit of brown slime which made cleats essential. Next bigger wave that came in and actually washed up onto the ledge resulted in this young guy flat on his face and very very wet. The best his mates could do was laugh. Enough was enough so I gave these guys a spray about what they should and shouldn't be doing but not sure if it had much effect. Let's not have another season like last and start to learn from previous mistakes. Rick