gibodfisho

Needed a bream fix and had a quick session Saturday after work. Started throwing a Smith Camion on straight through fluro, and was quickly into some small fish. As i drifted along the shore some shady pockets said "throw popper" here. The bream responded by rushing out and miling around the popper but not hitting, with some good sized ones mixed in with them. Committed to throwing the popper now I just had to figure out how they wanted the retrieve. After a bit of trial and error 3 big bloops pause, 3 suttle bloops pause then as soon as soon as htey were interested keep it moving without blooping brought a few undone and probably my biggest bream on popper . Decided to cast the Camion again as the boat was over an open flat and it was taken almost straight away. The bream angled towards deeper water without taking any drag. I got a glimpse of it and saw it was a good fish and backed off the drag. The fish played the game and was fighting under the boat as it came up it was a big old bluenose, just under 40 to the fork but really deep and with big shoulders, it was a special fish. The trebles were stuffed after this capture on the Camion so reached for a Dog X. Walking the dog the bream were on the job still, and another quality fish was landed. This topped a hot bite period with 4 bream from 1.1 kg -0.7kg coming in about 40 minutes. Left to check another area out and things were not happening hear. Thinking of going into the main Harbour as the wind had started to drop off. No more than 30 seconds of thinking this the southerly hit and hit hard. It was impressive. Very glad I had not gone into the Harbour proper or out the Heads. Hope anyone who got caught out in those winds made it back safe. Got 1 more bream after the change but it was tricky just putting on a soft plastic. There was some entertainment back at the boat ramp Cheers Dave

For Bream 3" gulp minnow Pumpkinseed or white if I can find them. 3" Prong Jew 3" & 4" bass minnow watermelaon Big flick baits

Hit the Harbour planning on squid session, so no report of Lake Lyell trout for you Berleyguts, sorry mate. Started to pull up at spot A but could see group of boats at Nth Head. Then I caught a glimpse of the working birds and could not help myself and went over for a look. Salmon were working some small bait but not as active or aggressively as I had seen them in the past. One fishrmen was hooked up regularly on fly but everyone else was struggling including me. This was the first time I have not hooked up on plastics. So back to plan A and I worked two spots over concentrating on deeper areas for squid for zip. Moved to sth head and bagged a stonker. Ended up with one more big one and three others. Went over to work some boat hulls with some blades for bream as a change of pace and scored a little trev. Also bumped into Alexit and had a good chat with him, it was good talking to you mate. Bladed some more but things were slow so decided to give a shallow spot a jig or two. No squid but noticed some fish busting up did a quick u-turn but they had gone down. Through out the blade and had a follow. It was the fussy salmon again. Hung around and they popped up again. Cast a 3" hollow belly and about 5 were fighting over it. Hooked up and this thing went nuts easily toughest fight from salmon. When landed it was hooked under the eyebrow so no woder it went hard. They all cooked up into some nice entrays on the bbq. Dave

Chris Good luck with the search mate. I saw an interesting boat which was an 18ft cat, fibreglass shallow draft, open design, low windage. Swiss cat I think it was called, but from memory u had to keep it under a certain length for storage?? Boomer Good point about using a charter for wider options. I don't have any experience with large boats say 6m and above when launching and retrieving. I guess two people are needed unless you have a big climb in and out of the boat. My Territory has a reversing camera which is handy for getting the tow ball very close but I would still have to store and move it around. Jewgaffer Your right about cabins, they can be claustrophobis and being a tall skinny bloke with a dodgy back I don't think I would get a half cab. Do you have any pics of a well set up boat with removeable covers. Billfisher Your right about the Heads as being the roughest and I hate the stretch from nth head to Bluefish . Or even coming back from the Hawkesbury through pittwater is a pain on a busy Sunday afternoon with all the crossed wakes etc. When you fish the deeper reefs as mentioned how many crew and how much more planning is involved in theese trips than the smaller estuaty boat. Dave

Some very good and varied views! Greg I wish the perfect centre console existed. The search will have to continue. I like the Seafarer 6.2 cc at the moment. Its very modular and therefore versatile but not electric friendly. Chris what Haines model did/do u have and are you still looking to upgrade to a tournament ready bream boat. Cut loose and Billfisher are u based in Sydney. Great idea about having punt with a small outboard for no rego. Cheers Dave

I have a 5m Side console tinnie. Its a great boat for me and lets me do all types of fishing that I enjoy. Its competed in many Bream ABT tournaments, and has caught a lot of fish in Sydney Harbour and more recently outside on close reefs and headlands. My question though is with a growing family I will need to get a bigger safer boat with a cabin and toilet. This set up will be unbearable when fishing for bream as I am so used to having the electric and open deck that the tinnie provides. Thoose that own two boats or more to overcome this how does it work for you. Is it a pleasure or pain in the back side having two options. My possible solution would be to sell off the big tinnie buy a smaller one with electric to fish creeks and rivers but also have 5.5m and up half cab or walk around for the family. Not sure if my question or points are clear but just planning for the future Cheers Dave

Sydney Suidding? Berowra Bream? Lake Lyell trout? Please help, theese are tomorrows options Cheers Dave and go the EELS!!

Thats a good point about small lures and small hooks. Its a wonder why such big predators bother with tiny morsels. Both my biggest jew were by-catch, 3inch bass minnow and the other on a 2inch piece of gulp sandworm. They surely are a special fish. I think I better go fishing for another species before I get hooked.

Gday Chris Thats a very good piece of info you have shared, as it is often the suttle differences in technique which make big differences, but can also take a long time to figure out by trial and error for yourself. Still have not tried them myself but they look the goods. Cheers Gibbo

Its a bit of a dinosaur compared to some of the newer tech engines but I was travelling flat out the whole way there and back and all bits in between. My 115 Yamy and I have developed a understanding relationship, I love it and it loves fuel (when driven flat out). Talking of heavier leaders what would you use when say for example using the 1/8 or 1/4 TT switchblade and targetting jew. I use 3-4pnd when targetting bream as blades seem to be sensitive to leader length and diameter.

Nice gulp flatty. WHat size and type of jighead is that, it looks a little different in the photo? Cheers Dave

Had a loose plan to cover a lot of Broken Bay and the river chucking blades and a few new hard bods I have collected recently. The washes around Lion Island was the first stop. No luck and the water was a funny colour with lots of floaty bits in it so made a move towards Cowan. Second spot I score a fat little bream about 30cm down deep on a blade on a suttle lift and pause. The water looks better up here and I get another bream soon after. Things are looking good but the action soon slows and another move is called for. A quick blast up river near Bar Point and bomb down another blade. On the second set of double hops the lure gets thumped and then after about a seconds pause line starts vacating the little bream reel. I ramped up the elctric and gave chase but the 4pnd leader gave way anyway. Cursing the fact I was still using such a light leader in dirtier water on the change of tide in a spot where a jewie was a good chance I brought the big plastics out rod but it was too late the horse had already bolted. It would have been funny if I had hooked something, there is no doubt it would have been poled into the boat I had the drag wound up so tight. Another move was called for up river past spencer. I had never been in this section of river before and it looked like it has potential although I only landed another few undersize bream. Time was running out now headed for home but had to stop over where I had lost the good fish earlier. Snagged a blade and spat the dummy and packed it in. All told 2 legal bream, 2 snagged Blades + 1 LOST to "the" fish, and > 60 litres of fuel. Lucky they tasted good. Cheers Gibbo

Good read TDH. What time of day, tides and season do you like up on the north coast? What other species of fish do you catch on the poppers? Cheers Dave

Quick report. Bellambi fished 6-10.30 bagged out on bonito but no snapper Conditions were great untill about 10, when westerly started to blow.

The bonito were taking a Halco laser pro 120 and a metal slice bargain bin model. The first striped tuna hit the same laser pro and the second was on a small skirt/chrismas tree that I had bought less than 24hrs prior, Black magic brand, size ???. Will have to go thank the guy at the tackle store me thinks.

After reading reports of Striped tuna from PeterS and Ross Hunter of tuna dragged myself out of a warm bed and headed out into uncharted waters with a very loose game plan of trolling until something jumped on. Decided on coming through the "bay" in case the conditions did not suit the Bass Boss, and I would have a fall back plan to fish some flats for a bream or two. It was cold but the travelling was good. Popped the lures in just inside the heads and started heading south. No action until a small washy area. 5 reasonable bonnies on a mixture of deep divers and metal slugs was enough for a family feed. Ross had mentioned Bate Bay so left the bonnies and headed further south. It was still cold and with no clue I headed towards Osbourne Shoals which was showing on the GPS. Did a quick lap of a bait fisho sitting on the deeper outside ledge. Next thing I noticed was a contour line and so headed wider. Saw some birds travelling and headed in there direction, when the rod loads up and I am thinking another bonnie. The fish comes towards the boat and into view quite quicklyand I get a quick look at what is obviously my first stripie. A bit dissapointed at the fight, I loosen the drag in case it makes a sudden run and then it takes off. This is more what I was expecting and after a couple of good hard runs I remeber that the gaff is still hanging up in the shed. No problem I will net it. Bad move the fish throws the lure after hitting the outside of the net . Thought I had blown my chance but got another hook up and this fight was way different with braid evaporating from the reel on a sustained initial run. This tuna took a pre-rigged lure with probably 80-100pnd or more trace so it was hoiked aboard easily. Happy I had achieved the goal and landed a new species I trolled for a little longer but heade back into the bay soon afterwards.

Thanks for the comments, it was a great fight and up in my top three personal captures. I had reservations about keeping it but it tasted great and along with 2 flatties and a whiting fed 5 adults and 1 child.

After the previous days effort I was in a hurry to get back out on the Macleay. The weather was a lot worse and to keep the peace I waited untill after lunch to bring up that I might go down the river for a quick fish. No one put there hand up to tag along. The river was a little dirtier but I was confident of getting into a few fish. This confidence was short lived and apart from landing 3 small estuary cod in as many casts it was a bit slow. Got dumped on by a incredibly heavy shower of rain and the wind was all over the shop making it harder to fish the spots I had yesterday. Changed tactics and fished deeper and slower with 35mm blades and it was like a switch had been thrown. Bream after bream most just legal, best 35cm to the fork. After another down pour hooked up again but this time just as the bream came into view a decent shark between 1.5-1.8m had a swipe. Thought about dropping the bream back down but I had lost enough lures alredy to both fish and snags. I don't like sharks and after that adrenaline surge called it a day. Cooked up the catch from the first day and it was tops. The weather got worse, probably 20-30 knot southerly with more rain and we packed up early on the Tuesday. Can't wait for the next Family holiday back there.

My family and the inlaws had been talking up an annual holiday and some how I peruaded them to go for South West Rocks . Of course I took the boat along just in case. Had to bide my time until after Sunday lunch to slink off for a session with the promise of taking everyone for a cruise in the late afternoon. Started off with a nice bream and a keeper flatty along a tiny rock bar. Worked various sections of the river focussing on the rock walls and was picking up a reasonable number of bream and flathead. Got dusted a few times which hurts when using chubbies and blades. Moved further upstream dodging rain squalls and checking out the place as I went. Checked in with the family and the showers had scared them off so I set up another drift along a deep rockwall. Had covered about 50m without a touch but kept perservering. Placed another cast in close to a deviation in the wall and the chubby gets belted. This fish is absolutely drilling me screaming off down the wall looking to dust me. With only 6pd leader all I could do was try not to make whatever I had on too angry. Some how it angled out into deeper water and after a lot of weight and another 2 powerful dives I get colour. I am thinking school jew 6-8kg, but its not long enough, 2kg bream no its a Jack and good one. On the next pass it goes into the net without even the slightest kick. My first Mangrove Jack in NSW.

Have been struggling with bad luck of late and have not been fishing locally since hitting a large roo, towing the boat to the Gold Coast way back on the October Long weekend. Car was driveable but needed repairs with radiator copping the worst of it Organise the car to get towed, and find a hire car/ute. The ute a Mazda looks neat and tidy, aircon etc but it was one of the worst vehicles I have had the mispleasure of driving, someone had obviousy given it a very hard timeas the suspension was shot and the engine was hesitant at best. Fishing the Gold Coast was pretty good with bream coming regularly and the odd Jack,Cod and trevally to spice things up, this was mainly fishing banks, bridges and breakwalls. There was no way I was going to drive back so I left the boat at Sister in Laws and flew back to Sydney. This was not so bad as I had to return for the ABT bream final at the end of October and was kept busy with birthdays, sociallising and work. I was keen as mustad though to have a fish and was going through the motions of borrowing one of our company vehicles to make the return trip to the Gold Coast for the final and to bring the boat home when I have thrown out my back . Driving in the car was horrendous and was taking double doses of voltaren rapid and panadol. Thankfully the misses did a good job of driving although it took 2 days instead of the 1 we had planned. Arrived safely and after greeting everyone I hobbled off 2check the boat. It was a little damp inside as the cover I have at the moment is useless. So damp in fact that the rod grips were all covered in mould . Aired everything out and tried to rest the back. Prefishing for a bream comp is a black art as you don't won't to sting to many fish that you would like to catch during the comp but you do like to know there are fish there. Any way my prefish was ok although all the bream were very small, I could feel my confidence slipping and my mind wandering. I had a bit of my cars wreckage in the boat and I shoved it down between the console and the windscreen and told myself no excuses, and got of the water and was ready to fish the comp the next day. Fished hard both days but did not pan out for me only weighed 2/5 bream each day of the competition. DIzzy Borg from the AFC got some great bags and took out the Grandfinal and the Ford Ranger prize. A massive SE change came through on Saturday and most competitors came back wet. Got the family and the boat back to Sydney on Melbourne cup Day and misses almost backs a winner, she gets second. More birthdays and family stuff and the fact my car still was not repaired kept me away from the waterways I know best but finally on Friday I picked up my car good as new. There was no stopping me from having a fish and headed to Berowra. SE blowing again, fish were shut down badly tapping the hard bodies timidly. I can not think of a time I have had so many hits for so few hook ups. It was so bad I was thinking of putting stingers on my stinger trebles After a few long distance releases I finally boated a legal bream. I wish this was the signal that turned it all around for me but the bite continued to be a frustrating one. Revisited a bank that I had the most hits and went to work with a new lure. More bumps taps and nudges then a good fish is landed. I did not have a ruler but it was over 35cm to the fork but not carrying much weight and hooked by only one treble. Called it a day soon afterwards. Good to catch a Sydney bream after over a month and a half. Heres hoping by rambling on and venting my frustrations better fishing stories are around the corner. Cheers Dave

Thanks Andrew and Jewgaffer. Hope to kick some goals up on the Goldcoast. Have no idea of where to fish, Nerang, Broadwater, Pin or Moreton Bay, although planning to go for pre-fish over long weekend. Anyone know Moreton Bay??? would it be possible for a tourist to work out the local Bream in a couple of days or is it just too big an ask in such a big open waterway??? PeterS you open a big can of worms asking questions about fighting abilities, especially about two aussie favourites. Both B are R great E lure A and M fly targets, you can read into that how you wish. Cheers Dave

Great weather too. Cooked up the flattie and trev fillets last night and they were a treat as well. Bream always give a good account of themselves on light tackle, and I am a big fan.

No mate I left them to it, like you said there is plenty of water to try, no point on stepping on anyones toes. I got into some bream at Putney. p.s. Have you had a chance to try your luck newatthegame since this thread started Cheers Dave

Gday Chewsta. Hope you have not spoiled 1 of your fav spots as there were a couple of boats flogging it on Sunday Only reason I bring it up is I wanted to give it a try as well i.e opposite Homebush Bay

Bought myself a new outboard and wanting to run her in and have a fish decided on fishing east and west of the Bridge. Kept an eye out for any surface action on the way east from Siverwater but no joy there. Ended up fishing in some bays near Taronga Zoo with only 1 follow from a bream and some little pinkies. After changing to 2pnd fluro straight through finally got a legal flathead and a few more hits. Decided a move was needed and went to work some flats. First cast must have hit another flatty on the head but after having a dozen or so kayaks paddle within casting distance I moved on again. Found a patch of fish around the boat hulls adjacent to theese flats boated 3 trevs a whiting and another 2 flatties. Had planned to meet the misses as she was involved in a fund raiser for Alzeimers day along the banks of the Parra river and with the wind picking up decided to move back west. After docking the boat at Newington wharf she shouted a snag sanger and a drink all in the name of charity, I deemed it was time to tackle some bream. Spun some flats picking up 3 good fish and some just unders. Mission accomplished with variety on the east side, dirty brawlers on the west. Motor ran well, has 4hrs up, 115hp on 5.1m tinnie I think she will do the job