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Have waited to get out amongst the recent inshore action in my boat but what with the weather the next best offer came up late last night to join my mate on his more capable vessel. Anyway we saw no bait or action for the whole troll out to the shelf and back except for the mayhem of a black and a striped marlin fighting over our long corner pakula sprocket in lumo colour. The bigger black won out with a spectacular swerve and shouldering on strike - but the striped still shadowed him for enough time to think we must have hooked him on another lure. The striped was jumping and carrying on then gave up and away he went. An hour later we had the black boatside and it didn't look good but he finally kicked and looked okay as he swam away. We got him on the outside of the warm water just over the shelf and didn't see a thing on the way back. Not a bad late call day off work Tuesday and am in a bit of a purple patch after last weeks kingy. Fork to mouth length looked about seven foot and I don't know - maybe eighty or so kilo as he was in real good nick and pretty big around the girth.

Ah... depth was about 60 foot varying up to 40 odd foot around the good structure. We just sounded out baitfish in and around the likely places and got lucky at one with the best bait - live squid. The king didn't really show on the sounder, so he was probably just a loner. Certainly was no school of them, as we didn't get another even with live squid again in the following passes of the same area.

Thanks all for your generous comments. Have been checking out the gamefishing reports. Would love to get a crack at the great inshore action outta my fifteen footer. Keep an eye on the weather eh....

Is about time to put up a report and contribute instead of mooching. Hit it pretty early out of the Hacking for a few squid inside Jibbon and turned one into this king a little outside the heads of Botany. The usual downrigged two hook setup and hung around some sounded bait. Home and hosed by nine with plenty to feed the family, friends and neighbors. Was a healthy 7 kilo fish measuring about 85cm.

That is a great post. Just what this site is really about. Good man Hodgey. Enjoy your holidays Yaulpang.

Hey Byron, Good onya mate for all the help and spirit you have given over the years. For me Fishraider is all about the real deal guys like you giving back to those who don't know it all. Just out of interest - what fish species on your avatar does 4000 posts relate to? Must be the great white whale* I reckon. Well done and thanks to the No.1 contributor. *(all respect intended for those a bit sensitive)

Thanks man.

Yeah thanks all for the encouragement,that king was very healthy. That and the other fed four families last night with more for today. Was smooth out there right into the late arvo and my god the heat hits hard when you get back on land.

Hello All, managed to tee up with a couple mates for a troll wide out of Botany today. Things started out well enough when running up the coast in close looking for bait. Struck a few Bonito (some good bait size) and a beautiful looking Saurie spun up before heading out to the shelf via the Peak and the 12 Miler and their associated FADS. Conditions were smooth and blue with temps. around 23.5 to 24.8. Nothing to report on the trolling but did hear from a fella of his spread being fought over by two striped marlin out towards Browns. Double hookup and all. Our day was saved by a quick jig at the 12 Miler with my mate smashing a real fat 110cm model weighing in at about 14kg. He made a fool of me with a good 5kg backup and that was that. All up a great day with a few mates.

Thanks hamerz and ALPHABET, I still do love an all day affair but the quick fish with good results will always tie me over with limited time.

Hello All, managed to get out for a run in the boat this morning after finally completing some major reno's. Couldn't be sure how the conditions would be but the wind seemed pretty light around five. The sea was up a bit and there was some swell but nothing too bad and with my first hit just outside Jibbon headland the fishy look was confirmed. I fished 15lb on my TLD5 as most of your recent reports mentioned smaller fish, so after a few runs in came an amberjack around 50cm. Not a bad start after only a few minutes and a first for me of this species. A few small bonito on the way to where I usually target kings got my feel back in for the boat and the fish. Down at the headland north of Marley was a three squid, three passes and three kings affair. All downrigged on double hook rigs. The old TLD5 got a good going over and what with one king going 70cm the fights and boat driving really smartened me up. Anyway, back on the trailer and home by 8:30am was a quick and productive session with dinner accounted for.

I guess others would be going to Browns in tinnies to do as you finnin - fishing. Love that reply kingfishaholic - thought it was in some kind of text/sms code. Good days fishing too eh, well done.

Well done mate. That is a great report all round. Being your first after all the time put in and to be able to share it with your dad and on your own boat. That is a special moment. Congratulations.

Alby, thanks mate - whole hand sized squid with the skin stripped and mantle tipped. No need for police tape at private jetties mc fishn, shutting the front gate and a bit of respect for the opportunity goes a long way with my mates old man at his place. Still gotta be a bit cagey on details as anyone has access from the water eh. Don't know what tape could do at your spot to keep it from being overfished for you and your mates in the future. Never knew it to be considered a productive area - will have to give it a go. Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks Mike, already checking the charts and work schedule. Yeah have downgraded the quantity of gear lately to upgrade the quality. Prefer to fish smaller/lighter outfits with reliability and power for good sportfishing. Am finding the overall value of a limited number of outfits makes not only money sense but the wider range of fishing capability makes for less maintenance and easy decisions on what gear to use for many outings. As most regulars have mentioned here, wait and save a little more for your gear and in the long run it will reward you in many ways. Metre plus Kings, YFT and Marlin have been my rewards on good gear that I look after and enjoy fishing with regularly. Someday a good Jew might come along...

Hey Ant, I couldn't let an opportunity go begging and it really was to see if the calls on broad daylight fishing times would pay off. Thanks again for the tips - loose lips sink ships eh. Gonna have to upsize the baits and leader I reckon, never know what is lurking around out there.

Thanks for the kind remarks. The cleaning bit is the real stroke of luck, the rest has been great input from mates and members on here. The Stella is a 5000SW and the rod a Daiwa Seajigger - the medium one. This recently purchased outfit is running at 2 for 2, touch wood, being both the Jews reported of late.

Hello All, well after bagging my first Jew not long ago it was time to make some effort to understand how things have started to come together. A bit of reading some old articles and checking the tides and the like and it was time to have another go. Same again, recently caught squid on a two hook rig and landbased at a good spot. Only difference this time was the opposite tide and in broad daylight to offset when I can fish with the missus/kids not home. Within five minutes a pretty solid hit but no hookup. Last bait prepped and out for no longer than ten for a good hit and come up tight. Now this spot is pretty hectic as last reported with many possible snags so the drag is up and am into him. He nearly had me around a pylon but soon enough have him up and in safe hands. My second Jew ever and it went 3kg and 70cm, a bit smaller than the first in weight being not as plump - but very happy none the less. I have managed to strike up a good deal with one of the neighbours I regularly sling fish to - she cleans and fillets while I wash my gear. Everyone is happy, she is Greek so no waste with fillets for all and a fish head soup later in the week.

Thanks guys for your encouragement. I really couldn't believe how full on a fight this comparatively smaller fish did put up. It was a solid hit on the crab and off like a freight train headed for the sheds. My mate was in my ear to keep at it as I had stalemated about half way up. After a real heavy lunge all I could think of was Neil Tadesco (RIP) and his tip on keeping the fish coming your way even with small pump and winds. Top tip, payed off.

Hello All, had an invite from an old fishing mate to have a go at some Grouper down his way and after umming and ahhing slipped down to Bellambi with a few mixed feelings. Now before I fill in the details I've gotta say - the bait and burley gathering is a bit of a mission, the fight is an arm wrestle and the flesh is very tasty.... however having had a go I reckon that might be enough to suffice the curiosity. Okay then, we fished the bombie out from Towradgie and burleyed with urchins in very little current around a likely looking drop off. Bait was red crabs either whole or halved and we managed one each with mine on the last bait and burley shot. The fish went a tad shy of 4kg and measured 65cm. To be honest this fight was hands down the heaviest I have encountered pound for pound. I was using a medium jig outfit consisting of an 8000 Sustain on a 200 deep jig t-curve. Line was 50lb braid with a short 50lb mono leader and swivelled trace to a 6/0 octopus hook. Tide and time of day mattered little with this one coming close to midday on the run in after the morning low tide. As clearly mentioned, I enjoyed the experience though would probably not partake in targetting grouper again... just my opinion and can see why others would love or loathe the fishing for this particular species.

Thanks all for the encouraging remarks. Fish was a shade over four and a half kg on a real scale and a lip over seventy cm. Pretty fat and in top nick. What about the smell, something different about that and all those colours and markings..... special fish eh. Sure was a tense few moments after this mornings efforts and knowing full well from the fight what it was. It wasn't over till the fish was well away from the water. Yeah thanks Mike I was shaking a bit and very happy.

Hello All, what a day. Managed a bunch of good squid from Wallys wharf last Thursday night and after a few days down the coast surfing, today was a designated fishing day. This morning I couldn't bag a trick what with not even a sounding in the Hacking or a hit out Jibbon Bombie. Took a run down to the north of Marley to an old favourite drop off and first pass took a big hit on the largest squid. All was fine with a good hookup and a well controlled fight until a weird banging noise down the side of the boat happened. Up came a small dark green pot float and you know what next. The fish took a wrap and even being up on the trace, there she goes. Come home not real fussed on it all. Anyway, kept the chin up and rigged up for a real go at a jew instead of the usual half arsed stuff. Got down to a spot landbased near Wallys (many thanks Ant) and within ten minutes bagged my first jew. It went nine pound and 70cm. Couldn't believe it and have managed to settle a bit now. The spot is pretty heavy as far as snags/poles/rocks go and the tense couple of runs and at the feet moments were genuinely the sort of stuff we all do this fishing thing for. Again, thanks to Ant for the tip off and many hints during other outings.

Awesome fishing mate, hit and run before work... can't beat it. Reckon we might see that elusive twenty kegger before the run is over. Here's a 16kg / 120cm model from out The Peak taken on an old Nat-Nat jig back in 2005. Nowhere near 20 but a fair indication of how they seem to fatten up real good with not much more length to 'em.

Yeah thanks for the encouragement fellas. The buoys are the ones mentioned by shadda. Great little markers to keep you bearings by. They are a bit out from the Island but always seem to hold bait if they are around. Wouldn't mind stretching the legs on the Avet with one of the bigger models about out there.

Hello All, went for a late run this morning with a quick session in mind just to keep in touch. Managed some good sized yakkas and a lone slimey amongst a hoard of bait just to the north of Shark Island. For once I decided to drag a bait around instead of flying off to some other regular haunts. Pretty much just putted around between the Island itself and the research buoys and came up trumps with this 68cm model to christen my new Avet Raptor SX. Bit of fun and back home by lunch. Not a bad Wednesday morning. PS. did hear on the grapevine of some bigger fish out around the Cape Banks.