Noodles

I have well and truly investigated outrig's, new, 2nd hand, local, imported, and even toyed with buying blanks and making my own; and I can tell you one thing. You get what you pay for. There are good ones at a price and there are cheap ones. With these things it is very much dependant on the quality of the components. Look at it like buying a top notch fishing rod compared to a Z-Mart special. Why are some rods hundreds of dollars and others you can buy for $30.00? Go with your budget and needs. Are you after world record breaking Blue Marlin or Striped Tuna and dollies? Compare the cost to the value of your boat. You'll find the right answer as I did. Not really necessary to catch fish.

Well, I can only hope that everyone enjoyed the past weekend as much as I did. Took the young fella out on the big briny and weren't the conditions sensational? By 3.00pm yesterday we'd had bagged out on Dusky Flathead (in possesion over the 2 days) and had a couple of Tigers in the mix as well. We had to fish through the Leatherjackets but ended up with 10 of those tasty little morsels in the process and promptly ate them last night. If you left the little flatties down for too long the jackets ate them. The surprise was pulling Redspot Whiting out of 45m of water. Fishing the hard bottom wasn't as productive as a couple of weeks ago but still ended with a couple of reds, mowies, blertas etc, and the usual mix of interesting throwbacks, bustoffs and unknowns. The young bloke is now known as the "Bonehaed King" for his proficiency at pulling up Port Jackson Sharks, even though I got the biggest one. We also managed a big Cuttlefish on each day over the reef and aren't they great flatty bait. I've cut some up for the table and it is presently in the tenderisation process, but there is plenty in the freezer for future use and hopefully it will provide a good exchange rate. The only trouble I have now is that I can't fish at the moment unless I do Catch and Release. Either that or I'll have to target Salmon. Ain't life bad at the moment? At one point the ships were all pointing different directions and the water was as flat and smooth as I've ever seen. A whale passed us within 50m or so and there were Stripey Tuna jumping around the boat (but they weren't interested in our offerings).

It never ceases to amaze me that people who enjoy the outdoor lifestyle this country has to offer treat it like a third world rubbish tip. Go to any popular and easily accessible fishing spot and you will find the detritus of mindless morons. Not only do I litter my own boat, not the water, but I pick up plastic bags and other junk and put it in my bin at home or the ramp. If they can carry it in full, surely the can carry it out empty. There are many words to describe these brain dead invaders but we needn't go there.

Now that I have one, I'll certainly be trying it out in different situations. It was interesting to see the weather report on TV the other day. They explained the heavy rain as being the result of moist cold air being fed directly from the south over the top of warm water provided by the strong East Australian Current running at the moment from the North. A couple of other things that came up in hindsight were the fact that the tides times in Lake Macquarie's entrance were all wrong over the last couple of weeks with the current pouring in. Also the water associated with this current was very cloudy and green.

Was Paternoster rigging to the bottom. Strong current. Went back today but only caught 2 reds, a couple of blertas and some big boneheads (Port Jacksons). Here are photos of Sunday to today.

What a difference a day makes. The current was still running hard to the south yesterday but I found a bit of hard reef and was able to pick in. Dropped straight onto the snapper and finished with 8 in total. 5 in the low to mid 30cm's, 1 at 45cm and 2 47cm models. Only had 1 throwback and was busted off on the light gear by another couple. For those interested, mono outfished braid 7 to 1. All three larger fish were picked up on the lightest line and softest rod (plus the bustoffs) which I had rigged with only 1 bait. Pilly baits in about 27m of water. No secrets - Catherine Hill Bay.

Thanks to all, so yesterday a Sea Anchor would not have helped me much at all which is what I thought. The current was very strong and in the same direction as the light wind. I've just bought one anyway. I considered dropping a heavier Sand Anchor but I'm reluctant to do this just in case you happen to pick up a piece of hard bottom. There are methods of attaching chain to the "wrong" end and then using a cable tie or other device intended to break so the ancher can be drawn free but I wasn't set up for that.

Do you mean a drogue? I've considered getting one. A question though, with the wind and current running in the same direction wouldn't you go faster? I was travelling at 2.5 - 2.8 knots with nearly my full 100M of anchor rope out to my chained reef pick and it didn't hold the bottom in 50M of water. There really wasn't much wind either. When I came in close to Moon Island in only 26m of water I picked bottom but it was like fishing in The Rip with the current running harder in the shallow water.

I decided to take advantage of the clearer weather today and ventured out off Swansea. In anything less than 50 metres the current was so strong I couldn't get an anchor to stick let alone a baited rig, even with 8 ounces of lead. Still managed a couple of flatties but generally a waste of fuel and effort. The drift was way too fast with wind and current from the north. Shame I waited through 2 weeks of crap weather for that.

Don't let anyone tell you that these fish can't be eaten. If your lazy and want to eat raw fish then read no further. If you don't mind some prep work and enjoy seafood in different forms then this is well worth the effort. There was a Takeaway Food store up here that used to use only Australian Salmon for their cakes. One average sized salmon will produce 8 good fishcakes which is enough for 4 adults when served with salad. Obviously with this fish it needs to be bled immediately when caught if you intend to eat it then scaled, gilled and gutted as soon as possible. Fillet, skin and bone the fish then remove as much red meat as possible. You can leave the boning till after the next step if you prefer. Step 1. Place the fish in a saucepan with 1/4 of an onion - finely chopped, and 1 or 2 cloves of garlic - crushed. Add 1 cup of stock (I use Chicken) and enough water to cover it. Bring it to the boil then reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes or so. Don't over do it. Strain the liquid off and allow the fish to cool. If you like fish soup you can keep the stock. Step 2. Peel and cube 2 medium potatoes. Boil them until nearly soft. A little bit firm is better than falling apart here as they will provide better texture. Mash them to a stiff mash. No milk. No butter. Just potato otherwise you'll be too sloppy and fall apart. Step 3. Combine the fish and potato in a bowl and mix it up well making sure the fish breaks up plus 1 raw egg to bind it all together. Step 4. Gently fry in a little oil then add to the mix: 6 green beans - chopped finely 1 spring onion (shallot) - sliced thin. the remaining 3/4 of the onion - again finely chopped. and a small carrot - finely grated. To the mix also add any or all of the following plus whatever else you think may be to your liking. 1 teaspoon of fish sauce. 1/2 teaspoon of mustard powder. Pepper and salt to taste. Fresh coriander or parsely, (about a tablespoon). At this point I refrigerate for a few hours or overnight to let it all firm up. Step 5. Divide the mix into the required number and form into cakes about 2 cm thick. Dip each one into plain flour, followed by an eggwash (beaten egg only - no milk or they'll burn) then breadcrumbs. Again refrigerate for at least 1 hour. These cakes can be frozen at this stage or will keep for several days in the fridge. Step 5. Shallow fry in some vegetable oil on low to medium heat. Serve with a selection of Sweet Thai Chilli Sauce, Tartare, Lemon wedges, Malt Vinegar extra sea salt if desired. Of course you can use other fish but Aussie Salmon is great.

I always caught my best whiting during the winter months. Fishing around Saratoga, Davistown, down Paddy's Channel and around St Huberts Is on the bridge side. Live squirt worms or blood worms and your guaranteed a catch and you normally pick up a few bream amongst them. Most productive at night but I have done well during the day. Bloody cold though as you'd expect. Many years back (40 or so)they used to school up under the old Woy Woy Ferry Wharves right up into the shallows in huge numbers and massive size. Big blue nosed whiting and they were the frustration of everyone who tried to catch them. They would not take a bait until the tide was right at night and you had to have live bait, either worms, nippers or prawns. I had a mate at Ettalong and his mom used to walk down to the beach along The Esplanade and use a hand line during the winter days and she caught plenty with pink nippers her preferred bait. They are about but good live bait is essential if you want them.

Your not the first to have this experience and you won't be the last. I lost one when I was a kid at Woy Woy Rail Bridge. Little Jim Deluxe and a 4" left handed Alvey sidecast. My father lost one off a boat at Flint and Steel and then recaught it the next day minus all line.

I agree with the Iron Ladders and in fact anywhere between the Little Box and Box Heads. I've caught Yakkas right along there. A few years back a young bloke I knew used to burley up and catch them at Bensville / South Kincumber then go over the hill to Putty Beach and convert them to Kings. The tide doesn't run very fast in the upper reaches where the water is broad and shallow. Another place we used to catch them from shore is along the rock ledge at Pearl Beach (Western End) out past the old rock pool. I imagine you'd probably get them at Umina Point rock ledge as well.

I was out on Saturday as well and we met guys at the cleaning table who told us about seals stealing all their quality fish but letting them hsve the Bonito. We too were plagued by jackets at the flathead grounds in 50 metres. 2 double hookups on the first drop then jackets chopped lines before reaching bottom. So we move a little way and catch Flatties on the first drop then jackets again. Ended up with 7 nice lizards before we gave up and went back in closer.

Your not wrong. I have seen one squash the handle on a milk crate and don't drop them in with your blue swimmer catch as I once did.

Most would say Salts Bay is on the Southern shore and that is where I've been fishing. In behind Lucy's Breakwall near the big channel lead markers that stick up on the rocks out in the middle. The water is only about 2 meters deep with mixed bottom of sand, patchy ribbon weed and occasional rocks.

How'd you go? I was out there on Saturday arvo myself and my son outfished me 6 keepers to 1. I caught and released 1 salmon of 60cm and saw several others caught by close boats. Catch was 4 Bream 1 Tarwhine and 2 trevally plus a couple of throwbacks.

Do not try to pick them up with your hand. They pack a big hurt for little fish. I can tell you that from first hand experience (no pun intended)after I tried it at Jimmy's Beach. Ouch.

No pics. Sorry, my mistake. 70 cm not 90. Got one last August went 72cm.

Took the young fella over to Salts Bay yesterday arvo as it's fairly protected from the South-Easterly wind. We made up a burley pot of pollard, bran, Stimulate burley mix, fish oil and minced tuna and within 20 minutes we could see the bream munching up the trail as the water is only 2.5 meters deep. Fishing light gear we managed 7 legal Bream to 28cm, 1 legal Tarwine 23cm, a Silver Trevally and only a couple of undersized throwbacks. We lost several blurters due to hooks pulling through their soft mouths. Also picking up our baits were big Aussie Salmon. We lost 3 before boating 1 at about 90cm which was released. Top fun on 4 lb bream gear. Bait used was good frozen and old brined pillies, brined stripey tuna and prawns. The scabby old brined pillies was the prefered bait surprisingly. It pays to burley up sometimes. Bream fillets for dinner tonight.

Dunno, but I'd be careful touching it.

Big effort and yes bluebottles hurt. Salmon are OK smoked too. Not great, but certainly quite edible if you take the time to prepare them. I fillet and bone the ribs out and cut each fillet in half along the lateral line then remove the blood meat. Rub some salt (and Brown Sugar if you like it sweet) into them and allow to sit a while. Not too different to smoked Tailor or Mullet. The bonus is that the frames and blood strips make great crab bait for the witches hats.

Good work there. The lake is fishing well presently for flatties and bream and there are plenty of crabs. My son and I've managed 38 male swimmers including some really big ones over in a couple of sessions with witches hats at the mouth of Dora Creek over the last 2 weekends. I named one of them Methuselah as he was so big and old he had marine scunge and barnicles growing all over him. I nearly had to buy a bigger boiler. There has only been about 5 or 6 females. There was a "paid" volunteer (??? I know) doing surveys for Fisheries at the boat ramp last weekend and I had a chat with him for a while. He was recording crab numbers and sizes and he said there were plenty coming in.

While not a common catch in the lake, or other inshore water, Cobia are a fairly frequently reported species. There have been several reports this season around Pulbah Island and the artificial reefs, and they do frequent the warmer water around the power station outlets. The readily available "Lake Macquarie Boating and Fishing Map" lists and shows Cobia as a known species for the area. How they are taken is also sometimes surprising with them falling to small baits targeting bream on very light gear. Cobia are also known to have been caught in the Brisbane Water sytem around the Woy Woy Bridge and over at Saratoga. How big was the Cobia you caught on Monday?

Based on the description you have given and the number I have caught in the last 2 weeks, they were Striped Tuna (Skipjack) for sure.