Mr Squidy

Thanks NWHC, Love your shots, what did you run the steel wool on, a cordless drill? Love that last shot of the sun rise and milkyway mate. Cheers, Rich

Having read this post few months back i decided on my next trip to my Brothers farm in southern Tasmania I would pack the camera and finally give this form of photography a go. A couple of weeks ago now that trip finally came around and I found I was lucky enough to have this line up with a new moon, perfect!! Arriving at my Brother's place in the afternoon the skies for my first night were crystal clear, how lucky can I get? Well, luckier still it seems as once the skies darkened the setup shots confirmed that not only were they clear and moon free but there was also an Aurora Australis is in action, the first I have seen down there after years of visiting. Now I strongly suspect that this is the photography equivalent of a beginner landing a big jew on a stinky prawn so to any die hard astrological photographers who spend countless hours chasing these conditions I do apologize... Anyway, I don't currently have a remote shutter release with the lock thingy so the old faithful duct tape was the weapon of choice. Unfortunately this loosened off after around 30min or so so I didn't get quite as many shots as I would have liked but still can't complain with this for a first attempt. A big thanks to all for the info in this post as it has been both valuable in getting my head around the techniques and also just the inspiration needed to get me out there Cheers, Rich

Not looking the best weather for it but good luck if you get out there. Rich

Yeah, a lot of un-clear information out there in the advice around this. At the end of the day the correct technique should achieve two things; 1 don't allow any slack line as this is when a fish is most likely to throw the hook and, 2 don't wind the reel against high tension as this can bugger the gears in the reel. Achieving these two things will see slightly different styles of using your gear for different fish. For example, with small pelagic's like tailor often you'll just hold the rod steady against their runs then wind quickly to keep tension when you have turned their head as they will swim towards you. Almost no "pump" involved but still correct in achieving the two key points. Go to the other extreme of bringing up a big ray off the bottom and you must pump and wind as the load on the reel otherwise will be ridiculous. Everything in between is a balancing act that just becomes instinctive once you get the feel for it. I've more than a few times seen people telling beginners to "pump and wind" against tiny fish which hardly put any bend in the rod which is ridiculous as you just create slack line which looses fish and also feels wrong often meaning its counter productive to developing a correct technique. Should also add that when snags come into play "perfect technique" goes out the window a little, still best to use the rod to haul them out whilst holding the spool to stop you loosing drag though rather than winding against full load but depending on the situation this isn't always possible. Bream over oyster leases for example you really just want to pull them out of there by whatever means you have. Cheers, Rich

Only guessing but he has probably been told he cant collect them and sell them commercially and then taken that to mean its illegal to collect them at all. I would think selling them commercially might come under the Fisheries Management Act/Reg needing licensed suppliers same as selling of seafood? Never heard of anything that would stop you taking them for personal usage. Cheers, Rich

Haha, funny the way it works out. You spend thousands of hours chasing that damn big jew then the night you decide to target bream instead along she comes!!! Well done though guys, top top fish. Cheers, R

Wow, nice to get your first Jew but that Bream is an absolute trophy fish. R

If people are going to live in the biggest city in the country, go fishing on the best day in months and head straight for two of the best known locations they should probably expect to have a bit of company there with them. If you want a spot to yourself put some effort in and fish weekdays, night time, fish less known spots, head to different systems up or down the coast. No one owns a spot and as long as people are respectful to others then all luck to them. Personally I think its a miracle to be able to live in a city as big as Sydney with all the benefits that entails and still have the fishing as good as it is. Not many places in the world have this combination. For all the doom and gloom I am also far from convinced that it is disappearing at the rate some like to claim. Look at the state of the kingfish stocks compared to the early 90's? Look at the fishing now to be had in the cooks river which was virtually dead at one point? With sensible management there is no reason we wont see many decades of decent fishing still to come. Cheers, Rich

Yeah, it's looking awesome this weekend. Only question is what to chase? Stick to snapper and flatties in shore or dream big and head offshore? I'm thinking the combination of a very quite Tuna season and Mr Groper's snapper reports will have me heading south but its tough to pass up an opportunity to head wide when it comes around so rarely for a smaller boat like mine... Cheers, Rich

Hey Bundy, I had a week up there earlier this year for a work conference for the Girlfriend and spent a few mornings/afternoons fishing land based. Within Central Cairns there are two main options being the ocean side of the main marina break wall and a dedicated fishing jetty on the river front near the Casino (see numbers 1 and 2 on the below map). Off the break wall I spent an hour or two working plastics without landing anything. I got two follows from small GT's whilst working the plastic across the surface in a quick walk the dog action but missed the only strike. Heaps of people here were fishing bait and didn't see any action for them during any of the times i was in the area so I'd stick to working lures and definitely a spot to target at high tide as most of it gets quite shallow at lower tides. Reckon you may be a shot at queenies, mackerel etc here with a bit of luck. This wall is closed to fishing from 9pm to i think 7am? The jetty on the river front is set up with rod holders in inconvenient spots, a cleaning table who's tap is missing and some poorly set up spotlights that I think are supposed to help attract fish but really seem to do nothing. I fished plastics and blades and only managed a couple of grinners. There is a little structure around to cast at but really doesn't look a great spot with the level of tide movement. Probably worth targeting the change of tides here. Saw no one else fishing here at all whilst I was there. I found one report on line of a guy who fished it a year or two back and got a few very small queenies around sunrise. Unfortunately all the marina area is off limits to fishing. It is however worth spending a bit of time in the evening at point 3 on the map watching Barra boof bait off the surface along the edge of the marina's jetty shadow where it comes out into the light. Quite crazy on a number of nights when I was there with at least a dozen good sized fish just smashing anything unfortunate enough to swim past. Someone while I was there may have tried a sneaky cast with a popper at about 10.30pm on a rainy Tuesday night and was quickly seen off by a torch wielding security guard so I wouldn't recommend that Definitely very cool to watch though. Last point, there is a guy who has a blog about land based fishing in cairns who seems to kill it. Took me a while but i finally figured he is fishing in restricted port/navy areas so I'm guessing he has some sort of clearance to be there so dont get to excited if you see that. If you have a hire car there will obviously be a lot more opportunities. There are pleanty of small mangrove lined waterways that the roads cross in and out of Cairns where you might be able to flick lures from the bank. Obviously stay a long way back as there are no shortage of Crocs!!! I was lucky when I was up there that the Fishraider Lizardboy was in town too with his family and was nice enough to offer to take me on a morning session chasing Jungle Perch (Thanks again mate!!). Being a total newb at this sort of fishing I missed our only strike of the morning on the very first cast but very cool type of fishing wading up a small rainforest creek at dawn flicking small poppers and minnows. Not exactly sure of the location we fished but another interesting option if you have a car. I also did a charter on the Mulgrave river whilst there (wind off shore was to much to head outside on a smaller trailer boat charter) which was ok but the barra wouldn't play ball. Caught heaps of bream, some small GTs, and a stonker fingermark around the 3-4kg. Let me know if you've got any queries on the above at all, hope you get into a few up there. Cheers, Rich

So you're a scientist who identifies a new fish species that's blue and a bastard to catch. What do you call it? http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/08/blue-bastard-newly-recognised-fish-is-blue-when-adult-and-a-bastard-to-catch

Hey mate, Fisheries release 10,000 bass into manly damn back in 2011 so guessing that answers your jumping fish mystery. As for what snipped your 12lb? Its getting ridiculous where those sharks are showing up these days... Probably worth giving the telegraph a call Or it could have been an eel maybe? Cheers, R

Yeah, a quick google search will show you pics. Apparently was caught out of Port Stephens, was killed and weighed in. Same guy apparently also set a 2lb line class record with a 159lb black. Such ultra light tackle would have to wear the fish to total exhaustion by the time you got it to the boat so I doubt there would be any option for catch and release. R

No point putting any line on that set up heavier than what you have for so many reasons. Firstly you'll be overloading the gear; a 4000 Sienna is rated to put out 6kg max drag and in reality you probably don't want to run it at much more than 4kg really as locking up the lower end reels often results in a sticky/non-smooth drag. Likewise your rod is only rated to 6kg also. On this point you could probably push it to 20lb without issue but any more than that is pointless. Next point is that you should match your outfit to what you are realistically targeting. The lighter your gear the more bites you will get, the better you will feel the bites, the more fish you will catch and the more you will enjoy your fishing. If you are planning to use this outfit to down rig for 1m+ kingy's then the whole outfit is the problem, not just the line class. If you are planning to fish for snapper with the possibility of fish from pan size up to 5kg then you're spot on. If you are planning to fish for whiting or bream on the flats then its a little heavy as it will lack the sensitivity you need and 15lb line will spook the fish. Next point is that a competent angler should generally be able to land a fish heavier than the line class they are using by playing the fish correctly unless you are fishing in a really difficult spot due to surrounding structure. For an extreme example the current record Marlin on 6lb line class was 735.2lb. Now sure those guys are the ultimate pro's but with some patient work there is no reason you can't land your better fish on that set up. Only possible change maybe thinking about braid over mono as it will make the outfit even more responsive and give you more line on the reel to play out any monster you hook but that is just a preference thing really. Summary, use bigger baits/lures on your bigger rod and save the small rod for targeting the appropriate fish to that outfit rather than trying to make it something its not. Hope that helps. Cheers, R

Awesome stuff mate!! Looks a great catch and very generous of you to help out a fellow fisho. Fishing charters can be so hit and miss and are always pricey so fishing with a local in a new place is always a wonderful experience. I've no doubt that would have been one of the true highlights of Steve's trip. Cheers, R

I love gulps but hate those stupid zip locks they come in that inevitably leak all the stinky fluid all through your gear I too have some of those tubs NaICH2OK9 has shown and they were perfect to start with and let the gulps store straight without kinking. Unfortunately they are now a couple of years old and they are now leaking as well if I dont store them dead flat. Anyone found a better container that has stood the test of time? Cheers, R

Well done Shimano. Touch wood I've never had a problem with any of their products but great to know this sort of service is there when needed. I can never understand why more companies in general don't take this sort of attitude when this sort of reputation is so so valuable. R

Nah Nursie, our cricketers are the experts when it comes too inexplicable losses

Think you answered your own question right there. For those who know the basics they are a fairly reliable, land based, bread and butter fishing option. Also, they are at their best in winter when many other species really shut down. Cheers, R

Yeah, that's an odd one for sure Mark. No scuba divers nearby? Otherwise maybe the loop got hooked around the flatty's spines and its head shaking was enough to work it loose? Funny how many strange things happen if you fish long enough. R

And don't forget they are great for flicking at any mates who try to welch on boat cleaning duties R

Yeah, i'd be in need of some serious counseling after something like that. Best of luck to him breaking the hoodoo today. On a positive note, at least it was only a 3hr 15min fight, imagine being this guy http://www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Fishing/The-one-that-got-away-19hr-fight-with-200kg-Tuna_9484028.aspx R

Well done guys, top report, you must both be buzzing!! R

Yeah, not sure on that kill switch lanyard rule. Going to be quite annoying for trolling having to disconnect from the lanyard before grabbing your screaming reel at the back of the boat, reckon I'd be accidentally killing the motor on just about every strike. Perhaps i'll just need to get a much longer lanyard. Hopefully its just for over certain speeds. R

My guess is Lord Howe, I know they do spinning of the stones there for good size YFT at times. Incredible capture. R