joshGTV

Singles also have the benefit of being much kinder to the fish if you decide to release them.

Hard work landing a 60cm flattie on 6lb leader, they have sharp teeth, I'd use no less than 15lb, maybe 20lb.

OK thanks

Thanks mate, why SW Rocks over Coffs?

Hi all, staying in Nambucca Heads after Christmas and planning to squeeze in an offshore charter out of Coffs, any recommendations or warnings re: operators? Thanks in advance.

And I thought I held the record for world's smallest flattie... comprehensively beaten here.

On Monday I took my son Alex out on the Shoalhaven at Greenwell Point. It's embarrassing to be outfished by a 10-year-old but them's the breaks. We were down there for four nights, generally very disappointing fishing, this was our only legal fish. Thanks commercial fishermen!

Yep fishing baits and caught fish both sides of the bridge. Not sure if the lake's open actually.

Hit the water at 0730... nor' easter blowing meant good long drifts. Lots of tiddlers but also some decent fish about. Picked up a 60cm flatty, a 45cm and two 37cm, and a 35cm whiting - biggest whiting I've ever seen. Good productive morning.

My parents told me they once caught a remora that had been hanging around their boat. When they gutted it they realised what it had been feeding on. Perhaps unsurprisingly it wasn't kept for dinner. Apparently very closely related to kings but their diet makes them less desirable.

When I lived in Bondi ten years ago I gave up fishing on the beach because I got sick of the Port Jacksons. Now living on the northern beaches - North Narrabeen is a top spot for small bronze whalers - been a while though so I can't remember what time of year. I do however remember thinking that they were as annoying as the Port Jacksons at Bondi!

Hi Ben, thanks for that URL, good resource. I'm pretty sure the scales did actually show those weights in kg but perhaps not the most accurate scales in the world.

Will need to defer to Pete who had the scales! Mine was just over 85cm, his was just over 80. Any further thoughts on kgs v. lbs?

Went out of Pittwater with my mate Pete at about 4pm on Tuesday. Picked up some yakkas at West Head before heading to Flint & Steel. Anchored up and put some squid down before dark but no success. Pete decided to put a whole squid on at 9pm and dropped it over the side. About 2m down he started yelling, set the hook, and pulled up a 1.2m hairtail. Never heard of them at this time of year but we'll take it! We then sent the yakkas down but by 1am were despondent and crashed out. 2am and Pete's reel screams. 5 minutes later our first jewie was in the boat. We crashed again with my livie still down. At 3am my reel started to scream so I jumped on it and found that a monster eel had swallowed my yakka. Frustrating to lose our last livie that way so I looked in the esky for our last scrap of squid. Threw the bait overboard and went back to bed. 3.30am my reel started to scream so I dragged my unenthusiastic arse out of bed. Set the hook and ten minutes later we had our second big jewie in the boat. Celebratory drinks at 4am then off to bed again. We caught stacks of squid and yakkas back at West Head the next morning but no action. Back to Pittwater with a 9kg and a 10.5kg jewie, plus squid for entree... turned out pretty well all up!

Mate, the monster flatties are there if you're persistent (or just plain lucky). I was there a couple of Januaries ago, the channel was open so I put a live tailor (30cm or so) out into the surf, hoping for a jewie. It swam into the channel and I thought I'd pull it back in and try to set it back out into the surf. As I started winding him in he took off, and five minutes later I had a 1m+ flattie on the sand. Unfortunately it was my first monster flattie and I got carried away and killed it. Eating was average at best. Still wish I'd let it go. I reckon that my livie must've been in under a foot of water when he was taken, gave me the surprise of my life. Cheers, Josh.

Yeah but you'd sure get some kudos if you pulled it off!

Went out with Stuart Reid of Fishabout on Saturday morning, spent a couple of hours filling the tank with squid then went out looking for kings. Unfortunately the boat only landed one keeper, but we caught stacks of rats just under 60cm, great fun. They didn't like the livies but strip baits were popular. Lowlight was losing the biggest tailor I'd ever seen... possibly 80cm? Brought it into the boat but consensus was that it should stay in the water to keep the kings at the surface. Dropped it back in and of course it spat the hook. Last time I ever go with consensus. Great morning, had a ball but unfortunately it's revived the bug... doubt you'll see me in the office tomorrow morning! Cheers, Josh.

Mate, the lake's still closed and the water level's dropping again. I was up there this morning. According to the guys in the local tackle shops there's no talk of opening it. My cousin had a few good nights prawning before Christmas but I don't know about the last few weeks. I've been meaning to give it a go too but I'm a lazy bugger. Cheers, Josh

Generally they just pretend not to hear you. I haven't been punched yet but I'm sure that's happened a few times as well. I used to fish Avoca a bit and it got to the point where I called the Fisheries office, got one of their officers' mobile numbers and put it in my phone. Still never saw anyone get done unfortunately.

nope... probably best though as we were only using bream gear

After writing a couple of posts to bitch about how quiet Pittwater's been of late, finally got some action on Tuesday night. Headed out of Bayview at about 6pm on a mate's punt, fished Towler's Bay for nothing but a heap of pinkies then started looking for a new spot out of the wind. Anchored off Scotland Island, got some berley down and things got underway as darkness fell. We stayed until midnight and ended up taking home about seven decent bream, the best flounder I've seen in a while, a 70cm flattie and a blue swimmer. Plenty of baitfish in the water as well and pretty sure the surface splashing we saw was from squid, although nothing would touch our jigs. Teriyaki-marinated bream on the barbie last night, went down well I can tell you. Looks like I've found my new favourite Pittwater spot! Cheers, Josh.

I just posted a response to another similar thread started by Haraka... can also comment favourably on the Abu Garcia importers.

Thanks for the explanation mate. Agree entirely about netting... higher prices in the fish shops would be great encouragement to become a better fisherman anyway! Cheers, Josh.

You could try a campsite called Sandbar, it's at Pacific Palms (just south of Seal Rocks and Forster). Haven't been there for a few years but had a great time as a kid. On one side of the campsite you've got Smiths Lake, on the other side is Cellito Beach (I think that's the name). Flatties and bream in the lake and your usual prospects off the beach. They have both cabins and tent sites up there.

Hi mate You're not the lone ranger re: Pittwater... i've found it (and Broken Bay) to be very quiet over Christmas/New Year, most of the blokes in the northern beaches tackle shops have been getting the same reports from others as well. Hopefully will pick up as the water continues to warm up. Has anyone had much luck lately on Pittwater or Broken Bay? Cheers, Josh