Yowie

Nice reds, sounds like a great day out.

Seeing as some others (including Bruce) have been pulling out a few flatties from Bate Bay, thought I should give it a go as well. Pulled out my 10, but it took some time. A few undersized blue spots and many spikies taking the baits as well. Biggest about 43cm. The flatties were better on the edge of Bate Bay, very little wind or swell, but a southerly drift from the current. Pillies jumping about at times chasing micro bait, Put a lure under the pillies a few times but nothing there.

Good eating size there Scratchie.

Nice catch there Bruce.

Great fish on fly.

Good sized fish for the young bloke.

Thank you Fab.

Nice catch before work,

There are a few about, just have to be in the right spot at the right time. The jewies cruise about along the drop offs, so are on the move most of the time. Fished the same spot 2 weeks ago for nothing but pickers. They might be in Gymea Bay today, Lilli Pilli tomorrow. Dave.

Have fished if for a long time.

Thanks Scratchie.

Always fish with handlines in the deeper waters of the Hacking. Have done so since I was a kid (now a big kid ) It does make for interesting fishing with a decent fish on, especially if I hook a large eagle ray. Some fish have been unstoppable.

Fished near the mouth of Yowie Bay early this morning. Only 2 decent bites, but managed to land both of them. This jewie took a squid strip from the bottom, just a slow run until I grabbed the line and set the hook. Then it was off like a rocket, easily 100 metres in a dead straight run. 15 pound handline and my fingers were burning from the speed of the fish. Had to dunk both hands in the water to cool them off. From the speed of the run, thought it was a ray at first, but after the initial run, the jew was a bit quiet and swam back to the boat without too much resistance. The second jew took a pillie on a rod and set the reel screaming, but not such a long run. Was released, as was a little jew not much over 30cm. Had out a live yakka, no hits though. A few rat kingies swimming about, followed up the hooked reddies (none near legal size) and the occasional splashing from the kingies but not interested in any bait with a hook in it. As I was heading home in Gunnamatta Bay, I saw a couple of gulls flying about and a few bait fish jumping amongst the moored boats, so I threw out a metal lure and pulled out the 2 bonnies. Also dropped 2 others that did not stay hooked for very long, then they were gone. Nice white meat in the bonnies, but they will be salted for bait.

Won't catch a boatload, just a few. Lilli Pilli flats have been quiet for whiting, they are there but difficult to get to bite. Better at Maianbar flats. A nice feed anyway Bruce.

Jim, the new paint will scare the fish away. My last boat was never painted from new, 42 years old until it fell apart from over use. Dave.

Nice fish.

As a kid, I found the river leading up to the lake fished very well during the day, night time was not very productive (except for the prawns) Anchored up across the channel for the prawns, hook up a small prawn, drop it out the back of the boat and you would occasionally score a big whiting. Night time under the bridge would produce a tailor at times - so long as some numb nuts did not drop his line into your boat.

Nothing wrong with whiting at all.

We had some fillets last night, very tasty, and some more for another night. Not what I was originally heading out to catch, but no complaints about catching whiting.

Headed out early up from Lilli Pilli, to a spot where I pulled out a few fish 2 weeks ago. Well, someone must have told the fish to disappear, as they were not about today. Only 1 decent fish, that put up a performance for a while, coming up under the boat as it was giving up, then gone. The ganged hooks gone, no fray marks on the mono but a clean cut angled across the line. Felt like a legal sized jew, just a bit strange with the cut to the line. Apart from 2 rat sized kingies swimming up after hooked little reddies, nothing else. Live yakkas not touched. Just a dud day. The tide hit bottom, so I pumped a few nippers and drifted about for a legal whiting, a little sand flattie, and nothing else. A few whiting to be seen, but if you can see the whiting, they can see you and will not bite. Headed to Maianbar flats, pumped a few more nippers and found a few whiting, and a just legal bream that was sent back to grow bigger. Water less then knee deep. A few thrown backs amongst them, but some keepers as well. A long day but something to take home. Do not like going home with no fish.

Yes, a bit of variety, and crab entrée coming up tonight.

Good feed of fish. Though small, the red spots are good eating. Easy to scale and fillet. The bones can easily be removed (with a bit of practice)