Yowie

Enough for 2 feeds. Wind up in 200 feet of water, to find an undersized tiger flattie.

Yes Chris, it is a feed. Woke up this morning, left elbow and left side a bit iritated. All of that pumping and winding from 200 feet, plus more line out to stay in contact with the bottom.

A feed of crabs, nothing wrong with that. Have fun up north.

Thank you. Some blue spots for a change.

Thank you. Some time between bites in the deeper water.

You caught a feed. Trial and error, and practice, gets you going and gives you the experience you need.

A couple of feeds so happy with the catch. I was going to head up river with some nippers, but decided to head outside while the swell was down.

Yes I am happy they are in my possession. Last week in the fish shop at Southgate Sylvania, boneless and skinless flattie fillets were $75 a kilo !!!

Headed out to Bate Bay before sunrise, not much swell, and the breeze just a touch too much, requiring a bigger than normal snapper sinker to stay on the bottom. Headed straight out and the spikies were on the bite, 2 at a time. A couple of just legal blue spots, released, then it appeared that was what was available, so I kept a couple. Water over the 100 foot mark, too many spikies, so I headed out to a mark where the water is 200 feet deep. Not much there, a few tiny picks which were probably red spot whiting, and found half a dozen tiger flatties. 2 just on size that were kept. Tried south of the bombie at a couple of spots, not a touch, not even spikies, very unusual. Moved back to the first spot of the morning for a few more blue spots. Only small blue spots, not much over the limit, though I have seen this happen a few years back. Just about all were males. I dropped one good one boatside, he just fell off the hook. Headed back to base and the southerly hit.

Good work. It makes you happy when the jewies are legal sizes. 👍

Nice work there Mike. couple of breambo's, and one on a home made lure of sorts. 🤣 Well, it worked.

We used to call it a "dead heat." Both hit the same spot at the same time.

Well b.n., P.E means S.F.A. to me, I have N.F.I., and really I.D.G.A.F. Understand? 🤣

Just have to look at the amount of white frothy water around the area. Observations before fishing would tell you that it would be dicey, with some decent waves to be rolling in.

That is a terrific effort Chris, certainly your efforts and time have paid off. Great work. 👍👍👍

From the local Leader newspaper.

That has not been properly clarified so far. the dumb arses only know about the blue males, and are pushing that point.

All colours from that family - brown or red/brown for the females and juveniles.

Correct Mike, but from the few wrasse I have eaten, only an average eating fish to me (including groper) The Chinese community favour red skinned fish (red rock cod, pigfish, red mullet or goatfish, and others). Have noticed this at Chinese restaurants, even the occasional red coloured coral trout in the tank. As a side issue, Australia Post has recently released a number of First Day Covers and Stamps with Dragons and Dragon coins, mostly in the red colours.

The most dangerous sport in Australia is rock fishing, more people killed than in any other sport. When preparing for a bit of rock fishing in a particular location, study that area like you have posted. Also study it from the rocks itself (keeping back) to see where the swell is coming from, where the wash goes (considering that if you get washed in, where you will end up after being scraped over the rocks, barnacles, etc) Bear in mind that you will study these locations, and observe the waves at different heights. Also allow for the occasional wave to be higher than what you see, and this wave will have plenty of power to it when it does arrive. Best to have a line of retreat for the big wave, where you can escape and shelter without getting washed in. A bigger than average wave might come through every hour or much less. Not all waves will be from the same direction, sometimes 2 different swells. There are also smaller swells caused by wind waves closer together than the larger swell waves. Also consider that swell waves will curl around a rocky point, and can hit you side on if you are not paying attention.

Line fishing for groper now banned for a period of time, however, they will still be caught on line by the occasional fisho, though not by intention by most fishos. Groper do take baits in many rock areas that fishos fish, so expect an outcry when one is hooked and landed, hopefully to be returned to the water unharmed. The hysterical people not fishing will complain regardless. I have caught the occasional one bottom bashing in deeper water using fish bait. The education program needs to take form in a number of languages, for those fishos with a poor understanding of the Australian (English) language.

New link added, see first post from mrsswordfisherman (Community Manager)

I know this, but I am suggesting only one groper (like Mulloway) and a slot limit (like duskies) to appease ALL people, not a total ban, and education about the different colour phases of groper.

The big push is for BLUE groper, however, many numbnuts do not know that the blue ones are males. The females and juveniles are different colours, more in the brown colouration, definitely not blue. This needs to be added to the info. Regardless of this, a size slot limit of groper, and only one per fisho by line, would be better - and none by spearing at all to anyone. Will see what happens after the 12 month trial period.

Bugger the kingies, give the whiting a go if they are there. Nippers or worms are the best baits if lures are not working. One thing about whiting, I have found if you can see them, they can see you and do not always bite.