Yowie

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.

Stacks of yakkas and slimies under the boat, to the point of being annoying because they were attacking most baits, Mate's trag swam around the lines, took a while to untangle so the school may have moved on. A fair sized gummy. Mate decided the fillets would provide a lot of meat, he did not want that much (neither did I) so it was released. Strong bastard, did not keep still once I had hold of it. I was crouching down on the duck board, one hand holding on, the other trying to grab the gummy's tail which is why i got rather wet from the tail splashing about. Would have been some fun for you on a ski, trying to haul that one aboard.

Nice bag of crabs. Also a nice bag of river gars. How do you prepare the gars? I fillet them, use a long bladed knife to remove the rib bones, and usually bread crumb and pan fry (only for a short time)

Thanks Rob, happy to have something to bring home. Was thinking it might have to be slimey fillets 🤣. Have eaten them before, strong tasting but plenty of good omega-3's.

A bummer about the hairtail dropping off. Would have made a nice feed with the flattie.

It put up a fight, even when on board it kept bouncing around. Took both of us to keep it still so as to remove the hook.

Headed out with my fishing mate on Sunday arvo and anchored in Bate Bay. Did not take long for large yakkas and slimies to turn up, and they stayed until dark. So many of them that they attacked most baits, on the top, sinking, near the bottom. Even the bottom dwelling reef rubbish did not get to the baits. Several reddies turned up, all just under size, and it was not looking good. Mackerel heads, chunks of mackerel and yakkas, big fillets, but nothing on the take other than bait fish. One kingie took a bait, but undersized. About half dark, the trags turned up, then quickly left. Not big ones, the best at 44cm. Quiet again until full dark, then I caught the tailor on floating baits, only small ones, the best at 33cm. Still edible fish. Mate then hooked up to something decent, but he picked it as a shark - a good sized gummy it was. I tried to grab the tail, was splashed several times by the critter, then finally grabbed it and hauled it aboard. A rough measure put it above 1.2 metres, and it was released. Headed home after that.

Very nice there Rob. Nothing wrong with flounder on the plate.

purpleline is another one, however, not cheap. Use that on my caravan.

These fish are popular with Asian fishos due to their red colouring. Have never eaten them myself, always released.

Hiding out again at a beach. Plenty of small jewies about, which is looking good for the future, if no drop-kicks keep them all. Should have filleted a tailor and cooked it up on the BBQ, lemon or lime juice spread over the fillet.

The reason why we need a full side on view of a fish for an I.D.

Zoran, Could not leave your boat just sitting there doing nothing, engine not running, spiders building webs inside, so I took it for a run. Trolls well at a slow speed, so I let out a line and hooked a couple of big bonnies. Unfortunately one of them was deep hooked so it bled quite a bit inside the boat as it was thrashing around on the floor. I managed to get most of the blood stains off, just a few left behind so now it looks like a real fishing boat. Dave.