Robofish

Chris, I don't know the hawkesbury too well but have googled it for you and see that people have picked them up at Brooklyn Wharf. My advice is get there early (I have always found that low light - darkness, morning or evening is best), get that burley going in and you are in with a chance. Dave

Mate I would forget the trap, go to your local wharf, burley with some mashed bread or bits from a cheap tin of cat food and fish a small piece of piece of pillie or squid on a hand line. Tell me where you are going and I will tell u some good spots Dave

Good on ya - I like waxwings, great action and cast like bullets Dave

I just googled it and found a few options

Blue groper?

Hi, for Pittwater anchor by the pill boxes at west head - I usually go 6-10m in depth. For middle harbour most of the moorings hold yakka and sometimes slimies but I find the most consistent spots are Balmoral, Powder Hulk Bay or Clontarf. As for tactics - I make burley from cheap white loaves, mix the whole loaf in the bag it comes in with a glug of fish oil and enough cold water to mash the loaf into a ball of stodge. I then split the mix into 3 portions and freeze them all separately. As soon as you drop anchor put the still frozen burley mix in your burley bucket or I used to use one of those mesh washing machine bags hanging over the side. The frozen mush will break down slowly and you will soon have bait swarming around the back of your boat - you can usually see them. It's up to you then, you can use a light handline with a small hook or I use half of a sabiki with a light lead on the bottom. Most importantly I find most success by putting a tiny piece of bait on each one - yakka flesh or squid stays on the longest. I don't jig the rig but lower it to different depths until I start getting bites but its usually when your rig just disappears from sight. Hope you find them - I remember when I struggled to catch bait an was stoked when I worked it out. Best of luck Dave

I think 1.8 (but definitely less than 2) in the estuary. It used to be my go-to jig in darkness and really glowed well once charged up by the lantern

I have used the small redhead lumo with good results

I'm up for it and would be glad to help if needed Dave

I reckon not washing them will give you the same result over a period of time. The important thing is not force water over them at any pressure as it will force the salt further inside. You should tighten your drag right up and then rinse with a dribble of water, moving the working parts as you do it. Once you have finished, slacken your drags back off and leave to dry before putting them away. Hope this helps Dave

Hi Raiders, For one reason or another I have not been able to get out fishing for the last 4 weeks - weather or Dads taxi duties. I can't remember the last time I had such a long break and I thinks it's pushing me over the edge!!! Last week my Missus said I was nuts cos I was flicking lures in our swimming pool. I feel like that bloke in The Shining so had better lock my axe away!! Are there any crisis centres for issues like this? Dave

Hi mate, If you are talking about plastics I prefer a loop knot like the rapala - much more action than tight up to the eye Dave

I am planning on hitting twice as much fishing next weekend to make up for it. I had a nice weekend planned up at Port Stephens this week but there was no chance with the weather. I even found myself throwing lures in my swimming pool today - I felt like that bloke out of The Shining! A beach Jew this Friday night and a Long Reef king will cure me - fingers crossed. See you out there Dave

Be careful it doesn't bite you - you may need a hambulance or some oinkment! This is what happens when I don't get fishing and spend the day tidying tackle and drinking beer! Dave

We're you fishing in a sow-westerly?

Too funny mate, the way I remember carp feeding from my uk days I wouldn't be surprised if they had a snout! Dave

Butch mate that's a beast!!!!!!! See you out there Dave

Hey Noel, I am not heading up until Friday - would be interested to see how u get on Dave

It can be really frustrating when that happens - (and sometimes they just won't have anything you throw at them). What I find works most of the time is a 3G halco twisty or I cut down Berkeley Caspar clear lures and fish them on a 1/24th jig head. The boys with the fly gear and small fry imitations also do well. Keep at it - great sport on light gear, you will have a ball. Dabe

Hi Raiders, I am taking my boat up to NB for the first time next week and fancy having a crack around Broughton or maybe wider to Allmark Reef. I will primarily be targeting Kingys but will also have to bring the mandatory flatties back for the family (or I will be in trouble). Can anyone pointe at any good marks and also let me know where I can pick some livies up? Thanks in advance Dave

It's not a bad run from Roseville or Tunks Dave

Thanks guys - will give it a go this weekend Dave

Raiders, I went out the Long Reef on Sunday and on the way back dropped onto a new spot off north head for a quick couple of drifts over some rough ground (we were short on time). We sounded some fish, my mate dropped a live yakka down and I dropped a small jig. Nothing on the jig but my mate was hit straight away and misses it, he brings the bait up to check it to find some really jagged, deep gouges out right behind the yakkas head. We figured shark so down go two more livies on wire, I got hit and missed it and my mate hooked his, I call it for a shark but it turned out to be a kingy. Last drops for both of us, we both got hit and missed them only to find that both of our baits were ragged again. I should have took a pic but didnt - thinking about it since the bite or bites weren't regular and I reckon they could have been from big squid or cuttlefish - what do you guys reckon? If it was a squid or cuttlefish they would have been pretty big and I wouldn't mind bringing one up. How would I do that in 35m? I thought about dropping a yakka on a spike but figure they would miss the jags if they are only hotting behind the neck. Any thoughts or advice welcome. Dave

Thanks Butch - PM sent Dave Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great report Butch - you always seem to find em! One question - where is the MUGS? Dave Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk