Crusher

G'day, Hit the water again this morning from Port Hacking. Set a spread of 5 lures at Jibbon Pt and headed NE. 2 x 10s on the corners, 2 x 15s on the riggers and a 24 shotgun (This is the heaviest spread of tackle I have). A few miles out the 24 buzzes then stops - nothing sighted, thought it may have been an adventerous Stripey, but as we found out on the way in was probably a Jellybean YFT. Water 24.5c Trolled up past the Peak and as the wind came up out towards the self. No action, turned and set course back towards Port Hacking and 7 miles out in 130m of water one of the 10s goes off. The eledest son is into his first Marlin. It ran a couple of hundred metres as we got the remaining lines in and then started jumping. Spectacular action but on one of the jumps managed to break the 10kg. This is when you started questioning whether anything I could have done better - was it my knot, should the drag have been a bit lighter - or was it out of our control and a bit slack line was enough to pop it when it went tight. Set the lures again and started trolling in the same general area. 30 minutes later another fish comes up and hits the short corner - doesn't hook up and sits back behind the lure again as we watch it. Has another crack at it, hares out the side of the boat, jumps and throws it. Got a great look at it - a Striped Marlin of around 100kg. So in 2 weekends we've had three fish all take the short lures on the lightest tackle closest to the teaser. I'm now convinced the teaser is what is attracting the fish before they see the lures. Water consistently 24.5c - 24.9c We put the 10s away and kept trolling putting the 15s short. Later on the way in 2.5nm from Jibbon one of the riggers goes off but not enough to pop the rubber band. The better half is into something but it's not that big. Up comes a Jellybean YFT of 2.7kg. Good effort by it to take a Pakula sprocket and large hooks. Whilst we are disappointed to lose a lure and fish on 10kg, and to have raised 3 fish but not got any to the boat, encouraged by how hot the bite is. We have also never raised 2 Marlin in a day before, so encouraged that we are doing something right. Conditions got worse as the day went on and was pretty messy by noon, wind blowing 20knots plus. We were all so pumped that nobody felt ill - amazing what Andrenalin does for sea sickness! We will be back out next weekend without fail - after a meal of fresh YFT tonight. Bruce. P.S. Will post some images later today.

No problem, I've wanted to fish the Hacking for Mulloway for a while and it was a good excuse. We've been doing the same with reels - using overheads with loud ratchets so they wake us when we are asleep. The schoolies seems to be dominating the captures. We've bagged 7 in recent weeks and the biggest is 2.5kg and other reports generally have fish of a similar size. Bruce.

There was no more action - just the one fish for the evening. We headed offshore shortly after sunrise.

3 lines out - all 4kg mono. Two under floats with the livie held down by sinkers and suspended about 1m off the bottom and 1 livie on a paternoster directly under the boat. Not expecting much action now until the next tide change.

Thought tonight would be too crowded at Captain Cook Bridge as Saturday and just after the full moon. Have come with Mrs Crusher to Port Hacking to a spot that a mate pointed us to. Got 20 lives earlier this arvo and as at 9pm we have 1 Mulloway in the boat of about 2kg and missed another hook up. Will post further if there if any action. Bruce.

Yes, we had shelter from the rain in the cabin and under clears and a hard top. We got 4 fish by the morning. All caught on the changes of tide - 8pm, 1am, 5am and 6am and taken on 4kg mono pre-test. All fish took the suspended baits under floats. 48cm - 67cm were the sizes - the largest was 2.5kg. Would have liked one larger specimen but can't complain it was a great night and will give it another go soon if better fishing elsewhere doesn't present itself. Bruce.

It is a nice night. A shower of rain just passed through and the radar shows more coming in the hours ahead. Just landed a second Jew. A barely legal 50cm that took that bait from right under the Boat as I set it. The young bloke will be disappointed when he wakes up as he was next strike. Have moved to the western side of the bridge as the tide is turning. Hanging due north but due to the light southerly breeze. I'm on a 7m plate boat. Now, where's that BIG jewie....... Bruce. Bruce.

No, Marlin Fishing actually No further action on the fish front. Don't expect anything now until the tie change at about 1am. Haven't seen any other fish caught on other boats. Bruce.

Still crusher's son speaking Got photos but can't load them via the iPad. Photos will be up tomorrow. Another species to add to the jewie, a kelpus gigantus! Having fun listening to Ross Hunters music.

This is crusher's son speaking now 5 boats on the eastern side of captain cook bridge and 2 or 3 on the other. I didn't get the first as scheduled because mother called. Don't you just hate rod grabbers!

Yes. Cooked a BBQ dinner on the bait board for me and the eldest son. He is next strike. Staying out for the night. Bruce.

Hi all, Sitting here under Capt Cook Bridge at 8:50pm. Have landed one Mulloway of 55cm on a live yakka about an hour ago. 3 lives out - 2 under floats and one on a sinker. I'll post again if there is any other action. Bruce.

Hi Slink, We troll 3 small plastic skirts at a time for Stripeys. You can find them anywhere between the coastline and the shelf and beyond. In the past two years we head out of Port Hacking and troll NE until we find them and generally never miss. Last two seasons have seen fish between 1.7kg anf 5.5kg any time between October and April. We use light mono outfits for the fun of it and I have also caught some on handlines for the challenge. When theres no Marlin or YFT around it makes a great day offshore and fills the freezer with great bream bait. Tight Lines, Crusher from Cronulla.

I am hearing from two separate sources today that the south coast is going off. Unfortunately a big southerly is coming through there on the weekend and I can't get off work this week. Anyone from down south care to comment?

Hi everyone, Did anyone do any good chasing Tuna off Sydney over the past weekend of 26th, 27th June? We plan to fish off Sydney next Sunday and have the following weekend free to fish. I have heard that Bermagui is firing and am considering heading down there in 2 weekends time if the fishing is quiet off Sydney. Crush.

G'day everyone, The Wollongong SFC Newsletter arrived in my inbox this morning and in it are pictures of the following: 82kg SBT taken on 24kg on a Halco Laser Pro 55km wide of Bellambi - 14th June 117.5kg SBT on 24kg on a Lumo Pakula Mouse off Wollongong somewhere - 14th June 111kg SBT taken by a Shoalhaven GFC boat (looks something like a 30ft Blackwatch from the image). The angler was fishing alone and got Andrew Finney on board to help land it - 15th June. 132kg SBT on 24kg Pakula Lumo Mouse - 18th June 130kg SBT on 37kg Rapala X-Rap by Admiral Charters - 18th June. Fuel those boats up and get that gear ready! Good luck everyone, Bruce.