rjc123

Hi mate, Jerkshads are big soft plastics so not really stickbaits. I'll PM you a good tackle store on NB to get them from. Most colours will work fine. I personally like Lime Tiger and Neon but they all work.

Well done on the barra mate! They tend to shut down at this time of year in the rivers due to low water temps so you did well. Tarpon are great fun on light gear! Never get sick of them! How big were the barra? Looks around 65cm.. Cheers, Tom

Great info mentioned above but also have a look at Sebile Splashers. Dynamite on GT's. A mate got 38kg job on one last year. As for the GT fishing, work the reefs edges on the last of the run out tide. This is when the baitfish will be leaving the reef and being ambushed by all the trevallies and other reefies. Another deadly technique is working big SP's across the surface. 7" Jerkshads and other large plastics are great. Its really a matter of exploring and working things out for yourself. Remember, travel the extra miles to get the smiles \\ Cheers, Tom

It'd be great on a Jet Ski. Definitely chuck some deep divers out back. Salmon and Tailor should be all over it. If you work the skirts of lion island (beyond the reef) with the squidgies then you may get a few flathead. The odd snapper and jew at the SE and NE points of the islands.

If thats the aim of the game then certainly try West Head. Its as simple as sticking a prawn on and dropping it down. Most of the time it gets hit straight away! Mainly Bream, Small snapper, flathead and trevally. Last time i was out we picked up 6 legal tailor on unweighted pillies cast out into open water. Always worth putting a yakka out in this area. Either on the bottom or under a float. Should be a few sambo's lining up to take it!

There are a "few" kingies around but not very many. Best shot is right on dawn around West Head or Clareville Moorings. Snapper of any size aren't often caught in pittwater but after rain they DO come in. My best in Pittwater 48cm taken from West Head on 5" Jerk Shad. Moral of the story, focus on the heads if you wan't snapper and kings (for winter at least). Its also worth a look on the outer side of Barrenjoey. Probably your best shot at a king or snapper at the moment!

Thanks for the tip mate! Sounds like a good idea. I'm getting the hobie livewell on mine but i'm not sure if that would work for other brands. Definitely grab a really light outfit. Means if the big fish aren't around, the bream, whiting and tailor will still give you some sport on the light stuff. Cheers, Tom

Top fish mate! Super Sydney Red

Thanks for that Roberta! I'll definitely take your advice onboard. Can't wait to give it a spin. I'm going to try and keep it all clutter free so i can stand up a lot. I'll definitely make sure i don't anchor from the back! Would be an expensive lesson! Cheers, Tom

Plenty of fish around Scotland Island. Salmon and Tailor should be easy picking but if your doing the usual HB's for Bream then the moorings should be your best bet. There are also a few good squid up the back of Bayview on the Eastern shore. I'll be sussing out a few spots in pittwater once the yak arrives. Only a week now! Good luck! Cheers, Tom

Certainly right Grant! Up north you lose more than you catch for sure! One thing i have witnessed would apply well to this situation. Up north when they fish the reefs for jewies, they catch their bag limit (or however much they need under this regulation) then move on. If people just want a feed then let them catch it.. Doesn't matter if the sharks take a few or not... It's completely natural. As long as people don't hang around pulling them up for the fun of it once they have a feed then i see no problem.. Cheers, Tom

Bad luck mate! Still sounds like a lovely day on the water Used to do that boat hire every now and again and managed to find a few good spots. Stokes pt, West Head and the basin were our best spots. Mainly tailor, trevally, salmon, bream and flathead but hooked into a few bigger fish around stokes and west head before. Burley is the key! If you head to the back end of the basin, throw around a few plastics for bream and flathead. Best in summer/autumn but if you fish it hard you will find some fish! If catching fish is what its all about then anchor at west head and fish baits. High tide is best but the fish are there most of the time. Mainly bream, snapper (90% undersize), silver trevally, tailor and the odd flattie or salmon. Great spot to catch yakkas too which you can cast out in hope for a rogue kingie or big jewie! Cheers, Tom

Happy to help but make sure you post this in FISHING CHAT next time... West head has salmon, tailor, trevally and monster yakkas (30cm average). Afternoon bite (late arvo) is best at the moment. Barrenjoey is worth a look for same species with a few blackfish and squid around Palm Beach Ferry Wharf. John Dory in the Basin if you persist with flathead and salmon by-catch. Stokes point for salmon, trevs, flathead and bream if your lucky. I find in Winter bait fishing is the go unless you head down to Towlers Bay or Bayview to throw small SP's at moorings. The key really i burley! Summers not too far away and the fishing should pick up then.. Cheers, Tom

Lovely yak mate! Looks a lot better than $450 so you've done well to find it! If you discover that paddling isn't your thing then you might want to look at a pedal yak next time your on the market. Most of them are much more expensive but still a fraction of the cost of a boat! Good luck!

Almost can't sleep im that excited! Only a week til i can pick it up. I'll check out the Garmin 300c for sure. Sounds like yours is coming along nicely. I'll have to look into a downrigger at some stage too. I'd like to get an anchor as well but not sure about how it will work... I have seen on other yaks a pully system with rope running the perimeters but looks a little messy and complicated for my liking. If your fishing shallow water (less than 2 meters) then there is a "Stakeout Pole" that can be stuck into the ground and hold you in position. Cheers, Tom

Sounds very good mate Salina 2's are a great reel and VERY tough! My only bit of advice is to maybe up the rod a little to atleast 10-15kg. Also, have a look at the Shimano Terez range of rods. Should match that reel nicely Cheers, Tom

Yeah, if it was in the states then a goliath grouper. A big one too! Otherwise maybe the worlds biggest blackspot cod..?

Seeing as i'm not fishing much at the moment.... The gun spot is to the LEFT of the ramp around high tide with lightly weighted plastics and unweighted prawns. If they have removed the structure (old pontoon etc..) then it might not fire. Usually Bream and Trevally but have caught a few legal tailor and even two rat kings recently (one legal). Next best bet is casting lightly weighted prawns back towards the ramp pontoon(from the right and only bother on dusk or after dark...). Bridge doesn't fish well until October when the flatties and school jew come in... Good luck!

Seeing as i'm not fishing much at the moment.... The gun spot is to the LEFT of the ramp around high tide with lightly weighted plastics and unweighted prawns. If they have removed the structure (old pontoon etc..) then it might not fire. Usually Bream and Trevally but have caught a few legal tailor and even two rat kings recently (one legal). Next best bet is casting lightly weighted prawns back towards the ramp pontoon(from the right and only bother on dusk or after dark...). Bridge doesn't fish well until October when the flatties and school jew come in... Good luck!

Looks nice! How much would that be? $450?

Hi raiders, looking for a sounder for the new yak (PA 12). Ideally it needs to be; - Colour - Tough/Durable - Suitable for a yak - Decent quality but at a reasonable price Not going overboard with the sounder as i'm needing some cash to get other extras like livewells, Anchor kits etc... Any tips/suggestions would be great Cheers, Tom

Great work mate! Can't argue with a bag of 8 bream! Nice looking EP too

+1 for pittwater. Loads of salmon. Especially around West Head and Stokes Point.

The T-Curve King Mack spin 8-12 kg is a great rod. Sells for around $250 but worth the cash Reel wise, the stella really is the rolls royce (along with the saltiga). In my opinion i wouldn't get a Stella SW unless i was targeting GT's up north. The saragosa is a very good compromise. Handles kings perfectly and is a tough reel. Match it up to between 50lb and 80lb braid and away you go. Cheers, Tom

Don't think it would really matter. If the fish wants it, it would probably take it regardless.