dacosta74

A mate an I are going to give beach fishing a go on Friday night. We've got 12ft beachcasters most tackle. Looking for some advice... Heading to beach around 7.30pm-8pm, which is when the tide starts coming in - is this a good time? We were going to just used a simple rig with weight, swivel, then hook length. Should we be using these star shaped leads? Also considering free lining a pillie on gang hooks. Bait - was going to take pillies. Also have metal slices, is it worth chuckin these out in the dark? Any pointers really appreciated. Thanks.

thanks guys.

No one can help on this one? I've been finding a few but there coming in at around $900 for the boat for 8 hours. Sounds expensive considering it's Bali?? Please help!!

Hi guys, if anyone has had a good charter experience in Bali, can you please direct message me some info? I'll be staying near Seminyak but can travel. I'm heading there in late July. Want to head out and catch some big stuff! Thanks

Thanks guys! That opens up some extra options for when I can grab an hour or so.

Thanks for the reply Game spin, I'll have a little crack down there next time. Cheers.

I'm not sure if it's a really stupid question, but can you use regular soft plastics at night? I fish quite a bit with them , but has always been daytime or dusky/dawn. At night are the fish relying on scent? or can they see the SPs being worked ? Thanks in advance!

Sorry, no photos. I filleted them and had them in the freezer before realising I hadn't snapped my handy work!!

Bit of a late report, been tied up at work. Fished from about 1pm and caught the full out going tide. Started off trying a little prawn popper for whiting for the first time. Walked the entire beach for only a couple of boils close to the lure. And they were small water movements. Also didn't see many swimming around which you usually can. Headed back down to the kayak corner. Switched to soft plastic, swimming grub style plastic. First cast - on. 37cm flathead. Went quiet for 25 mins so I tried the popper around the sandy areas again. Again, nothing. Switched back to the same soft plastic. First cast - on. 41cm flathead. I stuck with it then for another legal flathead in the bag. Lost one that was borderline legal. A great day knee deep in water trying some new methods. I fish here quite regularly, and also Rushcutters. Does anyone know any more spots I can try that respond well to soft plastics? Eastern Subs based please. Cheers

I'm sure everyone has their own opinion, but here's mine from fishing Sydney the last couple of years. The Spit - supposed to be really good, but I've always struggled with the strength of the tide pulling through when land based. Clontarf - the end nearest the city seemed better. Snapper, flathead Grotto Point - the little light house on the opening to middle harbour. Bit of a trek through bush so try and take essentials only. Be careful of swell, some days it's too big and dangerous. Good spot though as a lot of stuff seems to swim past on way in and out of middle harbour. the rocks around Fairlight - bream and flathead Little Manly - lots of people fish here, but I haven't had too much success. Lovely spot though! North head - there's a great rock ledge, path can be found up near the carpark at the end. Great spot straight into deep water. WATCH SWELL AND WIND DIRECTION, I think it's pretty dodgey if a southerly blows up. That's about it from me. I haven't had much experience of the ocean facing beaches.

...that is the question. Just had a stroll near the wharf by my work - woolloomooloo. There were quite a few large mullet looking fish. Are they worth trying to catch/eat?

Brilliant! Heading out tomorrow. If you feel like pointing us roughly in the right direction, point away! Cheers

Hi guys Are the kings still around the harbour and heads? I'm not after your secret spot! Just whether there are still fish to be picked up. thanks all.

Thanks for all the nice comments guys. In answer to the size of the yakkas, i think they were about 6-7inches.

Thanks guys! It was so awesome I was giggling like a girl.

I've be trying to catch a kingie for about 18 months now. I've spent way to much on tackle and boat hire, don't tell the Mrs. As it was my birthday I decided to bite the bullet and invest in going with someone who actually knows what they're doing. I went out on Monday for the day on a charter. BLOWN AWAY!! We picked up live yakkas from Rose Bay wharf first. Then headed to the markers just before dawn throwing poppers around. Nothing happened at any of the markers. Tried for some squid a bit further out but it was tough with the mucky water. Then headed to North Head. Got Matt to show me how to downrig, need to buy a downrigger now! We were doing passes along the cliff face of North Head when we picked up two 80cm kingies. Couldn't believe how much they pull, awesome fight, such a great experience and highly addictive! Both were caught on the downrigger with live yakkas. Photo attached, I'm half smiling, half straining at the weight of holding them up! After that it went a bit quiet. We headed to a spot off South Head where Matt found a big school of bait and kings. We then did some jigging, which was something I hadn't done. That certainly gives you a work out!... Must have picked up 15 60cm kings, all went back to fight another day of course, but unbelievable sport. We finished up doing a few passes at a spot off of Quarrantine where I finished possibly my best fishing trip ever with another 60cm, great fight, and of course he went back in the drink to grow for next year. Fingers crossed I'll be able to do it when I go out on my own now!! Can't wait to give it another go. Cheers

Headed out on Sydney harbour on Sunday. Started off by getting a tank full of yakkas, that's about where the king fishing finished! We just cannot seem to locate them. Tried sounding and trolling bridle rigged yakkas all the markers and all along Old Man's Hat, nothing. $30 rapala and yozuri lures, trolled the same spots, nothing again. It's getting really frustrating now. Not sure what to try next. Schools started busting up just on the city side of Sow and Pigs. Had a bit of fun chasing them around for an hour. Mostly juvenile tailor chopping them up. Got lucky with one cast off to the side of the action and picked up a really nice Bonito, nice dinner! Water temp was about 23.5. If anyone has any images of what kings will look like on the sounder I'd be eternally grateful! I don't own a boat so rent one, it's becoming a ridiculously expensive sport. Disappointment aside, you can't beat being out on the water.

I've been heading down to Rose Bay land based fishing a few times over the holidays. Nothing much happening to be honest. Had a small school of juvenile tailor show up near the paddle board school, managed to catch one on a gold coloured popper. But they disappeared as quickly as they showed up. Caught a couple of flathead around by the wall, 2 undersized which went back, one keeper for lunch. Overall disappointing. Hopefully this warm weather will fire things up?

I hear your pain! I've got the bug too for catching my first Kingy. Have been reading up loads, buying enough tackle to open my own store, but still sweet eff all. I don't have a boat either, so it sucks when you've hired a boat and built it up to be the fishing trip to end all fishing trips and then nothing. I'll be taking up golf at this rate!

Hi Raiders I've heard numb rays can give you quite a shock. I've caught two now, how am i supposed to handle them?

In the interest of being a good fisho, at what size should I be considering not taking my catch home. ?

Well I'm glad it's not just us!

Hit Sydney harbour again yesterday. Lots of fog around, wind picked up in the afternoon. Found the fishing really quiet again. Tried the wedding cakes but nothing happened. Fish in and around the boats of Rose Bay. One nice whiting on soft plastic, which was unexpected, I thought they went on worms. Other lad on the boat got a great trevali fishing with pilchard strip. And still no kingfish!! It's driving me nuts!

Hi raiders Desperate to catch a kingy. Have read all the great advice. I can catch the yakkas, I've read about rigging, now what? I'm fishing from a boat, no down rigger. Do I just free line it? Or do I need to includ a weight to send it down? Thanks guys

Hi Raiders Going on a little boat around Rose Bay tomorrow. Anyone experienced around the bay? Any tips for good spots? We're on a tiny boat and won't have a fish/sounder. Thanks guys.