junglejunky

Great read Adrian!

Thanks fellas, Yeah its hard to concentrate on study with the options available up here. But then, on the other hand, its comforting to know that I can duck off for an hour or two and get my fix! However, its not always firing up here. You can have many dry sessions between the gooduns... Patl, Yep I reckon working the walls by boat would be even more productive, you'd cover so much more ground, gotta give it a go soon. A mate of mine up here knows Killalea. Cheers fellas, gimme a hoy when you get up here one day! matt

Took a study break this morning and went for a flick with the placcys down at the breakwall. Pretty overcast and windy so I didnt have high hopes but surprisingly first cast with a 4inch minnow and I was onto a legal barra. He jumped and carried on a hell of a lot and then threw the jig right at my feet.... Closed season anyway. Trying to justify dropping it... A few casts later, I was slow rolling a squidgy shad and right at my toes again, a really big jack broke the surface, swiped my lure and..... missed... Here we go, one of those days again.... Anyway cut the story short. It did keep firing, I landed a 35cm Jack, a thick set 54cm GT that plugged away forever, two nice fingermark one about 45cm, the other 39cm, and a 70cm flathead. Plus a heap more little GTs and Cod. AND I saw a huge barra crusing along the breakwall, but I couldnt get a lure to it quick enough and it disappeared. I reckon it was 90 - 100cm. When the run stopped and the tide bottomed out, they went off the chew and ive retired back to the study den.... matt.

Hey fellas, I've got an xi2 #9, an Rplxi #7, and a TFO Ticr #5. All are awesome rods. Love em. The xi2 is definitely heaps faster than the Rplxi, but I use the #7 more often. The TFO is a brilliant little rod too, couldnt fault it! There are a few US stores that will do great prices on fly gear. I got all of mine for almost half the price of what they charge in the stores here.

Phenomenal! Awesome! I'm lost for words... Great stuff eh!

Great stuff...... nice pics too! Matt.

Unreal! That would've awesome fun pullin those yellas out of timber and in the canoe! Great stuff..... What are the seats you've installed in your vantage? Im thinking bout doing the same thing. That set up looks really good. matt.

Nice work, good to see the river in form again!

After landing his first little barra the other day, my brother Ryan was keen as mustard to nail a legal one.......... We set out this afternoon with barrymundi to give blacks weir a shot. After a couple of hours with no barra love whatsoever, we were about to pull stumps. Sure enough right at that moment, a fish breaks the silence, leaps skyward, and Ryan was on!!!! After a few nervous minutes the fish was on the deck and Ryan had scored his first legal barra at 68cm....... Couldn't wipe the smile off his face!!!!! Matt.

Hey Ron, Like crazedfisherdude said...... can pick smaller ones up by the mouth, although I have had teeth slice my thumb open, but you'll find most of the fellas carry a wet rag, or gloves to deal with flattys and the like.... There is a technique where you put pressure on the top and bottom of the fish just behind the head, like a light pinch. Its supposed to subdue the fish, but Im sceptical as Ive seen it fail and then your hand is even more susceptible to puncture...... rags the go i reckon. matt.

Congrats! Gee you're game holding the flatty like that in the second last pic..... A good head shake and you'd be barbed.... ouch..... Well done. matt.

Hey swoff, G Loomis 663 Imx casting rod. Love it. Really light, relatively thin diameter blank, Fast action for flicking placcies, but plenty of balls........ It has handled plenty of large fish with ease. Tony (Barrymundi) up here, has a plug sniper. He sometimes uses it up the creeks if he is specifically targeting smaller stuff, bream, small trevs etc. Its a great little rod. What are you gonna use the heavier outfitt for? matt

Pogo, Queenies are one of the best sportsfish Ive ever come across... They are fast, powerful and the fight is spectacular when they launch themselves skyward. I havent got them on poppers yet, but I bet that adds an even more thrilling dimension. Cant wait for that! Matt

Great work Joe! Bass and pb EP in one day.... not bad at all.... Matt.

For anyone interested. Painted Lizard fish is also know as a painted grinner.......... http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/tmyops.htm matt.

Its a type of species of lizard fish. Possibly the painted lizardfish (Trachinocephalus myops). Loads of em up north. They are benthic (bottom dwelling) fish and behave in very much the same way as flathead. Very aggressive and an avid lure taker.... Really annoying actually. Always snap up your placcies and tear em to shreds with those teeth. Matt.

Thanks fellas, Swoff the alphas was screaming, but it handled it no worries.... You'd be suprised at how chilly it can get up here, early in the morning. By 9 - 10 am though, you end up strippin back to t-shirt and shorts. Tim, a lizard fish is very similar to a flathead in both appearance and behaviour (The head is more like a goby though). It's a benthic (bottom dwelling) fish, very aggressive, and will hit just about any lure. J.D. I think that'd be fascinating, particularly for us fishos, but convincing the producers is another story... Ill try... I did push for a story on adaptations and defence mechanisms, but so far no go.... hopefully one day.

Thanks guys, We just ate him....... superb! mmmn..... Yep Andrew, they go harder than a barra and definitely taste better too.

Hi all With Uni over for the semester Ive found myself with a little more spare time for fishing. Ive been landing plenty of GTs and small Barra around town but the bigguns still elude me. I Went out with Barrymundi today to hit a few marks around Magnetic island. The weather was great and we quickly found heaps of barracuda, estuary cod and lizard fish, but the highlight for me was a pb Fingermark. I called it for a trevor, but after a lengthy dogged fight down deep, the gold/brown shoulder flashed over with the distinctive thumbprint. 66 cm and 4.5 kg. To say I was pleased would be an understatement... The good old 4inch minnow in smelt did the trick. Cheers Matt.

Eh.... interloper..... you mean Daniel Macpherson???? He is guest presenter for april on NGpresents........ Had me on edge for a second there........ Will buzz you when Im down Richard!

Yeah I know. Its supposed to be my light barra outfit..... barra dont run far..... I couldnt resist the temptation to test it on the queenies though......

Certainly gave it a workout. It handled really well. I was impressed. Although the drag was locked up and the line just kept peeling off!!!!!! Thought I was gonna get spooled until Mr Mundi fired up the motor..... I see youve been getting into the marlin! Looked like alot of fun!

Nice fish sput! Five of those in the hawksbury and you'd be happy............

Hi Joe, I actually brought a few jackets up here with me, but surprisingly , they havent got a start yet....... Its sooo bloody hot........... I think Ill be relocating them to sydney when I come down. Give you a buzz soon.

Cheers fellas, I cant wait to go chasing queenies again.......... The stinger is a machine, with 90 on it, itll be unstopable......... Its dumping rain as I type, so hopefully that might fire the barra up eh Mundi????