GCC

Gee, there's a few fish you wouldn't want that happening to because you couldn't then name them. Imagine a yellow tail without a tail? What would you call the flathead if the one you caught had no head? This is pretty confusing stuff.

I regularly fish around Bear island-Henry head-Cape Banks for quid. I usually do quite well and see squid as one of the most consistent catches- ever reliable for a feed. I usually catch big ones that make great calamari rings. However, I'd say the past six months have been the worse for me in over 10 years or more. Someone told me that it's due to the rains making the water dirty and that squide prefer clear water. I'm not sure if I agree with this, but maybe it's right?

Could there be any freshwater option in Thailand? I have no idea, but have heard of some interesting freshwater fishing in other countries nearby (aside from Australia).

Hi all I'm planning on taking my kayak out for a fish at the hot water outlet. I note that the wind is forecast to be from NE or E and there's a high tide around 1.30pm. So, I thought I'd launch off Kurnell at around 11am and fish the outlet. Do you think this is a waste of time, i.e. fishing this spot at this time? Also, do you think it would be pretty messy with the wind? I thought it would be good to be blown back to shore after the trip. Would it be better to anchor up or drift? I was also thinking about trying a few places just outside of the 100 M exclusion zone around Towra Point. Cheers Glenn

Umm, just listened to the YouTube video... I'll retract my last post.

Was that a day when we had storms? Just thinking that with the noise bouncing around etc whether it might have been static building up? Also wondering if you were being targeted for a lightning bolt? My two cents worth anyway.

The area I mean is actually Dolls Point. The sanctuary I mean is actually a nature reserve. To think that I use to dive off Towra Point for cockles...

I think that all the areas around Kurnell that would be good for yabbies are enclosed within the no-fishing zone - marine sanctuary or whatever. As far as I am aware, you can pump the flats across the bay, near the StGeorges Sailing Club. Haven't done so for years, but maybe 10 years ago there were a small number of yabbies there, but they were small.

Nice fish, makes me want to go out and have a go for them. I think blackfish are one of the most reliable fish around Sydney. There's been many times when I've fished at Julianne, at Malabar, for kingies etc, only to bait up my spinning rod with weed and fish for the blackfish at our feet. Also, something to note, During my various travels to Europe I've brought back a couple of contemporary Sportex rods - they still make great rods. Made in Germany. Not sure how readily available they are in Australia though. Also, these are short 9 foot spin rods that are stiff in the butt, but really light in the tip - great for light line spinning, but make a good compromise for blackfish as well. Cheers Glenn

Hi Dave Thanks for the reply. Live prawns must be an awesome bait. What do you normally use them for? I'll have a go at catching prawns first around near the new boat ramp at Botany. I certainly wouldn't eat any I catch there. Cheers Glenn

Hi all Although it's out of season, just wondering if there are hairtail still caught in Botany Bay? I hooked one some years ago. I'd heard back then that they use to be around the end of Molix point. Cheers Glenn

Hi all Does anyone catch prawns in Botany Bay anymore? Also, is it legal to do so? I'd be after them for bait rather than to eat them. Also, what about the Harbour? I remember those Harbour Prawns that use to be sold for bait - some were massive. Cheers Glenn

Sorry Bennoz, but I can't agree with salted pillies. I'd salt bonnie fillets to make them firmer, but not pillies. In my opinion a good quality pillie should not need salting.

Yeah, no matter where they come from, I think the colder water varieties are the better ones to use.

As you're landbased, I would second molinex point, especially with all the reports concerning the surface action currently there at the moment. Head to the very end, park the car near the fenced off area, and climb down near the water. It's a bit dangerous though if you lose your balance. It's a great spot for catching livies at night or early in the morning; catch these and then put them out as live bait for your bonito and maybe a kingfish. But with Botany Bay, you're going to need some local knowledge, so maybe spend a few hours looking back through the reports on this website. Cheers Glenn

Happy New Years everyone I've recently been getting back into fishing lately after having lived interstate as well as further beyond. One thing I'm getting use to again is the bait we get in Sydney, more specifically the pilchards. Some 10-15 years back some bait and tackle store would sell loose bags of WA pilchards that they packed themselves from 20kg cartons. I knew these pilchards very well back then and they were always high quality and dependable. There were also the 2.5kg WA blocks back then, but I always found those pillies to be smaller, and probably were of a lower grade, then the ones from the 20kg carton. Sometimes the ones from the 20kg were the size of small frigates. I'll always remember opening a carton and when you'd tap the pillie on a wooden table it felt like you were holding a piece of thick chalk (can't really explain this). Now, it seems that East Coast pillies are the go? But, back years ago, we thought they were second rate - of softer flesh, being from warmer water, and didn't seem to have the oil contents of the WA pillies. So, what's the story these days? Are the WA pillies the way to go? Cheers Glenn

Yeah, there's nothing worse then when you know you've done the job of getting the fish in and then lose it at your feet. I walked home thinking, "that was 10 meals worth there!"

Hi Jono I'd suggest putting one of the surface fish you catch out on a second line as a live bait while you continue spinning. Obviously, make sure your use of the live bait is legal. Cheers Glenn

Hi all I've been having a fish off cliff areas around Cape Banks lately as it's close to home. Also, there's less people fishing the area these days. It's awesome to take the time to get to know a new spot and then to have success. But, while some spots in this area look great in that you can see where the outer reefs come in close to shore, it's been a bit of a challenge because of the cliff location. I managed my first blackfish off one location recently. Anyway, on Boxing Day I fished a spot while I watched the yachts sail past. This time I had my land-based game gear (minus the BeastMaster 30/50), just an eight foot strong rod and an ol' Mitchell 624 overhead. I was hoping to catch a bonny or salmon and put it out as a livebait and see if whatever took it could drag me off the rock. Anyway, after several hours and just as I was about to leave (I was badly sunburnt by then), I managed to catch a pike, which is one of my favourite live baits. So, I put it out and after exploring the inner reef, the pike finally managed to head for NZ. I like pike because if you handle them carefully they last for ages as live baits. Anyway, I continued watching the yachts for about 40 minutes before pike remained deep for a good minute or two. So I gave it a strike and then the thing took off! The run was very long and I put the reel in free-spool (the drags not particularly good and that's why I miss my BeastMaster) and I thumbed the reel so it wouldn't tangle. After this fist run I braced myself against a small boulder and then engaged the reel. Fortunately, I was then able to fight the fish pretty much like a tuna as it ran East away from the rocks. At one point I even thought the fish was going to jump out of the water because of the angle the line was taking, but it didn't. After some time I had it near to the outer reef (as I call it). Luckily I managed to use the cliff height to my advantage and was able to negotiate the fish around it and into shallow water. I was surprised that I was able to do this and this made me think that maybe it wasn't a king. Anyway, in closer now and by this time the fish was pretty much stuffed. I brought it in closer and that's when I was able to see a nice healthy, beautifully-coloured kingfish. By the time I clambered down (shaking a bit) to the lowest cliff, at above 12 feet from the water, the fish was had it. I actually had it dangling halfway out of the water. I'd estimate it to be about 10kg at least. This is no bs, I've caught enough around this size to know. Aside from the length, it was the weight of it that spanner in the works. I was now kneeling trying to lift the fish. I was using 15kg line, with a 10m double, and an eight foot leader of about 100 lb, Jinkai of about 15 years old. Anyway, I had to take my shirt off and use my hat as well to be able to wrap the line around my hands in the hope of lifting the fish. I managed to raise the fish a couple of feet and almost had my hands on the leader when the line touched the rocks and went pop! The double was grazed through and I lost the fish. Still, to me I conquered that spot. I will return with my 16 foot rangoon cane gaff and have another go for a kingy. I doubt though that I'm going to have a second chance at negotiating a decent kingy around the outer reef, but who knows? Maybe this spot, as opposed to say Julianne, because of it's bottom structure induces fish to run seeward? Cheers Glenn

Hi all I found a few good sots for fishing for blackfish off cliffs - comfortable and safe fishing in any sea. Trouble is, how to get the fish up? I've been using 9lb line straight through (normally use 6lb trace, but not needed these spots). Anyway, my question is, does anyone fish for blackfish off cliffs and if so, how do you get the fish up? Gaffs? Nets? It's an odd arrangement as you normally need light light to hook them, but heavy line to lift them! Cheers Glenn

Hi guys Thanks for the replies. I have just taken the reel apart. I should say firstly that I've taken very good care of the rule - 90% of the time it was used at Julianne and never copped a splash. Fair enough, salt water might have been driven into it by spray, but I always gave it a while over with a damp cloth and stored it properly. Well, the reel is spotless inside; looks like it was greased brand new yesterday. White grease everywhere. No salt accumulation at all. No corrosion. But! Both brass dog springs look like twisty's! While I'd removed these and reassembled the reel it all works fine - freespools etc. I think what happens is that when the springs are bent and useless, the dogs fall into the grooves in the clutch plate and prevent the spool from free spooling as well as causing the handles to rotate while the line is pulled off the spool. Anyway, someone suggested a $180 rebuild - glad I had a 5 minute inspection before I opted for that. So, I'll phone Shimano and try to get new springs. I've just bent the old ones back in place and will see how the reel performed (but won't use it for kings until I get new springs). I onced caught a 15kg king at Julianne with a plain model Alvey and don't really want to put up with spinning handles again - not fun... Cheers Glenn

Hi all This is my first posting on this forum... I took out the old BeastMaster today (it's over 15 years old but has only been used maybe 10 times and so is immaculate) and was about to tie a bimini twist to form a double leader. But, I found that I couldn't get the reel to freespool. Then I started loosening and tightening the drag dial and afterwards heard a rough sound as I began winding the line back on the reel. Also, when I pulled line off the reel the handles turned. Can anyone suggest what might be wrong with the reel? Anyway, I saw the do-it-yourself article on this website regarding the Shimano Tld 20 and 25 reels and wonder if servicing the BeastMaster would be similar? Also, anyone know how much such a reel would cost to be serviced by Shimano? Cheers Glenn