Smitty

G'day Adzzy, It doesn't matter if its fresh or saltwater weed. If you can plat that stuff you've got there onto a hook, the blackfish will eat it for sure...........especially in the estuaries! Good luck, Smitty...

Some people type exactly the way they speak!!! I'd like some more info about the "rock and sand".

Have a VERY happy birthday Stewy!!! Hope you have a fantastic day mate. Catch ya later, Chris...

Thanks for the replies everyone Yeh Dan and Stephen, we'll have to give them a go real soon!!! I should be able to geta bit of weed down the local haunts , might have a look after I mow the lawn today....will let youz know how I get on. Looks like there might be a couple around already, ready.....set....go! Thanks again to all who replied. Cheers, Smitty...

I can't believe its almost April again!!! Shouldn't be long till the Blackies start making an appearance in the Estuaries again, has anyone see or heard of any in the George river yet? I really am looking forward to their return. Cheers, Smitty...

Nice Flathead mate, dont you love it when your luck holds! Cheers, Smitty...

Good on ya Joe, Sounds like you had a great day on the water, made even better by the fact that you got to share the experience with you dad.........the great feed of fish you caught is just a bonus . Cheers, Chris...

Well done fellas, top effort , sound like a great night Thats certainly a couple of nice looking fish there Dan, you must be stoked!!! No doubt the REALLY BIG one cant be too far away!!!! It was probably there last night but managed to eat Stewy's livie without finding the hooks. Cheers, Smitty...

Thanks heaps for the advice everybody , good to see that good old mono still has its place in the scheme of fishy things!! I'll be respooling with 20lb Maxima ultragreen as its served me well for many years. Cheers, Smitty...

Thanks Howard, that'll do me! I'll just respool with the trusted old mono I've already got in the shed. Cheers, Chris...

Hi all, Its time to respool the 650c5 Alvey and I'm wondering if I should stay with mono or change to fused or braided GSP (probably about 20-30lb is what I am looking at). I fish Fireline or braid on all of my other outfits, including a small sidecast I use for Blackies and absolutely love the stuff........but I dont know how it will go for rock and beach fishing on the bigger Alvey. How does it cope with the rough stuff around the rocks and does anyone have any problems with wind knots, line twist etc? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!! Cheers, Smitty...

I knows it last minute, but I'll be there.....see y'all in the morning!!! Cheers, Smitty

Gotta love Irish jokes, even with my Irish heritage!! Cheers, Smitty...

Wooooo Hoooooo!!! Donna, it looks suspicously like you're all having a ball . God I'm sooooo jealous........wish I was there! Good to see there are plenty about, I cant wait to hear all the details when you get back. Cheers, Smitty ps: The storm photos reminded me of that crazy mini cyclone that came through two years ago, nearly blew us all off the water. Hi Mariner 31, I have to agree with Hodgey regarding Bass table quailty, they are very good. And although I would never kill a "wild" Bass (I think they are far too special), I have no problem killing a couple of fish from those large stocked empoundments . Smitty...

Well done Ross, sounds like you had a great time. Some nice blackfish there too, good to see that there are still plenty around. Cheers, Chris...

Nice work Stewy, Looks like you and Brad had a great time and got onto some nice Bass, even with a bit of drizzle about. The low clouds in some of the pics look VERY ugly mate.......but I'd much sooner spend a rainy day up the gorge than a day at work!!! I cant wait to get up there soon myself. Cheers, Smitty...

Well done Chopper75, those Penrith mullet go like the clappers on light gear. I have to agree with Day's fishin about the taste though, I took some home years ago and you would have sworn I was frying mud in the kitchen, it smelled revolting and tasted about the same , their nothing like their saltwater cousins when it comes to eating quality. Better luck with bass next time. Cheers, Smitty...

Hi Raders, I had a solo session on the Blackies yesterday in the Lagarno area. Fished the run out tide and had an absolute ball catching these great little tusslers. The bite stated almost as soon as my float and burley hit the water, and although the fish were on and off and the boat traffic was pretty bad, I had a great time and caught a nice feed for the family. I caught a total of ten keepers, took nine home for the table (the first one got out of the keeper net when I forgot to tie a half hitch around the top of the net and the wash from the all the boats did the rest ), I pulled the hook out of an obsolute horse (well over 40cm) right at my feet and even caught a legal Bream on weed. If your thinkin of givin the blackfish a go, nows the time!!! There are plenty about and jeez they go hard for their size. Smallest fish kept was 29cm and best was 35cm. Cheers, Chris...

Yes Hodgey, it would appear that Stewy-San's Blackfish mojo has cerainly returned.....He must have found it somewhere between Dunbogan and home, because he certainly didn't have it with him while we were up there, thats for sure. :074: I told him I'd take him down the river and show him how to catch blackfish when we got home.................big mistake. Guess how many of those keeper I caught yesterday................bloody none!!! Well done Stewy, I hope your mum loved em.

Mate, what a thoroughly enjoyable trip, thanks heaps for asking me to come along! Even with the Noreaster ripping along the wall then the rain then the southerly , I still had a great time. The fishing was a bit difficult and a few more fish in the mix would have made it even better, but thats why they call it "fishing" and not "catching". A BIG thank you to Ross and all the rest of the Dunbogan crew for making Stewy and I feel so welcome (even after Stewy took out one of the presigous Grogans after only being there a few of hours ). It was great to meet all of the blokes, thank you gents for your company and your hospitality! Hope to see you all again in the future. Cheers, Smitty...

More good plastic work slayer666. If you keep this up you might have to change your name to "flattieslayer666"!!! Cheers, Smitty...

Good on ya soft-on, nice Bass and a lovely welcome home present. Ya just gotta love surface lures!!! Cheers, Smitty...

Well done Miller, some nice Bass there mate and a Silver Perch from Penrith! Who woulda thunk it? . Looks like the Nepean will be crawling with Bass fishos very soon. Cheers, Smitty...

Congratulations on the birth of your new son Roffo!!! Glad to hear mum and bub are doing well. Now the fun begins. Smitty...

Hi Jewgaffer, Mate, I've fished a few of the spots you mention (over the years) and have had some good results, particularly around the Menangle area, the beach area has fired at times (but yes only after the swimmer go home). I've also had some close calls on summers afternoons in the Camden area when the thunder clouds roll in (graphite sticks and lightening bolts dont mix well), this is'nt such a problem in the gorge country I fish these days. The upper Georges is just such a beautiful place its hard to go past it for a quiet late afternoon flick. Its a bit of a walk in but thats part of the attraction for me, I love to spend time in this beautiful bushland setting, wildlife all around and some good fish in hard to get to places. That said, I wouldnt mind getting together some time for fish in the camden or Menangle areas, I have'nt fish those areas for a few years now and its always good to try some different spots and fish with different people (Raiders especially). PM me if you like and I'll give you my contact details. Cheers, Smitty... Thanks Hodgy, I'm sure there will be plenty more reports this summer, I try to get down the river a couple of times each week. Cheers, Chris...