Twinfisher 4.9

Absolutely worth fishing for and they are wonderful eating. Suggest don't use wire trace as it will reduce your bites, but use a heavy (60 to 80lb) fluorocarbon trace and circle hooks 8/0. Leave the reel in gear at strike drag and don't strike and you should hook them in the corner of the mouth so shouldn't get bitten off. They are great fighters.

Just a thought, look at what the professional fishers do, usually with a springer to set the hook once the springer is fully loaded - about 30 cm of line. They do it for a living, so I would learn from them. Leave the reel at strike drag and once the rod has loaded, your in. I have so many times spent anxious moments as the fish picks and then runs.......when do you strike and inevitably leave it too long. Keep it simple I say.

Well said Mutt. I originally came from the UK and have been back a few times and when talking with them about fishing, it is chalk and cheese compared with the options and the fish we have available on our doorstep here (ok, we do need a licence, but I think that has been a good initiative). We should count our blessings and make sure we keep it a viable fishery for generations to come. But I love the Pom's lager though!

I can absolutely vouch for the ET tabs from Bova, they do work. A bit pricey, but compared with the alternative of terminal sea-sickness, a bargain. Also the team at Bova will check your medical condition and any medications you may be taking for adverse affects. I think sea-sickness is a very individua matter, but have provided their tabs to others and they do work.........as long as you don't wait too long to take them, otherwise they don't stay down too long!!!! It is an evil affliction!

Find a reasonable less than 150k Nissan Navara, turbo diesel. I towed my 1.5t tonne boat around Oz, including to Cape York. It won't let you down........but upgrade the suspension. If you can, a Land Cruiser diesel and you will never have a problem.

Just would like clarification on brand names. I mentioned a particular Australian brand but my post was deleted but others are ok to mention brands like Scotty? I am not in any way associated with the brand I mentioned, only a happy user of their product, I am unsure of what brands can be mentioned and which can't? Cheers, Steve

If it's anything like the Broken Bay Wide FAD I wouldn't bother. Heaps of small dollies but nothing close to legal. The water is awful, cool and dirty green. If it ever stops raining this "summer" give it a couple of weeks. Save your fuel and stay close in shore would be my advice.

We fished the Broken Bay FAD at sunrise along with 8 other boats. Heaps of Dolphin Fish but all undersize. Trolled further out wide and the water temp kept going down to 20.2 so came back in close to the 50m mark and the temperature came up to 23 degrees. There were some schools of large striped tuna, no signs on the surface but often had multiple hookups. Some fish around the 7kg mark which are great fun on light gear. Finished off with a couple of flathead drifting around Barrenjoey and then made it back to the ramp before the storm hit.

Grated potato does work very well but the downside is that it makes the yakkas sick and sluggish. When we used to do live baiting off the rocks, we would catch them and put them in a plastic wading pool (with aerator) and then have to drop in a few Aspro Clear tablets to get them going again! Stick to pillies and some bread for burley, less fuss and any yakkas you release won't suffer from high cholesterol!!

I am pleased to see this post and can only agree. I have been fishing that area for over 25 years and have watched it deteriorate to where it is today. The email addresses to voice your concerns are: office@hodgkinson.minister.nsw.gov.au and pittwater@parliament.nsw.gov.au Please add your support - we can make a difference if our voices are loud enough. Thanks in advance for your help with this. Cheers, Steve

I had a similar dilemma when I bought a Stella 18000, but went for the Shimano 200 gm and have not been disappointed. Have used it frequently in Perth for the Sambos over 40 kgs and have no issue with it for value for money. You can spend a lot more, but the question is what is the incremental value.........the 200 works and unless you are a weight lifter, doubt you could apply much more pressure.

Only being the devils advocate and asking the obvious (which others have subtlety suggested at), can you confirm they were actually caught in Sydney Harbour? Just asking........ The video may confirm this this, so looking forward to its posting. My apologies, on re-reading you are correct - it was outside the harbour. Great catch and great video.

Hey LBG, What's this "old boys" business!!!! Not old, just experienced.

With all due respect guys, I think you are making it far too complicated. I started my fishing at Avoca in the 70's and the number of kingfish (my PB 33lb) and yellowfin, northen bluefin that we caught, all on 18 or 20lb mono. We didn't have anything better in those days but I know that lighter line catches more fish or drifts the bait better if live baiting. I would not recommend braid off the rocks, stick with good mono. Keep it simple, it worked 40 years ago and still applies today.

Hi Fishon, I have a Solas fitted to my Honda and find it excellent. Solas is a very good company to deal with as I initially had some cavitation issues but they added a little extra cupping and it is now spot on. It will outperform the standard aluminium and is money well spent.

Hi Newbi Al, Deepwater Creek is a notorious location for gay men to meet up in the evenings, so if you do report that you scored a big one, please don't post any photos!

You are very brave fishing Deepwater Creek at night........you may get more than you bargained for!

When I used to fish the rocks a lot at Avoca (south) we used to get good Jews from Mugs at night, casting at 45 degrees towards the beach. You can wash them out onto the rocks but a strong gaff is a better option. Fresh squid or tailor whole or fillets work well.

This is my first post on Fishraider and I guess this was a good forum to get some things off my chest. Firstly, fishing sanctuaries: what is the scientific logic behind these? I’ll give you 2 examples that I am familiar with: Close to Sydney and Broken Bay, is Maitland Bay – this is a lovely beach sheltered from the summer nor-easterlies and a welcome respite from the swells. It is a beach of maybe 300 meters across but with no features that would make it significantly different from any number of beaches and bays within 10 km up and down the coast. Yet it is a fish sanctuary – why? Yes it does hold fish but it is not a breeding location. I frequent the place and yes, despite the regulations, I flick soft plastics around and do catch some flathead – which are all released. It is good fun and very pleasant. Mid North Coast – South West Rocks: Fish Rock and Black Rock. Now here is an issue……and involves 2 parties: the Dive Boat Operators and the Green Party. True these rocky outcrops do provide a home for the Grey Nurse shark – much admired by the divers and of no interest to the fishermen and I agree should be looked after. Both rocks / islands provide great fishing for kingfish and cobia. But is now been decreed that fishing is no longer permitted – there is a 3 month amnesty with warnings before fines being imposed. I would like to know of any fisherman, targeting kingfish or cobia who has ever hooked a Grey Nurse Shark. The Dive Operators regard these spots as solely their own. I’m sorry but the ocean is to be shared. Closing these spots to recreational anglers will have a huge impact on the tourism and fishing industry at South West Rocks and having read the papers to justify this declaration, there is absolutely no logic to it. Beware, the Greens will not stop there and your local waters may also be in their sights. Now my second grievance to get off my chest: I have been fishing for some 50 years. I started around Sydney Harbour and then Woy Woy and Gosford and then the halcyon days of LBG off Avoca, Terrigal, Devils Gorge, Seal Rocks and many others. I think I have earned my stripes. I have also owned a boat for the past 30 years. I cannot go along with the rule that I am not allowed to clean my fish until I reach shore. I have an on-board saltwater wash and I refuse to clean my catch in fresh water when I get on-shore to those few locations that actually have a cleaning table. I will look after my hard earned catch in the best possible way. I will also add, in those 30 years that I have owned and used a boat I have never been checked by fisheries. I pay my fishing licence fee, boat licence fee and would like to believe the money raised is used sensibly…..I am not sure of that.