manhands

Left early Saturday morning, joined the boat ramp queue at 5am... Got out to Kiama Canyons by 6.30am, water was a lovely blue and encouraging 23.5 degrees. Well the lures did some km's, no hits at all, ocean was pretty dead we saw no birds or fish apart from the odd Albatross and Flying fish. Decided to stop wasting juice and headed in to Kiama FAD. No-one there, but only caught a few rat kings and dollies so decided hit the old faithful Bass point for some King action. We were probably 5km off Minnamurra when started to see some bait getting smashed so out came the lures again. Not a minute later hooked a decent Dollie which threw hook on first jump.. back out and in gear the same lure hit straight away. This one stayed on a bit longer but came off under boat. Shattered. Lure straight back in and within 5 minutes had line screaming off it. Got through the tailwalking and headshaking and it was around a metre long, dived deep under boat and started to really fight. Every time got it 5m under boat it took off. Finally within reach and my mate managed to completely botch the gaffing and it got off. Devastated. Not only was I now 0/3 but the last one was the biggest Dollie I've ever hooked. Checked lure barb slightly bent in so fixed it and all lures back in again. Baitfish had gone by this time and we trolled for 20 minutes toward Bass point before the same rig screams line again. Determined not to lose this one I decided I'd be gaffing, this fish get on surface and zig-zagged a lot though was a Stripey but got to boat and it's the biggest fattest Salmon I've ever caught. Went 75cm long and was full of pillies. So had a little bonus at end, as this is my PB Salmon, but shattered to have lost the Dollies. On the positive side the conditions were best have had in months, the water is warm, and the Dollies are growing very quickly. Got back ramp and saw Marlin and stud Dollie carcasses around cleaning area to remind me of what we missed.

Great day, well done

Lovely looking fish they are

nothing better to eat than a breambo off the beach

Ramp is a good one. Plenty livies just east of Harbour you'll see some boats there, 50-100m east of where surfers are. Lots rat dollie and kings at the FAD

Very similar post to iknow... Went out Saturday morning, joined the other 15 boats getting yakkas/slimies just of the Harbour. Quick 15 or so and we headed to Bass point. Lovely overcast conditions and a nice lumpy swell, water just looked very fishy, birds everywhere too would have been a good day to go deep. We only stayed an hour and every livie was used, probably got a dozen Kings, 2 only were keepers with biggest going 75cm. Couple of stud fat salmon to mix things up too. Great fishing at the moment and should only get better as the Kings get bigger. Saw some old fellers cleaning their Flattie catch at the benches and they'd caught a couple of lovely Samson fish as well, not seen them down here.

nice one, I went Sat morning to Bass Point was nuts as well

If you are near Shellharbour, head to last carpark at Lake Illawarra before Windang island. Walk towards island, as you get over dunes there's a little beach on North side just before island. When there's no NE wind or swell it is a great squid spot, cast off from eastern rocks of beach. Around Shellharbour when is calm the rocks next to loader at Bass point is good, as is little reefy areas just west of Bass point (park on side gravel rd heading out to point). Good luck.

I too had argument, but the guys I argued with were cleaning them on the grass next to wash down area because they knew if took to the tables more people would see. Annoying thing is you have the Coast patrol hut there and they can't do shite. You get the Slimies just out harbour?

Fantastic effort- well done. Forever have that memory. Stoked for you.

Sorry no pix but a quick update of past week. Flatties on everywhere, all drifts off Shellharbour and the Lake, have managed a number of good ones on plastics and hard body lures in Lake. Got a few nice reddies also while drifting off Shellharbour and bag out on Flatties every trip. Headed out to Kiama FAD yesterday, water got to 22.6 out there. Managed a number of rat Dollies in quick time, and kept 2 nice ones around the 4kg mark that took live yakkas, all the rats hit on lures cast and trolled around FAD. Bass point is going off for Kings- only need to look at number of boats there. We would've landed 25-30 over 2 hours there, but only 2 were legal. Note to others out there, please let them go if they are under, saw many landed by others and not released that were obviously under. Only 2 of the Kings we got hit jigs, one on knife jig other on plastic. All rest taken on live Yakkas, missed a couple of big ones that managed to bust us off despite hooking them in 20m water. Top fun though, great day for my mate who I gave a boat rod reel combo for Xmas and he christened it with a Dollie and Kingy- both fish he had never caught. Not seen any Bonito or Stripies though despite trolling for over 50km, no bird action either so hoping this heats up. Someone got a nice little Black beakie, saw the head and frame next to cleaning tables at Shellharbour ramp. Enjoy the weather and good luck all.

Smiles say it all really

Well done great effort

34.5821° ; 150.863°

Yeh they were pretty small yakkas so were under a float not balloon. Gets pretty busy out there now, will get even more once marina development done. Stick to southside between Bushrangers and the Farm and you have deep water straight off and no crowds.

Got some yakkas, floated them out. Lost 2 kings in 20 minutes. One to snag one just took yakka after first run. Ended up getting a fat salmon. On way in there was a big splash, couldn't see what it was but salmon had a chunk out bitten out of its tail. Another great morning in paradise.

nice Stew

Thanks for the link, there were 3 of us so 22 is ok. Rare we get that many keepers in a sesh.

Was using one of those new style jigs with both hard body and a soft plastic skirt over hooks as well as bait rigs, but the Gummy took a standard paternoster- nearly straightened the circle hook.

Yep very yum had some of the gummy in a Goan curry last night, beer battered flatty tonight!

Beautiful flat day, was aiming for Kings early but the livies weren't too forthcoming so we hit the faithful Flatty drift. Ended up bagging out, all were nice and fat and we got a Gummy as bonus. Love it.

Am told all the gear is going to unreserved online auction, should be some pretty good bargains. Will post link when possible.

I looked at that sunrise this morning when driving up from the Gong, made me want a sickie it was so flat

they are fine eating, very white meat, fat fillets. Just need to get a decent sized one.

Missus allowed me an hour and a half Sunday morning to go for a fish. It's been a few weeks so I grabbed the chance. Drifted in 30m water off Bass point and got a nice bag of Flatties, highlight was my PB Bluespot, 62cm. Very fat too. Also got a PB poor man lobster, delicious fat fillets. All in all a great brief time out, weather permitting am back this weekend. Cheers