zmk1962

Hey mate... Are you targeting them in the estuary or offshore? Offshore flatties are probs the most consistent catch you can find.... which is awesome because they are good on the chew too. I've written up a few tips on locations, and methods previously - have a search for drift and drop, or bottom bashing sinker jig. Re cooking, If we want to keep it simple a dusting of salt/pepper/flour and a quick fry in olive oil with a clove of garlic, chippies and a fresh garden salad is hard to beat. You may want to check out the kitchen forum for other recipes ... or if you are stuck KC ( @kingie chaser ) can set you straight 🤙 Hahaha ... cheeky bugger Sam. But I will say please recall a previous trip report where it was 17 to 3 in my favour as I remember it. Also, I am happy to report I landed the 2 biggest fish of the day. But as always it depends which side of the boat you fish. Plastic !!! ... double cheeky. You know that can cause reactions among members. Some are allergic to plastic. This is the second trip since the floods and all fish were caught around 50m. The first just over 2 weeks ago (april 3), there were only pickers at 40m and 50m ... we worked out way to 60m to catch 6 flatties.. and went as afar as Texas reef looking for action. Eventually landing a single mowie keeper and a jacket. Mind you it was a dead flat and zero wind calm day offshore - we hit speeds over 60kmh. But there was a LOT of debris in the Hawkesbury and even some offshore - so you had to keep a sharp lookout. We dodged a whole tree trunk about 20km off Terrigal only because there was a bird standing at full height on it - a real life isolated danger mark !!!!! Thanks Pickles ... maybe we'll meet up on the water over the flattie gounds ... just look for the red and white boat where the husband is unhooking and dispatching the fish, while the wife is baiting and casting the spare rod 🙄. Thanks Rebel, it was only a short break! Thanks Yowie. I swear I had no idea cheeky Sam was going to mention plastic. How rude of him. Also, sorry about mentioning the mowie ... but I am truly grateful for everything the sea provides - plus it just tasted so good I had to mention it. Thanks mate. Well I hope we have some left for us ... so far some have gone to the neighbours, some to family, some to a fishing buddy who couldn't make the trip ! Maybe I should start enforcing @Brendan Monks's saying - "you gotta do the miles to get the smiles" ... as captain's rule #1. But then again, it's great to share your luck for so many reasons. Couldn't agree more Deiter money well spent on the ramp. Hahaha seabreaze - Yes it's a nice time in life when you can let seabreeze set the agenda and also have lady luck come along. PS - please read above re plastics - I can feel and allergic reaction coming on. Cheers Zoran

Hey Wazza, great report and it was just wonderful to bump into you two fella's out on the water in MAKO ! ... You are an awesome buddy and just a rockstar for everything you've done for Gil ... tight lines buddy. Cheers Zoran

G'day Raiders, First post in a while. With the school holidays over implying reduced ramp traffic, and weather conditions forecasting a great day, Maria and I decided to hit our favourite flattie grounds off Barrenjoey. At the ramp at 645am. Found a guy power washing the slippery slime off the ramp taking up 2 lanes at a time (nice to see our fishing licence revenue being put to good use). Not a big issue - there were just a few boats launching and we all got out pretty smoothly. We were at the grounds rigged and in the water by 730am ....started fishing with half pillies and SPs ... and bagged out on flatties by 12.15pm with a good sized rock cod thrown in. Flatties were all solid model 45-60cm. Well fed and plump. Here's a few pictures: PS. Maria out-fished me good and proper. PPS. I caught a 60cm barracouta which was quickly dispatched and filleted into strip baits. Most of the flatties came in on the couta fillets once we started using them, but the bigger models were more consistent on the SPs. PPS. Back at the ramp - power washing was complete and what a difference - no slime no slip - top job. Cheers Zoran

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery Donna and Cruz... stay positive you’ve got this ! Sick parade : plagued by a frozen shoulder for past 12months but getting better now. Cheers Zoran

Top stuff @seasponge.... this is very much what I do. My idea's may well have come from reading the same literature. I predominantly fish for food ... sport fishing only happens after we have our feed in the esky ... in that vein I have been advocating no fresh water contact with salt water fish for years. The taste and preservation qualities are just so much better. I have posted about my set up several years ago. The ice actually sits under the container that holds the cold saltwater. Cheers Zoran

I too am not a fan of lock out zones. @Rob81 you are thinking exactly along the lines that I am. But I feel "conditional" signs while providing very valuable information will out of necessity be very verbose. Personally I think the verbose signs in many languages rarely get read - especially in the heat of the moment when someone doesn't want to miss out on their spot on the ledge. I think the warning signs should bold and confronting ... make people pause and think, and perhaps read the more detailed signs. I was thinking something like this: If you run out of years, print a sign for the next three years and attach next to it. Cheers Zoran

Oh-Karen...I mean, Oh-Steve...I mean Steve-O ... or is that Oh !!!!! I sense you are carrying some baggage and I am sorry for that. If this was meant for me ... then I'd like to point out you know nothing about me otherwise you would not be making such statements. Infact, it is inaccurate, insulting and polarizing comments like yours that stop intelligent debate and undermine the democracy that we have. So until you are ready to have a fact based discussion without the insults and unwarranted extrapolations please don't come back. Cheers Zoran

Yes... I have provided that link in my original post above ... just under the picture ... that's what I have used to lodge my original position with the MPs. Now waiting for their response to see if it requires a further submission of considerations. Cheers Zoran

Hi Waza, yes I read your comprehensive submission at the time and was one of the first to give it a like. I have also just re-read it and couldn't agree more that there are many parts that could just be re-used in a submission regarding the PEP. Thanks Rebel. That's why when I contacted my MP's I asked them to declare their position. If enough folks do this we'd be able to form a clear picture of for and against. Cheers Zoran

I can't accept one failure as the reason to do nothing... if we do that we might as well scuttle our boats, slash our wrists and bring it all to an end. If you follow the stockmarket, the recent events around Gamestop show that the many... correctly united... can smash the $$$$$$$$ agenda. Governments are taking notice of this trust me. As an individual, you have to believe in the cause (the why) and actually get up and do something as an individual ... the sum of many individuals is unstoppable. There is a great movie - The Power of One. Change starts with each an every one of us. That's awesome Luke ... thanks so much taking action and for sharing. We now need every MP - state and federal - to get the message, that we actually give a F__k as to what happens in our back yard. Cheers Zoran

We can’t give up Rebel - imagine no more chasing the legendary whiskas with kids or mates. No more beach visits on weekends, no more whales on this stretch of coast ... what would Sydney be ... and for what? bloody crazy cheers Zoran

Thanks for taking action! We had a dinner yesterday with 4 couples that are also into boating. They were all unaware this was going on under our noses. The mainstream media has been noticeably absent so it’s come done to folks that care to spread the awareness. cheers Zoran

Well that would be crazy. But then again we are building an airport next to it so planes can fly directly over !

Thanks KC. Australia already has some of the richest gas deposits on the planet but it doesn’t seem to translate to lower gas prices for the population. I don’t see any upside to this PEP for the average bloke... just greed at the detriment of what we are so fortunate to have off this stretch of coastline. I’ve told my state and federal MPs that if I see their name on the list that supports this project they will lose my vote for good. cheers Zoran

Covered feet A+ Sneakers, boat shoes, crocks. Too many sharp, spikey, stingy things on boats. Cheers Zoran

Couldn’t agree more ! And an oil spill will bring down house prices all up and down the coast too .... but .....

G'day Raiders ... I hope you are all across what is happening in the background and expressing your views to the MPs ..... I'd surely hate to see oil rigs in some of the most pristine waters on the planet ... https://www.saveourcoast.org.au/stop-pep-11/ Cheers Zoran

Top shelf stuff Pickles ... I don't think I have ever been able to string 3 days in a row on the water .... something to strive for - just like your kingie adventures. Cheers Zoran

Absolutely cracker result Pickles and crew ! I was tossing up offshore Sydney or offshore Broken Bay yesterday. Looking at your smiling faces and the result I definitely made the wrong call to head offshore from Broken Bay ... for now Broken Bay offshore should be renamed to Blue Bottle offshore. Cheers Zoran (drooling)

👍 🤙 👍 ... guess the fruit didn't fall (sorry wasn't cast) far from the tree ! .... Looks like an awesome day out congrats. Can't beat being out with the family - fish or no fish. Cheers Zoran

Bahaha 🤣 that’s insane... “we included the most technically advanced technology and packaged it in the smallest space “ ... so you guys can go and dunk it in salt water ... yee ha Thanks for sharing Antony - there’s lots of innovation there and lots to go wrong - hopefully it will be a long time before barrycuda needs a new powerplant. Cheers Zoran

Thanks for heads up Pickles. Good sign for us. Just heading off Barrenjoey for hopefully some blue spot and then onto FADs. cheers Zoran

Good call. Don’t think this one is suitable to do the 1000 casts Scratchie talks about...but then again I’m not Scratchie. cheers Zoran

Thanks so much Donna- you are too kind considering to dedicate a whole sub forum (correction: Sub Project “SP”) to Yowie .... I’m just after registering this incredible SP catch. 🙄 cheers Zoran ps- sorry had to cut reply short as Maria, Wayno and I are rushing off to throw some SPs at flathead and other scaly things.

Well I reckon I have a legit claim for a Bait record - caught fair and square .... not sure Donna would want to go creating other suggested unnecessary awards, but then again I am so flattered you have nominated me 🤣 ... oh and Fab .. Cheers Zoran PS - hope the knee is better