f1shen

I can tell you know that when I did environmental science at Uni, we did field work at the Cook's River and it is *nasty*. We also used to trade horror stories about it - my favourites are that all the pollutants in the river caught fire in the 1970s and burned for several days as they couldn't be put out (this one's a bit apocryphal). The other one was that, when excavating for the airport rail link, tests done several metres down into the sediment were still revealing levels of heavy metals (mercury in particular) way in excess of any safety regulation. I always found it quite sad that this river was more or less used as a chemical dump for years with no concern for the fish or any kind of concern for the environment or future use of the River. The sewer overflows STILL run into it and straight into Botany Bay - a disgrace in my book, but I don't think the Government has any incentive to change it. Really, I'd be wary of fish in Botany Bay, too, but you have to draw the line somewhere. As long as you don't eat fish five days a week from there, you should be ok. We've all gotta die of something! So I guess the moral of the Cook's is: catch, but always release.

Pontoon was in Gannon's Bay. I hope the river conditions return to normal soon!

Went out early today to drift on the bottom of the low tide. The was was still incredibly dirty, visibility was less than a metre. Lots of action on the surface with small tailor chasing baitfish. Didn't catch a single thing while drifting and gave up. Went back to the pontoon and decided to have a few casts to use up my bait. Caught a few little tailor, and was absolutely floored when I pulled in a nice kingie on a piece of prawn! Caught a yellowtail and used it as bait - got two trevally - both keepers. Turned my day right around!

I went to Garie beach the other day, and saw some people wetting their lines, as well as surfers, it looked like a great spot. I think I may have been bitten by the beach fishing bug as a result. Has anyone had much luck at Garie? Any tips or species to target? Also, is there any etiquette regarding fishing where there are surfers? If you're fishing in a rip, I guess there wouldn't be too many surfers there, but I'm wary of doing the wrong thing and whalloping some poor surfer with a pyramid sinker to the face. Any thought or comments would be great!

Having said that, I've seen guys who are obviously pumping them for commercial sale - a dozen 25 litre buckets each half full of nippers and two guys in the boat. I think that's a little more that 100 each for the bag limit. If I'd had my wits about me, I'd have got their registration, but they obviously weren't in the mood to stick around at Wally's Wharf to chat while I try and memorise their rego. Give them a wave if you see them - two guys in a blue 6m runabout.

The first one is just the northern side of Great Turriell Bay, and the second is near the end of Gannon's Bay. Both in the same general area. I've seen these guys out before, always wondered if they caught anything!

Yeah, they were chasing small whitebait-looking things, 1 - 2 inches long. Not too much surface action, though. I caught them about 2 - 3 metres down.

I assumed that they were bonito, but the old man insisted they were striped tuna. We took it online, and, whaddya know, they were striped tuna.

Yowie, thanks for the tips! Went out early today using pilchards, caught two striped tuna and some slimies off Lilli Pilli Baths. Had a handline out too with just a big suicide hook and half a pilchard which hooked up with two nice yellowfin bream. Something big grabbed it twice and busted me off quickly as well, got the cuts in my finger to prove it. Might up the breaking strain next time. Lots of yellowtail to be found right next to the blue MSB buoy in front of the baths - got some bait for next time. Thanks again!

Hey Yowie, any tips for where to fish in the deep water around Lilli Pilli? I've often tried the deep water just off the baths (seems a popular spot) but never had much luck aside from little reds. Gonna have another go there this week with some pilchards for something a little different!