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Any land based weekend anglers out there? I'm in Sydney west, Granville area. It's getting harder and harder for me to convince my friends and esteemed work colleagues to come out fishing with me every weekend. If you live anywhere close-ish and want to join me for a flick on the weekends, day or night trip to try different land based locations, please let me know. Land-based only as I dont have a boat. We can alternate driving, share bait costs and knowledge etc....

So guys I went out tonight armed with your tips and the result was 8 fish in just over 2 hours. 4 Bream 4 Whiting I think it was a combination of everyone's advice that did it. I used a 9lb line and a very small sinker, might even go lighter next time. I used scottyB's and fishingphase's casting and striking techniques. Bait presentation was as the incredible hull said. Peeled prawn along the curve and the shaft of the hook with the point completely exposed. I casted out and let the sinker sink. Once it sank, i slowly pulled the line bobbing it every now and then. When I felt a nibble I just jerked the tip of the rod a little and voila! I actually caught a Bream with my first cast but it got away just as I was pulling it out of the water. After a quiet 20 minutes, I was slowly pulling the line in when I felt a big nibble, I jerked the line and out came a 27cm Bream at the end of it. It was a gut hook-up. This was a great improvement on my previous trip and I learnt a lot from experimenting with different casting/striking techniques. I'm a beginner so the advice from everyone that posted was very very helpful to me. Best hook, from my selection above, turned out to be the long bait holder (2nd from the left in the picture in my first post). I'll be buying a packed of those in a bigger size tomorrow. Mustad long bait holder. Photo of the 27cm bream is attached below.

Thanks guys, I'm trying the above tonight. I do peel the prawn and leave the point of the hook exposed. Will try a couple of presentations that I have visualized with your advice and report back. The sinker I use is the smallest they sell. about half the size of a pea. I've dropped to a 9lb line. If that doesn't work tonight, will drop to 6lb. Thanks heaps for your help.

Thanks guys, appreciate the advice. The hooks are all fairly small in size. Size 6 - 8 for the long shanks. The one of the left is biggest Size 4 from memory. I've bought some 4kg line as per your recommendation and will try it out this weekend. Will post the outcome when I get back. I will try a few striking techniques, including slowly lifting the rob when I get nibbles, and see what happens!

Guys, another disappointing night at Cremorne point wharf. I'm getting plenty of bites/nibbles but my hook-up rate is pathetic. I only caught one Bream in the two hours that I was there. I'm guilty of using a heavy line (15lb). Is that the main reason or am I using the wrong hook for bream? Is it my technique, I generally don't Jerk the line at all when I feel the nibbles as I've read its best to let the bream bite the bait and hook themselves (not sure how true that is). I've attached a pic of the hooks that I currently have in the tackle box and of the fish that I caught (using the hook 3rd from left in the pic). Do I need buy a different hook? Any help/advice will be appreciated. I use fresh Prawns as bait.

Thursday is difficult for me due to work. Can join you on the weekend. As for the fishing spots, I've fished next to the bridge last year. Late evening. Bait used was Prawns, I caught a lot of Bream. All undersized unfortunately, caught around 13 fish in total in about 1.5 hours. Looking at Google maps, its on the right hand side of Pittwater rd bridge. Its a popular spot. I've also heard that road at the end of Wimbledon AV corner is pretty good, but I've never fished there personally. Wouldn't mind trying. What spots have you tried?

Hi Guys, Some very informative posts, advice and a lot of interesting introductions from people all over Australia. As for me I'm a fishing newbie, just started a couple of months ago. I've only fished a few locations around Sydney but its taken a hold of me. My nickname is Izzy or Iz. I'm nearly 28 and work at a bank. So life pretty boring 5 days a week. Its a struggle to convince my friends to go fishing every weekend but I'm trying. Hopefully can tag along or organise a few fishing sessions with the members here! . I'm located in Sydney West.

Taskta, I'm a Sydney local. Have gotten in to fishing recently, have my own rod and tackle box. Will share bait, fuel cost or just meet up at the spot, whatever. Next time you head out to Narrabean Lakes or somewhere else for that matter, please give me a shout. I'm not all that experienced but keen to learn. I'm available weekends.