Tulz

I'm going to downsize to 16lb which should be ample and hopefully improve the casting abilities. I'm only using the rod off the beach so I should be able to stop most fish after time without having to worry about bust off on structure.

Having looked at a couple of other forums I think the line is too big. I previously had the reel spooled with 30lb braid which has a much smaller diameter than the 25lb mono. Will re-spool and give it a shot. I'll also try a longer free line but I think the line size is the problem as I never had the problem with the 30lb braid on the reel on my other rods.

So longer free line with less weight you think? Will give it a go. Upon purchasing my mindset was to continue using the same weights i've always done, which is as light as the conditions allow. In addition the rod is the same length as i've always used.

I recently purchased a new beach rod- a 13 foot, 10-15kg Penn Prevail. I opted for this rod as it has a stiffer rod tip and it's use will be for large slab baits and livies intended for Jewies. However, i'm unable to get much distance out of my casts with this rod. It's matched up with a Shimano Baitrunner 6000d spooled with 25lb mono. I'm using a rig consisting of an easy rig clip attached to a swivel down to 40lb trace with 2 snelled 8'0's. I normally have a 5oz sinker attached. The couple of times i've used it i've used small arrow squid for bait. I've never had trouble with casting before however the rod feels like it isn't loading up properly when casting and the line feels like it's going to take the tip of my finger off. I've always used beach rods with softer rod tips and have never had this problem. Any advice would be greatly appreciated before I decide to get rid of it and sell it.

Squid did the damage on the Jewie and Rays. A Prawn brought the Tarwhine undone. Fished again last night for a lone Trevally. I knew I was in for a quiet one. Sky was clear, bright moon and there was hardly any swell, I find it's always quiet in these conditions despite the tide change after dark.

Spent a few hours on one of the Illawarra beaches last night. Fished just after the high tide in a nice gutter i spotted earlier. First few baits got picked apart and it wasn't long before a little Soapy Jew of around 50cm was on the sand. He was released and soon after I landed a Shovelnose and Fiddler Ray before finishing with a quality Tarwhine that went a touch over 40cm which was a PB for me. Pic of the Tarwhine attached despite the poor quality. Will be hitting the beach again tonight but will be fishing leading up to and just after the high tide.

Thanks mate. Yes, may have to re-think the trip if this weather continues. Did they catch there fish live baiting?

Has anyone fished the Clyde recently? If so how has it been fishing? Heading down in a couple of days to target some Jewies on a mix of baits and plastics. Plan is to fish live baits at night and flick the plastics in the mornings. Will be targeting the flatties as well. Not looking for spots, rather if it's been fishing ok. I've had varied success there over the years and have found it to be a tough system at times. Other times we couldn't put a foot wrong and picked up fish on every bend. Cheers

Best by-catch ever!

Hit up one of the beaches in Wollongong last night. Conditions were perfect apart from the lack of surf. In my experience the bite is always slow when there is little swell and this proved correct again last night. Despite trying fresh squid, mullet and yakka's all I could manage was a small Port Jackson Shark which provided a bit of relief from the quiet night. Despite that it's always great to hit the sand at night. For me it's been a quiet winter so far for chasing Jewies off the beaches, how has everyone else been faring?

Yeah I can only manage soapies lately. From one of the Northern Wollongong beaches.

Hit a local beach tonight an hour before high for about 3 hours. All was quiet until about half hour after the top of the tide when I landed this little soapy. Apart from that it was very quiet with most of my baits intended for Jew being picked apart.

No not at all. It rained before I arrived for a little while but had stopped by the time I got there. I was further north of MM's though so must have just missed the area I was fishing.

Yeah after dark, high tide was around 9.30 so I was on the sand an hour before that. The beach is in Wollongong, if you want the name let me know and i'd be happy to send you a PM.

Spent a few hours on the sand last night. Managed a little soapy and a Tailor. The little Jew was taken on a Yakka fillet just before high tide. The Tailor fell to a Mullet fillet about half hour after high. There were a few fish around, I was getting a lot of bites but I suspect they were mostly smaller stuff. The little Jew was caught in bugger all water, I was fishing just off the gutter at the time and has given me something to think about for next time. Apologies for the poor pic quality, taken off my phone.

Might have to give it a shot mate. My bait was just getting destroyed every cast.

Amazing fish mate. I haven't heard of a Jew of that size being taken from the Basin for sometime. That is a perfect example of why recreational fishing zones are so important- these kinds of fish are becoming more and more regular in spots like the basin.

Decided to hit one of the beaches in the gong this afternoon. Plan was to chase some Jewies with some fresh Mullet and Squid. With the high just before 6 I had my first bait soaking at 5. Right on dark my rod buckles over and after a short fight a Salmon of 60cm is on the sand. It never ceases to amaze me how hard they pull. He was relased and another bait goes out. Upon bringing my bait in to check I feel a little extra weight and this bloke was clinging to my hook. It was the biggest sand crab? (can someone confirm) i'd seen. The photo doesn't do him justice. I didn't land anything else after this. My remaning baits just got picked apart. Regardless it was a great arvo to be on the sand.

Yeah mate I hope so too. Hopefully there isn't too much fresh in the system.

Will do mate. Giving it a good nudge so if I don't get any it won't be from lack of trying. Yeah I find the black gold squidgies seem to do the trick on Flathead and Jewies. They'll be given a good run.

That's good news regarding the Flathead. Fingers crossed I can get into a few and a Jewie if I'm lucky!

Cheers mate. I've heard there has been a few sharks around up the river but that was back in February. Interesting to hear they're still around. Probably a lot if bait up there then.

Has anyone fished the Clyde River lately and if so what has been in the chew? Heading there on Wednesday targeting Jewies and Flathead but I always like to keep my options open. Also, has there been much in the way of baitfish around? Yakkas around the bridge or Mullet upriver? Cheers

There's too much there, I gave up doing that at the breakwalls years ago. It's getting worse. There is a big bin near the car park too.

I would say that the breakwalls at Port Kembla would be the dirtiest spot I've ever fished. There is no respect for the environment whatsoever and at times there is dog shit left on there. What I don't understand is that it is fishos leaving this filth there who surely must realise the damage they're doing to the environment and sealife.