FletcherG1991

That was me mate, got 40 fish and dropped atleast 100. Biggest fish we landed was 5' though we dropped quite a few 6'+ fish at the back of the boat. I was using Pillies, Tailor and Yellowtail (strips) on a special rig with a glow stick (didn't make any difference wether there was one on there or not). Im not sure wether the spotlight had anything to do with keeping them around but atleast it didn't put them off. The burley was just cubed pillchards, just chucked in a few every now and them to keep them interested. The first few hours was crazy around there, could even go inside to grab a drink without hooking up (had to leave the bait out of the water if i wanted to have something to eat or drink ) They where buggers to hook last night, they where very finicky and not getting the bait down (on several occasions i thought they where well hooked until them came to the surface and just let the baits go). Free spooling the fish and allowing them to run seemed to help abit but not a hell of alot. There great fish to catch on the light gear (4lb). Cheers, Fletcher

Do the Salmon and Trevally get up that far often ? Cheers, Fletcher

I fish out of a yak, a Viking Espri, only had it for abit over a month but so far so good. At the moment im only fishing for Bream, Flatties, Whitting, EP's, Bass etc but once summer comes around ill be off chasing Kings and other pelagics and hopfully abit of offshore work. I will hopfully be heading out for some jews, salmon and trevally shortly which will be great fun out of the kayak. You can catch just about anything out of a Kayak and a troll is a great way to pick up fish, especially at the speeds that we do in kayaks it is easy to thow out a lure, rather have one out and have a chance at a fish than doing exactlly the same thing and not have a chance. There great things to fish out of and have definantly got my moneys worth so far. Cheers, Fletcher

Theres a ramp at Long Reef, not sure how it goes if there is a swell or anything but it does make it a quicked trip.

Nice rods. Daiwa Vs Shimano is like Holden Vs Ford, your right it will never end. And yes i have owned high end Daiwa gear and borrowed (for 2 months) high end shimano gear. After re reading your origional post i'd look at changing the drag washers. Will more than likley solve your problem (if your not confident on doing it yourself im sure theres someone else who can do it). Im going to have to do the same after hooking a 10 - 1kg king (at least) on 4 lb line, i never thought my symetre's drag could smell asmuch as it did . Cheers, Fletcher

Any particular reason why ? Daiwa are far better then Shimano in my opinion (the new technology they are coming out with is amazing). Each to there own. What rod do you have the 6000 matched up to out of interest ? Cheers, Fletcher

Stellas are overrated and overpriced ..... sure there a nice reel but deffinantly not worth the money. Sending it away for a service may be all it needs, may have had abit of saltwater or other bits of junk in there that has clogged it up. Do not take the reel apart as this will cause more trouble than its more (unless you are 100% sure you know what you are doing). Or to solve all your problems ..... get a Daiwa Cheers, Fletcher

I was under the impression that this is the area that you could not fish ? I fish land based mainly so anywhere from Fiddens warf road up your allowed to fish. The thing with Lane Cove is that it looks like every where will hold fish ..... it doesn't. There are good bass in Lane Cove and there are a fair few around if you know where to look. This is why you need a Canoe/Kayak so you can search the river and land based spots are very limited. Cheers, Fletcher

I fish Lane Cove alot for bass and yes they are in there (along with some huge carp). Some very nice bass have been pulled out of there BUT you really need a kayak to get to the fish.

You sure they where Hairtail and not a Pike Eel or something similar (some people do get the 2 confused). To get them that early in the year could be rare

Fishing the Hawkesbury of a winter time seems to be one on the best seasons for me. Any of the normal species that you will find in summer you will find in winter (plus a few extras), Jews, Kings, Salmon, Bream, Whitting, Flatties, Tailor, Hairtail etc. Over the past 10 years 5 years (or so) the Hairtail numbers have decreased dramatically. Cowan used to be the best place to get them but the trawllers always scoop them up before they even get a chance to get into this part of the system. They are still there and still in ok numbers but you need to know where to look. Any of the deep areas (Jerusulam, Smiths, Coal and Candle, Cottage Point etc) of the system and of a night is your best bet with a yellowtail or something similar. Fish this on about a 4kg outfit and your in buisness. If your only after smaller fish (though lots of them) then pump some yabbies (or use whatever bait you have) and head to any of the mud flats. Here you will get whitting, Tailor, Bream and Flatties. Fishing in winter can be tough so fresh bait (while not a must) definantly will get you alot more fish than frozen stuff. Winter is also my favourite time for chasing Bream and EP's on soft plastics. Cheers, Fletcher

Be careful with the Pike Eel's. If you bring them in the boat there like a snake and will strike at arms and legs and will almost slither around. They also seem to become rather strong out of the water. Just be careful with them.

WD40 acts like a lubricant for a short amount of time but after a while it begins to corrode your gear eventually destroying it. Cheers, Fletcher

The Daiwa's lay line alot better than the shimanos do and if you are useing braid this means that you wont be loosing braid to loops etc on the spools (in the long run saving you alot of money rather than buying braid all the time). I would try and strech the budget abit further and get a Certate 4000. They are an extremly smooth reel, will last you alot more than a few season and is exceptional quality. I would avoid the Symetres if i was you. I have one in the 2500 and it has not stoo up to the consistant use (on average i fish 2-3 times a week) and have had problem after problem. I am now looking at a Certate in both 2500 and 4000 for myslef. In spinning reels (say up to 4000) i will not get anything other than a Daiwa because of there quality. Cheers, Fletcher

Yep i was it aswell. Not the biggest ive seen in the Hawkesbury but still a big boat.

I aggree with Greg as far as Exists and Steezs go (or any Daiwa for that matter). They pack loose braid much better than the Shimanos (not bagging out Shimanos i have both and use both Shimano and Daiwa the same amount). It has to do with how fast (or slow, cant remember which one it is at the moment) the ocsillation of the spool is. This is the reason that i use Daiwas in small spinning reels most of the time. If this has made any sence i hope it has helped abit. Cheers, Fletcher

There was a 6 kg snapper caught there a few months ago, i have also caught a red worwong there before (not sure if that is rare or not but i have never seen them there before). Seen good kings taken there aswell. Can't wait till i can get up there nest. Good fishing !

Can i find this stuff around cowan creek ? i see the blackfish around alot but can never manage to get them on anything. Cheers, Fletcher

thanks guys, looks like everyone seems to think that the pontoon is a good spot for live bait so thats sorted (only problem is walking from the pontoon all the way up to where i want to fish (up near the pool area ..... just abit before) as for a rod holder for the livie while i am fishing soft plastics, what do i use for off the land ? Cheers, Fletcher thanks guys, looks like everyone seems to think that the pontoon is a good spot for live bait so thats sorted (only problem is walking from the pontoon all the way up to where i want to fish (up near the pool area ..... just abit before) as for a rod holder for the livie while i am fishing soft plastics, what do i use for off the land ? Cheers, Fletcher

had a look on sunday ..... 30 bucks for an hour ..... that seems way to expensive to me. Cheers, Fletcher

This will give you a rough idea on a few places. Juno Point is famous for big Jews. Flint and Steel is another good place for Jews and Flatties. Lion Island is good for Bream, Flatties, Salmon, Kings and Jews again and Barren Joey is a great spot for Kings, Salmon, Tailor and Bonito. Hope this has helped you in some way. locationds might be abit out on the map but gives you a rough idea. Cheers, Fletcher PS: maybe Flint and Steel was the next point up ..... ive gone blank at the moment if you where looking at fishing more Cowan area then there are plenty of good spots down there aswell

thanks mate, so really just your normal estuary fish ie bream, flatties, whiting and jews. any blackfish or anything like that around there ? and is it ok too eat the fish from there ? (probably wont take any but just it case)

I am heading down to roseville later in the week and was wondering what i am likley to catch, is it ok to eat fish from there ? are there any rules fishing there as it is a national park ? and is there anywhere to catch squid and yellowtail from ? Cheers, Fletcher

Does Lane Cove National Park Hire out Canoes and/or Kayaks ? And if so any idea how much for the day ?

dunno about sugar loaf but up near the weir you can occcasionally see them going through the mullet schools. More than likley bull sharks. There used to be some older guys that used to fish for them around there. Not sure if they still do or not