SMn

Hahaha thanks mate, also Cuttagee beach was fishing well but was having enough fun just walking down the local. Your right about a fishos paradise, any style or type of fishing is catered for down that whole stretch of coast, top spot!

Sure is, very nice part of the world!

Had to attend a wedding over the Christmas New Year period in Melbourne of all places. Headed to Bermagui afterwards with the family to visit my parents and get some fishing done! As soon as the car stopped at Bermi I grabbed the beach rod and Alvey 650A5 and hit the beach with a bag of pillies. Scored a couple salmon before sunset. Up early the next morning and managed a couple of salmon trout and a banjo shark, again on pillies. The next few days all sort of melded together, I spent them sleeping, fishing and playing with kids... My 6yr old daughter with a nice salmon... she managed a few cranks on Alvey and 4m beach rod before I took over... Managed a couple more fish off the beach mostly salmon but also scored a nice flattie and a shovel nose shark. All released except for the flattie. My brother rocked up with his kids so I took them all fishing in Bermi harbour. Got some nice little fish including a big leatherjacket and a flattie... My daughter and nephew caught some great little bream and an octopus, all released. Now it was time to fire up the tinny and hit Wallaga Lake, where the flathead were really firing. Over the last 3 days we managed around 20 fish drifting around the flats and drop offs, didn't get much opportunity to take many pics while in the boat but here's what I did take, all fish released except for a few kept for dinner each night. All the flatties caught using my little Alvey 45B reel, 10lb fluruo leader 1-2/0 gangs and mackerel fillets for bait. All fish were between 40-50cm big, except for one stand out that went 64cm, which went back in to continue spawning... Overall a great holiday even if it was crashed by my brother and his brood hahaha. Love the far South Coast of NSW, but can't wait to get stuck into the fish back on the Central Coast!!!

Congrats mate!

Hi Fishingphase I was using 10lb fluruo for leader and 8lb mono on the reel, small gang hooks and mackerel fillet for bait. I'll post a report when I get the chance.

I nailed some cracker flathead on the 45B over the last few days, they are ripper reels! managed about 20 over 3 days on 45B reel matched to the 450 Alvey rod. Released all (including the one in the pic) only kept enough for a feed each night.

Hi mate, try Swansea for tailor; the Central Coast is fishing well for bream and whiting off the beaches and there are some tailor and still some salmon around. Fish the rising tide before sunset, worms and prawns for bream and whiting, pillies on 2/0-3/0 gangs for tailor. No guarantees but if you don't have a bait in the water you'll never know. Good luck.

Got to love a good feed of whiting! Congrats on the haul, well done!

Great snappers mate! Well done!

That's other advantage with the Alveys, they love a bit of sand and a dunk in the surf. Glad you enjoyed the reel, hope you hook a few more fish on it.

Hahaha yeah I'll be packing an alvey, just come and say g'day! Just modified my 650E5 with a rapid retrieve handle, a king off the rocks is my goal this summer too mate! Hope you get one soon!!!

Well done mate, shame about the rig giving way, but great you got your son onto some yakkas and your mate a decent trev!

Cheers mate! I have a love hate relationship with spell-checker as well!

The guy that gave them to me was from the Entrance so I guess that's where he got them. There's a small tackle shop/servo at Empire Bay that sells them live, but have never been there, so I guess the Broad Water must have them as well.

As far as using a 7ft rod for the beach as long as your not planning on breaking any distance casting records it should be fine but not ideal. The main reasons for longer rods at the beach is casting distance and keeping your line out of the breaking waves. If your throwing a blade/metal type lure or soft plastic with a fairly weighty jig head you should be ok, spinning just behind the shore break. Look for the darker patches of water between the breaking waves and have a crack. An arvo on the beach even without any success is better than not being on the beach. (In reply to your adopt a learner thread)...

Well done mate, a tailor on a blade is excellent for a first go. Hopefully those little snapper grow up to be huge one day so you can catch them again. Keep getting out there and the good fish will come.

Yeah the 40A1 has a metal back and turn plate/side cast system. I think the 40A1 is a bit overkill on such a small reel, the 40B will be sturdy and last long enough. Keep in mind the retrieve rate will be fairly slow on the size 40 models, but you wont really notice it on short casts in the surf or in the estuary. A nice sized bream or whiting will feel like a really decent salmon and a good salmon on that reel will feel like a freight train, hahaha! Make sure the last piece of tackle in your rig towards the tip of the rod is a small swivel matched to your line (4kg and no more than 8kg, use only up to double the breaking strain of the line), crane or box type swivels are best for the beach but barrel or rollers are fine as well. Takes bit to get used to winding using your finger as a level guide, but after a session or two becomes second nature. Hope you hook into a few nice whiting for Christmas lunch! I have had luck on the whiting lately up on the Central Coast, beach worms are the key and fresh caught will see you absolutely clean up! Good luck!

Was over at Wamberal. You've been getting some fish at Avoca mate well done!

Good stuff champ! A couple of fish is always fun even if undersized. Flounder are a very nice fish to eat, if you plan on keeping any in future. Snags are always a part of life when fishing the rocks, usually take a bit of extra gear when I go, I hate cutting a session short hahaha...

Awesome mate well done, take a few pics and post a report.

Great catch on a plastic mate well done!

It might feel a bit tacky at first but you'll soon appreciate the simple and durable nature of the reel, I felt the same with my 45B reel until I scored some good fish with it. Check out the Alvey website for tips on casting and maintenance (which you'll never likely need to do). I'd like to hear how it casts if you get the opportunity to post about it.

Perfect mate! Just finished eating it with the kids, in a light batter shallow fried in olive oil and a had full of chips and salad. You know your on a winner when the kids ask for more.

Cheers mate!

Should handle 500 - 550 model Alvey and the blackfish models as well but trial would be essential before purchasing. My 500 and below models cast excellent on regular spinning rods, which I use off the kayak and for light fishing off a boat. All reels in these sizes can be bought left handed, just specify when ordering or you can get a conversion kit (changes the mounting plate etc) from Alvey. I have contacted Alvey numerous times, the last time was last week, via email and phone. They're more than happy to help and their after sales is superb! I was having problems locating parts for my 650GRBC, which is 20yrs old, they asked me to send the reel to them and they modified the backing plate for me free of charge (postage only)!!! I sent the reel on Friday last week they sent it back newly modded on the following Tuesday! Absolutely outstanding servive. If you're looking for change in fishing style that's still very effective and trouble free, then grab an Alvey and give them a go. I use them for all types of fishing, just love them.