Scratchie

There's was a couple of f.a.g's! Dropped a nice snapper and got busted by an amberjack on my bream gear. (Poor knot) well get out there champ! You can't catch anything from your lounge chair!

Seen a free jumper in 18m of water on Tuesday! Reports are pretty good up this way of a few raised and tagged over the last week. Conditions have been hit and miss though. And the arvo nor'easter has been howling!

Not far off shore. 30-40m deep about 6km from the heads and 2km from shore!

Looking into that ATM! But the surrounding is covered with cardinal markers, they should hold fish too! Especially dollies through summer!

Ok....... As I said in the post I kept one trevally for sashimi. I've never tried trevally that way before and I'm now a big fan! Normally I will only eat longtail, bft or yft prepared that way! Great, can't wait for the next trip!

No mate, they are commercial pens like they do with tuna. They've stocked 11,000 rat kings in each pen! What a shame if they all got out! Lol. 22,000 extra kingfish for the Bay Area! It will be interesting to see over summer what extra fish they attract. Basically 2 massive fads that get fed tonnes of bait each day!!! Can't wait, bring on summer!!!

Cheers guys! It was nice to be on the water and wetting a line. For those traveling up during Xmas, beware of the howling nor'easter most afternoons. It makes the entrance to the bay very choppy with an exiting tide. Cheers scratchie!!!

G'day raiders, Just a quick report as I finally managed to get out today with mate Dom. We headed for broughton in a wind blown choppy sea knowing it was going to improve. Past the new kingfish pens that are anchored half way. Started approaching the island and Dom calls "marlin"! A free jumper 50m off our bow. We watch it's ariel display for a while and notice bait balls everywhere. Strange as the water temp showing 19.2deg. Bizarre! Collected bait and hit cod rock! Anchored up, berley trail and the fish started coming in. Trouble was they were mostly 29.5cm snapper! Managed a legal, then a blue mowie, a heap of trevally (one kept for sashimi). Made a move to the sisters and the weather was now in our favour. Anchored up, berley trail and the fish started coming. This time we boated a heap of different fish in the same trail, amberjack, tailor, snapper and then I pull up a pearl perch??? In all the years I've fished there never have I caught a pearly, just legal! Then I pull another but bigger! Bizarre! I also nearly cut my finger off whilst filleting a slimie but managed to wrap it up and fish on! Stitches can wait until tomorrow! Anyway, got a feed and got to wet a line! So happy days! Cheers scratchie!!!

Awesome work fellas! Looks like fantastic country and a great time had by all. Not good about the micro sleep. I hope swano wasn't boring you to death? Haha! cheers scratchie!!!

Pm's only please

Well done chao! Where was our invite for dinner? Was the trevally added to the menu? Cheers scratchie!!!

Your guess was correct. IMO, definately a stingray in what you have described. Not much you can do. Use a fairly tight drag and tire the fish out! Some kings frequent that area but won't hold you on the bottom! Cheers scratchie!!!

You've sure got the hang of that camera Neil. Some great photos there! Hopefully some more good fish come your way soon! Cheers scratchie!!!

Congrats JonD! Its always great to have members that are willing to share their knowledge. Thanks for your contribution to the site! Cheers scratchie!!!

There are many sanctuary zones within port stephens! Please go to a local tackle store or fisheries and grab a free map. Not worth the fine and heavily policed this time of year! Cheers scratchie!!!

And I was looking forward to your next report! There really are some oxygen thieves in this world!!! I hope you get it all back! cheers scratchie!!!

Great work Tara. Some solid fish there indeed. Congrats on your PB! Wait until you get a football bass in the high forties, they are a real challenge and know where every snag in the river is! Great fun good luck on your next trip! Cheers scratchie!!!

You won't be the first or last to get done in by a big fish at that breakwall. LB there is a tough challenge. Seen many of anglers lose line, lures and rods to the bruts that frequent the place, including yours truly! At least your mum managed to land one! Cheers scratchie!!!

Agh Luke, never a dull moment on your fishing trips! It was hot enough for a swim anyway! cheers scratchie!!!

Nice one Geoff! I'm sure you had to beat Lyn to the rod! Lol. Sounds like a pleasant arvo! Cheers scratchie!!!

I know it's on free to air, spewing! Our foxtel up here don't have the free to air channels! Grrrrrr do I can't record it!

Living the dream Steve. Except for the work bit of course. At least you come home to a nice feed! Cheers scratchie!!!

I have been watching this thread as a fisho and of course a site moderator. Imo, the statement above says it all. Cheers scratchie!!!

Lol. Didn't say we caught nothing! Just not what we were looking for!

It feels like a lifetime ago now! It's so much harder work trying to catch a decent fish back home now! But it's memories like that, that last a lifetime!