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Scratchie

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Posts posted by Scratchie

    New Little Beach Boat Ramp (Port Stephens)

    in Fishing Chat

    Posted

    2 hours ago, frankS said:

    Strange, they design a boat ramp but can't even get their facts straight. In kingies first link they show a photo of what they say is Soldiers point boat ramp when in fact ( please correct me if I am wrong ) it's Lemon Tree Passage boat ramp.

    If they can't show the proper photo what chance have they got of building a decent ramp ?.

    Frank

    No that’s soldiers Frank. I’m just surprised the council up here are doing anything. 
    KC, yes mate we all have input from many sources that accounted for nothing. 
    On average there would have been 100’s of calls to council to remove sand build up with the past ramp. It still took them a week or two for them to do anything 🤷‍♂️
    Guess there’s also greater problems in the area atm. 
    Let’s hope this ramp is good for everyone 👍

    New Little Beach Boat Ramp (Port Stephens)

    in Fishing Chat

    Posted

    Unfortunately, the only upgrades they are doing is to the ramp itself. The car park will remain the same. The ramp will extend out further from its previous position. This should stop it sanding up especially from the westerly winds but I feel it will also make it almost impossible to launch solo. 
    There are no pontoons going in nor any restructuring of anything else. Mainly because this area is surrounded by a sanctuary zone and requires constant approval of work carried out by the DPI. 
    This process has also slowed up the construction of the ramp as they have ran into a few unforeseen structures that needed examination. 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
     

    Who knows when it will finish or how effective it will be once complete! Most of us locals up here are curious too! 
     

    cheers scratchie!!! 

    • Thanks 1

    Port Stephens- Tried something different

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    1 hour ago, GordoRetired said:

    Looks like you certainly achieved the objective of bringing home  feed. I intend to try to do the same this Tuesday as the forecast is looking good. I just hope that I can find a decent Snapper spot on Long reef. Any suggestions gratefully accepted. 🙂

    Thanks Gordo! 
    My only tip would be to check the weather. Pretty sure your looking at 2.6-2.9m swell 🤔🤔

    • Like 1

    Miss you all - and hope your safe and healthy

    in Fishing Chat

    Posted

    Hey Sam, 

    These are certainly trying times for all. So thank you for your post and thinking of others. 
    I’m very lucky to have access to the water and a few boat ramps in my LGA. 
     

    Although in saying that, I’m keeping my fishing to a minimum as it requires to leave the house for a period of time and I want to remain within the spirit of lockdown. 
     

    Hopefully every now and then I can put up a post for others to read. 
     

    Stay safe and well, 

    Cheers scratchie!!! 

    • Thanks 1

    Port Stephens- Tried something different

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    On 9/1/2021 at 9:24 AM, BigHorse said:

    nice haul there scratchie! Found this for you also. Keep the fish coming👍

     

    Cheers for that mate! I was pretty sure there was no size limit. Just didn’t want to waste fishing time searching google 😄

    On 9/1/2021 at 9:32 AM, thatdan1000 said:

    Hey Scratchie,

    Great stuff! 

    27cm minimum legal length applies to sand whiting only (meaning red spot etc don't require a minimum legal length) 

    But there is a bag limit of 20 in total for all whiting species (17 sand + 3 red spot, or 20 red spot if you're onto them)

    It should be noted as well that the combined 20 is also your possession limit, so you can't catch 10 red spot and freeze them then go out the next day and get 20 sand, as you can only legally have 20 of any whiting in your possession at one time. (But this is per person, so you can assign 20 per licenced angler at the same address)

    BUT as we always say and most people on this forum practice, only take what you need!

    Hope to see you on the water one day mate I need to finally have a crack at some Broughton reds!

    Thanks mate! I need to see some Broughton reds too 😫😫😫

    On 9/1/2021 at 11:00 AM, Rebel said:

    Good haul and Super photos. Well done. Better than staying home.

    Cheers.

    Cheers Rebel. Yes mate, it was a trip I needed to take! 

    On 9/1/2021 at 11:10 AM, Isaac Ct said:

    Nice haul mate.

    Thanks 

    On 9/1/2021 at 11:17 AM, kobi caught a fish said:

    they are some nice fish

    Cheers 

    On 9/1/2021 at 12:06 PM, puddlejumper said:

    Well done mate, im jealous

    Thanks. Hopefully your turn will come soon 

    23 hours ago, Yowie said:

    Another good haul there Scratchie.

    Red spots have no size limit as you will have read above, the fillets are small but remove the bones and they make tasty fish fingers.

    They do not grow very large, if you crack the 30cm mark, you are doing well.

    Cheers Yowie. The ones I caught were actually quite decent at around 25-27cm. Will save that for next time 🤙

    20 hours ago, beats workin said:

    So jealous.

    No waterways in my 5k's

    Be patient, your time will come and you’ll so enjoy it. 

    20 hours ago, Little_Flatty said:

    My mum used to get these by the dozen from the fish shops and shallow fry them whole with a light batter with salt and pepper and garnish with spring onions (a bit of chopped chilli wouldn’t go astray either). This was before the day of air fryers, would imagine these would be just divine coming out of an air fryer.

    Absolutely delicious, although it is a real finger-licking job instead of a fork-and-knife kind of meal. Worth a shot if you’re adventurous.

    Hahahaha! Thanks for that. I have a few fish recipes and usually the whiting goes in the deep fryer and they are all gone before I finish cooking! 🤔 

    17 hours ago, Pickles said:

    Brilliant Jeff - greatjob

    Thanks Bob

    4 hours ago, zmk1962 said:

    Top stuff Jeff - thanks for keeping the memories alive. Here you are trying something different and I’d be ecstatic just doing the same same - as long as it involved salt water and  🎣   
     

    cheers Zoran 

    Cheers Zoran! I feel for all that can’t go fishing safely. 
    As I said, it’s be a long time since I dropped a bait in 40m. Definitely a bit of fun but I do prefer my plastics in shallow water. Always good to have options though 👍

    Port Stephens- Tried something different

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    G’day raiders, 

    Hope you are all well and keeping safe. 
     

    Yesterday, conditions looked to good not to head out to catch a feed for the family. 
    I took my son Brandon with me and we were on the water by 5am. 
    The plan for the day was to cast some plastics early and hope for a snapper, then catch some bait and do some deeper dropping for some flathead. 
    As we are limited to our LGA, Broughton is a no go for us (I miss Broughton 🥲) however there are still some good grounds around my local and I have been doing a lot of exploring for future trips! 
    The fishing on soft plastics has been more than hard work, with lots and lots of casts for very little reward. 
    Yesterday was no different but with many changes in plastics and locations we found two decent snapper until about 8am when the sun appeared higher in the sky. We then collected some bait and found a few barracuda sitting under a school of pillies. Kept two for bait and stuck to the plan. 
    I can’t remember the last time I dropped a paternoster rig in 40m of water but with benign conditions it was really the only option. Firstly, we found the nursery with both hooks bringing up tiny flatty but then we stumbled on what we were looking for. A few decent flatty and basically we loaded up onto something on every drop! A bit of fun for an hour or so, then we decided to call it quits and head home! A beautiful day on the water with turtles, dolphins leading the way home and a chance to forget the challenges we all faced once back on land. 
     

    Tight lines all, 

    cheers scratchie!!! 


    9FBF0804-EFB6-440F-8DB4-C7D2B2D3FC65.thumb.jpeg.a6f475124a444f766475b725be5716a4.jpeg

    2072CA18-633F-468A-9245-7A1259E950FA.thumb.jpeg.34021fd4b084b06deb1966da03ee09b1.jpeg

    P.s Is there a legal size limit to a red spot whiting? I caught about 8 of them but sent them back. 🤷‍♂️

     

    • Like 20
    • Thanks 1

    MEDIA RELEASE - What a world class sailor wants you to know about wearing a lifejacket

    in Boating

    Posted

    Pretty much the first thing I say when I’m meeting people for the first time or go out on someone else’s boat. I actually ask three questions…..

    Have you put the bungs in? 
    Where is you epirb and flares? 
    Where do you keep your life jackets? 
     

    Although I usually take my own life jacket regardless. 
     

    Can never be to safe on the water! 
     

    cheers scratchie!!! 

     

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Port Stephens- It happens to us all

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    11 hours ago, dirvin21 said:

    Atleast you made me feel better about my doughnut today Jeff (with no lost lures or broken rods)🤔

    It was definitely a different type of day. It also confirmed to me about snapper and people driving over the drift 🤔 The broken rod was a real low point and was my fault trying too hard! 

    11 hours ago, Rummers said:

    I got a donut today too! Thought I was a genius hitting the flats at Lemmo on low tide, turns out a lot more weed than I remember! 😂😂

    always next time!!

    Haha, the beauty of fishing is there’s always next time! 🤙

    11 hours ago, frankS said:

    At least you got to sit in the boat while it is in water.

    I have been sitting in the boat also only it's sitting on it's trailer out the front of my house, not on water.

    You will do better next trip.

    Frank

    Yeah Frank, boats definitely feel better when they’re in the water.  Still looking forward to next trip 

    10 hours ago, Blackfish said:

    I recon when you go fishing its not always about the fish........ or the broken rod .... or the lost jigs.

    The photos say it all.

    Absolutely! I just love being out there. The sound, the smell, the sights. Fish are always a welcome bonus. 

    8 hours ago, GoingFishing said:

    Id pay a million dollars to lay eyes on the ocean right now 😭😭😭

    Good on you for getting out Jeff. Any day on the water is a good day.

    Thanks Sam. I feel your pain mate. I am fortune to live in the postcode I do and never take it for granted. 

    53 minutes ago, big Neil said:

    That, I think, is one of the primary requirements of a good angler... finding the positive in a bad day. No question that you are a good angler Jeff, next time is another opportunity to prove it. Keep on keeping on. bn

    Cheers BN. I guess most people are used to me placing a report holding a big snapper but not all days go to plan. It wasn’t through a lack of trying that’s for sure but definitely a few things conspired against me yesterday. Grr 😠 

    • Like 1
    • Sad 1

    Port Stephens- It happens to us all

    in Fishing Reports

    Posted

    G’day raiders, 

    Firstly, I hope everyone is safe and well. It is very tough times at the moment but just stay the course and we’ll get to the other side. 

    Today, after 6 days of lockdown, I managed to get out with son number 2, with conditions looking favourable. 
    We launched at Shoal Bay at 530 and was a bugger with a lowish tide and surge at the ramp. But we managed to head out and soldier on. Got to our first spot and to my surprise there was already 3 boats in the area. Damn! Started casting and wasn’t showing any signs of bait but we still remained optimistic. The wind was blowing a bit harder than predicted so we deployed the shute. It helped our drift but we still weren’t seeing any bait. After a few drifts it was time to move and we get to the next spot and again another 3 boats. Grrrrrr! 
    We start the drift and still no sign of bait but out of nowhere a sudden hit but didn’t stick.

    Well that was about it for day. One hit, lost 4 jigs, broke a rod, got pulled over by Maritime and the only “fish” we caught was barracuda. We pulled 3 and three strikes your out! And home by 930. 

    Probably one of the worst days I’ve experienced on the water. But to leave it on a positive……. I got to see the sunrise, I spent time with my son, we seen dolphins and whales and we made it back safely! 
    It’s not always about the fish 🐟 

    cheers scratchie!!! 
     

    5B8C8A03-D31F-4326-9EF3-FF61B69C89C8.thumb.png.93064876a452d36ed65ae1b9a12d6f50.png

    And then went down the road with my wife to watch the sunset..,,,,

    F16A08A6-1A40-4245-853D-6C644A69AB24.thumb.jpeg.f5732f57eaa22ea132a26a1c715a28a3.jpeg

    • Like 14

    Port Stephens King Fish

    in Fishing Chat

    Posted

    Hey rummers, 

    Kingfish are a funny species to target up here. There is no real place that is a consistent spot they haunt. Certainly the islands out the front will hold them at times. Fingal will hold them too and Broughton island would be the top of the list as frequented more than most. 
    Usually in November we get a run of them around the breakwall smashing small white bait but a slow trolled livie will work too.
    Slow trolling livies, I generally use two rods. Both with 9/0 live bait hooks. I will troll at 2knots with one on the surface and one with a running sinker to get it down about 3m. 
     

    Hope that helps. 
     

    cheers scratchie!!! 

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
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