Scratchie

Cheers yowie! Thought you were MIA. A shame you didn't get to fish along the way. Not good news to hear the rivers so low! Oh well, back to the hacking this week!

No mate I didn't. My intended target was snapper. I normally cube a few to create a burley trail and then drift some down lightly weighted. Well when I was getting good takes and losing gear, you have to adapt to whats in front of you! So a gang hook and unweighted pilly did the trick! Those lures are bonito magnets either trolled or spun!

It's amazing what difference a day makes! Now that's dangerous papafish!

Well done! You put in the miles to get the smiles. Cheers scratchie!!!

That's an awesome report Sasha. Nice to see you getting the whole family involved. I'm sure Anthony was bummed about not being part of that last trip. I could also picture his frustration on the previous 2 as well. Lol there's definitely some good fish about. Good to see you get amongst them. Well done Cheers scratchie!!!

Rock fishing is the most dangerous sport in the world. If you look, there are no waves, less than 1m of swell, a westerly wind behind me and my platform is 3-4m above the water. So, no not dangerous but never take the ocean for granted!

For that size motor, that seems really steep. The plastic piece was probably an impeller. It shouldn't have cost you more than $300 IMO. I have a 75hp merc and it generally cost me around $400-450. Cheers scratchie!!!

Cheers Scott. Mate I always find this time of year the best to fish this area period! What can I say, Marlin, longtail, kings, snapper, Flatty, whiting, bonito, salmon, tailor and the list goes on! A mate next to me last Saturday dropped a Spanish mac next to the boat. Plenty of trag and jew about too! It's just a matter of what to target with the weather that's in front of you!

Yeah, it's a tough gig! It really put a bit of pressure on my tendinitis. But well worth the effort!

Cheers guys! Stu- I can't give away all my secrets but it's in between fishermans bay and one mile! Sasha- I love fishing solo but off the rocks makes it a bit challenging landing fish! Hope you enjoyed your trip down south!

You go mum! Well done and what a great way to spend the day with her! I hope your cooking dinner for her? After all, she caught everything! Cheers scratchie!!!

Well done. Yes, very hard place to leave! Amazing how conditions change in a day. It's blowing 25knots now. Good decision to go early!

Your not wrong stewy! It's very difficult deciding where to fish!

Cheers Gary! Absolutely beautiful morning. I left the fish biting too! Yep, hard to get teenagers to move there arse early morning, oh well his bad!

Unlucky mate. Yowie once said to me that every good fish you lose is a shit shark! I try to keep telling myself that, but it doesn't always work! Better luck next time! Cheers scratchie!!!

Good morning raiders, I couldn't sleep much last night so I got up early and checked the weather. With the impending southerlies predicted over the weekend and visiting relos, this morning was probably my only chance for a fish over the weekend. Tried to wake the young fella up to grunts and groans. "Good luck dad". So off I went to get a kilo of pillies from my local "bait and go". Arrived at my favourite spot (usually for snapper) which was my intended target. Started to burley up whilst the pillies unfroze and first light was approaching. First cast, bang.....big take then no weight???? Wind in and find I'm missing my hook and small pea sinker. Rerigg and try again, same thing! Grrrrr. At this point I'm thinking tailor, so I put on a gang hook with no weight and a full pilly. Next cast I came up tight. I danced around the rocks for a while and managed to land a nice bonito on the next incoming swell. For the next hour it was basically just poling them to the stones! Best hours fishing I've had in ages. Bonito, salmon and tailor all came to the party. To be honest, I lost count of how many I actually caught. Most were released with the exception of a tailor and 3 bonito that made it home(and fridge, filleted) within the hour. I arrived home to the boy devastated that he didn't come and a neighbours timely appearance as I was filleting the fish out the front! needless to say I gave him one! Overall, a beautiful solo morning in great conditions, in a magic place, Port Stephens! Thanks for reading, Cheers scratchie!!!

Nice fish and great report! I think trailer boats and rod & reel have come along way. Hence our ability to get out wide and get amongst some good fish. And isn't it great to be able to do that! Well done and congrats on your first! I'm still yet to land one of those! Cheers scratchie!!!

They should also not charge you when you pass through the tolls at 5km ph!

Happy birthday your royal highnass!!! Have a great day mate! Cheers scratchie!!!

Your right dave, beautiful place but not for the whole family. More of a sneaky get away yourself or with a mate

I lived on the blue mtns for 20years. Lake Lyell is pretty ordinary to be honest. More ski boats than jet skis on the George's! Would definately worth the extra drive! Lake StClair is pretty good and would be a better fishing option!

Crossfire is spot on. The sp day is right for you.... http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=80744&page=1 Maybe some raiders could help you out with those areas!

Lake glenbawn! It should accommodate for everything you and your family want on a camping holiday! Cheers scratchie!!!

What area are you fishing?

Howe, There are far better baits and techniques to use to catch flathead than chicken and cheese! We usually get that on the way home from maccas! For example, soft plastics, hard body lures, ganged pilchards, prawns etc! Maybe do a bit more reading and researching the areas you intend to fish before our next outing! Cheers scratchie!!!