Scratchie

Got out today in 40kph winds, couldn't hold anchor anywhere, managed 1 Flatty and 1 bream. Seen a club member pull a Jew in the spot we were trying to anchor!

Hard call mate. Not sure if swordy caught every bass in glenbawn but he was close to it! I haven't had that much experience in those dams, I'm more a yak fisho when targeting bass on the rivers up here. Hopefully someone can add a bit more info for you! Cheers scratchie!!!

Just have a look at swordies last trip to glenbawn! Don't think you could go past it. IMO either glenbawn or stclair. Cheers scratchie!!!

That's because I live here champ! SWR or coffs would be my pick!Or even port Macquarie! The Hastings river is great to yak and then there's the Maria river to chase bass or ep! Have done that a few times!

Port stephens- has it all from whiting to marlin. But I might be a bit bias! Cheers scratchie!!!

It couldn't be......... They understand each other! That videos gold Cheers scratchie!!!

Port Stephens- part of the Pacific Ocean, you travel overseas at Stockton. Some of the best game fishing in the world and I know a charter that as a fishraider you will get a discount! Good luck deciding! Cheers scratchie!!!

Hey yowie, feels good to be back in your own waterway and getting your usual mixed bag. Well done Cheers scratchie!!!

Well, I just organised fri-sun off, so I'll be fishing rain, hail or cyclone Tracy!

Here's a bit of info in regards to the area..... http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=75391#entry536388 The weather this weekend isn't looking great, so take care! Cheers scratchie!!!

Same here mate. Our end of year comp too! I think I might just way in a packet of fish fingers! Cheers scratchie!!!

Wow! After catching my first GT a couple of months ago, I can feel your excitement. Mine was only small in comparison. That is a monster and I can only imagine the pressure of that fish. They can be so aggressive! Thanks for the report! Cheers scratchie!!!

Here is previous thread http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=70990&view=&hl=&fromsearch=1 Jim, the old timers right. Exactly what I said. Mark, I've put this link in so other raiders can read on the question you posed. Once again, congrats on your first Jew! Cheers scratchie!!!

Sounds like a great session! What size are the kings on the table?

Congrats on your first Jew! The odour they emit is certainly one you don't forget. It fact, some of my mates think I'm crazy but I can smell them when they are schooling around. If you do a search we have had previous posts on this. Well done Cheers scratchie!!!

Awesome mate! And the excitement builds!!!!

Good stuff damo! That'll get everyone excited. I know I am! Great work boys! Cheers scratchie!!!

Great addition to the bay that jetty at shoal bay! Spinning for tailor on a high tide is great. Weed can be found searching the rocks between Anna bay and fishermans. My stash is at boat harbour but don't tell anyone! Yes, the maps supplied by maritime do have the marine parks and you can get them free from any tackle store! DO NOT get caught fishing these areas! There are no warnings and will add some serious $$$ to your trip/holiday.

Hey Adam, First of all, flathead are not leader shy at all. They are ambush predators, so putting an imitated wounded sp in front of them is what they are looking for. I've learnt this the hard way and dropped 2 fish that I believe were close to the meter mark last year because I was using lighter leader. My current set up for them is 2-4kg stick 3000 stradic 8lb braid and 20lb leader. I use exactly what you wrote in your post. A 1/8 jig normally 2/0 and use a bloodworm 100-120mm or 100mm silver fox. I will also use a 5inch jerk shad in pilchard. As for the retrieve, to be honest I had results on all different techniques. My kids have caught some cracking flatties and all I get them to do is cast, hit the bottom and wind slowly. I usually use a single long lift and many times they will take it on the drop! There is no guaranteed way of doing things, trial and error! And for that really big flatty, well, she could be anywhere but be ready! Cheers scratchie!!!

Welcome to the forum young fella and it's great to see the younger generation embracing the sport of fishing. There are many articles that will help you on this forum and none more informative than the link below. http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=75194#entry534688 Read up, go out and have a go, and we all look forward to you reporting back on your adventures! Cheers scratchie!!!

I'll be out all weekend as it is fish comp week! Look out broughton, here I come! Hopefully the weather is kind to us!

Too easy! Site sponsor!............ http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=74966#entry533685 Cheers scratchie!!!

A one time record breaking fish and cotm! Great work gianni! Cheers scratchie!!!

Sorry, thought I pinned it. Thank you!

G'day Raiders, With the holiday season fast approaching I receive many PM's asking for places to fish LB, ocean, rock estuary etc. I generally respond to all at length and provide as much information as I can to give our members the best possible chance to catch fish. So what I am writing here is an overview of the area and most of the general locations that are productive year round. I do not claim that this will guarantee that you will catch a trophy fish or your bag limits, nor do I claim that I am some fishing god of port stephens (far from it), this is merely a summary to assist any member travelling to port stephens, based on my approximately 20years experience of fishing the area. Estuary and the bay- Probably the most productive place in the bay would be the breakwall in nelson itself. You can catch many species there from bream, luderick kingfish and even jew. This wall offers land based fishing and those fortunate to have a boat can make the most of the deep channels that run off it. The wreck at corlette offers the chance of that elusive jew also and can resemble a carpark this time of year. The bay has many places that you can catch flathead and whiting. Drifting any of the beaches within the bay in 2-5m of water around an afternoon high tide is best time to target flathead. LB fishos can do the same thing walking and casting lures. My favourite lure for chasing flatty is a 100mm bloodworm wriggler or 80mm silver fox. When it's warm, a 5inch jerk shad in pilchard is a killer. The whiting are in numbers year round and most are trumpeter whiting which have no legal size limit and taste the same as their cousins. (sand whiting) Fishing the racks from soldiers point to tiligerry creek will pay dividends on your bread and butter species also. North arm cove is a great spot for these as well, but it may also pay to take a few crab traps when there on as you can be handsomely rewarded. If your trying to hide from the N/E winds can be tough but hawks nest/tea gardens is your best bet and can produce thumping flatty up there, especially with the run of the prawns. I've heard of a few unstoppable jew in 3-4m of water there too around the bridge pylons. Middle Island adjacent the boat ramp also has some deep holes and many of jew have been caught there too. Bait: There are plenty of area's in the bay to collect bait. You can pump nippers at corlette or taylors beach at low tide. The wharf at soldiers point often holds slimies, yakkas and garfish. Squid is any weedy patch within the bay but the most productive spot is shoal bay just before the heads. Live whiting for jew in the bay is gun bait. My theory on fishing the bay is that the bay fishes best 2hrs before low to low. This is when I've caught most of my jewfish especially if it coincides with a low light period. With the exception of the late afternoon flatty session at high tide. Rock fishing- First of all I must say that I practice rock safety and there are many places that are fishable but can change at a moments notice. You can fish anywhere between Birubi Point, Fingal Bay and Tomaree headland. These areas hold a variety of fish and constantly changes with the season. To name a few spots that are the most productive are: cemetery point anna bay, any of the headlands of boat harbor and boulder bay, sunny corner at one mile and of course tomaree headland itself. There are people on this forum with way more experience than me from the stones, so I wont go into methods and techniques but you are able to catch anything from snapper to longtail at some of these locations. Beaches- The obvious stand out for this area is Stockton beach and is 39km long and only accessible by 4wd for the most part. You are able to fish at Birubi and walk up but most of the deep channels are further up the beach. The best area is about 7km north of the signa wreck and is where the most channels are. During the winter months, this is a gun spot to chase jewfish on the run of the mullet. Fingal beach at the spit is a great place to throw lures for flatty and whiting but be cautious with the tide flow and sand banks. Many of tourist have drowned in this area thinking they can walk to the island. The south end of wreck beach and box beach on low light periods will produce salmon and tailor. You can use a variety of baits and lures and is generally a very quiet area away from the crowds. Middle rock at one mile will produce almost anything and can be another great area to target jewfish. I've caught a few there and the channels near the rock itself are worth a shot. The other side is Samuri beach which is another great beach to fish from but it comes with a warning as it is a NUDE beach and only accessible by 4wd. (take whatever tackle you want ) Baits: Beach worms, mullet fillets and pilchards I find are they best baits to use in these areas Ocean- During the summer months if you are heading offshore there are many of places you target different species. The islands out the front of the headlands area great place for a not so confident or new to boating destination for trolling or fishing islands and the washes chasing snapper. In saying this, know your limits! The entrance to the headlands can be a dangerous area to navigate and is known as "the rips". That is because you can often be faced with a southerly wind, an exiting tide and an easterly swell, all bouncing off the headlands and makes it like a washing machine. The islands out front normally hold many bonito and the best method is trolling. The occasional kingfish is caught there, as well as fishing the washes early morning for snapper. Unweighted baits thrown into a burley trail should produce a few. Broughton Island is the go to place, my favourite spots in this area are, the sisters, cod rock and north rock. Other areas worth mentioning are, the gibber, the little gibber, 21 and airforce reefs, the V and the pinnacles. All of these marks can be found in the GPS section of this forum in which I placed a post GPS Marks Port Stephens. The landmines or fish traps east from broughton in about 100-120m of water will hold dollies during the warmer months. Seal rocks is also a great place to fish but remember, it's a long way in a trailer boat and requires a fair amount of fuel. Marlin: Well if you come here to chase marlin then there is no need for any information because your guess is as good as mine! Bait: It is plentiful up here and doesn't require much effort usually. Out the front of tomaree headland 30m near the big crack (mrs murphys) is a great place for slimy and yakkas. There is also bait station at cabbage tree island. Be cautious as this is a sanctuary zone and bait fishing only. No dropping anchor either. Notes: There are many sanctuary zones up here and it is your responsibility to have maps and know the area you are fishing. They are patrolled regulary and my advise to anyone heading offshore would be to have the appropriate equipment as well. Marine rescue operate 24/7 and it is worth checking in before leaving the bay. Don't forget to check off though. Well, I hope that has given you some insight into this area. I'm often out and about in the area's I've just described, so please feel free to say hi or come and join me. I'll be in a haines hunter 470 breeze with SCRATCHIE written on the boat. And please, whether you are land based or fishing from a boat, TAKE YOUR RUBBISH WITH YOU! Tight lines all, Cheers scratchie!!!