Scratchie

Cheers Yern! Give me a call if you make it up and if I can catch up again I will. No probs!

Thanks Roberta! I always look forward to getting out. I hate when it's along time between drinks!

Thanks. Drifting- I mean in a boat. I try to sound out the fish and work the line into the strike zone. Running sinker matched to current. I try keep it at least 1m from the bottom. The water depth is only 8-10m

Cheers spotie! Merry Xmas to you to mate.

Yeah mate not a bad morning! Don't get to excited but, the water still really cold.

Thanks macca. It's hard to tell the boys they can't come. But I do love taking them!

Thanks mr Groper! Yeah I agree. I was a little under prepared but hey great fun on the lighter gear. Normally I use 50lb minimum but the decky packed the wrong rod!

Cheers witha! Yep have adopted a few. If your up this way give me a bell.

G'day raiders, Made the last minute decision with the eldest boy to head out this morning. With the hectic Xmas period over it was time get a rod bent. With limited time, we set out for Tomaree headland and had a tank of yakkas by 530am. Headed back in to drift the breakwall and first drift zzzzzz, the sound I live to hear! A great little fight followed and we boated my first king. It went just legal at 65cm but returned to fight another day. Second drift was the boys turn....... Just love watching the kids get into the action, the look on their faces as the fish peels line is priceless. It went 63cm and was also returned. A couple more drifts and this time I was onto something big, but my 25lb line was no match for it and it was list very quickly. (Note to self- bring bigger gear next time) The usual boat traffic then started and the kings disappeared with it. We still had enought time to head back out front and try our luck. It was a beautiful sight as we approached the heads. We picked out a reef I've had success on snapper before but could only manage a few small squire, some massive slimies and the boy caught this huge rocky! We trolled the way back in but still no sign of any pelagics about. The water was still only 21.5deg but a heap of bait around. At the boat ramp, some tourist thought he was retrieving the QE2 and had to take up both ramps. So annoying and he was oblivious to the fact until I parked my car right next to him and he couldn't get out the drivers side. Haha Was home by 10am and I'm heading of soon to take the yaks out with the family, might even try wet a line. Tight lines all, Cheers scratchie!!!

Paikea, I have the gopro hero3 black edition. I've had it for 3 months now and I know how to turn it on. Lucky I have 4 children who know how to use it! Lol Sorry I can't help! Cheers scratchie!!!

Good stuff big-Pete! I like your confidence. I hope you brain them up there and look forward to your report! Good luck. Cheers scratchie!!!

Can't beat that feed for Xmas dinner. Well done and fishing a new area for the first time. Very impressive. Cheers scratchie!!!

ESTUARY The bay is alive at the moment with reports of Kingfish busting up from the break wall at Nelson bay to the anchorage.Most fish have been rats with the odd larger fish in between, anglers have been getting up early tossing surface lures from the break wall. There has also been a few salmon mixed in with 15-20g metal lures working well. Sand Whiting have started to show up in numbers with local beaches such as Shoal Bay, Corlette and Jimmys fishing well especially early morning using live beach worms or nippers. Some anglers have also been doing well fishing the flats further up the bay nailing some good sand whiting on surface lures.Speaking of surface lures there are some cracking Bream about the oyster racks towards Karuah. Fishing the high tide tossing surface lures over the racks will have you nailing some good fish. Flathead are still about, good fish up to 70cm around Corlette using the new linker hunt soft plastics. BEACH - Whiting are the man me of the game from the sand. Wreck, Box and Fingal Beaches are all holding quality whiting but it pays to fish first light with live worms or nippers. Samurai is also fishing well with Whiting, Dart and the odd Bream. Birubi through to Stockton is a mixed bag with a few school Jew caught approx. 15-17km down the beach. There have also been reports of some decent Tailor being caught after dark nailing anglers Jewies baits. ROCKS - Despite being summer some of those well known winter species are on the chew. Some nice Drummer around boulder bay with the odd Bream and Luderick thrown in. Around Fingal some quality Squire and Tailor on brined pilchards. Meanwhile throw a squid jig in as plenty of those tasty green eyes have been around most sheltered bays. The points such as Tomaree and one mile are worth a fish especially for tailor and salmon. OFFSHORE - The Marlin season is starting to take shape with a few fish seen, caught and released during the week fishing just inside the shelf due east. I also heard of at least one fish being tagged around the FAD during the week. Speaking of which the Dolphinfish have been a little scarce your best bet would be to troll smaller skirted lures just inside the shelf. Plenty of Trag over the 21 and the V with the odd Jew. Smaller live baits are the key. A few Snapper have been caught over the shallow reefs down towards boat harbour and also in the washes. Good luck to all raiders holidaying in the beautiful port stephens! Cheers scratchie!!!

Pm sent

That's a great fish mate. Well done! What a Xmas present. Cheers scratchie!!!

Merry Xmas raiders! Hope you all have a wonderful day and get amongst the Xmas cheer! I'm sure they'll be a few raiders hanging to try out their new presents. My kids are hanging to take out the double kayak they got and well..... What an excuse to go fishing! Tight lines all, Cheers scratchie!!!

Great stuff Yern! Good to see you getting your beautiful boat out there! By the sounds of it you did ok on the fish with the conditions! Good you for helping out too! Your a good man Yern! Cheers scratchie!!!

No better way to get rid of a bit of extra Xmas cheer than casting a few off the beach! What's even better is you caught a couple! Well done! Cheers scratchie!!!

Awesome stuff David. I'm down here ATM but work to hectic to go fishing, so I'll just enjoy reading your reports instead! Great work! Cheers scratchie!!!

That is insane! Hard enough from a boat! Thanks for sharing Roberta. Cheers scratchie!!!

Was thinking of going away but why you if you lived in paradise! My main target will be a 1m+ king. Few snapper for the barbie, a couple of nice nights on the water chasing some big Jews and then of course, as the marlin move in, I'm moving out! Good luck to you all over Xmas! Tight lines, Cheers scratchie!!!

Land based. Get up at 5 in the morning and go down to Nelson Bay breakwall. There's been kings and salmon busting up everywhere at the end of the breakwall for the past few days. You can access Wanda Headland from foreshore drive (cook street) in Corlette. Or go out to Taylor's beach on a rising tide for whiting and flathead. Good luck Cheers Scratchie!!!

If you want to get the kids onto a few whiting etc. Wanda headland or corlette side of the anchorage but make sure you stay in 3-6m of water. Small running sinker, 40cm leader, small long shank and prawn! You can't miss!

That's great, I haven't lost my mojo! No sorry, that's not great. It was a very disappointing end to a beautiful morning on the water! The water temp was only reading 21.7, maybe the reason for no pelagics! Had something big follow my stick bait up at Broughton but not much else. I'm deleting my fishing almanac app- it said 100% for today! I did manage a nice bream but released it as it wasn't what I was targeting!

That's nuts! Would love to see him carry a 20Kg+ king back from that spot!