Scratchie

G’day raiders, Got a late call up from Woodsy on Sunday arvo and I could tell he was keen for a fish! So we made plans to meet up at 5am and slowly made our way to the bait grounds. Got there and the wind and current were terrible and we struggled for an hour and a half for livies! Managed 4 and said bugger this, let’s go! The water looked nice but as we headed out to the fad conditions deteriorated and we were now in a slightly large swell but the water was good at 25.2. Hopeful of a few dollies we trolled lures and picked up one after the other, all around the 59cm mark. We caught heaps which was great fun but didn’t feed the appetite. Gave up about 10am and trolled lures back to Broughton hoping for a Cinderella bite! No luck there except for another 59cm dolly. So up lures and head to our snaps spot! First drift second cast and the reel starts singing! A good fight and Woodsys required on the net. It’s a cracker and hi5’s all round. Next cast bang I’m on again, another good fish into the bag. A couple casts later and bang I’m onto another screamer! Again Woodsy on the net, now it was just becoming embarrassing still waiting for Woodsy to get a hit. I had to change leader and jig as the last fish almost done me. As I was doing this the wind and drift changed direction but once I’d finished, I cast out and was on again this time it was unstoppable and done me in the shallow water. Damn, I was on a roll. Managed one more at 50cm plus and we decided to move. Next spot, I dropped another and then we moved to our final spot. Second cast and Woodsy finally loaded up and this time it was my turn on the net. Another added. Then Woodsy casts out again, and his reel was screaming. So much so we had to chase this fish! He played it really well and unsure of what it was the tension was high as this thing took line at will. Eventually it gave in and we safely boated and released a thumping Mac tuna. Not bad on a snapper stick! After that we called it quits as a massive storm was approaching! Made it safely back to the ramp as the storm hit. Another cracking day out on the water for Woodsy and I. Gotta love Port Stephens! Thanks for reading, cheers scratchie!!!

Nice fish land based! I’d be pretty stoked seeing those two beauties come up! Well done cheers scratchie!!!

Exactly!!! Hope it’s not too much $$$$

Looks like two keepers there to me Fil. 👍 cheers scratchie!!!

They are good fun! Plenty of them around at the moment. Cheers scratchie!!!

Try Kingsley beach. I may have seen plenty come from there! 🤔

Unlucky Sam! That’s the gamble of game fishing! Port Stephens actually fired yesterday and today with a few boats getting multiple tags in. Trust me, I missed it by one day too! 😩 cheers scratchie!!!

Nice work yowie! A lot of filleting to do there! Cheers scratchie!!!

Welcome to fishraider Mrshodgoes! That’s a fantastic first report and good to see another local join raider! How good is Stockton beach! Plenty to see and do and of course the fishing can be very productive at times! Well done cheers scratchie!!!

Also check the regulations on life jackets. Not sure if they are mandatory yet but it’s coming!

Haha, I live in BoatHarbour! Noamunga point only the left hand side is my local ledge! Anything from tailor, salmon kings snapper bonito you can get there. Plenty of live bait, just burley! Then stick a livey under a float and your a chance of anything! Cheers scratchie!!!

Boat Harbour where??? Port Stephens???

Cheers Jeremy! See ya when you get up here next! 👍

I’ll give you 60 Josh! It was a bit better than I thought when we filleted and released it! 😝

Thanks Donna! I just need an excuse to go fishing and so many of our wonderful members give me plenty of excuses!! Haha 😂 I do really enjoy meeting new people that share the same passion as me! That’s what fishraider is all about!

Haha, bet you don’t Baz!!! 😝

Next time Trav! Try come in winter and we’ll target a couple of snaps!

It was a great day on the water! It was nice to catch up with a couple of Fishraiders that share the same passion for fishing as I do! We certainly fit a lot in for the small amount of time we were on the water! (Wind blew us off by 11am) That snapper you caught was a cracker on sps especially considering the conditions. The mahi were great fun with double and triple hook ups! The seas got pretty nautical at the end there and highlighted the need for knowledge of the area you fish! Definitely call me up next time you head seaside! Thanks for the day! Cheers scratchie!!!

Nice work Trav! I love bass fishing! Haven’t done it for a while but often think about going! Just hard to drag myself away from the ocean! Cheers scratchie!!!

Cracking day out on the water Sam! Nothing wrong with those “pannies” at all. I say that because snapper grow expedentially. You’ll hit a big one soon and see what I mean. I’ve nearly had the rod ripped out my hand a few times! Keep working hard on those beaks and you’ll land another soon enough! Cheers scratchie!!!

That’s the way Craig! Nice mixed bag of species there. Good to see you out and about mate! No snapper? Cheers scratchie!!!

That’s a great report Trav! Quality family time and quality fish too! Well done 👍 cheers scratchie!!!

That was today baz! 20.7kg!

We seen some whales a bit further up north too! Weren’t close enough to get a good look though! Orcas are amazing!