hellcorner

I suppose it depends on the type of fishing you do. I use up to 8 lb main line when using soft plastics, 20-30lb main line when reef fishing, and a minimum of 30lb when trolling deep diving lures, mainly due to the bigger loads on the line. The other thing to consider, is that if you are using a lighter leader than the main line, then your drag settings need to be adjusted to the lighter breaking strain. Other people will have other theories and proven methods that work for them, but that's the beauty of fishing, there's always something different that can work one day, and not the next.

Not sure if this helps, a few years ago now, I caught a small hammerhead around 95cm,off a 4 metre boat, fishing near cottage point. A suprising by catch non the less.

As a suggestion, you can get your battery load tested by an auto electrician. I also carry a battery jumper pack on board. I too use the if I need to use it , it's time go home philosophy.

Cool

Nice catch!

Sounds like an awesome day ethan13! I enjoy fishing middle Harbour, always have

It was priceless adamski! You could see the adrenaline kick in! He has caught one that size before, but this one gave him a hard time.

Here's a couple of pics. Thanks for reading Raiders.

You're right scratchie, that's half the battle/fun.

Went fishing with my 12 year old son, he's not really into fishing, he likes exploring the bays, for wildlife ( reptiles generally). He told me that he has never seen a soldier crab, so we launched at Berowra Waters and headed to Refuge bay. While waiting for the tide to drop, we picked a mooring and soaked some baits and got a berley trail going. I flicked some plastics around with no luck other than a missed hit. Put a sabaki on for the young bloke, and the bait fish were everywhere! Including garfish, Very encouraging. My son caught a herring and a yakka, then his first snapper. He was so excited that he caught his first snapper, even though it was the size of his palm. We ended up with a yellow fin bream and a tailor, both a little too small. We moved back near Bar island, and had a quick drift, I caught a 43 cm dusky. That was just landed, & out of the corner of my eye, I saw the other rod twitch. I said" it's yours" My son said "nothing there dad, WOAH , and he winds in a very cranky 43cm dusky! So I called my wife and asked if she felt like fresh fish for dinner. She said she had a roast cooking, so I let them fight another day. I was a bit annoyed that people were fishing on the pontoon when we got back, (they even had chairs out) and bearly moved so people could launch and retrieve without being impeded. Other than that small issue, we didn't let it ruin an awesome day out.

Alot of fun on light gear! Only caught a few of them, I thought they tasted ok. Apparently they are a very good marlin bait.

Around the moorings in sailors and sugar loaf bays can fire up. Pillys and prawns are my choices of bait,, but salted Pillys are better. Berley up with bread crumbs, berley pellets, and cubes of pillies, or a combination of all 3. Target one species, and you could be rewarded with a bag. You could also end up empty handed, but that's fishing. Soft plastics work well there too, Let us know how you went.

Nice!! I think there were reports of them being caught in the Harbour last year. Unusual time of year for them.

I remember seeing this on one of those fishing shows a while ago. They were smearing it onto lures when chasing kingies. They believed at the time, that kingies can't resist it. I've never tried it, but I will if I remember next time.

I've caught them in water approx 8 metres, but have also seen them in 1 metre of water, and that was sandy bottom, but only ever caught them as a by catch on a line. I'd use a bait pin that you can buy in a tackle shop to hold down mullet strips etc. Make sure though that you follow the fisheries guidelines, you are only allowed to use specific nets, and depending on the net type, a specific quantity per licensed person in nsw, but I'm too tired to look atm. I'm not an expert by any means, but catching a feed of blue swimmers is definitely on my to do list over the coming months.

I haven't got any crab pots, but I have caught blue swimmers as a by catch near the spit bridge.

Not at all wish2fish! I honestly don't know what I used, because I have banana boat and a cancer Council sunscreen in the fishing bag. I was fishing at the entrance today, applied sunscreen, and caught bream and flathead. Most were undersize, but got some legals, which were released. Anyway, if only that flathead didn't miss the soft plastic yesterday, if only!

I have seen a coffee vendor on the hawkesbury near parsley bay once. I'd be curious if you could call for a coffee over the airways.

I've caught grinners around Hervey Bay years ago. I was land base fishing in middle Harbour today, and I caught one on a lure today! Had anyone else caught this (apparant useless ) species in or around Sydney?

Hi everyone, just wondering what kind/brand of sunscreen you all use. i know a few anglers refuse to use it,because they believe it puts fish off. just thought this would be an interesting topic. i look for a sunscreen that i only need to apply every 3-4 hours, wear a hat,and a long sleeve shirt, and of coarse the trusty spotters.