ross patti

Hi Raiders, I was fishing in the Bay on Sunday, and noticed the usual 435 boats giving Moli point a good working over. The surprising thing was a Police boat with about 8 officers dressed in what looked like flak jackets and riot gear. They seemed to be checking some boats, but it didn't look like a safety inspection. It looked more like a full-on search for drugs, bombs, or God knows what. Were any fellow raiders checked by these guys, or know what the story is ?? Happy hook-ups . ..

Hey numbnuts . . . I love your tagline . . . I heard a jew weighing just under 14kg took out the main prize, followed closely by another at over 13kg. But only believe half of what you hear . . .

Good intentions are a wonderful thing, but . . . . . the processes involved in producing a mat that ticks ALL the boxes and especially survives the demands of a sun/saltwater environment are far more complicated than simply printing a bloke's name onto a spare piece of banner vinyl. There are multiple trade processes to make up each mat. And they co$t. It's great that his mate has printed a mat for him, and a shame that salmon wasn't a jew . . . . But yes, it did make a good sized butterflied bait .

And both fish were P.B's for you. ! That's gotta count for something . . .

Hi all, Just a quick tale about my trip to the bay yesterday. Very pleasant conditions all morning, and a few fish as well !. I finished up taking home a nice feed of Flatties, Bream, Flounder and Trevs. 2 of each, 3 flounder. Nice sized flounder, too. Got them drifting around near the sticks. At the end of a great day on the water, I got the best surprise of the day at the ramp. A quick chat to a fellow boatie saw him proudly show his catch to me. 3 of the bream he had must have been 1.5 - 1.7kg each. He didn't measure them in front of me, but I reckon they would have ranged from 45cm - 48cm. Big, bronze, fat, thick bream. Horses. The biggest one had number plates. They were huge, I tells ya. Didn't even think of taking a photo . . his fish, not mine . . .. Funnily, he didn't get around to telling me were he got them . . . . but they are in the bay. I felt good knowing there are bream of that size in the bay, and it is now my quest to find 'em.

Yeah !! it's about the size of a perfect table I have at home. Nice fish.

I feel your pain bmp. After seeing my favourite productive spots in the Hawkesbury return nothing but effin catfish too , I have given up on it for this summer at least. No more 1hr drive, no more $25 petrol getting to the ramp. I'm going to Botany bay now, have been 3 times and come home with a good feed every time ( and still am learning with each trip) . Only takes me 30 mins/<$10 juice to get to the ramp. No bloody catfish either !!! The wind can be a bit of a pain, but then again it was on the HR too ! It's also a pleasure to with a running sinker less than 3.5cm diameter !! Good luck !!

A quick update . . . I went for a fish in the Bay yesterday ( Monday 21/12). Started at anchor off the runways, then did a few drifts with the gale from the North pushing me along. I'm amazed how bad the Bay gets chopped up. I finished up taking home a 34cm Whiting, a Trev about the same size, and a 52cm and a 47cm Flathead. Put back a few undersize pinkies,flathead and whiting as well. 3 or 4 of the juv snapper would have gone 27cm. If they hang around, in a few seasons we'll be catching 1.5kg squire in the Bay !. Thanks to all who gave me some tips. I hope to put them into action over the next few trips. I'll keep an eye on the wind forecast. It gets messy out there in 13 - 15 knots !. Thanks again, hope to post again soon, maybe some pics next time. Merry Christmas and a very fishy New Year to all

Shadda, thanks for the tip about the Kurnell ramp. I was going to have a drive over there sans boat to check it out. Anroco, your not in the same boat as me. Yours is much newer . Sorry, couldn't resist. If you like, we could have a race or something to decide the King of the 4.3's on the Bay. Again, kidding. At least we are all learning a few more spots to try. I'll keep an eye out for you poaching on my new fishing grounds On the subject of boat ramps, I launched last Saturday at Kogarah Bay. No probs putting in ( high tide ), but when I went to go home, the ramps were high and dry, with a couple of metres of sand between the end of the ramp and the water. The only one that was still in touch with the water was the southern most ramp that is used by the sailing club. They were having their kiddies Xmas party, and cars were parked everywhere, but at least there were no yachts in the water. It was an epic adventure to manouvre the rig between cars parked in the shade, kiddies, nannas, poppies, scooters, etc, etc, etc. The key is to arrive and depart at half tide. Maybe that is the trick with Kurnell as well. I think I'll try the shiny new one at Foreshore Drive. And finally, how far off Brighton do we drift for flatties ???

Hey Andrew, I just went thru the exercise of down-sizing my battery. Picked up a "sealed" 12v, 7AH battery for $40 from DSE. It is the battery that they use for house alarm back-up. It's rechargable. I've seen them on a popular online auction site for about $32 inc delivery. I have a Garmin FF120 and it draws about 0.5 A/H, so it lasts ages before a recharge. Good luck, Rosco

Thanks for all the tips guys, and the pm's. In just one day, i've got about 5 areas to explore. Very much appreciated. A quick story about 6lb trace . . . Sunday arvo went for a quick C&R hardbody session on Parra river near Newington on a mate's boat. He's catching all the fish ( using 6lb trace). I caught 1 flatty ( using 12lb trace). After I stole a metre of his 6lb off him, I got around 6 fish in the next 10 casts. I'm a convert. I love how you can fish light in the Bay. No more 3cm ball sinkers !! . I'm looking forward to drifting some well presented baits down a berley trail, and not have them turned inside out by the tidal flow !!! I do have one of those maps, but usually rely on them as a guide to depths, rather than a fishing bible. I must be getting sceptical. Of course, once I get spooled by a hoodlum on my 6lb bream gear . . .I'm gonna want to know some kingie spots Thanks again everybody . . . I'm looking forward to giving it a bash. I hope to be posting lots of brag stories real soon !!!

Hi Raiders, Long time reader, first time poster. Great site with lots of friendly fisho's. I have a 14ft tinny and have spent the past couple of seasons catching catfish and the odd bream in the Hawkesbury. I've avoided the Bay because of wind chop, lack of familiarity, etc. The time has come to give the Bay a red hot go this summer. I'm sick of the hour drive to the HR, and coming home empty handed. I usually fish live worms or nippers, and can handle a plastics/hard bodies outfit. I'm happy to go home with a few flatties, bream or whiting. Most times, I'm happy just to be out there !. I'd love a helping hand with a few spots to start out in the Bay. Everybody says to drift for flatties" off the beach at Brighton" . . . but how far out ? 50m, 100m, 800m ???. And "off Towra" . . . again, how far off ? in the weed, on it's edge, nowhere near it ?? If one of the experienced Bay fisho's could sling me a pm, that'd be great. Thanks in advance . . . . look forward to posting the story of my first successful trip soon !! Happy hook-ups . . . Rosco