crystalliser

Sounds like a nice session mate. Not surprising they're on the chew especially after those rains. Cheers

Holy Moly!!! That's a stonker! Well done on that and especially on top water, great stuff! Cheers

Hey Jeff, congrats on your 2008 first man! What a cracker!!! I haven't been getting quality of late man, bugga! I reckon u need to upsize your tackle box man, the one I saw it's too small to store your impending collection of hbs for sure! Lol.. Cheers, Ronald

Well done on that quickie session.

Bugger that! If only that metre mama would have hold on a little longer, I'm sure your old man would've a chance of netting it! Anyway, that's still good fishing, well done! Cheers

Howdy raiders, how's everyone doing? Here's a few short reports of my previous landbased breamin' escapade including a recent sesh where I met a fellow raider, Plastic Fantastic. Headed out on a few occassions to IC and to tell the truth, it's been pretty hard work! Fished the outgoing 2 weeks ago after some big rains and was having a ball catching smallies on the gulp worm till when the shrimps started skittering (not the frenzy jumps which usually suggests schools of tailor working). A random thought of changing to a Megastriked bloodworm wriggler and straight up on the 1st cast a just legal bream. Next cast to the same spot and with a few twitches, *clunk* and off it goes (30+ don't usually muck around ). Stradic had some morning workout and up came yet again, a harrowingly landed 36cm breambo. That pretty much sum up the sesh. Got a new toy recently and was very keen to christen it. My good mate and fishing partner-in-crime, nzwarriors, bought me a roll of Unitika Mebaru PE which I gotta say till now, seemed like a better line than that hopeless Yamatoyo Famell PE sitting on the stradic. For some unknown reasons, the hardbodies this season have been struggling real bad. Still, it didn't deter me to use them when the right conditions presents itself. Chuck on a recent acquired LC clutch MR and began working it parallel to the shore since it was a rated 1m diver. Bang.. on the 1st cast and midway cranked it goes off. The lure lose it's virgin to a 27. Got a 47cm flattie on a camo worm and that was about it for a really tough day trying to christen the reel, bugga! Had two days off work and I thought I should make the best out of it by you know what... fishing! Was struggling with the wind and dropped fish till out of the sudden, someone shouted "RONALD!". Great, saw a fellow raider (Plastic Fantastic) and made our acquaintances. And so we fished side by side, sharing tips and memorable captures. The wind was hampering us and as soon as the tide was starting to race out, Jeff suggested a change of spot and I gladly recommended a favourite spot of mine not too far out. Changed to a 2inch gulp mullet in pseed and on the first cast was rewarded with a smallish bream. Jeff was commending how good the pseed colour was and sure it was mate! Anyway, on the 2nd cast, I was simply doing my usual and right about midway, the steez was locked-n-loaded. It wasn't until when the fish came right close to the bank when it did the 'bream-escape' thingy. Left hand side it goes and the drag was singing a ratchet tune. Zzzzz.... ah.... orgasm man... Ok, too early to be celebrating, as Jeff was in the background telling me to back off my drag. Yup, the fish had ran towards a visible pile of tree branches! By the time I could shift my position, the deadlock had begun, the fish had snagged! I could instantly feel the 5lb nitlon rubbing the branches but after some intense moments, it came out again! Phew! This time round, it went out a bit, and I could easily play the fish. Caught a quick glimpse and turned out to be a good size breambo. Then, this fish must had taken goat weed or something, as it powered back up to the branches AGAIN! Great... by now, the leader was wrapped around the twigs as I couldn't skull it out. Jeff, being a good samaritan bloke, took off his shoes and came slushing through the wet pavement to help me break off the twig as I lift that bloody irritating branch out. He was even kinder by helping to take this pic! Thanks Jeff! You're a bloody legend mate! It was put on the lie detector and measured 35cm. Released the breambo and thanked it too for giving the new toy a good workout, lol. Got a call from my mate to bring his boat for servicing and so left Jeff there to continue his pre-work fish. It was great meeting you Mr Plastic Fantastic, till next time eh mate.. Take care! Cheerios Ronald

Good 35breambo u got there Jeff. Never really try much around the IC bridge area but seemed like it's producing the goods for u. And I thought that area is quite deep but still you could still manage a popper-caught bream, well done mate! Cheers Ronald

Congrats on your stonker bream and your dad's big reddie, well done! Cheers Ronald btw, what rod n reel combo were doing the damages?

Congrats on that thumper! 1st cast wonder.. how good is that! I see that the gold laser pro did the trick in that discoloured water, good on ya! Cheers

Cheers guys The next time when I'm gonna have XO pipis, that nuclear chicken gulp will come into my mind

How's it going raiders? Apologies for not posting up reports for quite sometime as I've been lazy. Anyway, it's been a pretty ordinary spring fishing for me but a couple of odd good sizes here and there. Knowing that I had to put up with the heat and extreme UV rays and not to mention those comando-trained flies, the itch had to be cured somehow. Pop'ed into IC last friday arvo to catch the incoming tide. 1st cast had me a small flattie but the watermelon bm soon lost its tail to bastard toads whom like to roam in the hot-arvo-sunlit waters. Decided to use a Gulp which I haven't had much confidence in using, the nuclear chicken 3inch minnow. Being a bulky lure, it was rigged up on the Nitro 1/24 which I had got it surprisingly at our local friendly superstore with their usual fishing sale. At one point, I felt a bite and straight up, it snagged. Managed to eventually pull it out and to my astonishment, a pipi (that's what I thought it was) had 'eaten' the lure! That's right.. the jighead was clamped! Oh well, a new specie on lure for me! Lol. Got sick of losing tails to toads and hb'ing was next. I was sensing this session to be plague by flatties and it didn't take long to make it happen. The Cultiva Mira Shad was taken quite near the bank by an angry 46cm flattie which provided some fun. With the tide starting to ebb, I switched back to a new watermelon bm and began working the open waters. As the wind was moderately hampering the 'feel', I just gradually raise the rod and wind up the slack quickly. Somehow a free-roaming fish didn't mind this un-finesse approach and took the bm with gusto. With the line peeling at an alarming rate and the line was guided up to the surface, mullet was the first thing to come into my mind. It did had stamina and no doubt I had a blast playing this bugger. Up came a 35cm bream instead! Released this fish with my R.E.S.P.E.C.T seal of approval. Packed it up soon as the heat was getting unbearable. Went for another fish this arvo but to find that the strong north-easter wasn't helping. Thought I'll just stuck around for a few cast. Tried hb'ing for not a single touch and so sp was the go then. Moved to a stretch that somehow allow the wind to assist the casting. Usually I wouldn't use a lighter head but with the low high-tide, I didn't care less. 1st cast caught a small bream. Then on the 2nd cast, the lure was crunched on a slow drag-n-jerk retrieve. This one went on a ballistic run and the rod was buckling over bigtime. A nice 39cm was harrowingly landed. Taken on a 'jointed' (superglued from bits and pieces, cheapskate.. I know) camo worm which seemed to wiggle more naturally than new ones from packet. Released the big girl and tried to continue but the wind was gusting hardout and I thought enough fun was had so packed it up and left. Till next time raiders, tight lines! Cheers, Ronald

Thanks for the comments guys. Yes, I do love my night luring but it seemed like those massive 2m tides during the winter months were no longer the case as the weather warms up. Well, the angler had to adapt to any kind of conditions, after all, I'm a self-professed fishing-slut. With the current highs around the late morning periods, I pop'ed into the cooks for some super quickies before a much-hated work commitments later in the arvo. Rigged up a worm on a 1/22 gama head and it was looking to be suitable for the fast outgoing current. Casted up against the current to let it work naturally down as I twitch it, and it seemed to allow me more control and cover a fair bit of ground as well. The bastard toads still managed to bite a few chunks and so changed to a new GULP I've recently purchased. It's the 2.5" Mullet in pseed (same as the 2" grub but in the saltwater version). Had earlier seen a school of mullets cruising upstream and moments later, there were some boils. Decided to check it out and fired a cast past some mangroves before the gulp was met with some ferocious bites on the drop. Good stuffs me reckons and on the 2nd cast, the lure was creamed on the 2nd twitch. The drag was dangerously loose and had me worried a bit. Luckily the fish didn't turned to the mangroves and I could gain some momentum before tightening the drag. The real battle then started when it was virtually feeling like a deadlock, with the copious amounts of headshakes and stiff resistance, my arms were starting to get sore on a lightweight flickstick. This fish was smart, using the down current to its advantage, and I still didn't know what it was! (at some point of time I was thinking about a jew, lol ) With the catch clock counting to what felt like an eternity, I risked breaking the rod tip by hoisting this blurter up seeing there was no way of reaching it. My personal best Silver Trevally of 46cm (tape measured due to maxed out ruler) with a fight that will take a long time to forget. Released the bugger much to the joy of the local residents that makes it a more special day. Caught a flattie on the mullet before having to rush for work. Being off from work the next day, I couldn't resist the kind weather had put on a show and headed back to the same spot. Looking at the surface debris and knew that the current wasn't that strong. Rigged up a worm on 1/24 nitro and casted around the mangroves where I got the trev. 3rd cast in and I was on after a few jiggles. Line was peeling from the Stradic and this fish fought well. Couple of good runs and up came a 33cm breambo. As usual, released the fish after a few snaps and was back onto the luring. But that was it, as the session went quiet for a few hits and misses. Left early too due to another commitment in uni. All in all, it was good to be out even for a short while just to flick some lures and anything that comes along are just the bonuses. Tight lines! Cheers Ronald

Very...

G'day folks. Just got my car back from the mechanic and extremely keen to harrass the local bream population. With the high tides around early evenings, quick flicks were in order straight after work. The winds sometimes could prove to be a pain but it didn't deter me trying to use 1g jigheads. The custom IMX had no trouble casting super light jigheads and best of all, I prefer twitching it as compared to my Blackhole. To sum it up, the action was pretty crisp. As usual, the Gulp would be used as my landbased fishseeker. First cast was already met with ferocious bites but luckily the worm stayed intact. On the 2nd cast, things got interesting when I could feel something had taken it on the drop. Off it goes the 1st run and I thought it's just 'some' fish. Only when it started to offer some resistance and steady line-peel, that's when I realised it might be a good fish. Indeed it was and a 38cm breambo was harrowingly landed. It's been quite awhile since I've last experienced a good fight. Had some dramas trying to release that bugger when it took quite a fair time to revive it but after a long wait and constant flushing of its gills, it managed to swim away, phew! Caught a few more breams before calling quits. Made a prior arrangement with nzwarriors to give a good flogging of our flick stiks and off we went to the same place. Did the usual and wouldn't you believe it, another good fight was earned. It wasn't taken on the drop but the usual bream tactics did the trick. Zzzzz off it goes and the Loomis handled it well, the only complaint I've got is that there was more fun on my lighter Blackhole. Still, can't beat that crisp feeling. Another good fish of 36cm was landed. Thanks to nzwarriors for a few happy snaps and back into the drink the breambo went. Thereafter, the both of us scored a few smallies before everything just went quiet. Whilst chilling out with my mate and talking shites, there was a take on the LC Tango and this thing went quite berserk. Couple of good runs and heaps of headshakes had me thinking a good flattie. After a good decent tussle, the headtorch shined a pretty nice sized whiting. Went 38cm and bugger it, I thought that was my pb-breaker. It certainly fought better than my past encounters of the same kind. The tummy growled and grabbing a feed was looking more likely than continuing. Till next time, tight lines raiders.. Cheers, Ronald

Holy mutha that's a serious croc! Bloody well done mate A definite FOTM contender! Cheers ron

Cheers guys. top breamer: We were fishing upriver from princes hwy. Tight lines everyone..

Hi raiders, it's been a long while since I've posted anything. Due to a job commitment and my car out of action, I was basically MIA from the fishing scene. Went to Fishfinder on Sunday with nzwarriors to collect our custom built rods which consists of GLoomis 842 blanks, Fuji and recoil guides, and customised Matagi grips. It was a mad built by Tony and Shane, bloody terrific! As we were very keen to try out our new toy, I arranged with my mate, powersalt, to have a flick and decided to head over to the cooks. Powersalt was on the scoreboard 1st with a small bream on a pak rat. With the hb not getting any action, I made the switch to the camo worm seeing nzwarriors was having some success with it. Suddenly saw my slack line moving and in no time the line went tight. This was the fight I have been missing out for weeks and what a feeling! The Loomis performed well and soon I was able to subdue it and it went 30cm. Managed another small bream too. Out of the sudden I heard the tierra was singing and turned around to see nzwarriors Loomis was fully loaded. To our amazement it was a rather huge bream and I told him that's the pb-breaker. Just as it was below our feet, the hooks pulled! Nzwarriors was spewing, as the hook point broke. But not to worry, as it turns out to be his day eventually. The same thing happened when I heard his drag and ran over to see the commotion. Just as the fish was brought up to the surface, he cried out baby jew and indeed it was! Helped my mate to lip grip it and it maxed out my ruler! The tape measure showed 44.5cm and it's his 1st jewfish caught on a lure. What a way to christen his new rod. Well done bro! A few infant flatties were caught as well and powersalt did managed a few and some breams too. As we were too burnt and tired, decided to wrap up and head over to Fishfinder again. It was powersalt's 1st time there and he literally bought heaps of sx40s, sure made Tony happy! For those who liked the looks of the Matagi custom grips, Tony has the goods and I must say, his TX carbon blanks are starting to make us save up, again! Cheers Ronald

Jeezz... I'm green with envy. Well done Grant! Cheers Ronald

mate! Good onya to spend your birthday this way. Some beaut flatties there. Cheers

I actually got a 2nd reel for another new rod I'm getting. Just thought of giving Shimano a go as they seemed to have a louder clicker. I still love my Kix heaps. Daiwa still triumphs in terms of the construction, bloody solid hands down. Pardon my ignorance as I've absolutely no idea what's this 'wet' and 'dry' drags you're talking about. I've absolutely flogged my kix to da max, it's not sticky for sure. *fingers crossed*

Well done Jeff, your PB is better than mine. Seems like the trevs are out and about IC atm. I got one 37cm last night. Keep the reports coming in! Cheers

My sessions are practically random, but of course when the right conditions presents itself, yeah, i'll always try to cure the itch. Yup, still visiting those areas. Ha, I'm just mucking around with the pic, no particular reason. I actually don't mind cold conditions, no flies and barbequed skin!

Hi all. Have been waiting out due to the previous wet conditions here but as soon as the sun was out, I needed to get my fix. The baro was quite high but didn't fluctuate much. Could clearly see the mini shrimps chilling out without any predators harrassing them at all, not good.. Had some cheap Gama jigheads to try out and thus sent a camo worm down to suss out a snag. One big pull was felt but failed to connect. The worm was ripped out and that certainly felt like a good fish. No worries, put on a wriggler as I never believe sending the same lure into the same spot. Not on the drop this time but couple of twitches and it went off. It didn't run into cover nor pulled much line at all, though it certainly felt heavy. It went 39.5cm. As soon as it got dark, the surface commotions started. Switched to hb and continued. Couple of casts later, the tango came on tight. Not much line peeling but could sense heaps of shakes. This flattie went 64cm on my tape measure. Although the feeding frenzy was rampant, I could only manage 2 more breams on the tango before calling quits. Went off on another session with nzwarriors with us both managing 2 breams each on sps. I did score a good whiting. Measured 38cm. Not the best in quantity sessions but the qualities made up for it. Tight lines raiders. Cheers, Ronald

Nice pair of EPs Iceman, well done! I've never caught these before. Cheers

G'day folks. Here's a couple of picks to share on this week's night luring escapade. A mate called for movie plans and I thought I might head down to a nearby spot I haven't been for donkey ages, whilst waiting for him. Arrived to an irritating sou-westerly which meant that I could only cast at one angle away from the drain. The slow start and that bloody cold "almost freeze my (u know what) off" wind made me wanna pull the plug. Then I thought luring was supposed to search for fish and not wait for them to come whack the lure?! Ok, cast awkwardly against the wind and began getting hits at the shallow part of the drain mouth. Just as I tried to megastriked the LC Tango, the wind died! Sweet! Next cast and I'm on. Only a baby. A quick look on the watch meant that I've only had less than an hour of fishing. Few casts later I scored the best fish for that night, going at 29cm. I realised that as soon as a cast went out of angle by few degrees, I wouldn't get any hits. It has to land on that sweet spot. There sure was a school down there. To convert the hits to hookups meant that I had to megastriked the hb bigtime. The next fish was the most interesting bream I've ever saw! There's net-damaged dorsal fin and a tail that doesn't forked! All up for that night I managed to bring up 6 breams, though smallies but can't complain for a 10-minute-1-fish frequency. With a cool and breezeless late-winter night, I was down by the water again at a different spot. Put on my night-time confidence lure again (Mr Tango) and began noticing from the PE that the current was racing. Sweet, I might be doing a sweeping search. Few casts later, the Stradic went off just as the lure was near my feet! 2 runs later it was subdued, but I had a bloody hard time trying to land this bugger. I can't believe this 34cm bream could flatten the treble and once again, Owner, u sure know how to earn my dough! Had a funny take and straight up I could recognise the tussle, Flattie! It has been a long wait for them. It measured 42cm and actually put up quite a good tussle. Had a few half-hearted hits before Stradic went ballistic on this hookup! It certainly fought better than the previous bream. Although a mere 30cm bream, but was released with my R.E.S.P.E.C.T. seal of approval. Noticed some panicky shrimps on the bank fringe and tried to jiggle the hb parallel. Couple of hits here and there with a dropped fish and a baby landed. Knew they were schoolies feeding and so left them alone. The tide was going out and after persisting for awhile more with no more hits, that was it. Cheers Ronald