gregh1

Hi Camo1808, I usually put the boat in at Brisbane Waters around the RIP, Paddys Channel etc and for the most part have been getting plenty of flatties, blue swimmers, squid and the occasional bream and flounder. However the last few weeks has been fairly quiet. I will most likely target the same species as I do at Brisbane Waters unless you can suggest any other species that are on the bight!!! Cheers, Greg

Hi Raiders, I am thinking of trying Tuggerah Lakes on the weekend for a change. It's only 20-30 minutes up the road from me so it would be nice to try a different area. If anyone could offer some tips or their experience in the lake it would be appreciated. Also, does anyone know if crab traps are ok to use up there? Cheers, Greg

At least you had some action mate! Better luck next time.

Really sounds like a day to remember!! Having days like that makes it all worthwhile!!

Thanks OldMate Jon! and Chris certainly is a keeper tef1on!!! I am looking forward to going out this weekend with one of my daughters and her boyfriend.

Headed out nice and early on valentines morning with the wife. I realised since I bought myself a boat I have been out every weekend except one in the last 4 months and most of the time with someone other than my lovely wife. Anyway, got to one of our usual spots and within 5 minutes I had a nice flounder on and a PB for me at 34cm. Between the 2 of us we had 4 lines out... 1 handline for crabs, 2 general fishing rods with mullet and I was flicking 5 inch nuclear chicken. In the past 2 weeks I have not had a touch on Nuc Chicken, I changed to a half a dozen different SPs but no success. It's just the way it goes I suppose. Chris ended up out fishing me as usual with a nice sized blue swimmer and a good sized flattie around 45cm. We had quite a few throwbacks of mainly pinkies and a few bream all just under size. We ended up finishing the day off with a swim across from Lobster on the sandbank. If I had my way I would be out every chance I get but as someone once said "compromise is the key to marriage".

I have been coming from the front with the net so this could be why I have been losing more than I catch. I am not quite sure what the empty berley bottle is about.

Thanks everyone for your insight into crabbing. Always good information on this site. It's always good to have more than one strategy!

Thanks mate!! I have tried that also and have managed a few at times but you have done exceptionally well getting 8 of them. Overall I have lost far more than I end up getting on the boat!! I had some improvement with a longer net but nothing as good as you have had!! The strange thing is I will have a handline over with a large chunk of mullet in the middle of a birds nest and a rod out and they usually seem to go for the rod and thats where I lose most of them. Anyway, I will keep persisting as the wife loves them and so do I.

I don't go after those ones and I certainly wouldn't be sticking my hand in and pray! lol

I will give it a go!!!

That's what I have been doing and having limited success!! Twice the stockings have come up with big holes in them and no fish frames left inside. I am not sure if it is the crabs or fish eating through the stocking.

Well, I didn't want to report as I had a very annoying day on the water Saturday. I headed out with my son in law for his first fishing adventure. The tide was just past low and beginning to run in. There was clound cover and a gently wind. Now, I like the son in law. However, he didn't stop talking for the whole 6-7 hours we were out. Apart from saying things like "is that a bite on your rod" etc etc nothing seemed to distract him from talking. I vowed this would be the last time. Of course by the end of the session in my mind it was his fault we didn't get a good catch! lol Anyway, It seemed to be the day of losing fish and crabs. I dropped about half a dozen blue swimmers within a couple of feet from the surface. I was also flicking my shimano catana graphite with a 3/8 jighead and 5 inch nuclear chicken. I didn't even get a touch the whole day which is unusual. I had another line out with mullet for bait and caught 2 x 36cm flatties which I released. I don't like keeping them unless they are at least over 40cm. We also caught around 6 pinkies all 20cm or under and released, 1 female blue swimmer released. I managed to get 1 decent blueswimmer to take home. We came home and washed the boat and while I was driving the ute into the garage I accidentally snapped the top of the catana rod off. Keeping in mind this is the rod and reel I bought to replace the last shimano combo when I left it on the back rod holder of the boat and after coming in it was not there. So off I go to get yet another graphite for flicking soft plastics. Just one of those days!!!

G'Day Raiders, Just wondering if anyone has ever heard of catching crabs with a stocking and soap. I was talking to a colleague yesterday and they swear by it. It doesn't appear to make sense to me. I can't see the link between crab and soap but hey, I am willing to try it. Interested in others thoughts on this!! Cheers, Greg

A couple of nice fish there mate!! What did you catch the flattie on and also the whiting?

That's awesome!

Hi Raiders, You never know what to expect when going fishing. Just because you caught a heap of fish a certain way doesn't necessarily mean you will replicate the same on another occasion. Last week I caught heaps of flatties on 4 inch nuclear chicken. Today I went to the same spot and didn't even get a touch with NC. I ended up catching a 54cm flattie on mullet so I get to eat fresh fish tonight! Sorry no pics this time!! I have been trying to target blue swimmer crabs using a hand line with a birds nest and heavy lead. I went to the trouble of buying an extendable landing net 2.1m so I could get down deeper in case or should I say WHEN they fall off. I have lost many more than I have been able to catch. The smaller net I have just couldn't get under them and they kept letting go about a foot or more from the surface. Well, we still lost about 6 today but ended up getting 3 large keeper males and 1 release female. So the longer net appears to have made some difference. We were out from 6.30am until 2pm and other than small throwbacks all fish and crabs were caught by 10am. Another good day on the water! I would have liked to go again in the morning but the wife has plans for me. I will be hanging out until next weekend!!

Great story! I also thought "WOW" he really has caught the fish of a lifetime at the RIP!! With over 100 feet deep of water you never know what you might catch down there! Congrats to Di for the fantastic catch!!!

I used to go fishing for garfish with an ex girlfriends dad some 35 years ago. He was an old chinese australian guy who had fished for them for years. We would smoke them and eat them bone in and they were very nice. We just used to use handlines with light mono line, no sinker and very small hooks with a small bit of prawn on. Always had a burley trail going and I can remember catching heaps of them. From memory they put up a fight and jump all over the place. We usually anchored up close to a weed bed and fished just off the weed. The spot we used to go to has now changed. The weed has gone and it is just sand now. The spot was on the sandbank just up from Wagstaff wharf. Thats about all I can remember! It was a long time ago!!.

That's a hell of a boat mate! Looks perfect for fishing. Plenty of room! Congrats! How old is the hull?

A couple of good sized bream there mate!!! Enjoy!!!

I notice you regulary thank raiders for including the date in the title. Just wondering what the main reason is for wanting to know the dates. Are you compiling some sort of database? Cheers!!

Mate that sounds like a really trying day!! Congrats on your persistance in getting the flattie!! Hope the wife got better!!

Hi Meg, Thanks to the help of other raiders and especially central coast 795 I seem to be doing ok at the moment. In 2 weeks time I will be starting work at midday Mon - Thur so I should be able to get a bit more time on the water fishing. We have been catching flatties drifting but on this occasion I was anchored. I will definitely be out this weekend hanging in the brisbane waters usually up around paddys or the rip. Cheers,

Good on you for releasing her mate!! That fish looks like it is on steroids!! lol