RUT

Hey loose lips, you've had some fun haven't you. See you on the weekend - hope to catch a few blackfish with you and make sure you've been a good boy !!

Very good and exhausting read Henry, I was there in the kayak with you, time to relax and get a coffee. Well done. Have only come across Cobia once on a fishing trip to Mornington Island QLD. Your story reminds me a lot of 'The Old Man and and the Sea' story by Ernest Hemingway. Getting a little bit agitated sitting here at work, after reading your story I get a text message from my mate 'Stapo' that he's getting big blackfish 'somewhere in the water', how can I get through the rest of the days work now after all this Time to rig up, good fishing everyone, be safe, don't eat too many easter eggs, cheers Rut

Hey Wayne, Some exceptional fish you have landed this year, well done. Lets hope we all get our fair share in 2017. Will be spending Xmas putting new line on reels, checking float weights etc. Will have a chase blackfish over Xmas not expecting too much, just happy to relax and watch the float drift. Like Green Hornet and yourself, love blackfishing. Cheers Bruce 'RUT'

Hey BA, New gear looks good, did you have it made up for you ? Any details on the rod ? Great story with the fish, healthy looking blackfish. Cheers Rut

Hey b a, Thanks for all your blackfishing reports, I get a little envious of you guys when I check your regular fishing reports. Would like to catch up with guys sometime next year when it cools down a bit, have a fish and chat with a couple of dedicated lovers of the dark art of blackfishing. Merry Xmas to all

Not good reading these reports while I am at work. Well done, good fun catching fish that size. Have a good day gents

Hey Luderick - Angler, Yes I'm thinking I will adopt your rule and keep the 30-35 fish, and you are correct the flesh is much firmer (much better for sweet and sour fish with rice). Cheers LA

Hey 'Blackfish Angler', Some really nice fish you have been catching lately, little envious of the fact that you are actually fishing for blackfish and am not. I am the same vintage as you and just enjoy blackfishing so much, it is both relaxing and frustrating at the same time. It is quite intoxicating watching, and waiting in anticipation for that float to disappear. Blackfishing at The Entrance this winter - the biggest blackfish we have 'heard' about this winter has been a 53cm fish caught by a local called 'Frank' [one of the best fisherman I've come across]. We regularly catch fish in the range of 40-43cm when they are 'on', however, the blackfish have virtually disappeared. That's fishing for you. Have a question for all those chasing the 'big' blackfish, do you keep and eat them ?, I have found the really big fish are not as nice to eat as the smaller say 35cm fish. Just a note for those new to blackfishing, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to 'bleed' the fish well before cleaning/filletting. On the topic of the colour of float tips, I have found fishing into the sun early in the morning with a lot of sun glare etc, a solid black coloured tip works for me, with the flouro orange/pink tips working the best with the sun behind me. Anyway all blackfisherman have their own querky ways of doing things. Will post photos of floats. Good fishing everyone

Couple of nice healthy looking blackfish. Problem with birds extends everywhere. Beach worming and fishing for whiting on the Nth Entrance beach years ago with Stapo, damn crows got into my backpack, opened and drank my pineapple juice - smart birds those crows. Just last weekend a bloody Pelican extended its neck and grabbed one of my 'scaled/gutted blackfish' from under my nose at the cleaning table at The Entrance last weekend - hope it appreciated the effort I made to gut and clean it.

Hey Luke, It was a pleasure to help and introduce you both to the dark art of blackfishing. I am sure Stapo will also add his comments in due course. It was fun for both of us to just help you get a taste of what we both love doing. The other fisherman around us were equally happy to witness you both catching fish, it was a good day. If you get a little more serious we can help out with some advice on rods, line etc. Hope the finger is ok Luke. Good luck Rut

Hey Stevo, Typical haul of prawns for you, nice work. Good catch of lizards also mate, Dwayne looks happy. See you soon, I'm keen to sit and watch a float for a while. Rut

Good to see some good fish being caught. Agree, it is an added bonus when you catch fish and have some good mates to enjoy it with you. Keep chasing that float, cheers Bruce

Very envious John, great fishing. Good luck to you and your mate with future outings. Just one question for you, you don't seem to have bled any of the fish, is there any reason for this ? Have chased blackfish for 50 years and have always bled any fish caught prior to filleting, doing this provides a 'whiter' fillet. I suppose it is something I have grown up doing but I think the fish taste better after being bled ? Cheers Bruce

Hey Dwayney, Well done mate. Between you, Stapo and Frank those poor flathead don't stand a chance - the 'Lizard kings'. So glad the your new boat is working well for you. You handsome devil. See you soon, Bruce

Hey Steve, You three must have been pretty desperate, that's all I've gotta say. Concentrate on your weed mate. Cheers Rut