SgtBundy

The bream seem to like the garlic/Parmesan chicken. I found it likes to coat and stink up everything in contact with it. But it seems to work and my Dad uses it near exclusively for bait now Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you don't mind the trip, Spit bridge and the surrounding bays have a few locations easily accessible, fairly sure there are bus stops there.

Would like to know why I couldn't hold the hookup but I had no expectation of getting anything, so it was good to have some action. Saving my efforts for next weekend with the evening high tides. Keen for that jewie Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

With the family duties done for the day and a mullet left over from Friday nights lack of activity I went out to have a go on a beach somewhere, with the low tide and recent lack of activity I was not counting on anything but figured it was at least a little daylight to see what I am doing for a change and work on my casting. Also I wanted to scout out new locations while I had some daylight left. Ended up parking at Newport and going to the north end of the beach. It was near the bottom of the tide and it was pretty flat so I figured I would just have a go up until dark just to see what happens. I didn't have much faith in my larger mullet chunks being hit on so I left that out on the rod holder and used my 7ft ugly stick + sienna 2500 combo to throw out some smaller pieces for any whiting that might have been about. Had some hits on that but just being picked at. Not much activity until just on dark when I got some tapping on my heavy kit. Checked it out and thought it was maybe some bream picking apart the fillet. I then get a thump, and the line starts streaming off with the drag racing - I had it set so light while it was in the holder that I couldn't even strike it, by the time I clamped it up it was off. When I retrieved it seems like something attacked the fillet dead centre between the two hooks, I am guessing it just wasn't letting go which is why I didn't get a hook up. Did the drag up better for the next go. A little more excited now I had some interest I put out another fillet. I had cut larger chunks figuring I had limited time and no real prospect so I might as well use it up, so I didn't have much of the mullet left. Again I got another good hit but just could not get the hook up. By this point I only really had a few thin strips left, plus the tail/spine with some flesh on it. I cut the tail off so it was a large slab and put that out, throwing in the head hoping to put some scent into the area. Fairly quickly I got a good solid take, I tried setting the hook, had pressure on it and in the dark saw something breaking the surface in a large way, but as I tried bringing it in I got dropped. When I brought it in the fleshy part had been clearly bitten, jaw pattern, teeth marks, but it was still intact mostly. I reset the hooks and put it out again. A few minutes later same action, big take, I strike, start retrieving but get dropped, almost like it was just spitting it out. When the bait came back it was cleanly bitten through, mullet spine and all. I figure it was a small shark, the surface splashing was clearer this time and at a guess it was in the 2-3ft size. Sent out what I had left but with no further takes and needing to get home for dinner I called it a night. So for not expecting anything at all it got a little exciting there for a bit!

Time to contribute to this thread I think, seeing how useful and helpful this site has been for my recent resurgent fishing activity. My name is Adrian, currently living in the north west of Sydney and just turned 34. I have been fishing on and off since I was knee high, with one of my earliest memories being throwing handlines off a wharf at Eden when I was about 4. I grew up in Pimlico in northern NSW right on the Richmond river, and so many time during my childhood my mate and I would chase bream and flathead on our own, or when his time permitted, out with Dad doing the odd go at tailor from the surf. Dad also being a fisherman with his grandfather from the moment he could hold a rod. For a long time since leaving home I just have not had the time or gear to do any fishing, mostly borrowing some of my Dad's kit on holidays or heading out every now and then with my kids so they could go fishing with 'Poppy'. Earlier this year I got fed up with being teased by fishing shows and decided to get my own gear and start having a go in earnest. I loved it when I could have a crack but generally did poorly, so I wanted to try and learn more and get into it properly. Having grown up on just bream, flatties and the odd tailor I also wanted to have a go at the other species on offer down here in Sydney. To my wifes chagrin I now have a small arsenal of lures, gear and I am constantly begging for permission to get out and have a go. I am now dead set on the idea of cracking my first jewfish and kingfish and looking forward to the first fish I actually have to fight to land Loving this site and the wealth of knowledge, helpful advice and sense of community it has.

Couple of hours at Blues point for nothing either, same for another guy who was already set up there. One day I will figure out this moon phase/tide stuff Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Out here since 7:40 to 10:00, not a touch. Changing camps to the harbour to try my luck there Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's busy out with fishermen, not much on the fish though Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, was planning to go up that end today. Hopefully out there around 8ish.

Bad luck there. I had been gearing up all week to plan to go out to Narrabeen last night to have another go at jewies, but spent most of yesterday fuming because I had to cancel that. Sounds like I might have saved a bung trip then Hoping to head out tonight and have a go - been itching all week to get out

I was considering packing up to go surf fishing for the high tide, and probably would have gone up there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have plans Sunday so negotiated to get my fishing fix in Friday night. Plan was to go out baitless, just some bread to get yakkas and use lives on the high tide around 04:30. Headed out will all new new gear I got to run livies (aerator, big bucket, rod holder so I could use my light rig while the heavy one was out ). Got to Balmoral jetty and no yakkas about, tried for 45 min to raise them but nothing shows up. Decided to go to spit bridge to try for squid but as a backup picked up some servo pilchards and prawns on the way. Setup at spit bridge around midnight but saw no squid activity. Had a go but being my first squid attempt I was probably not doing it right. Setup my heavy rig with a full pilchard on a paternoster rig and sent that out based on the vain hope something substantial would show up. Started using my lighter rig to put prawns under the bridge but the current just kept taking it to get snagged. Went through a lot of gear due to that damn weed. Kept this going all night up to the high tide figuring if a jewie would show up for my pilchard it would be then. Some others pulled a few little squid and one guy got a large puffer fish. Don't think I got a hit the whole night. Once the tide changed I figured I would try up to sunrise just to see if that changed activity but nothing. Called it over around 6:30 and headed home. So a very tiring, cold, frustrating trip out. Now wishing I pulled that sickie on my birthday this week and used that nice day instead. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I plan to ask/beg for a full Saturday as the kids have a bye this weekend. Been itching to go for the last two weeks but between a work hours change and the logistics and tide times I just have not had the chance. One way or another I am wetting a line this weekend! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had a co-worker tell me about trolling a small piece of PVC with a straw in it behind his kayak while he goes for a paddle. He uses it to catch kingfish

In the cartoons it was always catching an old boot or rusty can. I thought it funny when what I thought was a good bream turned out to be such a classic fishing fail: rusty tin can. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I caught my first squid on chicken targeting bream at Balmoral Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I swear there is a snag near the spit bridge that runs out, grabs my line, then runs back to where it lives. Always seems like a run to begin with and then its plain obvious its not moving.

Was looking to get a brag mat after realising most of my catch photos tend to be without scale. I found the regular ones in the shops a little over priced but found these on the DPI website: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/info/catch-and-release/mat For about half the price of the tackle shop and large camping chain ones, including postage, they seem alright. I plan to order one next week. Just sharing if anyone else was looking for a cheaper one. I also like the idea of supporting the DPI fisheries rather than large camping chains.

Graeme Connors - A little further North Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was considering going for tonight's high tide but was not going to get there in time by the time the kids were all settled. Maybe tomorrow night, really itching to have another go for a jewfish. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Shore based kings - is it pretty much luck of the draw or is there anything special that can be done to increase chances?

That's the one Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Land based for now. One day might get a Hobie but not anytime soon Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have had the iFish/tackleworld jingle in my head the last few days, does that count? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have been looking at getting a live bait bucket. Only one I have seen is a collapsible bucket/aerator combo from that camping and fishing chain. Some interesting ones on eBay with inner grated buckets to allow you to pull the lives out while you change water with the outer bucket. Anyone recommend a model or just get a cheap bucket with a battery aerator? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk