SgtBundy

The entrance is like that regularly - my dad kayaks there and pretty much gives up on public or school holidays. No-one follows the 8kt limits, wake everywhere, flying past too close. Occasionally you see maritime out on the water but not often enough. I agree the boats are probably worse because of their wake and numbers, but the jet skis represent a far slab of idiocy too. The only good thing about it is they are too dumb to think about what they are doing, so they go zooming into where they see him catching fish in 1ft of water on a kayak and get themselves stuck on the sandbars.

Awesome stuff - a metre barra as a first must be hard to beat

With time due for a family holiday and the kids keen to see the Daintree and Reef we booked 10 days up in Cairns for a big trip away, something we have not done for a while. Of course, I couldn't let the opportunity go without getting in some fishing. I took a travel rod and some kit with me but between activities and logisitics of getting around without transport I only managed a few hours off the wall near the marina on my own. However I had a full day booked for a private charter with just myself and the guide so it was completely free to do whatever fishing was on offer. Originally I wanted to try for both GTs on the reef and try for barramundi in a river or estuary somewhere, but as the weather forecast became clear the operator suggested we pick one or the other due to the combinations of forecast winds, tides and travel needed. He had mentioned the barra were not co-operating of late so I went for reef instead, and due to the winds he suggested a place further south that offered some protection but took us an hours or so travel to get down to from Cairns. We launched at Mourilyan harbour which was great in itself, it just looked ready to fish - as he was putting the boat in a buoy nearby was surrounded by busting up fish, and within about 3 minutes of launching he had a cast net on top of some sardines which he threw in the live tank. The run out was spectacular, with either side of the harbour dressed in rainforest down to the water, even on the ocean side. The below shot doesn't do it justice, there was literally palm trees and vines down to the water. We headed out to some nearby islands which gave us some cover from the wind. As we arrived we saw HMAS Canberra (large new helicopter landing ship) operating nearby which added some sights for the day with landing ships running around landing tanks and vehicles on a nearby beach for most of the afternoon. We got out to the first mark to try for GTs and before the first cast the operator saw tuna near the boat. A quick throw of some metals for nought before we tried warming up for GTs with some stickbaits. I got a follow by what we thought was a massive mangrove jack (it looked like a red GT in the water). While I was doing that the operator was playing with some lighter gear and hooked onto something - thinking it a tuna he handed it to me to bring in. It came in easily and to both our surprise it was a small but legal Coral Trout which we kept in the live tank to possibly take home later. We switched back to trying for GTs and got out some larger heavy stick baits - as he showed me an example of using it with a short cast he got a big hit from likely a GT but it dropped. It became my turn and after about 5 minutes of retrieving that lure I was reconsidering my desire to chase GTs - the TV makes it look so easy, or maybe I am just too soft being in IT, but damn that was some work, mostly the fast retrieves as I was ok with the casting. We stuck with it for a while working around this first mark but with no hits and increasing bird activity nearby we switched back to light gear and metals. Soon we had a big bustup of tuna breaking the surface with birds diving on top and once I got the hang of casting where they were going (they moved fast) I was soon hooked up to something that had no desire to come towards the boat. A big initial run and slowly I got it turned and brought it back, as it got to the boat it took off again but went under the boat. With some effort and help I got the braid off the hull and around the other side of the boat. After a few more minutes of fighting we had it boatside but as the guide tried to tail it it kicked off and dropped the hook. It was a good size northern longtail tuna - unfortunately neither of us had any photo kit going despite my gopro, his sports camera and multiple phones being on the boat. My first tuna hook up and I loved it - it was I think a 6-10kg rod but it was fully bent over and with 30lb braid it was still screaming off - great fun. The school surfaced again and we chased after and soon enough I again hooked up but the braid popped as soon as it took its first run - I am guessing from the earlier hull contact. We switched to another rod that was rigged with one of my metals and gave chase again and hooked up once more to another solid longtail. This time more careful of moving it around the boat I was able to hang on to it and with a few screaming runs away from the boat I got it up alongside. This time we went to get a photo and the operator was putting his underwater camera together while I held it at the boat, which it was happy to do little tuna circles. As the operator put the camera in I caught a gray shape come in from the back of the boat, my tuna kicked off but within a second was taken whole by a 3-4m bull shark right in front me of. An awesome sight that I was just enjoying the spectacle of - not even disappointed we didn't boat the fish, just excited and even laughing to see this in action. Sadly my gopro was not setup yet and the operators camera card was full so we missed the shot - he splashed around a bit and kept the sharks near the boat (by now a second larger one joined the first) and I have some gopro footage of that, but nothing more than shapes in the water. We ended up having to move off the area because the sharks would not leave the boat. After the shark bit off the lure I replaced it with one of my own and on the next hookup I got it busted straight away - seems I tied a bad knot and it simply undid under pressure. Unfortunately that was about the most action I captured on gopro - my crappy knot getting busted off, which left me feeling rather amateur. We moved on to trying for some GTs again at another mark but they again proved elusive. We continued to have bustups all around us and groups of birds work working the area the whole time. We switched between chasing these bustups, which often moved too fast for our drift or away from us entirely, to going back and hitting the GT marks. I began to regret the GT focus as merely the retrieve action was wearing me out - I was worried what would happen if I actually hooked up. During one of these sessions we had a massive spanish mackerel get airborne about 150m from the boat - out of nowhere it launched out of the water a clear 20 feet diving back in almost straight down. When we sounded a large school underneath us we tried a sort of jigging approach with metals that got us a small mac tuna that managed to run me around the boat again. It was a fairly quick fight - we landed it and sent it back. Around midday the bird and surface activity dropped away and with no GTs showing up we took a break and moved into a nice spot near one of the islands beaches to anchor for lunch. After lunch the operator spotted some nearby bait fish which he tried cast netting for but they were too quick - pretty much we only used the baitfish we had as live burley - if he wanted to try and keep fish near the boat he would throw them in, we didn't use them on lines at all. In the afternoon we continued the same patterns - a few GT attempts broken by chasing bust ups. Eventually we got into a bustup that I managed to get a metal into and hooked onto something that had weight but stayed down, not doing much. After putting on some pressure it woke up and screamed off and I was having trouble turning it - eventually I got some line back and brought it back near the boat but before I got sight it took off again, then again for a 3rd time. After a minute or two of constant drag whine I started getting some headway and along side the boat we had a large, fat, mac tuna. As we got it up it was disgorging lots of baitfish and even something larger that looked like a small trevally. The operator got a firm hold of it, got it to finish throwing up its meals and we finally got a picture of me with a fish, even then the bugger still shat on me. I am not sure how it goes as far as mac tuna but it was a solid fish for me and a solid fight, so I was stoked. We sent him back and after a few lulls of him not kicking (with us expecting him to be sharked) it kicked off and swam away. The rest of the afternoon was mostly chasing more bustups. We spotted some very large tuna like fish leaping clear of the surface in a channel between the islands and gave chase but they disappeared before we found them. We followed some birds later without much surface bustups and hooked into a small oceanic queenfish, only about 30cm or so, so another new catch for me. Even though it was only around 3pm we had a long drive back to Cairns and it had been an early start, so we headed back to the ramp. Even on the 10 minute run back there was bustups still going on everywhere around us. I am not sure how normal that is but it was awesome compared to any of my previous fishing exploits. All in all even though I never hooked onto a GT and didnt get into any Barramundi it was still an awesome day of fishing - chasing those bust ups was so much fun and the power and thrill of hanging onto those tuna was just fantastic. The sights of so many fish, sharks, the stunning location, good weather (if a little windy), nature and even background of the military in action made it a brilliant day. I took the coral trout back with me and did it simply in foil on a shared BBQ at the caravan park, but my wife said it was the nicest fish she has eaten. I had some but in my tired state I managed to slice my finger open on a can of pineapple and for some reason it put me off dinner (being knackered from casting poppers all day might have been related). Happy to recommend the operator by PM if anyone is interested.

I tried practice casting once in the reserve opposite my house - got plenty of weird looks from the neighbours and every driver was a comedian with the same "caught anything yet?" (this is 55km from the nearest beach). In the end I found without adding the air drag of the bait it was not much of a help - that was the biggest factor for me but that was trying to haul out large slabs of mullet. I found cutting them into thinner wedge shapes and putting them on so it would fly pointy end first made a big difference. Things like pilchards fly a lot better but unless I am using gang hooks I don't like putting huge power into them because it just tears them off the hooks. As others have said line on spool is a factor - a topped up spool works noticeably better. I got some good advice from fellow fishraiders on casting methods and after a bit of practice I think I have got my technique going based on their teachings. Still not massive distance but usually reliable enough for my needs.

In my limited observation trying to target Trevally (not floats, just unweighted or lightly weighted straight through) - I noticed I had results when I put my baits down around the depth that I could no longer see the bait and this varied with the water clarity and light of the day. Once it was down around the depth it disappeared from view up top I got bites - sitting higher in the water it wouldn't be touched or would tend to be hit by yakkas that I could just see. I figure the same would go for floats - target to get it down to around the same depth under the float - deep enough its not visible from on top. Others with more experience can probably advice better though.

Same - I usually only relocate now if I have say a full day and after a few hours at a spot it is clearly dead. Usually I do like a 4 hour window and go to a spot and work it. Its murphys law though - spend a quiet day at Cliftons and see all the reports for the hacking when you get home - travel down to the hacking next time and hear about kings and bonito smashing up cliftons. Will work it out one day

I fish land based and often ponder the same thing. I have taken to burleying a lot more than I used to so now I am reluctant to move and leave that effort behind, but I guess if it wasnt working in the first place I am not losing much. Usually I hit a spot with a window in mind - for example fishing around a high tide or through the evening, then I will usually go to and over that target by a an hour or two, and if I have time left I might try somewhere else on the next tide window or just to keep going. I have found especially tide changes the fortunes of a spot can change dramatically for a period, so I aim to hang and around and find out. The biggest hassle is finding a new spot anyway - some times I have left a spot and then found others are packed or just simply not suitable for some reason. The other aspect is burning time and fuel relocating when I usually don't have the time available to do so. I often see boats jetting around and wish I had that freedom - sometime soon maybe.... In my limited experience - pick a target, pick a window, work it through and consolidate what you learn for next time.

The impacts vary depending on where the hit is on the food chain. There was somewhere in the US south west coast where whaling had removed the biggest predators for a large species of squid. Once the whales were gone the squid numbers rocketed to the point they started destroying other species because of their extremely aggressive breeding and food intake. That effect reverberates through the whole food chain. I am sure people who study this sort of stuff can be wrong, but they have spent more time learning about it than I have so they are probably worth listening too. I know my Dad has lots of photos from growing up around Kempsey and going fishing at Hat Head with his grandfather. Tarps covered in tailor and lots of land based mackeral and tuna. Photos are not scanned the best - sorry.

Nice fish. Well done Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

No, and he put on a good account of himself which was fun Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

The boys had wanted to go out last week but I had reservations about their patience for a full day fishing so I had gone alone. To make it up I was going to take them night fishing but somehow we got on to fishing at dawn and they wanted to see the sunrise. With an early high tide and good weather I figured it was going to be a decent day for it. Up at 5 and hit clifton gardens at 6. Already a few there and the prime spots gone but we grabbed a spot and I set the boys up for targetting trevally. I set out a heavier bait as well but it was just picked apart. The boys were not getting any touches at all and there seemed to be minimal catches by anyone. I tried for some squid but got two cuttlefish, and prospecting with some lures resulted in nothing. By 8am the boys were beyond bored and as I promised breakfast after high tide they were pushing me on that, so we left to get food. Not wanting to waste a 5am start on a nice day I wanted to try elsewhere but son 2 was becoming uncoperative and wanted to go home. Son 1 wanted to try again so I opted to head north and try appletree bay following some discussions at work about it. We checked narrabeen near the lagoon exit on the way but it was barren. Talking to a fisho packing up off the rocks there they had no real catch either. At Appletree bay there was a constant parade of boats launching but the fish seemed absent. Same greenish water as the harbour. Son 1 managed a small leatherjacket but that was it and after an hour we called it quits. At least son 2 enjoyed the drive through Bobbin head road. Was back home by 12ish. Some lunch and weekly shopping sorted to help out the wife. I mentioned I would have liked to have tried the evening high tide and was given the ok to go (with some concern about fatigue from a 5am start, but a short nanna nap helped with that). Grabbed some frozen pillies and headed for Narrabeen, arriving on dusk around 5:30. The surf was small and featureless which didnt bode well so I just setup where I arrived. Had lots of hassles with keeping pillies on my two hook snelled rig - not sure how long I was fishing without bait but I am guessing it was a lot. Did my best with putting it into the backbone etc but most hooks came back empty with no bites. Just before high tide around 8 I made a snelled tripple rig like a gang hook and set that out to see if that worked. Shortly after I got my answer with 3 quick hits and then a strong fight with a 45cm tailor. I tried for a while longer and might have had another that I dropped but called it quits before 9pm. Surprised such a nice conditions were so unproductive in the morning but happy to have a few fillets to take home at the end of it all. Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

Nice work Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

My mate at work gets fishing monthly I think - usually reads it then throws it my way to read as well. I found it to just always say the same thing - every where is biting, there is always fish around and usually they were talking about last month. I get they are promoting the various areas but it usually just was the same thing each month. Dad also regularly picks some up so I have a flick through them but mostly just looking at the catches - I found most of the articles already said the same things I had read or watched on TV before, but usually doing so flogging a new lure or something.

I use my SP rig which is 6lb braid to 6-8lb FC with a snap on the end. I just switch from SPs or lures to squid jigs. Its worked for me but cant say I have extensive experience Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

I am up there 25th until Oct 4th. Most of the week I have booked trips but have the odd day and the weekends to explore. Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

Thanks Rich - that is some good info. I have a collection of lures to take up with me and plan to mostly do that, but will see what works. Not long after I posted this I found a site listing the fishing on the beaches up there too. Looking forward to it - kids are excited and I just hope to have a few different sessions to what I normally do here. Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

I have a family holiday coming up in Cairns and I already (probably over eagerly) got a 6-10kg travel rod and new reel ready to go, and will figure out a cut down tackle selection to bring with me. I have booked a fishing charter to go hit the reefs and rivers, but I will have plenty of free days up there and where possible I would like to go try the area land based. For the most part we will be using the resorts shuttle bus to get into the city, but for the later half of the time there we might hire a car to explore further. Checking out google earth I can see a few marinas and the like around the main part of the city - are they accessible for fishing? Are there any other accessible areas that are worth a go? Whats the go with large lizards in the area? Any info appreciated.

Its never a question of should you go fishing, its always question of why are you not fishing .

Tiny flathead on an 80mm wriggler - though I am sure I pulled a smaller version from the surf on a prawn. Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

Done

The wife knew exactly what fathers day present I wanted - fishing time! So with that available to me I decided to make a day of it and go for an early start even though the tides did not seem ideal for it, have a crack though the morning and then have a session on the afternoons high tide. Left home at 5am for the south end of Palm Beach to try off the rocks near the ocean pool, arriving a little after 6 but missing sunrise due to the overcast conditions and light rain. I didn't have opportunity to get any live or fresh bait as I would have liked, so it was frozen salted pilchards and some prawns from recent trevally attempts. Having had some mild luck in the past there with pilchards under a float I tried that again, but it was not to be. Using floats I just kept getting snagged on shallow submerged rock bars or on the rocks in front as I was winding in. After going through a few rigs I switched to a sinker paternoster rig and cast futher out, but the low tide and swell kept putting my line onto the submerged rocks and snagging the braid. I rigged up the sinkers with lighter line to allow them to break off but it still resulted in snags that lost part or all of the rig. Even though I was getting some bites they seemed small, and I only managed some tiny sort of black rock cod. I moved locations but while avoiding getting snagged there I was not getting any bites. Pulled the pin around 10am and went south to check out Narrabeen but it didn't look appealing so I opted to head for the harbour somewhere. Stopped in at a tackle shop in manly vale to replace some of the kit I lost in the morning, and grabbed lunch nearby. Had not planned for where to fish the afternoon but I still had plenty of burley and bait for trevally so that was going to be my target. I swung past Balmoral just to check it out and was surprised to see it was empty of fishos. Being a rare occurance I figured I would give it a go as some other nearby locations had not produced for me recently, even though I hate the parking charges there. Setup just before 1 with not much activity to begin with, aside from some small hits which I put down to yakkas but they dispersed when a cormorant showed up. I setup one rod for trevally and a larger rod was set out deeper with some pilchards on the bottom. Both got regular hits but nothing to show for it. Around 2:30 the hits picked up for a while and I thought I was onto a trevally but as I got it up I thought it was a small king, but was just a horse of a yakka with a very yellow tail - I kept it for bait fillets. The rest of the afternoon was mostly small bream and another small yakka which was set out live for the high tide around 3:40. As high tide approached it was oddly quiet - to the surprise of another fisho who turned up and was teaching some older asian gentlemen how to fish. It was overcast and it seemed like ok conditions - water was a little green but I would have thought it was ok for some activity. Speaking to the Balmoral regular, Joseph, it seems like saturday was pretty good with some bonito and trevally around, he was not catching much either on sunday so maybe the turn in weather put them off. As the wind picked up after 4 it got a little cold and miserable, so with no activity I packed up and called it a day. Good to get out for a real session but looking forward to some warmer weather to pick things up.

Done the same thing at Collaroy - I took at as confidence that my gear could stand up to that sort of weight and drag. Did make for a very frustrating night though.

I was land based that day - I too decided to try watsons bay and got as far as rose bay before the roadblock reminded me of the city to surf. Threw some plastics around rose bay for not a touch. Headed over to Mosman later that arvo but only got pinky snapper. Had a flathead sit on one rig but as soon as I took weight he wore through the 8lb FC leader and was gone. Not a touch after that. Very quiet day

I do a mix with bread crumbs (thanks Krispy) and tuna oil - I got a $2 ice cream scoop from Kmart that acts as a mixing spoon and burley dispenser. Don't even get the oil on my hands now. Still trying to get the smell of previous sessions off my rod grips though - it still transfers to my hands.

I did about 5 hours land based on saturday. Managed two toadfish, a number of 10cm pinkie snapper and one leatherjacket. Lots of burley but no trevally which is what I was targeting. You are not alone Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk