OneLastCast

Hi Raiders, Belated report from last Sat 26 Aug. Started early with a friend and son #1. Plan was to get livies then go for salmon and kings at north head. Tried a few spots for livies for nothing. While trying for them noticed feet getting wet - forgot to hook up live bait tank hose! Bailed out about 100L of water on the way to north head. Big swells rolling in as forecast but not too windy yet. Good thing we took kwells... Spot the birds working just inside north head. My friend manages to tangle up a seagull on his first cast - much to the amusement of my boy. Released without incident - not sure of the bag or size limit Soon after got our first fish - in the next 3 fun filled hours managed to land 5 and bust off on that many again. A few times there was the amazing site of a few hundred square metres salmon school busting up on the surface with hundreds of seagulls whirling overhead. Due to the unfavourable conditions we had the school to ourselves most of the time. They would not touch metals - we got them all on plastics of many types, from little 2 inch grubs to 4 inch shads. Could have caught more if conditions were better - was hard as the wind and chop came up to stay in contact with the fast moving schools. Using light line it was taking a while to land the hard fighting fish and any little mistake (ie line tangled around rod tip, line touching side of the boat under tension) would see them win their freedom. Gee they go hard on 6lb mono Best fish went 58 cm. Also got another bird in the boat - a cute litte brown bird. As we were chasing a school we must have startled it and it flew into my friends back and into the boat. Very cute and not aggressive at all. My son held it, patted it then let it go. The action stopped when a pod of dolphins moved in at around 10 - we waited to see the carnage but they all dissapeared. A few hours bait soaking for half a dozen undersized snapper and a lone slimy fished off the morning. Apologies for wordy report... Cheers, OLC

Great report Covanova - brings back many memories. That area is very close to my heart. Have been in there every year for about the past 15 years - except for this year! (baby no 3 due any day now...) As many have already commented it is an absolutely wonderful part of the country. So rugged, isolated, remote (unless you have a few grand to spend on hiring a chopper to drop you at the junction of the cox's and kanagra A tip for the rainbows - I usually only get them on spinners in the rapids. They only seem to be interested in feeding in the fast flowing broken water. If you see them in the still water in deep pools they are more interested in spawning and won't usually hit lures. I find a single orange powerbait on a small hook drifted deep with the aid of a small splitshot is the best method. If it drifts close enough to the fish (ideally right on it's nose) it will pick it up - imitates an egg to the cannibalistic critters. Cheers, Derryn.

Damn that is one mighty fine catch! Sounds like there are smatterings of kings all over the place. Roll on summer

Great work Kelvin. Are you out on the harbour every wednesday?

Don't worry - it was only small stuff. Check out the BOM radar. BOM Sydney Radar The storm today only got up to orange at it's worst. Worry when it is dark brown or black!

Hi Raiders, Long time since last post - the first fish I have had for about 3 months ... busy with work, friends getting married, 3rd child due in a month... excuses excuses. Anyway here is the report. Wednesday morning my son and I headed out to a calm and quiet harbour. Trolling around middle head and dobroyd produced nothing. We spotted some birds flocking over the water near north head so that's where we headed. The salmon schools were about and we had them all to ourselves! After a frustrating hour or so and numerous lure changes we finally got one! Gee they go hard on 6lb mono! My boy had a go at bringing it in but he handed the rod back and said that I should bring it in and he will net it - too heavy for him. Then got another before the wind came up and some other boats came and the schools dissapeared. Also got a trevally on a metal slug which sank under the salmon. The lure that worked a treat is pictured - unweighted 3 inch stickbait - not sure of brand. After that headed to dobroyd pt and anchored up in about 13 m on the edge of the reef (roughly where the 4 markers intersect - a bit closer to the eastern one). Burleyed hard for a couple of hours, using pillie baits only got yakkas and a lone slimy mackeral. Dissapointing. Put a live yellowtail down for nothing. First time baitfishing dobroyd - any tips on where exactly to try? It is a pretty big reef system. One more thing to note - at the ramp on my return I spoke to a fellow who got a legal King on a yakka off north head and was busted off by something bigger - big king maybe? Cheers, OLC

Thanks Sir Battler and Mr Gear. Leaving tomorrow morn. Will use the tips and Post a report on Thursday. Cheers, OLC

Thanks Mondo for your tips. I will post a report next week. Cheers, OLC

Hi Raiders, I am heading to Ulladulla and Nowra for a few days next week. Through consulting various fishing books, websites and maps, I have come up with the following plan of attack: Ulladulla: Head south to Burrill lake for flatties on sp, also pump yabbies (are they available?) for bream and whiting. Try spinning local beaches for salmon and tailor. If the weather is good (ie calm) head out of Ulladulla harbour for a shot at kings... Nowra: Pump squirt worms and trap poddies at the island just down from the bridge (is it possible? too muddy?) then fish them near the bridge. If this doesn't work out then head towards the mouth to pump yabbies and get poddies? Any feedback or further advice GREATLY appreciated. Will post a report when I get back. Cheers, OLC.

Great reports. Never been there - may have to change that!

Sounds like a great beach session kevvie. Has it converted you to the merits of fishing the sand? I second KingsRule - Any pics? Cheers, OLC

Wow - never thought a post of mine would raise any controversy! Now that I have finished chuckling I will respond to the two points of contention. Hi Big_On_Fly, you are very observant. I have been found out! The pics are indeed 3 distinct fish. The large one with me is the 65cm model - the one in the report. The two that my boys are holding are two low 60's caught on Australia day. I thought the pics were cute and the sizes were close enough to the ones in the report. But obviously not close enough!!! For the record I never take undersize fish and would never condone anyone doing so. As for having 5 in the boat - my boat is a 3.95 brooker sea-al. It is rated to carry 4 adults. A child under 12 equals half an adult. So I am still within limits with 2 adults and 3 kids. Take a look here http://www.waterways.nsw.gov.au/rego.html "In determining whether your vessel complies with the capacity limits, the following applies: children up to one year of age are not counted (although you still require safety equipment for them) each child between the ages of one and twelve equals one half of an adult and capacity of a person is assessed at 75kg per person with an additional allowance of 15kg per person for personal gear." I have had the boat for over 5 years and take it out often. The motor is regularly serviced and has never missed a beat. I know the vessels limits, my own limits, and take into consideration the people out with me. No fish is worth compromising safety. Thanks for your concerns BOF and I am happy to change my ways if shown to be illegal or dangerous. Cheers, OLC

That is a darn good feed you have there Basserman! And the little'un looks pretty excited too! Cheers

Hi Raiders, A late report for Sat 4th Feb - but better late than never. Took my brother in law and his two boys (6 and 8) as well as my boy (4) out on the harbour chasing Kings. Got 2 nice calamari squid and half a dozen yakkas then went in search of kings around the markers from 7am onwards. Tried a few markers - lots of leatherjackets picking at the baits. Came up with the goods at the 3 sticks at the entrance to Rose bay - I got 2 in the boat 62cm and 58cm, my brother in law lost 2 good fish - one when 20lb fireline snapped !??!!! and another one the hook pulled. They went off the bite when the southerly blew up at about 9am. A phone call from a friend rock fishing off bluefish tempted me to head out the heads but with the young'uns and a 4m tinny I thought better of it. Tried a few more markers then last ditch effort at new yellow. Anchored up in big SE swell - rolling in the heads (thank goodness for Kwells - the kids all were fine - not even a hint of sickness). Got a 65 cm king (my PB) to finsh off a fun day out. All the kings bit on squid. Yakkas were not touched, tried soft plastic sluggos and other sp jigs for nothing. Cheers, OLC

Has anyone heard of a US product called Fool-a-Fish? Write up today about it in the Age: http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/foolin...9074162669.html Here is the homepage: http://www.foolafish.com/ It is spray on titanium dioxide which shines brightly in the UV spectrum - we can't see it but the fish supposedly can... What do other Raiders think? Cheers, OLC

Mars, that is exactly what I do except for getting rid of the dark meat. I think the dark meat tastes fine to eat... You can get a couple of thick chunky fillets from the average salmon. Only eat it fresh though. A day in the fridge for it to firm up works wonders. Freeze it and I think it goes a bit mushy. However a friend of mine says that it comes it fine after being frozen!?!

Netic does it again! Great work. Congrats. How do you usually cook up the kings? Fillet & pan fry? BBQ? Baked? Cheers

Great report swordfisherpeople and some damn funny comments! Better watch out mrsswordfisherman, forget the bucket I would be asking politely to be taken to the shore...

Ahhh, Tony's point island - a lovely spot. Howard, you should definately get up there if you have a chance. I have been up there every year for the past 10 - just make sure you bring insect repellant. The mozzies and ants will carry you away otherwise. My avtar is a pic of my boat on the end of the island - just next the ramp. The sun was going down on another perfect great lakes day and I was preparing to nail some flatties on live mullet before catching a bucket of prawns (plus squid and crabs) dip netting the night run, then using live prawns in the morning run in for horse bream ... I could go on ...

Great stuff netic. Seeing as you converted 3 squid into 3 kings, I am guessing you used them live? Do you find squid not as good when cut into strips? Again, congrats. Looking forward to hearing todays report.

Welcome netic. Have appreciated reading your reports on *another* site. Looking forward to hearing more from you - and seeing some pics of your kings.

Congrats on scoring the big 2 in one day ! I have GOTS to get me a daily double this summer....

Damn, must have been one big fish! Wish I had a look at it before all the usual goings on ...

Sammy! Sounds like a good trip, even if you didn't bag that Jew! Always next time...