Razzell

I've encountered them at fig tree point, Spit bridge, and near sugarloaf bay. I don't know of a sure bet, but they hang in there all year round.

Great work, congrats on the king. 57cm Trev is a monster - that's serious work. What system were you fishing?

Wouldn't eat them from there, though.

Haha, yeah mate that flatty was a turn up.

Hi all, I've been considering fishing Chippo for a while and the opportunity to do so presented itself today. I took a gamble on the weather, hoping that the storms would clear by the morning, and boy was I glad to have made the trip. Great morning out. Got to the ramp around 6 and it was still raining, so decided to wait it out. On the water just before 7 when it cleared up. The tides were small today, and I was fishing the drop. I was concerned that the recent big tides and rain last night might make things tough, but my fears were abated almost immediately when I started getting knocks on the edges. Fourth cast got me my first ever EP! He was only little (~15cm) but I didn't mind. He promptly went back after a very quick snap. I had heard they were in there and I was secretly hoping for one, so it was a lovely turn up. I fished the edges, hitting the structure, for a while longer and pulled out a fair few bream. Every cast was getting a knock, but they were tough to entice on to the lures (I was alternating between grubs and crusteaz). They were also preferring a rolling action to a jig, which was a nice thing to figure out. No monsters (all between 25 - 30) but it's been a while since I got stuck in to them so I was happy to have them playing again. I decided to paddle round the islands and see what was going on. While moving I chucked out in hope of a wandering predator (pleeeaaase Jew) but wasn't expecting it. There were mullet going nuts everywhere - one nearly landed in the yak. Eventually, as always, the wind picked up, so I let it take me back. It took me back to the first spot where I got the EP and the first bream, so I figured I'd let the wind drift me while I slow trolled a grub. First cast at the structure and something knocks me. I let the wind pick it up off the bottom, tap-tap, gave it a couple of light jigs, then bang. - something decent was on. This fish gave me a nice tussle and I called it for a mid thirties bream, but when it came yakside I could see it was pretty big. A bream that size would be nailing me, but I had control on this fish pretty well, so I just wasn't sure. I let it tire itself, then got it in the net. A BIG EP! I was stoked! It went 43 to the fork and was fat. Absolutely beautiful fish and I was very happy to watch it gently swim off. Decided to end on a high and paddle back. Couldn't resist a cast in to an eddie on the way and came up with a flatty - they're always happy to join the party. All in all, a successful first trip - been wanting an EP for ages and today I get two. P.s. sorry for the sideways pictures - my camera is nackered at the moment so I have to use the front one, and for some reason it always uploads it sideways no matter how I save it... Sure you can tilt your heads

A small kingy at this time of year on lure is a result! Nice one. As I said, my knowledge is limited, but I had a good time in Careel bay - deep water, run off from the flats, and plenty of moorings.

Hi mate, I had a blast with the pelagics in Pittwater on lures from the kayak last year and am looking forward to doing it again. Here's some info that might help, but bear in mind it comes from very limited experience. I spoke to the guys in Narra B+T the other week. According to them, they haven't properly moved in to the main stretch yet. They're holding up the top, deep, and are still quite slow off the mark. Bait will work, but lures are tough work The Salmon are venturing down a bit, but not in the huge numbers we'd like. Also, at the moment pretty much all over Sydney the Sambo seem to be feeding on micro bait, meaning they're proving tough to entice. See tef1on's report the other week from around lion island The mac tuna etc. won't be around for a while, so it's just kings, sambo, tailor, and trevs up for grabs at the moment, but see point 1 When they do run in, here's what I learned...The moored boats around the northern edge of Scotland island often have fish holding in the area Twice I had kings knocking about the surface in the morning in Lovett (and/or morning) bay I had the best session of my life in Careel bay one morning. They were all around the boats going bananas on bait fish. To this point, we found a good way to entice them on to the bait fish when they're single minded is to wacky rig bait fish looking SPs. Cast in to the shoal and let sink. Because of the way they're rigged, they sink like a dying fish The lads on the boats during 'on' season just chased the birds and bust ups. Tough going on a kayak. They had success on metals. Read this - it's old but still very relevant: http://www.fishraider.com.au/fishing-articles/fishing-pittwater.php Hope it helps. I would suggest it's a bit early to be chasing the pelagics on lures up there at the moment, though. Give it at least a month.

Hey Rod, all over it. Been keen to check that area out for a while. Will send you a PM toward the end of the week and we can sort out details. Cheers, Razz

Had a spare few hours this morning, so popped out on the yak. Have had some fairly fruitless outings of late in distant places, so figured I might as well not catch much a bit closer to home rather than drive an hour and a half for disappointment. With high tide just after sunrise, I figured it was a good time. Calm morning, wind was an easy 5k NW. I was planning to venture a bit further in to middle harbour and check out the areas around sugarloaf bay, so I headed in that direction trolling my heavier outfit with an SP and a poor mans downrigger. On the way, that got chewed to bits by (I'm assuming) tailor. Once in the bay, I was mostly just checking things out. Had some follows from the banks/structure on the surface lures from bream, but they seemed finicky and small. At one point something large broke the surface near by me, so I threw the mid-weight rod with sammy 65 at it. A few casts and two reasonable follows, but no take. There was some other surface activity later in the morning but it was isolated and short lived - I suspect that was tailor as they seemed smaller. Also worth noting that, like seemingly everywhere at the moment, there were loads of shoals of bait/fry. I have been boggled the last few weeks as to why the salmon aren't in smashing them as they were last year - it's like the tinder is set but the fire hasn't started yet. I managed a nice flathead, going 68cm - pic attached. The boss has been hinting that I should bring some home for her, but every time I get fish out I'm so grateful for the tussle and think they're so lovely looking that I feel guilty and wish them well on their way. There was another flattie going about 45, who also got sent back to her lie. Flatties were caught at the bottom of steep drops where I was casting and secretly hoping for a jew, as always. If anybody fancies divulging a place where the jews can be caught on SPs, I would be a very grateful man. Of course, I certainly wouldn't expect it from anyone (completely understandably), but I've been putting in the hard yards over the last couple of months and have come up empty - hours (days, even!) spent reading articles, old posts, and scoping navionics. Such a frustrating but addicting fish! Saw some good bream knocking about the shallows but they weren't really interested in what I was offering. Perhaps they will start to fire up soon. I've been struggling with them on the flats recently, they all seem a bit sluggish. Found a new squid spot on the way back also, as the buggers kept following my SPs from the depths to the side of yak. All in all, a good outing. I learned a lot, got good conditions, and a couple of fish decided to come say hi. Now I've scoped the area, I'll definitely be back. Cheers, Razz

Hi guys, Just a quick one, but I swung out to Berowra this morning (21/10). Never been there before and tides were awful, so it was more a of a reccy than anything. I wasn't expecting much. Fished the holes in the main stretch, north of the ramp. Got some heavy hits, but no hook ups. Plenty of chopper tailor about. Also, lots and lots of bait balls around. Tiny fish - almost translucent. Surprised the Sambo aren't in there smashing them - they haven't hit anywhere else I would expect them (based on last year), either. The one thing that might be of interest to you guys is Calabash bay - currently jam packed with Bream and other nursery fish. The vast majority are small, but I had a blast with them fishing the surface lures. Low tide and they were on the flats. Saw a couple of good size ones and plenty of luderick, too. It's the first healthy mangrove I've seen in a long long long time. The whole system looked like it was ready to kick off. I intend to head back there as much as possible in the near future. Cheers, Razz

Incredible, they really are amazing fish. Congratulations and good work!

Wonderful idea, and agree that your first and best bet would probably be to get in contact with fisheries. I know that a lot of relocating happens after tournaments, particularly for Bream, so maybe that would be an area of pursuit.

****, poor bugger. I get super nervous when the jetskiers are around and I'm on the yak. As someone else said, though, it's also the youngsters on some of their crafts - I've been circled by them once or twice. Most people are pretty good, but it only takes one idiot to put your life in danger.

A few people I've spoken to have said that the fish are acting funny at the moment. Not sure of the answer, but you're not alone.

Great stuff guys. I'll be keeping an eye on the weather and tend to go whenever I get the chance - always at least once on the weekend. Generally, as long as it isn't too windy and the rain holds off, all good. Fishing has been a little bit hit and miss at the moment, what with the time and year and all. I'll be sure to drop you guys a line if I'm thinking of heading out.

Hi guys, I've been on fishraider for a while but didn't even know there was a kayak section! Thought I'd introduce myself. I've had my yak about a year now and love it. I mostly fish for bread and butter, but am starting to branch out. Some of the areas I typically fish are Iron Cove, Middle Harbour, Cooks river, The harbour, Narrabeen lagoon, Pittwater, and Balmoral. Pretty much exclusively fish lures and am hopeful for some pelagics this summer - last year I had a blast! Although of course I'll never give up on the good old bream - they're a particular favourite of mine. I lost my fishing buddy a little while back, so if anybody wants a partner, feel free to drop me a PM and I'd love to schedule a get together. Cheers! Razz

Great post. Glad you had a good time. You'll forget all about bait in no time

Probably could have had more braid/less backing, but it was fully stocked. Whatever it was, it really did a number on me. If I wasn't anchored, I would have just set the drag so it was having a tough time then let it tire itself out as it pulled me round. Unfortunately, it all just happened too quickly.

Hi all, Had a few hours spare this afternoon so swung out for a quick jaunt. Took the anchor because I knew the wind was up, but was desperate to get out on the water. Launched about 2.5 hours before high tide. Went over to Iron cove and fished the bridge pylons for about an hour. Not a touch - figured it must still be quiet. A bream fisho on a tinny didn't seem to have any joy, either. Considering he had sponsor stickers all over his boat and didn't hang around, I decided he knew best and go mix it up. Navionics has shown some interesting structure in the area, so thought I might as well check it out. Headed over, anchored up, and started flicking 4" paddle tails on the 2-4kg and 2500 reel. I was getting some attention and there were cormorants hanging around, so figured the area might do alright. Maybe some sambo, trevs, or possibly a jew. All of a sudden - Thunk. I didn't strike right away, because I never do with those kind of bites. Don't really have a rationale for it, just don't. Anyway, as soon as I knew he was on, I struck, and this thing went off like the clappers. Immediately line was just peeling off, and within a matter of seconds I could see the backing. I tightened the drag, then realised I was anchored. Shit. I stuck the rod between my legs, line still peeling, and tried to haul the anchor... This thing was still absolutely bolting in a steady direction with no sign of letting up. I didn't get the anchor half way before realising I had to make a decision - try to save the braid or hope it doesn't spool. I tried to save the braid. It broke off at on the backing. Furious but exhilarated, I shared a joke with a guy on a nearby boat who had thoroughly enjoyed watching my failure. Can't blame him, must have been amusing to watch, and by that point I was laughing at myself. After that, I figured I might as well carry on flicking with my lighter set up and hope I don't get hammered again. Managed a lovely, fat, 68cm flatty who was gorgeous. Then a couple of tailor and a few more smaller flatties. Devastated about 'the one that got away', but that's the name of our game!

Hi Jim, Even if things didn't go exactly to plan, it was a beautiful morning to be out compared to last weeks weather. Hope you still enjoyed even with the lack of hook ups. Good to hear the Sambo are boiling up around there. They've been slower coming in to the estuaries this year. That said, most reports I'm seeing suggest things are still a little quiet. I was supposed to head out this morning but have been struck by the bug that's going round. Still tried to drag my arse out of bed at 430, but my girlfriend went bananas (quite rightly) at me for even suggesting fishing when I sweating buckets from a fever.

Sounds like a nice session, shame about the one that got away though! Port jacksons can really mangle hooks if they manage to get a chomp on it. Perhaps it was another?

Congrats fella. What a heart warming report!

Numbers can be made to lie, true, but they're not inherently dishonest - they're just numbers. Both sides of the argument use their malleability to push their message, but one side more often uses results from flawed studies and cherry picked data. As it stands, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that we're about to undergo a significant period of change. We're seeing it happen now, hence the existence of this thread. Should anyone actually be interested, I'd be happy to link comprehensively to the evidence.

From the 70s, when stocks were already depleted. It's important to note that this is global - not something even remotely within the jurisdiction of local fisheries. I personally think that Australian coastal waters are quite well looked after (given the circumstances), but the same can't be said everywhere. The gloomy predictions are based on the cold, hard numbers. They don't lie. Things aren't looking good. By even the most conservative estimates, we passed the threshold to take evasive action on a global scale some time ago. We've created a snowball that's unlikely to stop now, even if we significantly change our ways. For example, it is likely that the ocean temperatures will be too warm to support coral reefs by 2050 (and there's not a lot we can do about it). So even though Australian fisheries do a great job and more people understand the importance of looking after the seas, it might not mean squat pretty soon.

Crazy. I think people seriously underestimate just how badly the oceans have been hit. A new report put out by ZSL and WWF (two leading conservation organisations) suggests things are worse than suspected. Habitats are destroyed, and some species are down by 50% since the 70s. Tuna and mackerel are down 74%. There's a summary here along with a link to the full report: http://www.biosphereonline.com/2015/09/16/are-the-worlds-oceans-on-the-brink-of-collapse/ Everytime I'm out and struggling to get bites, I do wonder what it would have been like in the early days...