MGibbo

Now you got me worried - first it was discussing stockings and the best place to buy them, now you're telling me my hubby's a good catch (hehe).

Hey Murray - alias HOT TOPIC What's the point of fishing if you don't get excited about it - I never refrain from expressing myself verbally when I've caught something big or small! Cheers Marg

Any pics of the jigs?

BRILLIANT REPORT! Thought I was reading a romantic fishing epic. You truly love your wife and I can see this by the comments in your report when refering to Donna - good on you for expressing it so well. My hubby suggested giving me a deep sea charter birthday gift and after reading about all the excitement and fun, I might actually take it up on the condition he comes with me. Love Port Stephens - thanks for the inspirational report - great pics. Cheers Marg

Excellent report Stumpy. GO BEC! I was so excited for you when your Mum txt to tell me and I can only imagine how loud the excitement was in the boat at the time. Glad to hear there were many pics taken. WOW Stumpy, what a top Dad - did Cam go to? I was naturally happy for you all but really jealous and wished I was there when I heard you were out fishing on such a beautiful sunny day - how was that heat? Did you jump in? Great tip regarding the cat food - will definitely try that - wonder if my hubby has any stockings????? I've been dying to file a report but unfortunately life hasn't been as flexible to let me get out there. Will try for sometime over the weekend and definitely hope to have a good story from our camp up river over Easter with the two families. Got an excellent rod for the Stumpy reel and rigged it up tonight all ready to go. Can't wait. P.S. Can you teach me all the fishy lingo????? P.S.S Can Nick and I come next time, love to try open waters???? Cheers Marg

Ah Stumpster - you make me laugh! Master aren't you happy that your student is out practicing your words of wisdom!!! Thanks for looking after my boy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR THE 2ND!

Would loved to have stayed out for the change of the next tide - I'm looking forward to going out again during the week without kids even though I do love encouraging them to get into fishing, if the fish aren't biting their enjoyment doesn't last for long. With all these undersided jews around the Hawkesbury, surely we have to strike pot luck soon. I wonder how long it takes a jew to grow to a decent size as they are such a beautiful looking fish and feel great to reel in.

Went for a quick Friday night fish down the hawkesbury at Brooklyn tonight. Picked up a pizza on the way and enjoyed dinner on the water as we cast our lines out. Had two really great fish on but with pizza's in one hand and trying to reel in with the other failed to successfully land whatever it was in the boat. My 7 year old had an awesome weight on his rod but lost it just before the top. Next two bites were a Port Jackson Shark and a undersized jew - gave a bit of a buzz though. After that not a thing - not even a nibble, so we decided to head home and try again another day as the kids were well and truly past it. Got to say the moon and stars were awesome on the water tonight - give me that atmosphere any day/night. Cheers Marg

How bizarre - it's actually his twin.

Dropped the kids off at school and headed for the boat ramp today where my Dad (72yo) was waiting for a lift. As this was my first voyage without my hubby, I'm pleased to say our trip was hassle free - except for the cable snapping when winding in the boat on our return. Now my Dad ain't no boy scout but his marvellous rope tiring was enough to secure a 17ft boat for a trip on the F3. Definitely need to get that fixed before the weekend! Now for the fishing report: The day was perfect, no kids, sun was shining, smooth water lay ahead, tide was right and it was brilliant spending some quality time with my dear old Dad who loves to fish - only problem was that there weren't any bites, except just over legal size brim (see below) which I sent home with Dad for dinner. Funny to think that this morning I was worried that my bucket wasn't going to be big enough for today catches - maybe next time.

Thanks Tomahawk - yes Coal & Candle is very picturesque and holds great memories for me. My dad did up a few old boats when I was young and I spent many a weekend zooming around in a dingy around Cottage Point. Thanks Jaybee - I do love fishing and hang out for the weekends to arrive so we can hit the water.

Thanks for that - nice to know my query wasn't too unusual. Just when you think you know what it is another photo makes you question your decision. I think due to the bulging eye I thought that it might be a tarwhine, although the gut area was white and not black which would indicate that it might be a bream. Oh well - yummy regardless of what it is.

Not much to report as I had very limited fishing time today (Sunday 18.2.07). Headed down to Coal & Candle Creek to meet up with friends and while the kids were working out who was going to have a ski, I decided to take the opportunity to cast my line out. Caught a couple of littlies and thankfully reeled in this 30cm bream - which gave a nice little fight. I'm assuming this is a yellow fin bream - what is a tarwhine as they look very similar? Cheers Marg

Just wanted to drop a line to say that my hubby and 3 boys would love to meet you all at the next social fishing comp at the Entrance. Thanks Stubby for the recommendation. Cheers Marg (MGibbo) & Co

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR REPLIES AND ADVICE - ALL APPRECIATED.

OH STUMPY! I've only just stop laughing - what a classic call name. Now now about my driving - I used to drive boats when I was a youngster so I know with a little practice (maybe with you hanging on behind) I'll enjoy the process of becoming a confident driver. Also let me remind you that this is a serious fishing report and not a shopping website. Love the challenge of a KIDS FISH OFF .... bring it on! Can't wait to post that one. I am not worthy MASTER Stumpy!!! Cheers Marg (MGibbo)

Hi Crazy John - I've got to admit that we were pleasantly surprised to catch 8 jewfish in the one session. I'm keen to have another go with bigger hooks and bait to see if we can capture the big ones. The fact we caught 3 squid makes me wonder if this is why the jewfish were around feeding from them OR it was pure luck I guess. Bugger - we threw it back! I'll have to get a tape measure and book on sizes to confidently be able to keep our fish. Thanks for the info re: flounder. Hey Robert - are you a local on the Hawkesbury? Thanks for the reply. Thanks Mark - hopefully we will cross paths again (the jewfish I mean). I hope all fisherman/woman throw them back and as I mentioned the size did look pretty decent but not worth it, especially for the jewfish as you know how big they can get.

I'm hoping that Saturday's fishing experience will encourage my boys to be keen about fishing, as I always feel I've got to sell it to them over water sports. Once that happen's I think we can get serious about our bait. I'm hoping to get my own fishing rod in March (Bday present) - hopefully good fishing reports will follow in due course.

SATURDAY 10 FEB 2007 ARVO. Having only got my boat license on Monday 5.2.07 my 3 son's and hubby bravely came with me for my maiden voyage from Brooklyn almost all the way to Wiseman's. Isn't it funny how you can get your boat license without even driving a boat, what's most scary is when speed is involved. I'm sure I'll get better at it ... oops I mean more confident. What's with all the jelly blubbers? You could almost use them as stepping stones. Is it true that it's got something to do with the king tides and will they eventually make their way back to the ocean? Anyway, getting back to the fishing report - on our return trip to Brooklyn we decided to do a drift around Bar Point (jelly blubbers and all). It didn't take long for son#2 to pull in a bream, followed by a jewfish - then it was my turn with a flathead followed by another 4 jewfish. Seeing that my hubby wasn't smiling much due to having to use his skills of unwinding tangled kids lines - he thankfully pulled in another jew and so did son#1. THE CHALLENGE WAS ON AT WHO COULD CATCH THE MOST. My youngest then surprised us with a flounder (what size is legal?) and then a squid. All in all we caught: 8 jewfish 1 flathead 2 bream 1 flounder 3 squid + a couple lost on the way up Sad thing was that none of them appeared to be legal, even though a few of the jewfish and the flathead looked pretty good - they all ended up back in the river. As a friend said "It's all in the presentation" and the fact that we were using frozen prawns might have been why we didn't pull any big ones in like the one I caught last week (on a smelly two day old frozen prawn). Even though we didn't get to take any home, we all had a ball and it was good to reassure us that there is life in the river. P.S. I won (1 flathead, 4 jewfish)

THANKS FEMALEFISHO - GOTTA STICK TOGETHER DON'T WE!

I TOTALLY RELATE TO YOUR FLATMATE - IT'S UNAVOIDABLE AND OUT OF CONTROL. A GOOD LAUGH THOUGH. THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY. I THINK WHEN I STATE "ALL MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE", MY HUBBY MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BIT PUT OUT. WELL DONE TO THE PEOPLE THAT SET UP FISHRAIDER. NOW I WONDER IN WHAT LIFE TIME I'M GOING TO CATCH AN 8KG ONE ...... IN MY DREAMS!

THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY : I'M EXCITED JUST TO HAVE A DECENT FISH TO START WITH - I'D BE THRILLED TO TOP IT WITH ANY GOOD VARIETY. LETS HOPE I POST ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY SOON.

Hi All - this is my first post and I must say I was very happy with my catch until I viewed several other photos from members of Fishraider. I've loved reading about everyone's fishing adventures and tips and feel I have learnt a lot, thus decided to be part of it. The highlight of last Saturday was catching a 55cm Jewfish whilst my kids mucked around behind the boat on a ski tube. We were drifting around Bar Pt when I decided to cast out a rod with a prawn (unpeeled) to try my luck. BANG my line went and I felt like I was on a fishing show - the rod was bending further than it ever has and as I wound my line in (with much excitement) I sighted how big the jewy was. It's amazing how loud one becomes when pulling in a decent fish. One of my boys then decided to have a fish and again his line also went but unfortunately just before it reached the top it broke off. Apparently I've become quite annoying talking about my catch at home, although my hubby enjoyed eating it. I filleted it and baked it with sweet chilli sauce. DELICIOUS!