michael2203

I've been finding chicken breast satay'd in fish sauce works well lately.

Yes mate. All fish are catch and release. I don't eat fish (ironic, I know). If I ever catch anything legal I offer it nearby fisho's.

G'day Raiders, For a while now I have been eyeing of the Parra River and all the spots that look fishable on google maps. So yesterday I obtained some bravado and headed north! After an hour or so at spot#1 and not much action happening, I decided to move. In one of those bizarre twists of fate, I got to the end of the road I'd driven in on and had 2 options: left or right. I was meaning to head right and to another spot I'd researched the night before, but something in the universe was telling me to go left. So with nothing more than an inkling, I turned left. On arrival I got another sign that I'd made the right move - despite a lack of parking, someone was leaving just as I got there. What happened over the next few hours was nothing short of phenomenal. Over the next few hours I landed 20 fish (in addition to the 4 at spot#1). There were some thumping bream, a flounder, toadfish and a total of 13 small snapper! I've seen so many! In addition, I got busted of by something slow moving and quite heavy. I'm thinking perhaps a ray? Towards the end of my session, another few guys turned up and were using bread mixed with something (not sure what) but were floating it on the top of the water. These guys pulled 5 thumping bream in quick succession (one must have gone at least 45cm). So, needled to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the Parra river and I am sure I will be heading back there soon. My conundrum as I write this is now finding the time to get back there (i'm itching at the bit). Till next time, tight lines everyone. Cheers Hodgo

Sorry Matt, just saw your post. Yes, chicken works there as well (it has when I've been there before).

G'day Raiders, I was up early this morning and headed over to the George's around East Hills and Picnic Point. After reading some other posts about using chicken soaked in fish sauce, I thought I'd give it a whirl. All up, I landed 15 fish in 4ish hours and lost a few more on top of that. Apart from a small tailor and whiting, the rest were bream. A few photo's are attached. I'm planning on getting up early tomorrow and having another crack. Hopefully I manage to attract some larger specimens. Tight lines. Hodgo

G'day Raiders, I always fish land based and have recently been toying with the idea of using burley to attract more fish and improve my chances. I'm wondering if anyone else does this, what's your experience, any hints/tips etc. Thanks in advance, Hodgo

Hi BrassRoots, Like StinkyDonut, I also enjoy the Cooks and have pulled some decent bream from there. Try either the boat ramp at Kymeeagh or my other fav spot is behind the Concordia Club at Tempe. I haven't mastered the SP's yet, but usually use chicken breast as bait or the occasional prawn. If you're ever up for some company, let me know. Cheers Hodgo

That's huge. I've caught a 'bigger' monster flattie...

Thanks Damos. Grays Point sounds good (and looks the goods from Google Maps. I've been down to Illawong before and got some good fish. I've also been busted off by some huge fish there as well. I usually prefer to go to the park near there which has a little jetty. It's a great spot early in the morning.

G'day Raiders, Last year I bought a Shimano Sienna 4000, but have struggled since to pair it with a decent rod. So, with a gift card from the big red fella at xmas and a sale at the same retailer, I picked up a Daiwa Crossfire 862. What a purchase! The in-laws live around East Hills and I've driven past it heaps, but have never been into the Georges River National Park. So with the 2 daughters in tow, off we went. While the fish weren't massive, I ended up picking up 3-4 bream and a few whiting. The new set up landed most and a few of them ended up being skull-dragged across the river. My youngest daughter Kyla picked up a toadfish and small whiting and was stoked. I think the girls just enjoyed paddling around the edge of the water. Halfway through the session, I did have a run in with a few douches in a boat. Despite having the whole river, they felt that it was necessary to hover right where we were fishing (one of the morons jumped in for a swim). Anyway, they came right up to the shore, right over one of my lines and I wasn't game to move it in case it got caught in their engine. Now I'm quick to acknowledge that no-one owns the river, but common sense should prevail. So when these muppets just sat there talking about their boat and what they needed to when they got back to the boat ramp, I 'politely' asked them to move somewhere else. One of them mumbled something about being an accident...yeah bullshit! Anyway, after a while we packed up and went around to Fitzpatrick for a quick session, where I picked up a good size bream (maybe around 20ish). As it happens I was getting Kyla off a snag when my new combo bent over. So a quick dash and olympic-style hurdle over one rod, I've caught the other and had a great time. So, I'm off again early tomorrow solo. I was thinking of trying near the Audley Weir. I'd appreciate any advice/experiences anyone has had there as I wonder if I am wasting my time. Thanks for reading and tight lines. Hodgo

Way ahead of you Shakey. I only ever do catch n release anyway, but I am well aware of the Cooks' history and issues. No way I'd ever eat anything from there...unless I wanted time off work..lol!

Hi, They launched from Kyeemagh boat ramp and went out in the bay.

Hi Fufu. All fish were caught using chicken breast.

G'day Raiders, It has been a while, but with my chauffeur skills not required on a Sat morning, I headed out early last Saturday for a long awaited crack. So I get to spot #1 and bugger me...there are a whole stack of speedboats for a ski race piling up. Anyway, after battling for a park, I persisted for a quick session and headed off before they got started. During this session I managed a small baby snapper, smaller flathead , whiting, puffer fish, small bream and 3 stripped fish (as per pics) which I have been told before are a Stripped Trumpeter? The larger of these (going about 35cm) pulled like a train and was great fun. Anyway, with the boats starting up, I got out of there and headed to my old faithful spot upriver. Apart from picking up some nice bream (as pictured) I got busted off a few times by something bigger. But, them's the brakes right. Anyway, it was a fun morning out, away from work and away from the wife and kids (ha!). I'll be back out there again tomorrow, for another crack. Well, that's it from me. Tight lines everyone, I hope you get some fishing in during the xmas and new years break. I hope Santa brings everyone a shiny new reel or their desired rod Cheers and merry xmas, Hodgo

Ouch re the rod! I've caught a few small ones before and this was different. Whatever this was was trying to run in any direction it could whereas the Ray's i've caught before just generally are happy to be towed along.

Thanks. Was using Chicken as bait. Yep, very frustrating not knowing what it was, or being able to go back anytime soon

Nice work.

G'day raiders, It's been a while since my last post, but I have been reading with interest all of your travels and catches. With the warmer weather, here's hoping to tight lines for us all! With the day off work (thanks public holiday) and no kids social activities to contend with, I headed down to what is quickly becoming my new favourite spot on the George's. Now, to be honest, I almost called it quits while I lay in my nice warm bed and thought about rolling over and getting some much needed sleep. Given the weather outside, it sure was tempting. Anyway, in between contending with the wind, I ended up bagging a total of 16 bream. Most of them were undersized, but a few were almost legal and put up a great fight on my light gear. This session easily outstripped the most in a session and I was stoked. In the between the bream-a-thon, I hooked up on something which was definitely not a bream...and lost all 3 times. The first time, there was no tap-tap-tap, just a whole swallow and run. This lasted all of 10 seconds before my hook came undone...dammit!!!!. The second time, same thing (swallow and run) and after a little bit of a fight either my leader (8 pound mono) broke, was chewed or I got run over a snag. The 3rd time, it was like the mystery fish was sucking on the bait. Anyway, I've hooked it and did my best to let the fish run when it wanted, but kept the pressure applied. This time, I manged to get it about 10 feet away and was eagerly looking forward to seeing what it was and then....gone! Same thing happened with the line as #2. So, I'm thinking up upgrading to a bigger leader (maybe 10-12 pound) and would appreciate anyone's thoughts. I'm just worried this might be off-putting to the bream which are the usual fare on such trips. Thanks for reading. Cheers Hodgo

Hi, Plenty of places around Liverpool (Chipping Norton Lake), then down to East Hills (I take my kids to Fitzpatrick Park). My girls love going down to Carrs Park (near Kogarah). If you don't want to keep what you catch, try Cooks River (Tempe or the Kymeegah Boat ramp). Happy hunting. Cheers Hodgo

Thanks everyone. We are planning it for 6 months time, so hopefully there will be no issues with the quality of the water etc. Hopefully the Hairtail social goes well. Cheers

G'day Raiders, I'm planning a trip for the boys and we're thinking of doing a houseboat on the Hawkesbury. I'm after any ideas for good operators (who to get the boat from) and ideas on where to go. Cheers Hodgo

Land based mate. Trying to pluck up the courage to get clearance from the missus for a boat.

G'day Raiders, With the day off work yesterday and the apprentice off school, we decided to get up early and head to a spot we discovered a few weeks ago. As I pull the car up at the spot, after battling Sydney's shit traffic, we discover that the bait is still sitting on the bench at home. Damn :ranting2: . Anyway, we found some nearby, headed back and got stuck in. Over the next 4 hours, we landed 12 fish each (we have these little competitions and this time it was 'the most'). Ha! The apprentice was ecstatic as she smashed her prior record of 6 fish in a session. Cheeky bugger claimed 2 fish which she caught on my gear while I was repairing hers or de-snagging her. Best fish was my 52cm flattie which was released after some happy snaps. I had another about the same size which I could see as I was pulling it in, but then with a quick flick I was dusted. Dam!!! From where we were fishing, we saw a few 50cm+ ones swimming right under our noses as well. Another notable catch was a decent bream going 26cm. Of course the action started heating up as we drew closer to home time. We were both having so much fun that we ended up being late home, much to the wife's annoyance. All up it was the best session we have had so far and we can't wait to get back there for more. Tight lines everyone, Cheers Hodgo

G'day Raiders, It's been a while between posts, but rest assured I have been busy the last few months on the riverbank So, Saturday morning the young apprentice and I headed down to Kogarah Bay to try a new spot which looked good on the map. Over the next few hours we picked up a few whiting, bream, a flounder going 24cm (which the daughter landed on my gear while I was checking my other rods -and she claimed it as hers cheeky bugger) and a silver biddie which we had no idea what it was until we looked it up when we got home. Needless to say we had found a decent spot and would be headed back there soon (little did we know!). Sat arvo, I headed out after lunch with daughter No2 for her first fish. She has has been pestering me for ages, so I finally caved and took her out around Picnic Point. First cast and she's landed a nice little bream around 20cm. Needless to say the grin was from ear to ear. While she didn't get anything for the rest of the afternoon, every tug at her line was 'dad, i've got one' which I just played along with. What was awesome was after an hour so she turns around and says "dad, this is nice and relaxing'. Ha! Little does she know. Anyway, we had a great afternoon. Sunday morning the eldest daughter and I headed to Kurnell for a crack at south Botany. First cast and i'm on a 26cm bream -awesome! That was short lived however as about 2mins later the daughter says she doesn't like the spot and wants to move . Anyway, we decided to head back to Kogarah Bay for another crack. As it turns out, it was the best move ever!!! Not only did the apprentice crack her record for most fish in a session, she got her first tailor (small) and her biggest bream. I knew she was having a great time as I could hear her humming away for a few hours straight . Anyway, to top that off, I landed my first stingray ever (totally surprised) and my PB Flatty at 60cm. WHAT A MONSTER!!! I've never caught anything that big, and it was pretty placid on the way in (thinking I've got a decent bream), but about 5m from shore, it decided it wanted to head the other way and BANG! off it takes. Best fun on 2-4kg rod with 6kg line. Anyway, got it on the shore, took some photo's (which I will attach) and let it go. So, it as a cracking weekend, and now I have the monday blues (I want to be back out there again). Guess I will have to wait (stupid work!). Cheers Hodgo

Well done on the session. I went a few weeks back a little further up and landed 12 bream in 3 or so hours. Used chicken for bait. Cheers Hodgo