Aerialangler

July 6, 2020

Well done to Jeff “Scratchie” and Fishraider for getting some recognition for their hard work in bringing fishos together

Who would have thought that Jeff’s secret weapon all this time was a green singlet!! Something he didn’t share with me

I listen to the ALF podcast and its very interesting and informative

now it’s even more informative after scratchie’s interview!! Awesome

July 1, 2020

Thanks everyone for your comments

Must say at work this week just a little bit more spring in my step

still taking it in and absorbing what happened

Big thanks to my brother Andrew- the captain, who took us out and got us onto the fish

June 30, 2020

Headed up with a mate from Sydney to my brothers place at Port Stephens to see if we could find some Yellowfin Tuna

We tried to work out what days would be best and decided on Sunday

Interesting start to the day with torrential showers first thing in the morning while we loaded boat

We could have almost cancelled - and as we headed up the bay from soldiers point the rain kept coming

Conditions outside the heads were a bit all over the place but we thought we’d push through and see if it improved

We got about 10kms out and things did improve- rain was behind us now and we felt the slop was decreasing so we pushed on - water around 17 degrees

About 20kms and lots of birds showing up

Some were concentrated and diving in so we thought we would put a spread out and work the area

With no luck we decided to keep going

We saw a marlin free jump for a bit so the lures go in again

No luck

30kms more birds concentrated and diving in one area

Again, lures out and we picked up a striped tuna about 7kg

We push on - water now 18.9 and we are about 50kms offshore

Then we see what we didn’t think we would ever see- small schools of YF jumping and chasing bait - we couldn’t believe our eyes!

The shotgun rod goes off

And screaming run- after only a twenty minute battle the fish is boat side and we see colour

We trade the big net for a gaff when it gets closer

Approximately 45kg YF into the boat!!

A first for all of us!! Big celebrations to say the least

We put the lures out again

15 min later another hit on the shot gun lure!

Drops the lure after a screaming run

15 mins later same rod goes off

And a longer run and what seems a bigger fish

After 25 mins we get the fish boat side only to have it look at our ugly heads and take off again before we could get the gaff near it

My friend on the rod is now sweating on whether we will boat this one

(The first fish we got the hooks were only just in)

Now the fish is deeper again and another 15 mins using the current and the wind we work him back up

After some nervous pep talks on being patient and making our gaff hits count we manage to boat this fish!!

Approximately 60kg fish!! We are so happy!!

One more of the crew- the captain- my brother hasn’t fought one yet so we make it our aim to get another

Fish are still jumping but not so much bird activity

We troll for another 30 mins

No takers- it’s now about 2pm and we have about a two hour trip back so the captain calls it time- I say come on give it ten more minutes

5 mins later two rods are hit and lines are screaming- this time it’s the rods closest to the boat!

We get the captain on one rod and I grab the other one

Line is peeling and the spools are emptying - my bro manages to slow his fish up but mine doesn’t stop

He has his fish close to boat sickles showing in about 10 mins!! We check the drag and it’s like it’s been set for pulling big kings off the bottom!

Anyway we get the fish boat side and I have now put my rod with fish on in holder as I got to help with leader and gaffing

Just as I’m leading the fish up to gaff it takes off thrashing the hook pulls!

But my other mate has just sunk the gaff in!! Rescued!

But he’s loses his grip as it’s thrashing and his hand slips down the gaff

He’s losing the gaff and the fish as it’s thrashing- and yells out help

I’m right there so take a grab at the gaff too and now we both heave the fish in

More sheer delight for the crew of 3!!

Then it dawns on me- the other rod, the other fish is still on!!

This fish has all but spooled me- (I think I have 400m of line out)I cant move it - 50lb braid won’t budge it

We decide to gain some line and work the boat back toward the fish

This feels much bigger than the previous one

We gain half the line- then a couple of big runs and the line breaks - this one will haunt me forever unfortunately. But time will heal

We caught most fish in the profidgie lures- but two fish at the end hit a heavy 9inch bullethead pink skirt and a large purple Halco maxi hard body

Water blue green 18.9

First fish 45kg

Second 60kg

Third 50kg

We are so stoked to have all caught our first Yellowfin together - not sure we will ever see another day like it

We’ve so many trips with nothing and now they have been removed with better memories! Golden memories!!

Thanks for reading - get amongst it!!!

June 12, 2020

Awesome fish!!

CONGRATULATIONS MATE!

thanks for your detailed report

April 26, 2020

Wow - that’s made my day seeing another cool specimen on the wall

thanks for sharing - that looks awesome

I was starting to think I was the only one!

yes with all the zoom meetings it’s prime time to have one in the background!! Ha ha

April 24, 2020

Hi raiders

Just thought I would open up a subject that may appeal to the anglers and lovers of fish out there

When I was a young lad my stepdad caught a striped marlin off the coast of Tasmania - St. Helen’s, around 130 kg (pic included) Yes thats me in the beautiful bright blue trackies

I was on the boat and have never forgotten the experience - it made the local newspaper and after catching this fish of a lifetime for my stepdad - we sourced a mould of a striped marlin of similar size

Having it up on the wall was always a memory of what could happen if you got out there and wet a line!

Now 25 years on I still admire the beauty of fish and the replicas that great artists make I was always on the look out for buying another replica of a marlin - and one day I found one on gumtree - it ended up being a real bargain for the quality of the fish mount - (I remember not really having the money to spend but made it happen and have never regretted jumping at the chance- much to my wife's displeasure!!)

It also coincided with being able to catch my first marlin, solo off Sydney- not as big as the replica I bought though!!

I thought I would share a picture of my most valuable piece of art in the house!!

I’m also interested in what other raiders out there have on their walls and in their man caves!

Thanks for reading and look forward to seeing your own pieces of art!!

Stay safe!

March 2, 2020

Well done mate!!

Great report and glad u found them- like u always do!! Your a snapper magnet!

January 9, 2020

On 1/5/2020 at 5:53 PM, Berleyguts said:

Great report and a stonker of a flathead for your daughter! Well done!

Was that squid caught on a Nilsmaster????

@BerleygutsI don’t think that was the lure

it was some sort of Berkeley top water, bent minnow style lure

probably way too big for whiting but I was thinking a flattie might go it

January 6, 2020

Awesome stuff well done

I know what it feels like to lose a big one

but don’t know what it’s like to redeem myself the same day!!

good fishing

January 6, 2020

Congratulations men!

well deserved, good looking fish

January 5, 2020

Hi mate

note the pic

low tide some good sand flats for yabbies here

also keep in mind a full pilchard on jimmys beach light weighted might catch you a good flattie on the run in tide

might have to put up with shovel nose shark and banjo sharks as bi catch

but keep waiting- you never know

Im pretty sure fishing from beach is ok of jimmys beach but by boat it’s not ok

might be wrong but so many were fishing from beach day and night when I was there for 3 weeks

January 5, 2020

Well as we have been doing for the last 13 years.

Heading to the Port Stephens area to get away from Sydney- Hawksnest side of the bay

Plan was- to spend time with family- and fish when I could

Weather was great- and the big NE wind showed itself in the arvos

I also had a lot of extended family to take out for a fish- which was good fun

Anyway, long story short spent some time in the bay- some good bream in the myall river Squid on the surface targeting whiting in the Myall river- no whiting on surface

A few trips to Broughton and got some good pan sized snapper biggest 50cm

An amber jack at one stage

Unfortunately lost the big Red- Hook bent and flattened- fishing too light a drag and leader - yes blame myself for that It began with a massive run from the fish wondering when it would stop- when it did, I was relieved but then a few heads shakes as I was gaining some ground and that sinking feeling of no more weight on the line- very disappointing as it was after so many hours of of casting

Spent one night at Broughton anchored in the boat in coal shaft bay, escaping the NE one night

Only to have the wind turn through the night to SW blowing straight in at about 30 knots

Was very happy that the anchor held in the early morning

We caught blue swimmers too in the myall river - best was putting traps in of a night and checking them at first light

Nice surprise to have an octopus in one in the morning- great addition to the paella

Trag were there too SE of Broughton in about 60m on the reef areas but lots of baracouta slicing and dicing the rigs- a bit frustrating losing many fish and rigs on way down and up

The last night we were there, we fished Jimmy’s beach

We had fished it a few times before only to catch the old common shovel nose and some good whiting- sometimes crowded with swimmers and fisherman

Fishing with whole pilchard and a small running sinker I was teaching my daughter (6) to fish

We had caught a few shovel nosed sharks and small tailor that night and on the last cast we had a good bite- it was just on dusk very low visibility

She screamed “ it’s heavy dad!!” And I just said “don’t let go of the rod!”

After a few minutes of drag screaming and reeling in and some splashing, I traced the line in with my hand as she kept winding near the shore, I was shocked to see a big flattie come up with the slight wash of the beach. Now it was leader vs wash and weight of the big girl vs the little girl. While my daughter was winding I eased the fish up with the wash and edged it up with my hands to dry ground I was so proud that she kept winding and didn’t dropped the rod in the sand - proud dad moment

Will never forget this one on one moment with my little girl

She said to me “ I had this funny feeling in my stomach I haven’t felt before” as she pulled the fish to shore

I’m not sure if it was the rod pushing into her tummy or a little adrenalin running through her young blood

It was the highlight of the holiday with some hard fishing amongst the crowds including me- part of the holidaying crowd

I hope this is this is the beginning of her passion for fishing- expensive and time consuming as it may be!!!!

She ended up with the biggest fish of the holiday!!And it was her first proper fish- My Flathead Queen- well thats what we call her now

Thanks for reading

December 31, 2019

Yeh Jeff! congrats on being a fisherman who.....teaches a man to fish

thanks personally for generosity along with Berleyguts who took me on his boat not knowing me from a bar of soap

you obviously love sharing and caring and no doubt your family is very blessed to have you

and yes, I think you might actually know what your doing when it comes to fishing!!

Thanks also for going above and beyond behind the scenes

cheers mate

July 22, 2019

Awesome day men!

July 9, 2019

Thanks for this idea

in the past I would just keep bonito for bait

but this inspired me to try it

and yes it was great- added some other fresh veggies like corn and coriander

I let the bonito fillets set in the fridge over night to make sure they were nice and firm for cutting into the smaller pieces

didnt rinse the the lemon juice off and was still ok

Also had some for sashimi

June 14, 2019

Hi fellow Raiders

Well what can I say?

@Berleyguts and @Scratchie are two fine specimens of the sea

Baz’s 4.49 outlaw Stacer got us to Broughton and back stress free

Nice reliable and organised boat

I’d never met Baz and Jeff in person so meeting them at the boat ramp just after 5am was a good experience in the dark

As the the sunlight slowly revealed all of our handsome faces it wasn’t what was on the outside that counted but what was on the inside that mattered on the day

@Scratchie was there to show us how to catch snapper on SP and he did it in flying colours

And @Berleyguts provided a beautiful vessel and captaincy

As mentioned conditions weren’t the greatest but we still managed to learn and gain some success in the early hours of the day

Thanks again for the top day master captain Baz and Elite guide Jeff

July 23, 2018

Thanks Blackfish for the ID

yeh they look correct. Much appreciated

July 23, 2018

Hi raiders

fishing off Port Stephens

out near Almark reef

About 50kms offshore

In around 160-200m water

caught a good feed but a few first time fish that can’t ID

Will try and attach pics

the crimson red fish was about 40cm long

and the pink yellow fish was about 50cm

November 5, 2017

Thanks

Looks like that’s the identity

cheers!

November 5, 2017

Hi guys and girls,

Caught this bottom fishing off port stephens in about 100m of water.

Anyone know the identity?

These are all the pics I have

White flesh and had a lot of bara trauma

March 2, 2017

Friends of mine, took my boat out.... I had to work....

conditions were superb!!! Gloomy early morning but got better

they had 24-25 degree water around the manly fads, bluer water than it has been. They didn't venture out past 70 fathoms

caught some size dollies at the wider fad

Small live yakkas got some but burleying up with pillies and using them worked too

some bonito on the way back around the heads with divers

February 4, 2017

Thanks for the report.

Good to know its hit and miss for others out there.

One day the time and effort has to pay off.

February 3, 2017

Thanks guys for your feedback,

Raymondo- Yeh we weren't pulling a teaser, our boat is the teaser ha ha

And rod storage is not bad. We have a rocket launcher on the centre console up top to hold 4 rods.

When we are trolling we have some rod holders attached facing out off the bow rail, which gives us two rods out wide. Then we have 4 holders at the back of the boat for other rods, but we only run 2 off there on 45 degree angle.

We run a shot gun off one of the rocket launchers up top. So that give us 5 for trolling.

We were running Black/purple Zacatak 10" , Black magic Evil tuna terror 8", Pakula sprocket Lumo 6" ,a pink 6" squid daisy chain and a natural black/green Fatboy 5" shot gun- (the shot gun lure got the dollie)

It seems a bit hard going out there this season....

February 3, 2017

So we got out early this morning and were at the heads by about 5:00am as the cruise ship was readying to enter the harbour.

We headed straight out to the 12 mile but could only manage about 20kmph so was a bit slow. Weather calmed right off later and there was no swell

The temp went from 22-23 on the way out. There were some nice current lines around the 12 mile but didnt produce after a few big circles.

We headed further out and the temp dropped back to 22.5 about 25km out. We hooked an undersized dollie.

Then headed NW back towards the Manly Fads. We hit a current change where the water calmed and spotted a Marlin on the surface in front of the boat. It was cruising into the current. 22.6 degree water.

We tried to overtake him and get him into our lure spread but he disappeared. We had no live bait unfortunately.

About 15 mins later heading in we spotted another marlin on the surface. We werent quite sure what species, we could just see the tail fin out of the water cruising along. Every now and then the dorsal fin would pop up too. He was cruising at about 16kmph.

We followed and circled him for about 10 mins but no takers. We were gutted we had no live bait to drop back but then again he may have just been not hungry....

ANYWAY it was nice to see and we trolled the rest of the way in to the inner fad with no luck. Water seemed warmer in closer (23 degrees) than where we had been outside around 25km out.

We saw two sharks about 5 ft long maybe bronzies as they were a brown colour.

Came through 2 pods of dolphins and saw plenty of birds, no diving though.

We got back to the heads around 12:30pm. Had done around 120kms, and used about 60 litres of fuel. So not too expensive for 7hrs fishing. The Yamaha 40hp 2 stroke did its job today.

Anyone else have better luck out today?

Attached is some footage of the free swimmer and pic of boat

Free swimmer.mov

February 2, 2017

Heading out tomorrow morning for a look at the deep blue

Two on board and 4.5m tinny centre console

all safety equipment for those worried

havent had a good look at any good game fish this season but hope to hook something

will keep you posted, but if we go badly will not post , ha ha

will be trying a spread of five skirted lures. Heading northeast and then back to 12 mile

Boat name: Black Marlin

rego: BMARL1N

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