mjb

3 long liners boats have been working Bate bay for the past 8 or more weeks and legally annihilated the entire slimie and yakka population by nets rowed out from the mother ships. Why this is allowed beats me.

Gotta love Weipa. Great report Steve, did you find October one of the better times to head up there? We hired a houseboat from Weipa a couple of years ago, and headed up the Pine river for a week of fishing fun. It was one of the best times of my life. The fishing is hot, wildlife is awsome and they sell Tooheys at the Pub!! Mick.

Great arvo session there, Cronulla was at it's best yesterday. Does the F.I.L wear a life jacket / PFD when fishing off the rocks? Mick.

Guys what can I say but and thanks for sharing your blackfish spots with us. The replies were great. I just hope I haven't lost the "blackie touch". Cheers and thanks Mick.

After reading all the great Fishraider blackfish reports, it got me motivated to join the fun. When I was a lot younger, dad and I used to blackfish out of Currarong at little Beecroft, where I learn't some of the basic's of blackfishing. I've got some great memories of tussles between the big winter bronze blackfish and my old man, who would curse and swear if he dropped one in the wash. Now 30 years on, I was hoping to teach my kids the same and I was wondering if anyone could offer some advise on tides and known spots to chase blackfish along the Woronora River. (a lot safer for kids) I intend to fish from a tinny, and any help would be appreciated. Cheers in advance. Mick.

Great read Stipo, You are sure making me reminisce about our trip to Weipa last year, which we are hoping to turn into a annual venture. Shame about the knot letting go on the 90cm one, but a 75cm is still a good fish. Well done and thanks for the report. Mick

Yeah they sure are, we caught both within 20 minutes of each other around 10.30 yesterday morning. There have been a couple of beautiful "jewie moons" for the past couple of days, so I don't know if that's had something to do with it. Thanks to everyone for their comments, the pelican theif can been seen in the back of the photo just waiting for the right moment to "snatch and run" geez they can run fast, even with a kilo tailor in their beak!! Mick.

G-day All, Started off yesterday with the intention of chasing kingies off Cronulla at a little reef where we got 9 last week (from rats to 62cm's). This time we were set up with live baits and were looking forward to getting smashed up by the local hoods. The first bait down got nervous and then dissapeared with out a bite. Bit strange I was thinking, so I sent the second livie down for the same result. Bugger me, those mongrel schooling leather jackets had found us on the reef and were knocking off the livies!!. So we were wasting our time there, and decided to give another spot x a go. Sent down the livies and and "bang" 2 x P.B jews 8.5 and 9kg's, a couple of small bronzies (released), tailor, samon, reddies and a couple flatties. Back at the ramp, a cheeky pelican pinched the big tailor when I had my back turned, I chased him back to the water but he got away. I didn't mind too much as I was still stoked about the jews. What a great day!! Mick.

Well done BB When I fish Currarong, I do all my fishing all within a couple of k's of the boat ramp, and caught my best snapper in 6 metres of water 300mtrs from the beach. If your boat is large enough, the banks is also a great spot to go, or the next time try live baiting around the big bommie out past and to the left of the wreck. The leather jackets are in plague proportions off the Cronulla / Royal National park coast too, and have all but killed flathead fishing for us, as they are schooling over sand. I hate to think how many paternoster rigs I have lost to them biting through the line. Cheers Mick.

First I thought that I had a ray on, then got some thumping up the line and for a brief moment I thought I had my dream reddy on (to beat my mates 6.7kg), but couldn't believe my eye's when the turtle appeared!! Felt sorry for the poor bugger especially trying to dislodge the hook out of his mouth, which was as hard as leather. cheers Mick

Nice haul there Kat, well done.

Mate, Those pesky leather jackets have been annoying us for years now and it's getting frustrating to find some way to get around them and let us have a go for the flatties without loosing all your gear on the way down. I reckon I have lost about 20 kilos of lead of Cronulla during the past 4 years.!!! If you come up with some idea on how to beat them, let me know. Cheers Mick.

Hi Shaun, They were pretty well much around the main beach reefs and seaweed beds. Most of the big ones we caught had followed up the burley trails that we had set for snapper. They were becoming a real nuisance by pinching our floating snapper baits, and were easily pick up on the jigs. Just a note, that the local Mobile Service Station is closing down soon and you will need to bring in your own fuel or travel around to Culburra to fill the boat up, which is a real bugger. Regards Mick.

Hi Raiders First poster here, so be gentle!! We fished out of Currarong on the South Coast over the Easter break, and I managed my first turtle "catch and release" I have caught plenty of strange things before, but never a turtle. The poor little bugger had the hook stuck in the corner of the mouth, so after a little dentistry he/she was released unharmed. The snapper fishing was a bit light on which suprised me especially over Easter, but a mate of mine on another boat did managed one at 6.7kg cleaned. The kids had a ball fishing for squid and yakka's with the occasional trev and small Samson fish thrown in to keep things interesting and for kids and dad!! The flatties were on the bite, but you had to chase them out wide in 110ft of water with squid being one of the best bait. Last week the conditions were picture perfect with great sunsets and not ripple on the water, just great to be out there and enjoying it. Mick.

Hi fisherwoman We normally fish out of Currarong over Easter, and from years gone past we find this is normally a good time to chase snapper, and I am hoping that this year will be no different. The cuttlefish will start to run, and the snapper get pretty excited. If you come across a dead cuttlefish on the surface a nice reddie won't be far behind. Be carefull of the Marine Park Zones in J.B and Currarong, as some parts of the zones are off limits for fisho's and the park officers look for offenders over holidays. good luck Cheers Mick