wazatherfisherman

Worked well with John Dory.. We used to put it in the burley when chasing dollies also

Yes they made a 2 piece 10ft ugly stick rod- I had one but they didn't retail them for very long and they were not advertised. I got mine from Kim Jones who was the sales rep at the time- roughly 1978-80. Glass to glass ferrule which was a fairly new concept at the time. Still have both the 10 and 11ft versions of their fibreglass Blackfish rods, both 2 piece. These were very cheap rods (about $18 at the time retail) but have stood the test of time and I rebuilt them about 3-4 years ago and they work beautifully

Another great bag of fish Chris and some excellent eating to come.

Hi Rebel - as you know Buckler can be pretty dangerous just like most rock spots. Definitely worth going to any of these safety days regardless of skills level. When in ANY doubt regarding the sea, the best idea is to have an alternative plan and use it- there's always next week. Often, experienced fishers disregard the conditions because their 'experience should get them through', however the sea is forever changing and best advice I can give is the above- if there's any doubt of conditions, just go somewhere else that's safer, regardless of plans. "No fun when you have to run" is the creed

Good size Mike! Bigger=bigger -

Another excellent bag of eating fish. Pity about the Dollies but they get boat-shy with that many boats there

Hi Donna I believe that Ben Buckler Barnacle (BBB) wrote the text- he did an excellent project called 'Great rock fishing scrambles of Sydney' which has really good footage of many of these spots from both land level and also from a drone. I'm pretty sure this picture is of Bondi Murk access and there was a ladder at the end of 'the ramp' which was removed by council. The council used to drop rubble from two spots along there. The gear 'caves' had 'lockers' with impregnable iron doors built into the cliff, where everything from bosun's chairs to tackle- including rods/reels- were left.

South Head (Hornby's), The Chapel, Gap (fixed ladder), Big Gap (rope ladder through hole), High Gap, Jacobs Ladder, The Lighthouse (platform), High Lighthouse (point) North Rosa, Rosa Murk, Big Greenie, The Logs, The Block (Diamond Bay-high and low), George St, Big Rock (north Mattens), Under the Ropes (mid Mattens), Suicide, The Sedges (stands for 'straight edges), Pig Rock ('swimming pool' was other name) The Mattens and Lake, Greenie, Magpie, The Alters, The Murk (known also as 'Stelle the smeller'), Bird Island, Tumbledown, Ben Buckler, Bogie Hole, Mermaid, There are others between South Head and Bondi, but these were the main ones fished. Fished all of them barring Big Greenie, The Logs, The Alters, High Gap and Bird Island as there were better spots in close proximity. Also never fished Big Rock (nth Mattens) as crawling across an unsecured ladder wasn't my idea of fun. Never considered Bird Island's 'private' bosun's chairs either. Did some of the initial work on developing the 'Lighthouse' (Macquarrie) spot along with Dave Carter, Billy Brown and Jim Clarke who were responsible for making it accessible. The Mattens at Dover Heights is the best spot, albeit the most dangerous access and if it was too rough (sea) to fish there, rock fishing wasn't safe anywhere along there bar the high spots (High Gap, The Block, Big Rock) The Mattens is still fished, as are many of the other locations except 'The Block' where the council removed the ladder after a fatality. Ben Buckler Barnacle is an old fishing legend who takes all the great footage. Thanks for posting this Donna, great memories for my old crew

I reckon you learn more about fishing in general if you spend some time fishing for Blackfish. They cover all aspects of fishing. Good on you for taking the boys out and getting them onto some good fish Rebel!

Not a Silver - looks like a Big Eye

Thanks Jfish! All the stories are exactly as they happened, when in doubt I've been in touch with whoever else was there for clarification. It's really easy remembering the things you have great passion for! Derek has written a very thorough and informative article, my contribution is nowhere near as 'all encompassing' and it definitely has the makings of a book in my opinion. Both Derek and I are happy to share any knowledge we have

A great read as usual Derek- information that will help any who read it no matter what their fishing 'level' is. I'll try and add bit more to the prey species soon. Great effort!

Hi Frank I don't remember if there was one at Fairy Bower but there were the 2 at Manly I went to as a kid- one was on the eastern side of Manly ferry wharf, with a 'fun pier' next to it- it was just one large pool/tank that had all sorts of fish and plenty of sharks in it. I was probably more interested in the machines at the fun pier. I do remember people throwing coins and trying to land them on the back of the sharks- the largest were all Grey Nurse's. The other one was to the west of the ferry wharf and you walked across the old boardwalk wharf to get there. I think t was called Manly Marineland and was a couple of story's high and circular. They had small tanks around the walls inside and divers would enter the tank and feed the fish and sharks (which was awesome bravery to a kid!) People used to fish off the rocks along that side and our next door neighbours over the back fence used to harvest sea-urchins there. There was also plenty of cunje along there Neither might be the one you're referring to though Regards Waza

The one I stayed in a few times at Burning Palms had 2 full size kero fridges- imagine carrying those about 2km! It was set right out on the headland, high above the rocks at the north end and well away from the track in, only visible from the southern half of the beach. Absolute privacy as it was well away from everything there but a fair walk down to the actual beach and totally secluded. Bob the owner said it was his own private paradise, all the animals (deer, wallabies, roo's, bandicoot, possums, owl and parrots) would just come right to you if you sat outside on the tiny bit of grass outside the window- they were comfortable with humans and each other, haven't ever seen wild animals so relaxed with each other. Found out later Bob fed them whenever he was there. He said he wouldn't sell the place (not that he could have) for any amount of money. You could see a long way down the south coast from his only window- just magic.

Hi Neil bugger about the rod and good reel and you'll probably wonder how big the fish was too. I lost one like that at Yamba years ago on the first night of a 10 day trip, but mine only had a ball bearing Luderick reel not an expensive bc reel. Have seen a few go over out at the 'Peak' when guys left their jig in the water next to the boat while gaffing a mates fish. Hope it turns up for you. Great idea Frank!

They look 'angry' even at that size!

More great photo's Donna! The first one is the Murk at Rosa Gully I reckon, you can tell it's a 'murk' by the coloured water- thought it might have been Bondi at first- yes South Head in distance. The second one is 'Lake Northam' in Victoria Park with Sydney Uni in background, we used to fish for Carp in there during school holidays and sell them live to the pet shop in Glebe Point Rd. Most of them were 3 to 4 inches long and really dark and fat. My Mum told me they used to release fish into both there and Manly Dam during the old Waratah Festival. We used size 12 hooks and bread balls about the size of a match head for bait. You had to make a clear space through the weed to fish in. That was in the late 60's. Bobbin Head was where Halvorsen relocated their hire boat business to, didn't know they were in Neutral Bay. First 4 Hairtail houseboat trips we did were in those old cruisers from Bobbin Head, roll down canvas 'window' covers let the cold winter air in, but exciting to stay on the water for a few days! Tabbigai dwellings were only some of many similar constructions on the cliffs/rocks/bush close to the Sydney coast. The ones at Fisherman's Cove next to Dobroyd Head still had occupants until about 20years ago- maybe even later than that. Used to see washing on lines and see smoke from their chimneys from the boat. There were also some in Jerusalem Bay in Cowan Creek and heaps hidden throughout the Royal National Park from Werrong to North Era beach. The Werrong ones were in a spot known as 'The Kitchen' set back from the beach. The spot everyone's fishing at the Quay was known as 'The Tuna Boats'- for many years two or three Japanese shark fin boats used that spot to moor while in port. It was a spot that produced heaps of Slimy Mackerel when they came in around Christmas. Shark fins were hung on wire clothes-line type set ups for drying. At the norther end of the Wharf there was a heritage listed toilet and watchman's building and a great Luderick spot known as 'Bennelong' where many of the Harbour's best Luderick fishers would go, including Russian Joe, Abby(the 'king of Sydney Harbour') and Royce's dad to name a few. Unusual spot as you fished in a square 'hole' and your float barely drifted at all. Floats for that spot often had a tiny 'ball' on the tip as a marker because you looked straight down onto them. Used to be plenty of big Surgeon fish there during spring. These are great old photo's Donna thanks for putting them on!

Nice bag of squid Rick- eat or bait?

It's top circle and easy walk from southern end of the beach. A much better spot known as 'The Island' is the furthest out rocky point at the bottom of your picture. Park near the 'Manor' the huge mansion on the corner of Morella and Iluka Rd's and take the track/s going east- south/east, you can get down where you see the track going back on itself in the picture. Alternatively you can take the track going down past the Manor and walk around the rocks, which is probably best for the first trip there. The Island is called so because it's separated from the land at high tide, but you can wade out there (or back!) on tides up to about 1.4m. The spot goes under on tides over about 1.6m due to ferry waves so be mindful of that. Deepest water in the lower harbour and there are all sorts of fish from Luderick to Seasonal pelagics at times. If fishing the bottom cast towards Rose Bay (S/E)

Hi Mike I reckon those gars need 2 hooks as I had same problem- plenty of hits from decent fish (I saw them!) but really poor hook-up ratio. I'll show you a couple of ideas on Friday

Always wondered what happened to the wharf at Lugarno Ave it was a great spot for squid and even a few Mulloway off there at times, only accommodated a couple of fishers though. It was always interesting to see the variety of marine life in the shallows there under the bright light and a great spot to catch bait.

Good stuff Mike! Glad to see you sticking with the bigger lures- you don't want those pesky Bream from up there anyway😄

Wow these photo's have special significance to me- The first one is actually 'Bird Island' at Bondi Murk. The cables out were 'privately owned' and padlocks jammed tight on the cables prevented others going out in their own bosun's chairs. There were 'lockers' built into the wall where the gear was stored. Two of the guys from Eastern Suburbs Anglers who fished with us at the Mattens (1km north) told us how they used to go out there and 'bounce' their simple chairs over 2 padlocks so they could fish the spot. Zane Grey donated much of the gear he used in Australia and it ended up in the now long closed 'Australian Fishing Museum' which was located at Birkenhead Point. I worked there for a year and we'd allow visitors to handle most of the tackle while in the company of a museum staff member. Many of his early reels were like giant 'centrepins' with a leather brake-pad that was applied manually. First Marlin I ever ate was given out by the game fishers after weighing at Watsons Bay. They cut 2 up and handed out steaks to anyone who wanted some- I was about 12 and there on a family picnic. Went to see the fish being weighed and the fisher's just offered it to everyone on the wharf as they had 3 Marlin on board. Can lay claim to one of the last people to fish Nielsen Park wharf, my mate Fraser and I spent a cold Autumn night on there after being dropped off by boat to fish a Sydney Metro Estuary Comp. There was no access to the wharf from the land by that stage, after a huge storm had removed the connection to the shore, leaving about a 10mtr gap over the water. Shame they decided to remove the old structure as it was a 'fish magnet' that attracted heaps of fish and a great spot for many species from Luderick to Kingfish. Gordons Bay Amateur fisho's club were right in the proposed marine park and wouldn't have been able to fish safely close-in if the proposal hadn't been blocked. The bay featured on the news late in 2022 when enormous seas destroyed some of the boat storage area and washed a few boats out. The bay itself is a marine sanctuary and popular with divers. Thanks for posting these pics Donna, they're great!

Fantastic again- the stuff fisher's dreams are made of. Superb photo's. The Arowana looks like a cross between an Arapaima and a Saratoga- cool looking fish

Absolutely fantastic post Dave and Amy- what an awesome experience. Sensational photo's as well. Thanks for sharing it all