[Squid]

We went out for a land base squid session tonight. We nearly didn't go because of all the rain but im glad we did.

It started off slow but then at about 8pm we landed this big squid on a green 2.5gm Yozuri jig.

We also ended up with a few cuttle fish too.

LOVE SALT AND PEPER SQUID!!

Mushtaka

[Winter Squid]

Don't use mullets, I find yakkas one of the best baits for enticing squid. Both squid and yakkas live down deep, so it's like a natural food for them.. whereas mullets are more pelagic and squid hardly target them. You will find that livebaited mullet will swim on the surface, and yakkas go deep. (very important for squid).

I'm not too sure mate as to why they're not there. But definitely the smaller ones don't hang around like they do in summer. Try one day fishing there at about 6am, and fish as the sun rises. In one of my spots, it fires during that time, from sunrise to when the sun hits the water (from about 6:30 - 8:30am).

Don't take the info I'm going to say next seriously as it could be incorrect, these are just my hypothesis. The larger ones prefer to live down deep, possibly to avoid strong currents?? (not sure about this one), to avoid runoff and for safety. Also they are breeding so they would want to find a nice safe area to lay their eggs. Squid are also territorial when breeding, so some squid should move into that area you're fishing in sooner or later... Could be other people have fished it out already. They will pretty much hit anything that goes past them (this is true from what I've seen).

Thanks Zephi, sounds good. Thanks for all your help!

I don't think it's over fished as i haven't seen many people out being winter. There are usually heaps of people out on Pitt Water when it's summer.

I will let you know how i go.

Mushtaka

[Winter Squid]

I find that when the water is too crystal clear, the squid are more timid and tend to avoid hitting jigs. Even using livebaits, when you bring them close, they tend to let go even before you see them.

We've had luck catching squid in murky water during bright days. As for clear water, probably best to have overcast, and/or fish dawn/dusk.

Do you see any livebaits around that area? They wouldn't want to be around where there's no food around.

Landbased wise stick with the smaller jigs (1.8-2.5) and probably get some squid attractant spray. I'm assuming that spot would get quite popular at times. Same thing applies though, just throw a livebait out weightless on a hook and hope a squid comes and grabs it, and if you're lucky you might even hook up to a nice fish as a by-catch.

Hey Zephi, yeah there are heaps of live bait around, mostly mullet and Yackas are at one spot. I fish with 2.5gm Jig Yozuri, mostly orange or green. I Might throw out a Poddy mullet on another line while i use the Jig. It just seems really strange that they were there all through out summer (even when most people are out fishing for them) and now when winter hits they are all gone. I fish for them after dark about 8pm onwards.

I will keep you posted on how i go next week mate.

[Winter Squid]

Thanks for all your help everyone!

I think they have headed out because of all the fresh water/rain. The water is clear though?????

There is heaps of kelp and im casting in to about 4m of water in some spots.

I fish land base along Pitt Water so i can't get out to the deeper water.

Hopefully they will head back soon.

I might give some of that scent a try and use bigger jigs.

Thanks again!

Mushtaka

[Winter Squid]

winter is when the squid are big and aggressive! You're just looking at the wrong spots at the wrong time. Oh they're sometimes deeper too

Ive been down once a week for the last 2 months but not luck.

I have visited all the usual spots that have held them in the past.

I wonder with all the rain we have had they have gone out to deeper water??????

[Winter Squid]

Hey everyone, over summer and Autumn i was catching heaps of squid. Lately i have found it very hard to find them at all. Do squid go off the bite in winter? Do squid go off the bite after a lot of rain? I hope they come back soon.

I fish mostly Pitt Water if that helps with some detail. Has anyone else been catching them there?

Mushtaka

[Surprise Catch]

Well done Peter! Thats massive! Good work mate!

Neil

[Narrabeen Beach Fishing]

Nice work Cam!!

I went down and met welsh Dave. He landed a nice bream too!!!! Must be a few on the beach at the moment! Did you get any weed up your end? Looks like there was a bit. The surf is big today so there should be some more gutters carved out!

How big was the soapie?

Mushtaka

Hey guys, ended up going north narra next to the lake entrance. Used ganged pillies and second cast got my biggest salmon that went 65cm. To casts later the old reel called it quits so I had to watch my mates fish. Seemed to be a bit around as the guy next to us pulled in 5 bream a tailor and a soapie. Will

probably head back this Friday with a new reel as it was a great night. Thanks for all ur help

cam

[Narrabeen Beach Fishing]

Hey guys going for my first beach fish tomorrow afternoon down at mid narra beach. Going 2 or 3 hours before the high tide and was just wanting some advice on techniques and the best baits. Will be targeting primarily salmon and the odd bream but will have a heavier rod out hoping for a stray jew to. Any help will be appreciated.

Hey mate, if you are targeting Salmon the best rig i think is a gang hook with pilchard as bait. If you want to put the time in grab some Poddy mullet in the lake.

There are a few gutters down there at the moment so make sure you get a nice deep one and you should catch a salmon.

If you are going for bream fish up towards the rocks.

If you are going for a jewie use a live mullet from the lake or get some fresh yackas or squid from pitt water.

Maybe you should try for a salmon or tailor and then send out a slab from one of those as a bait for a jewie.

Let us know how you go!

Mushtaka

[Snook]

Whats the difference between a snook and a pike? Are they the same fish with different names?

[Jacket Plague]

They smashed that Ocky!!!! It should of stayed low on the sea bed.

[Broken Reel Seat]

The guys reaction is priceless!!!!!

[Squidding]

Hey Mate, Salt pan wharf in pitt water has been going well for squid. I landed two big Arrow heads there last week.

It would be a good spot for the kids too.

The only thing is that there is not much parking.

Let us know how you go!

Mushtaka

[How To Catch Baitfish]

gday mate brickman and I tried goin for poddies and bullies this arvo. the little buggers are very painful to get. we didnt get any using bread the big bullies come up and looked and didnt even give a nudge.

In my experience the bullies are always hard to get. THey always turn their noses up at anything i throw at them. I find it more productive going for the larger Poddies (15cm). I have heard that live maggots get the bullies going.

To get the Poddies i always spend time walking up and down the lake locating them and then burly up. The key i find, is small amount of burly in the water and small piece of bread (just to cover the tip) on the hook. (12 long shank) float, no sinker, light line.

Slowly retrieve the bait and they will give chase and get hooked.

It is a really fun way to spend the afternoon!

Mushtaka

[How To Catch Baitfish]

Hey Jace,

there are heaps of spots on the northern beaches to catch bait. Narrabeen lake is great for Poddy Mullet; most wharfs in pitt water will hold squid and Yakkas.

I dont use the bait jigs. I use a size 12 long shank on light line and burly up with bread.

For squid i use a 2.5g jig. I find its best to go for squid at night or early morning.

In saying all that some days the bait fish/squid just aren't there. but thats fishing!

Mushtaka

[How Do You Read Swells And Waves?]

Hey Steve, have you tried seabreez? I find that pretty good. The link is at the top of the page.

The blue is the wave height.

Mushtaka

[Nth Curl Curl]

hi mushtaka

try fishing the corner of nth curl curl

as you walk down the steps walk straight ahead in line with south curl curl surf club there is a rock with rod holes in it best fished early [4am to8am] or just before dusk into the night

better when there is a bit of white water cover

cast towards the surf club at south curl curl between the reef on the left and the back of the unbroken waves about 50 to80mts

best bait is squid yakka fillets or mullet fillets pillies or fresh tailor strips

expect to get snapper bream tailor trevally salmon and jew if you put in the time also some big bronze walers

best rig is 25lb mono running 3oz snapper lead to swivel 30cm of 20lb or less for bream 3/0 suicide

2 snelled 4/0s if chasing jew take a 8ft gaff just in case agood ttorch for jew and sharks keep light off the water it spooks the fish

wear cleats and i have never found it too rough to fish this spot just move back towards the steps if it gets a bit uncomftable

tide did not make much difference but prefered a low to get out the front wher the rod holes are

peter

Hi Peter, thanks for the info mate. I will give that a go.

If you are ever up for a fish off the beach mate let me know, im only down in Narrabeen.

Thanks for the tips everyone!

Neil

[Nth Curl Curl]

Hey guys, i have been fishing the stones down at Nth Curly with no luck for a while now. I have been using live mullet but i never seem to catch anything. Have any of you had any luck down there?

I would love some tips from others willing to share.

Mushtaka

[Narra Flattie Fun]

Nice work Pete!

I am heading out tonight on the lake in search of a few flatties.

Were you using Poddies off the beach?

Good on ya mate.

[Northern Beaches]

Hi Craig, i have been fishing Curly for Zip.

Narra lake is going good with the flatties--Best use some live Poddy mullet for bait.

There has been some reports of Salmon further up the beaches. water temp is great!!

The gutters are starting to close in because there is no swell, so best to get there early if you want a good spot. Let us know how you go mate.

[Poddy Mullet]

I just went down to Narra lake and landed heaps of poddy mullet!!! Hopefully tonight i will land the jewie i have been chasing for 10 years!!!

All of the mullet were caught on a float, size 12 hook and bread. I found the key is to keep the bread moving in the water.

I think you catch more that way and bigger ones!

Mushtaka

[Poddy Mullet]

Mushtaka is there is no reference to mullet between 15cm and 30cm.. do they have the limits in another section in regards to the mullet that are freshwater and salt water fish..Apart from the big bull mullet an estuary mullet is a still a mullet

Cheers

jewgaffer

Hey Jewgaffer, the limits i found in regards to mullet size was in the saltwater section of the fisheries website. The way i read it is that all poddy mullet need to be under 15cm. THere is no reference for mullet between 15cm -30cm.

So i guess you cant take a mullet that is in between the 15cm mark and 29cm mark.

There is no reference to mullet in the fresh water section.

Im more than happy to be corrected? I always catch them just over the 15cm mark and put them back.

I only catch them to try and convert them into a jew.

Thanks mate,

Mushtaka

[Poddy Mullet]

I always use size 12 longshank hook and tiny bits of bread (make sure the point of the hook is showing) with a float to catch the bigger poddy and the smaller ones i use a trap. I never seem to get them in the middle of the day it needs to be late arvo.

JUst walk along untill you see a school and start to burly them up.

THe legal size for the smaller ones is anything under 15cm other wise they need to be 30cm and above.

Mullet

Small (poddy) Under 15 cm

20 in total * for live bait only

Sea (bully) only 30 cm 20 in total *

Mushtaka

[Bull Mullet]

Nice one mate, which method did you use? I would like to have a go at catching one because The always just cruise around a wharf where I fish but never seem even the tiniest bit interested in anything that you throw at them.

Again welldone, it's a great feeling when your plans work out!!

Hey guys, i droped my line class to 4lb and used a size12 long shank hook. At first i didnt use a float but i still couldnt cast it out far enough so i put it back on about 80cm up from the hook. I also didnt burley much at all just a hand full at the start.

The other factor was that there was a school of them so that was in my favour.

I also moved further up the lake to where the creeks run in.

So really i used both methods???

I will go again next week and use this method again and see if it works a second time.

Thanks to the guys that shared their wisdom!!!

[Bull Mullet]

G'day mushtaka, i use a similar method to customcasting's with a few variations and find them easy to catch in the salt.

i use 4lb mono tied to a fine no 12 long shank hook, no sinker or float. For berley i use bread with enough saltwater added and mashed up to make it like runny porride.Every 3-5 mins i throw out about a spoonful of berley also dont throw any bread on the surface as it will attract ducks .

For bait i use fresh sunblest bread.(sunblest just seems to work best).Now the most important bit, tear off a piece of bread about 1-2cm square without squashing it (dont bother using the crust),then gently fold it in half, again without squashing it. Then pinch a small section in the middle of the fold flat, pass your hook through this section. Doing this allows the bread to fluff up in the water without coming off the hook and the mullet dont shy away from it.

After baiting up dunk the bread in the water a few times to aid in casting,just a gentle lob cast.Dending on how much water the bait has soaked up it will either float or slowly sink.I perfer it to sink because i get more takes especially when the day is bright, a few more dunks gets it to sink.Also dont let the bait sink more than 3ft or you will catch bream.

Leave some slack in your line and bail arm open to allow the bait to move around naturally.Keep an eye on the line and when it starts to take off flick the bail arm over and lift the rod to set the hook.Do not strike or you will just pull the bait out of their mouth.

cheers ccfisher

p.s keep the bread in its bag or it will dry out and not work as good!

Hey guys! i went out yesterday arvo and i landed 3 big mullet!!! They go really hard and one time i even got busted off!!!! Its so much fun catching them!! i hope to turn them into a big jewfish off the beach now!

Thank you everyone for your help!!! LOVE THIS WEB SITE!

Mushtaka