saltrix

Just came back from a couple of weeks at Airlei Beach. My son towed his boat up from Brisbane so we could get out to catch a few reef fish and hopefully some Mackeral. Fishing in the Whisundays requires a bit of study before you start. The whole area is part of the Barrier Reef Marine Park and is divided into zones of pink, green,orange, olive green and yellow, grading between no access at all to general fishing allowed. It would be very hard to fish in the area without a GPS or a detailed knowledge of the islands and reefs. Further complications is the large variety of fish that are very similar but have vastly different size limits. The first picture is a Grass Emporer of about 34 cm which was returned along with several larger specimens as we confused them with Spangled Emporer which have a larger size limit. The difference is the Grass Emporer has Olive brown spots and the Spangled has Blue spots. the other fish is an Indonesian Snapper which was also returned along with several other large fish in an error in identity as this species does not appear in many books and is easily confused with another that has a larger limit. We were inspected twice by a police boat with fisheries and park rangers on board so it would pat to be aware of all rules. Another little catch is all reef fish in possession must have onepectoral fin removed, This ounds a bit crazy to me but is intended to stop the sale of reef fish. We managed a few feeds of nice reef fish, but the Mackeral didnt play ball, and the wind was up for most of the second week. This area is great for cruising and snokelling on some outer Islands as well and I really enjoyed the trip.

I got them in the 50-52m gravel between the reefs off DY.

Went out on my own this morning, it was pretty calm and only got a bit if drift for the first hour then it was dead calm until the NE came up about 10am just as it was time for me to go home. Got a few flathead and lost a rig to jackets before getting a couple of those as well. The jackets were a good size but after cleaning there is not a lot left. The biggest flathead was a marbled type 66cm long and 18cm across the head and the smallest went 37cm. The rule is 50cm. Wasted a lot of time landing 3 large Seargent Baker which were returned.

Plan to head out from Roseville ramp at 6am or from home at Pennant Hills a bit earlier, on Thursday 18th Sept. I am going to try for some squid and try downrigging or casting to any schools working. If there is no activity in the harbour then plan to head out to DY wide to bottom bash for flathead, weather and sea permitting. I am a bit of an opportunist and will try trolling, casting, downrigging, anchoring and berlying, bottom bashing, or whatever is working wherever on the day. I have a 5.2m plate boat with radio, GPS, sounder, 1 downrigger, and safety equipment. I am looking for company, no assistance required as I often fish alone. I would prefer someone with some experiance and no sea sickness ( or take medication) as it is often a bit bumpy even in the harbour. I have sufficient gear for another, and have pillies, prawns, and some self caught squid for bait, although I am happy for you to bring your own gear. Even if you have some home caught squid to share that would be welcome as I only have a 1/3 squid left, but with a bit of luck there may be some around

Seabed Information charts for for Broken Bay, Sydney Heads, and Bate bay were produced in 1989, and cover the seabed contours and composition from the coast to about 6 nautical miles out. The 3 charts cover from Cape Three Points to well south of Bate Bay. I have the 3 charts and find them very useful for finding Fishing and Diving sites, but as far as I know no more were produced for other locations. These charts should be available from the Dept of Public works or authorised chart stockists.

For the next few weeks my experiance has been that the flathead ground off DY will produce fish consistantly. If you look at my posts I usually get 8-15 good fish each trip from mid August to late September and sometimes later, and have done for the past 3 years. The ifs are that there must be about 1kn drift and you must be on the bottom with a large well presented bait of good pilhards or fresh fish bait, a large fresh prawn or own caught squid leg also works well. If you would like the GPS on a copy of the transit marks email me as I dont believe in keeping secret marks and have been given a lot of good info in the past by fellow fishos. This site is about 6 nautical miles NE of North Head in about 51m, so reasonable heavy gear is needed.

When I returned to Tunks I saw 2 buses parked on the far RHS of the trailer area but I cannot say what buses they were. They were white and I suspect they had something to do with the school sportrs day at the oval. Regards saltrix

Went out from Tunks with a fellow fishraider yesterday. After getting out a bit it was pretty still and we investigated a seal sunning himself. It was so still that there was no drift as the little wind there was must have been opposing the current, so the bite was not so hot. We decided to try up a bit further along at Long Reef wide but by the time we got up there it was blowing a fresh SW and we were drifting too fast even with the sea anchor to hold bottom. We then returned to DY wide but the breeze was up there as well. It went from not enough to too much very quickly. Finished up with only a couple of flathead, and a good sized red groper which I usually return but this one came up too quickly and did not look like it would survive release. Back in the harbour the breeze seemed to drop but it had stirred things up enough to make a bumpy ride home.

I agree, they look pretty nasty especially on the spiny gunard. I sometimes worry that mentioning that they are good eating might encourage some fishos to handle them who would otherwise cut them off. The same applies to red rock cod who also can deliver a nasty sting but the large ones are good eating also. On the boat a carry a small club which I use to quickly kill fish I am going to keep, and also have pliers hany to handle the spikey types. Did not lose a rig or a hook so there were none around where I was fishing. Those flathead only seem to be around in the numbers they are now from around mid August to early October. They are so thick now that the bait only seems to last a few minutes , may be the jackets dont have time to find it.

Went out on my own from Rosevile about 6.15 am. I was the only car in the parking ground, made me think I got the forecast wrong. There was a bit of a long low swell so I didnt bother trolling close to the headlands and headed straight out to the flathead grounds. Within seconds of hitting the bottom I got a nice marbled flathead but then it went quite for a while before the bite started again. It was quite a nice day apart from a bit of swell which made it a bit lumpy from North Head to Manly but once clear of the bounce from the cliffs it smoothed out. The wind dropped off so much there was not much drift but the fish were consistant. Only one fish was undersized although I dont bother with them less than about 38cm. Finished with 4 Eastern Blue Spot and 5 Marbled Flathead (the marbled are by far the better eating fish), and a couple of good sized Morwong (45cm and 42cm). The biggest flathead was 53cm, and the smallest 38cm, most were 45-50cm. Got a couple of Red Gurnard. Got a couple a few weeks ago, one Spiny and one Red, but again the Red was much better eating. They are a bundle of spines and sharp gills but have a firm white flesh. The spines are reputed to be venemous. Dropped a plate sized snapper and headed home about 11am.

Went out from Roseville with a mate this morning. Tried for squid at the usual spots but it was a bit windy in the harbour and a long swell was coming in so got no takers. A few livies would have been nice outside so we went over to the structures around Dobroyd bombie but the chop and swell rebound made it look very lumpy so we headed straight outside after trolling around North Head. It was actually better outside than in the harbour but the fish were not very hungry but managed a few flathead, a large squid and a pansized red. Just before we left we were joined by a couple of whales being chased by whale watching boats. Missed the shot of the whale, sorru about that.

The flesh of hairtail is fine white flesh, a bit oily but strange to say if it is fried in a bit of oil(olive or peanut) this seems to remove to oilyness. To be worthwhile keeping hairtail need to be over a metre or so, I have caught them up to over 2 metres and 2.5 Kg but they dont seem to be that big the last few years. They fillet easily and the only bones to worry about are a few in the rib cage which are easily removed. Be careful handling them as those front teeth can deliver a nasty cut even when dead. Also the gill cage is very sharp. Get them between your knees and then get firm hold from on top of the gills and break their necks. Best of luck in the hairtail night. Remember a bit of splashing and berley often helps turn them on.

This morning at North head there was a seal chasing fish in close to the rocks. I pulled in my lures as I didnt want to mix with it. In the summer time of a still morning I often see them putting on flipper in the the air to warm up or cool down. If you look carefully you can see these black fins standing out all over the place. Anyone else seen this?

I usually fish a paternoster rig with a prawn on one hook and a pilchard on nylon ganged hooks on the other. I use a 30lb braid as I fish in 55m and the braid means you dont need a big sinker. I use a sea anchor to slow the drift if the westerly is a bit fresh. Live bait also works well. The bigger the bait the bigger the flathead. For the next month the flathead will be on at this location, but the bait must be well presented. A small spikey flathead fillet makes a good bait for the bigger fish, check the species and size limit. There is no legal size for some species. Trevally are quite nice boned and skinned when floured and fried in a bit of peanut oil, but dont overcook it.

Went out on my own this morning, tried trolling Dobroyd point and North Head but no hits. The water is very clear and not much wash. Went out to DY wide and bottom bashed for 1 Red Gurnard, 1 Sharped Beak Gurnard, both were a good size and produced thick white fillets. Then 4 Eastern Bluespot flathead and 1 Marbled flathead. The biggest was 57cm and the smallest 38cm. Also got a nice Trevally when I got too close to the reef. It would probably be worth anchoring on the edge of the reef and berleying and fishing floaters down the berley trail but the flathead seem pretty consistent so I never get around to it.

The larger red rock cod are certainly good eating but be careful handling them, they can give a very venemous sting which is extemely painful. Even when trying to fillet them be very careful. With both the wrasse and the rock cod they have to be a good size before it is worth keeping them. Regards Saltrix

Re eating triggerfish, Swainston's Sea fishes of Southern Australia does not rate them as edible, Guide to the Fishes by Grant says they are not considered a table fish, and the CAMTAS chart of fish of the Coral Sea rates most of the triggerfish as poisonous. Best feed them to the cat first (if you dont like the cat). They are considerd a good aquariam fish but its a bit late for that.

Although it might be a bit blowy for outside, Monday looks like the best day to try. I am looking for company as my usual mate cant make it. Plan to launch from Roseville at 6am (parking fee applies or parks pass) or meet me at Pennant Hills at 5.30am. I have a 5.1m plate boat equipped with radio, canopy, all safety gear, GPS, sounder, and 1 downrigger. The program is to pick up some squid at Dobryd, perhaps some live bait as well, the head out to DY wide and either drift for flathead in 55m, or anchor in about 50m and berly for reds or trevally. If the sea is a bit much then anchor and berley in Middle harbour for trevally, or perhaps downrig around the bouys. Also troll around the headlands to see if there are any bonito around. Looking at my fishing diary there were about this time last year. If you get seasick then take some pills as even in the harbour it can be sloppy. I have enough gear for 2 but bring your own if you like. I dont smoke but dont mind an occasional smoker, and I dont drink while out at sea. Email me if you are interested, there is no finacial obligation or help required, but bring some berley if you have some. I have pilchards and some prawns. I forgot to add, there are a lot of whales around and there is a good chance of seeing some as the fishing spot is on their route. Sunday am I have got a couple of replies now thanks. Saltrix

Just some comments on mercury levels in fish. It is expressed in Mg/Kg, ie Milligrams of mercury in Kilograms of fish. Some results of published tests on Australian fish are Whiting 0.08 Mg/Kg Morwong 0.13 Flathead 0.14 Swordfish 1.98 Southern Bluefin tuna 1.00 Sharks, rays, Orange Roughy, Ling, and most large predatory fish or old fish are up there in the high range. Generally the older or larger the fish the higher the mercury content. Recommendations from health authorities recommend eating swordfish (1 serving) no more than once a fortnight. As you can see from the above it is probably best to feed the kids from small fish as they are most susceptable to mercury poisoning.

Great photos, seeing them is better than catching fish.

Had to fish on my own as my mates away and I got no takers for company, but then I dont have to work. It was very quite in the harbour this morning, I tried trolling around Dobryd Point and then anchored and burleyed for 40mins for nothing. There was not the fish showing on the sounderaround the middle reef markers that there was a few weeks ago. Tried trolling around North head but no hits there either. I used to catch a lot of bonito around there but the last 2 or 3 years have not produced them. The breeze dropped a bit so I whizzed out to DY wide and managed a couple of nice flathead ( the bigger one was an eastern blue spot and the other a marbled which I find are better eating) and a male Blackspot Pigfish. I also got a red which was only just legal (30 cm) and that was to the very tip of its biggest fin, if it hadnt been the first fish I would have thrown it back. Was back at the ramp at about 11am after a slow trip back to Roseville as the Police were doing some sort of filming about an accident and I was kept to 4 knots all the way up the bay, and then stopped for a few minutes while the show went past.

Looking for company out from Roseville 6am Thursday morning. Trying a troll around the harbour, pick up a Squid around Dobryod, perhaps a livie to downrig, then depending on the sea a bash for reds around Long Reef, or out wider for flathead. Even try for jackets or sweep (my favourite eating). Give me a ring on 0412 898 778 if you are interested. I am a non smoker (but dont mind an occasional smoker), and dont drink while on the water. I have a 5.2m plate boat, radio, GPS, sounder, 1 downrigger, and 60 years experiance,(yes I am getting on a bit) also enough gear if you are not equipped for 60m fishing. I expect to be back at the ramp by 12noon. Also leaving Pennant Hills at 5.30 am if that helps.

Bobfish joined me for the trip this morning. It was a bit foggy but with the GPS and taking it easy we found the Spit and tried for squid under the bridge but it was running out pretty solid and after losing a jig on a plylon we decided Dobryod would be better. Bob showed me up by catching 3 downrig sized squid while I missed out. I really must not be lousy and buy some of those small Yozuri jigs. Did a couple of runs with bibbed lures around Dobryod but no takers, then downrigged those beaut squid around all the markers and bouys in in front of middle harbour, but no takers despite good showings on the sounder. Then downrigged from Old mans hat to North Head for zero, trolled around North Headfor the same. Finally fished DYwide and Long Reef wide for 4 flathead, 3 good sized sweep, and a just legal snapper. Not a good catch but the sea was dead calm so it was a nice day out.

Anyone interested in a trip from Roseville ramp (or Pennant Hills) tomorrow. Sorry for the short notice but the weather looks good. Plan 1 is to launch Roseville about 6am try the harbour, downrig & troll, berly for trev. or if that is quite whiz out to DY wide to see if the flathead are there yet. Return to the ramp about 11.30am. The alternative would be to start about 3pm, and stay in the harbour fishing for trev. & tailor until about 8pm. The tailor are pretty dependable this time of year. Company only wanted no expenses or work required. Give me an email or call me on 0412 898 778 Alan