saltrix

Took the grandkids out on the Hawksbury for a picnic and a fish (twin 10 yo girls). We usually try for crabs but it is probably a bit soon yet so I rigged a couple of rods with prawn and sandy sprat baits. On the first drift a bit north of Patonga one of the girls landed this: Interest then waned so I dropped them off at Patonga and tried myself for 20 minutes and lost a couple of baits and got a 35 cm flathead which was returned. There was a lot of trawlers working the area, I counted 9 at one time so there must be a lot of fish or squid being caught to pay the fuel bill. Does anyone know what was being caught? They kept out a few hundred metres form the rocks so they were not in the area we fished. It was a nice day on the water with just a bit a northerly coming up later.

Took the grandkids out on the Hawksbury for a picnic and a fish yesterday (twin 10 yo girls). We usually try for crabs but it is probably a bit soon yet so I rigged a couple of rods with prawn and sandy sprat baits. On the first drift a bit north of Patonga one of the girls landed this: Interest then waned so I dropped them off at Patonga and tried myself for 20 minutes and lost a couple of baits and got a 35 cm flathead which was returned. There was a lot of trawlers working the area, I counted 9 at one time so there must be a lot of fish or squid being caught to pay the fuel bill. Does anyone know what was being caught? They kept out a few hundred metres form the rocks so they were not in the area we fished. It was a nice day on the water with just a bit a northerly coming up later.

Great report, good to hear livies working like that and great to see whales on the way in.

Thanks for your info Voltan Saltrix

Yes, I have found small ones in the gut of large blue spots, and also used them for bait as the fillet stays on well.

Reference " Sea Fishes of Southern Australia". By Hutchins and Swanson Long-spiked Flathead Common in weed and sand areas of Australia's East coast preferring offshore waters. Easily recognised by the very long spine on the side of the head.................. Also known as Western sand flathead and Spikey. Max length 34cm. If you consult this reference there is detailed pictures and descriptions of all flathead, 20 different varieties of which 11 are found in our area. As the maximum length is 34cm compared to 65cm for the tiger and 68cm for the Eastern blue spot these small flathead are mature. I find the Sea Fishes of Southern Australia a good reference and carry a copy of the flathead ID sheet in my boat. Even though there is no legal size limit there is still a number limit on all flathead.

Headed out this morning after finding no one on Tunks ramp at daybreak, everyone must have been home for father's day. The harbour was nice and calm, and we quickly picked up some livies, yellowtail and a mackeral just past the spit. As soon as we cleared the heads it was obvious that it was a bit jiggly outside, and although it got better once clear of Manly headland it was pretty rough all morning until it was time to go home. We tried at Long Reef for a king with the live bait, but the swell was too big to get in close so we gave that away and returned to DY wide to try for flathead. There were heaps of small spiky flathead that kept taking the bait and getting hooked. They were all returned but the larger fish were mature and had reached near maximum size and as there is no legal length for this species and they could be kept if you were short of a feed. We were visited by several albatross, the dark one is a sooty albatross, but the light one may be a shy albatross but I find them hard to identify. Almost home we came across birds working and schools of fish chopping up bait. They appeared to be small fish and the albatross that followed us home dived several time into the school and came up with fish. I had never seen that before. We rigged with small whitebait type plastic lures and had fun catching some bait for next trip. They were a mixture of mackeral and yellowtail ( or cowanyoung?) around 22cm long. Finished with a some reasonable fish, but not from this school, but the sea could have been smoother, I am still rocking tonight.

The Red Rock Cod's head is heavily armoured with spikes and has needle sharp fins, and Grant's Guide to fishes describes a slight sting as %%%%%ly heat, but a severe sting gives immediate and severe pain with paralysis and swelling of the affected limb,nausea, breathing difficulties, and chest pain for up to 2 hours after and swelling for up to 2 days. Probably depends on whether the poison glands gets to pump. The flesh of a large one is good white meat, but I sometimes wonder whether it is worth the risk of handling them, although I am always careful. Saltrix

I took a mate to hospital in extreme pain after a sting from a tiny catfish while prawning, and another friend blacked out from the pain after being spiked from a common red rock cod, although they do to always seem to be that bad. It pays to have a pair of fish tongs and pliars, and also to know what fish are dangerous both from stings, poison,sharp gills, and bites.

I have also got a few females at this time of the year, but was surprised that I only got the one last week. I also return them. Try setting a couple of the hats across the bay in front of the southern side of Dangar at the edge of the main channel as I found that to be a good spot sometimes.

It is a sweep, they are one of the best eating fish in my opinion once they get over 30cm. I fillet and skin them and then bone the fillet, and they are a firm white flesh much better than snapper, but maybe not as good as flathead but can be caught consistently.

Left Tunks just on daybreak with the plan to try trolling around Dobroid and Nth Head to pick up a bit of fish bait before heading to DY wide. There was a nice sunrise and fairly flat harbour. No strikes at either Dobroid or Nth Head so continued out. The westerly picked up as we went out further and it became quite jickerly. There were a lot of undersized spikey flathead and undersized reds but I managed 5 good sized flathead and a 33cm red. There were a lot of albertross around as the cuttlefish die off around this time after laying their eggs and float to the surface and the albertross congregate in large numbers to feed on them. We saw a couple of cuttle floating and were followed by 5 albertross who thought they could get a better feed from us. We came in about lunch time when the westerly died off a bit.

I got most on the last of the runout, I like the end of the high best but as long as there is a fair run I don't think it matters much. Best of luck tomorrow.

Went out with my wife today to try for a few blue swimmers and maybe a flathead. Set our 4 hats each at south of Dangar on the edge of the channel, and a bit south of the boats at Brooklyn ramp using flathead frames for bait. Checked the hats between drifts and managed 8 nice males and returned a couple of large females. It was a lovely day on the water with no breeze and occasional sunshine. The flathead were not on the job for me, and I only managed a couple of just legals which were returned. Back home for a late lunch and have just finished a nice meal of crabs.

Thanks for the report, that method for catching yellowtail sounds like a good idea as pilchards and prawns sometimes dont last long. While you enjoyed the tussle with rats I dont like catching them if there are no legals so I will give Long Reef a miss and instead give the flathead a go at DY wide.

Thanks for that news. I was wondering whether we would have been better going north to out usual spot off DY but it sounds like that raging current was everywhere.

Wrasse are excellent eating, nice white firm flesh, but bones around the rib cage. They have to be a good size though, and I also throw most back if I have a lot of fish,but bringing them up from 60m usually kills them so I dont like to waste them.

The plan was to get some live bait a Clontarf, then head out to the Peak armed with live bait and new jigs of various weights. As a back up if there were no Kingfish then to fish the bottom where in the past I have had good catches of pinkies. Another fall back was the 50-60m sand drift for flathead. We got an early start and although there was a bit of chop the sea was pretty flat. There was not a yellowtail to be seen at Clontarf or Dobryod Point despite heaps of berley so we set off without the live bait. At the Peak there did not seem to be much action and there was a roaring current that made it difficult to hold bottom, certainly anchoring was out of the question. After a few drifts that produced a medium red, a nice pinkie, and a Barracuda, followed by several losses of hooks to jackets we decided to try plan B. Unfortunately the current was still pretty fast at 60m although I got a mowie before we lost bottom. Fishing closer in just wasted bait as small flathead hammered the bait as soon as it hit the bottom. Finished with enough for tea, but it was an effort.

My mate and I were prepared to fish the harbour after the strong southerly on Friday but it eased earlier than predicted on Friday afternoon so we trolled around Dobroyd to see if we could get a bit of fresh bait for outside. A couple of small tailor were lost at the boat and then a nice bonito came in. It was a bit lumpy at North Head so we kept out probably too far for the bonito. Anchoring at a spot off Dee Why produced only 1 flathead so it was back to the reliable drift on the gravel patch between the reefs, and 7 more flathead and a couple of mowies were keepers and many small spikey flathead and 28 cm snapper went back to swim another day. The bonito was liked by some of the flathead and the small reds. The westerly that was blowing early eased and the sea was quite calm on the way home until the usual washing machine as we neared North Head. Just finished a nice meal of flathead fillets.

yes, 1 tiger amongst them, I did not think anyone would notice that and kept the report to a minimum. I would not rate the bluespot better eating than a dusky but the marbled flathead I think are the best.

Got an early start with my mate, being hopeful of a good catch with calm seas predicted. Trolled around Dobroyd Point and North Head with no success, although the big swell kept us out wide from North Head. Got to a bit of broken reef of Long Reef that has produced some reds for me before but a raging current meant that burley got carried miles away, floaters were swept away, and any baits sent down on a paternoster rig were cleaned up by swarms of Mados. Went out wide at Long Reef and found a few good sized flathead, then back to DY wide for few more. Finished the day with 8 flathead, a mix of Bluespot and Marbled with 5 of these over a kilo. Just finished a nice meal of flathead fillets, but I am a bit weary as there was a big swell and the boat was rolling and rocking most of the morning.

1. Hawksbury Thursday Decided to try the Hawksbury on Thursday with the grandkids to see if we could get a few Blueswimmers. With their help we set out the witches hats around Dangar, then tried fishing into the channel where we often pick up a bream or flathead while the crabs are getting caught. This day drew a blank with the fish and after checking the nets we retreated to Little Gunyah for lunch. A nice peaceful little bay where the kids could play and have lunch. I set an anchor out the back to keep the stern out on the deep and make for an easy relaunch. After lunch I got the kids and wife in the boat and picked up the bow rope, all was calm as in the picture, then all hell broke loose, continuous waves about 1 metre high pounded in, I couldnt believe it, at first I thought it was a boat wake but they kept coming. They knocked the boat sideways and broke over the side drenching the family and half filling the boat. I eventually got the bow into the waves and got out from the beach. Once under way the boat has a self draining hull so I opened the scuppers and the water drained out as I sped up. I think a southerly change must have generated a brief series of waves as after 10 minutes or so the sea seemed to calm down and a light southerly blew. Anyhow back to the fishing and crabbing. No crabs at all from the usual reliable spots, and the kids only managed 1 small flathead which they released. 2 DY wide and Sydney Harbour Saturday. Went out with my mate from Tunks Park about 5.45am, long queue to launch and miles to walk back from parking up the hill. Tried a troll around North Head but didn't want to disturb the rock fishermen so didn't go too close, but no action there. Headed out to DY wide and did some drifts, it was a bit windy at first so the sea anchor was needed but it calmed down about 9am. Got 8 flathead (6 marbled and 2 bluespot) and a mowie for a feed, and the usual rock cod, sergeant baker, small reds and small spikey flathead all released. I tried to take a photo but they wouldn't fit on the esky lid and kept sliding off in the chop. On the way home did a drift off Washaway beach and landed a kingfish which looked a nice fat fish but only went 63cm so went back in. Another long wait at the ramp to recover the boat, but everyone was in good spirits and co-operated to make the job easier.

Took my boat out for the first time in a few months as my fishing mate is away who likes to use his boat, and my son was down from Brisbane and likes to fish. Started a bit late from Tunks Park (6am) so didnt troll around Dobryod thinking North Head would be better, but it was so rough there that we decided to give it a miss and head for the calmer water that usually occurs once the bounce back from the cliffs stops around Manly. At DY wide it was not too bad but I was feeling a bit seedy after spending 10 minutes with my head down trying to work out my GPS. Got a few fish and had a visit from a couple of Albatross (Juvenile Indian Yellow nosed) of which one posed for a photo enabling me to look them up. There seemed to be a lot of Sergeant baker which took the bait as soon as it hit the bottom, wasting a lot of time and bait but we managed a feed before the mal de mere overtook me for the first time in many years and we headed home about 10.30, We did not see many boats out but they were not ideal conditions, the sea was not big but was confused making it hard to move around and with the head down taking fish off and sorting things out it was unpleasant. The fish was nice for tea tonight.

Headed out from Sydney Harbour this morning to find some huge schools of salmon around North Head. Found a patch with no one fishing it and my mate and I threw several lures at them. The only one they liked was this one which is a small jig head with plastic body. Even then they would not touch my lure as I had a clip before the lure and it was ignored although put in the midst of chopping fish several times, while my mate caught a couple as his was just tied straight on. As 2 is enough of salmon we then went of Dee Why wide where we caught a mixed bag . The few Hawkesbury prawns we had went well as samson fish and morwong seemed to like them, with the pilchards working for the flathead. The NE breeze and the S current made the drift a bit fast even with the sea anchor, and it was a bit jiggley but an enjoyable morning. I had the salmon and jacket for tea. Salmon is pretty good to eat fried but if even slightly overcooked it becomes stringy. All our fish is killed, bled, then iced down on the boat, and most filleted and skinned when home, which makes a big difference to the eating quality.,

It was a bit foggy on the way to the ramp, and after launching we could not see more than about 100m. Around Dobroyd it started to clear a bit and by North Head it was pretty good. Tried trolling around North Head but with a big swell we were not too keen to get in close where the action was more more likely, so missed out on a strike, but the North Head had a nice glow. Out to DY wide and my first drop produced a double hookup with nice sized flathead. Then things went quite, but every now and then we would strike a patch of fish, and after a few moves we got a feed and headed home. There were 14 good size flathead, a nice mowie, and a perch.