saltrix

Launched at dawn from Tunks in my mates boat. Bit of a westerly blowing and no action trolling Grotto Point or North Head so headed out to DY Wide. Lots of whales spotted and had to idle the boat for few minutes when a pair surfaced about 100m away. Here is a repeat photo I took last year of one that came out of the water and looked me in the eye. No pictures today as I forgot my camera. There are many dead cuttles in the water, as the Giant Cuttle dies after laying eggs around this time and the Albatross gather in flocks to scavenge the bodies. If you can get there before they clean it right up you can whip off of a bit of fresh bait. This is the only time of the year when you see such large numbers of Albatross off Sydney. The fishing was a bit slow but with the help of the sea anchor and some heavy sinkers we managed some nice morwong and flathead. This was my share.

Got an early start from Tunks in a mates boat just before sun up. Got a couple of tailor trolling around Grotto and a salmon (returned ) around washaway. Then on to North Head but the swell looked a bit big so gave it a wide berth and headed out to the DY wide flathead ground past a very sloppy area around the north of north head. Once past Manly it was much better. With a light southerly wind and a northerly current it was hard to hold the bottom and after a few drifts gave it away and headed out a bit wider to a slightly shallower reef where my mate managed a nice morwong, After a few shifts we spotted the Sydney FAD so we did a few drifts past it throwing pilchards and drifting the bottom which resulted in 1 U/S kingfish (returned) which gave the mate a good workout on light gear. The wind had now died down so decided to give the DY flathead groung a couple of drifts before going home and found them biting well. We picked up 13 between us, a mixture of blue spot and marbled, and most a very good size. There was only a small area and every pass on that spot produced fish, sometimes a double. Left them biting and headed home about 2pm with almost all the fish caught in the last hour in the calmer conditions. . The fish were kept on ice, only tipped out for quick photo.

Got the offer of a trip to the Broken Bay and Terrigal FADS with a mate which I took up with memories of some catches I made off the Sydney FAD, and reports of the more distant FADS being better. Coming out of Broken Bay the weather looked to be improving and we picked up some yakkas on the way out. It is a long way out to the Terrigal FAD and we found 3 other boats there, but no action or fish showing on the sounder, so after 1/2 hour trying we set out to the Broken Bay FAD in the hope that would be better. The wind had got up a bit and it was a bit lumpy. On the way I trolled a small feather Xmas tree and hooked a stripey, it came along to the boat very easily and I thought my fishbait problems would be solved for a while but when it saw the boat it took off like a rocket and I was a bit slow getting the rod away from the boat and the line hit the gunwhale and broke. I then rigged another smaller Xmas tree on a 60lb trace and we set off again. The reel screamed again and even with the 30lb braid and a heavy drag I watched the 200m line disappear to the backing before I could slow it down. I played it for about 10 minutes out wide gaining and losing line and then it went deep and forward of the boat. Then the line went limp and I retrieved it to find about the last 3 metres of line frayed. I reckon I had a marlin on which frayed the line when it went forward. I did not have enough drag on to break the 30lb braid and it is a clear bottom out there at 100m. The Broken Bay FAD again had a 3 or 4 boats but little action. One boat I saw hit a school and got a couple of U/S and 1 good fish but after an hour all gave up and left. We were fishing both live baits and pilchards, but I think the fish I saw caught were taken on something smaller. We then gave up and headed in, running into a school of dolphins which came over to the boat to investigate as they usually do. We stopped the boat and I snapped some pics although I missed the best jumps. By the time we got to the 45m mark the day had improved with the sun out and calm seas, so as we were fishless we decided to spened a few minutes bottom bashing, and my mate caught 3 flathead in quick succession. The eastern blue spot were 47 cm each and the tiger a bit smaller. Not the good catch of mahi mahi we would have liked but at least fish for tea.

I did not measure them but the smaller flathead beside them was 38cm so I think about 28 to 30 cm. They need to be about 30cm to get a decent fillet off them.

The sea appeared flat as we rounded Grotto Point with broken cloud and a bit of sun out wide. But as we rounded North Head it became lumpier. It calmed down a bit past Manly bit it was still pretty jiggley. We headed to Long Reef where my mate had got some kings a few weeks before but I was not happy anchoring there although other boats were, as there was an occasional big swell, and I remembered that overturned boat a few weeks back. The drift was a bit fast and the kings were not interested so we headed back to DY wide. This was more successful and we managed 6 flathead, 3 mowies and some assorted bycatch before the rain started in earnest and we gave it away. It was too wet to take a photo of the catch but it was not that special as the flathead were not the usual good size although well over legal. This was my share. At least we got out and got a feed even if I did get soaked (I forgot my wet weather gear) as it has not been too good the last few weeks.

Sweep bigger than about 28cm are excellent eating. Kill and bleed them and keep them in an ice slurry. Fillet them and then take the skin off the fillet and remove the bones and rib cage, leaving 4 bone free white fingers. I actively fish for them if I can find them around the 30cm mark and prefer there eating qualities to that of snapper. Do not overcook them.

It was a bit lumpy this morning on the way out to DY wide. Too much swell to troll around North Head. Lots of whales heading south, out about 5 nautical miles, saw several pods of 3 or 4 humpbacks, as well as a few dolphins. Got 9 flat head between 2 of us, a mixture of marbled and blue spot. No mowies today, and tried to berly up some reds at the edge of a drop off but only managed nannygai, wrasse, sweep, and sergant baker. I had to use my newly purchased small emergency hooter, I was saving it as I guess there is not much gas in it, but a fast pro boat was heading straight for us and didnt look like changing coarse. A bit hard to believe in such a big ocean, but when he got to about 100 metre off I guessed he was not at the wheel and fired off 4 blasts. He then changed course and after he passed us he went back to the back of the boat where he and his mate were working on some gear. It pays to watch whats around even if you are miles offshore. I might buy a bigger and better hooter now. It was a nice day on the water and it had settled down quite a bit on the way home.

Went out with a mate who had a new boat and wanted to try it out at sea. Got as far as North Head and ran into the schools of salmon, so cast into them and caught 4, released 2 and kept 1 each for fish cakes. Tried the flathead ground at DY wide but they were a bit quite, got 3 but no size and no bluespot all marbled flathead. Got a mixture of Sargent Baker, shovelnose sharks, trevally, wrasse, nannagay, Morwong and small reds most of which went back OK. Just as we were enjoying the calm weather and complaining there was not enough wind for a drift the westerly came up and was blowing about 20 knots within 5 minutes so we decided to call it a day. On the way home a humpback whale surfaced about 30 metres in front of us and with a wave from the huge white tail dived. I would have had my camera out but it was a bit choppy and we were copping a few over the front. His boat handled the chop well and the sounder/GPS worked well.

Launched at Berowra about 9.30 am with the twin 7yo grandaughters for a fishing/picnic trip. Fish were a bit hard to come by especially as the bait was constantly wound in, but eventually a 35cm flattie came aboard, and was released after a quick snap, followed by a 60cm model which went home for tea. As it took a prawn on a 6lb line intended for small stuff it was lucky it was landed especially as it took the kid a long time to bring in.

Got the Sampson Fish on a bit of fresh fishbait, it is a bit different to amberjack and easier to tell the difference when just caught as the dark vertical bars fade after death.

Headed out from Roseville with fellow fishraider Pete. It was my first trip for a while after a back op and I had been waiting for a while for the breeze to drop. We gave Grotto Point where we usually give the squid a go a miss because of the heavy swell and for the same reason kept out from North Head a bit when we tried a troll around there. No surface fish around, although a seal had found his breakfast and was tossing a large fish around just inside North Head. Headed out to DY wide where the flathead are usually around at this time but it was a bit quite and we managed only 3 marbled flathead, 3 good mowies, a nice red rock cod, a good sized sampson fish, a sweep, a king sized jacket, and a maori wrasse before the wind came up about 11am. Not a lot of fish but a good morning on the water. A few dolphins around and some flocks of Albetross feeding on the Cuttlefish which die off at this time of year.

Leo The research says dioxin in the Parramatta river waterways is a result of Union Carbide chemical pollution. The natural levels produced by bushfires is not a problem. regards Saltrix

Here are the scientific facts on harbour fish, so you can make up your mind on eating what and from where and how often. http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumers/keeping-food-safe/special-care-foods/sydney-harbour-seafood/ Worth a read. Here is some of it. Facts About Dioxins and Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour/Parramatta River) 1. What are dioxins? Dioxins are a group of chlorinated chemicals that originate from industrial pollution or are generated in natural processes such as bush fires. They are chemically stable and can stay in the environment for a long time. Dioxins can accumulate in the body fat of animals and humans. 2. Where do dioxins come from? Residues of dioxins in seafood caught in Sydney Harbour/Parramatta River are likely to have their sources in contaminated sediments on the bottom of Homebush Bay. Current levels are likely due to many years of industrial activities previously along those waterways. On land, the main source of dioxin emission in Australia is through bushfires and burning of agricultural stubble. 3. What are the health risks associated with dioxins? We are all exposed to very low levels of dioxin, mostly via the food we eat. At those low levels, there are no known health risks. Long term high level exposure to dioxins can sometimes cause a range of ill effects, including reproductive disorders and cancer. However, as concluded in the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Risk Assessment report on seafood from Sydney Harbour, the health risk associated with consuming seafood from Sydney Harbour/Parramatta River is low for the average Australian consumer. The Government has closed the Harbour as a precautionary measure. 4. What if I've been eating fish from Sydney Harbour? An increased health risk associated with dioxins only occurs from long term exposure to high levels of dioxin. It is unlikely that people consuming seafood from Port Jackson would have noticeable health effects from the seafood, even if the dietary advice below is occasionally exceeded (see How much can I eat?). NSW Health advises people to contact their doctor if they are concerned about consumption of fish from Sydney Harbour/Parramatta River. The risk is considered low. 5. I fish for recreation and I want to eat the catch. How much can I eat? An Expert Panel has advised the Government that people can continue to eat fish from Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River providing they follow strict dietary advice. Dietary advice: No seafood caught west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge should be eaten. You should release your catch. For seafood caught east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge generally no more than 150 grams per month should be consumed. Testing of popular species has allowed for more accurate dietary advice. The table below provides advice on the maximum consumption of specific species. Table: Recommended maximum intake based on eating a single species caught east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. read it yourself do not want to exceed the post lenght. Regards Saltrix

With a weather forecast of 10 knots W to SW easing during the morning I was looking forward to a good mornings fishing with my son who was down from Brisbane, after a couple of months holidays in Europe. The clouds of birds at North Heads was a good sign, as we had quickly given up on the squid because we were blown off the spots. The schools the birds were working seemed mostly bonito feeding on 20mm size fish, but they took deep diver lures and we picked up a couple for the table and one for bait and headed out to DY wide to get a few flathead and mowies that were around before my absence. It was a bit bumpy on the way out so I thought I would adjust the trim a bit but the motor woud raise but not lower so I was stuck with it too far out of the water. I knew there was a manual screwdriver release but hanging over the back in a pretty choppy sea trying to find the hole was a bit of a task but got there eventually and got to the spot. Even with the sea anchor and a heavy sinker we could not hold the bottom, and instead of easing the breeze was gusting to around 18 knots so we gave it away and headed back in. The water police were searching around the North Head area for the missing fisherman, they were certainly putting the effort in with a Helicopter, 3 boats, divers,and a Jetski. After a couple more bonito and a tailor we headed home, No photos as it was not much of a day. Got to figure out now why my motor will only tilt up and not down.

About half were Marbled Flathead including the biggest, and the rest were Eastern Bluespot Flathead. we were fishing the deep water gravel beds and dont catch Duskies or Tiger Flathead there. Regards Alan

There were obviously jackets around as we caught 1 and lost a few baits but we didnt lose any gear so they werent in plague proportions. Sometimes I have been bitten offquite often and lost all the rig. Regards Alan

Fellow fishraider Pete joined me for a troll around North Head and then a bottom bash at DY wide. The troll was a flop as I wasnt too keen on getting too close in with the swell a bit big. The westerly was a bit brisk at first at DY wide and even with the sea anchor the drift was a bit fast but we picked up an odd fish. By about 8.30 the breeze had dropped and the bite was a bit better, with an occasional whopper flathead coming in, and few just legal snapper (31 to 33cm) on the bite. Finished up with 10 flathead, up to 60 cm, 3 just legal snapper, 1 good sized mowie, and a jacket and a wrasse. Gave it away about 11.30. PS The fish were kept in on ice in the esky, only came out for a quick photo. Thanks for the company Pete.

I am going out from Roseville (or Pennant Hills) early Sunday and would like company. The plan is to troll Nth Head or any signs of activity, then head out to DY wide to get a feed of flathead or mowies. They are usually on the job at this time of the year but I havent been out for a while as the weather hasnt been much good, but it looks OK for Sunday at the moment. I have a 5.2 metre plate boat with GPS, sounder, downrigger, Epirb, radio etc, and I am an experianced fisherman, do not require any assistance but would like some company, as my usual mate cant mke it. Only requirements are that you do not get seasick and have a bit of experiance. I dont drink on the boat or smoke but dont mind an occasional smoker. The fishing off DY is bottom bashing in 45-55 metres and I have some gear you can use if you have nothing suitable. Usual gear is about 30lb braid line with 300gm sinkers and a rod and reel to match. Pete, if you read this, you are welcome but I didnt want to take you away from anything you have arranged at short notice. Any previous company is also welcome. I will leave at first light and return about mid day. I have pilchards, whitebait, and prawn bait and hope to pick up a tailor or bonito on the way out. Email me if you are interested. Regards Saltrix Have company now no more replies thank you.

Got them on bait.

Went out in Moreton Bay on Sunday while visiting my son who lives in Brisbane. The weather was good with only a gentle breeze as we left about 8am and almost glassy on the way home at midday. The catch is winter whiting which have no legal size but have a bag limit of 50 per fisherman but even with 4 of us fishing the 50 limit was enough fish for a few meals, as they were a good size for this species. They are a nice eating fish but filleting is a bit of a job. The frames make good crab bait.

The small striped angular fish is a juvenile Pennant Fish, it grows to 1.3 metres and is a tropical species but found sometimes as far south as Wollongong. Similar to the juvenile Diamond Trevally but has no trailing filaments on the ventral fins.

Yes, as soon as the fish dies it goes mushy, maybe you have never had one infected.

Over the years I have caught many kingfish and they are usually a good table fish. I kill my fish and store in an ice slurry or at least covered in ice after bleeding and washing them, but still occasionally served up Kingfish fillets which had a soft mushy flesh and a terrible taste. After much research I found this to be due to occasional infection of the fish with a parasite called Kudoa, probably Kudoa thyrsites, which infects the muscle tissue of the fish but is not apparent in the appearance of the fish. On death of the fish the parasite releases enzymes which change the flesh to mush. The fish infected can be Kingfish, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Tailor, and many others. So do not think you have been careless with the fish by not getting enough ice on them, as it has nothing to do with that. It is a big problem in fish farms. Some research suggests about 1 in 10 kingfish are infected around Sydney, less further south and more further north. To be sure the fish is not infected one way is to cook a small sample before freezing, as the infection is usually right through the flesh. If you have a few fish freeze them seperately and mark them so you know which the crook lot is. I would be interested to know how many other fishraiders have experianced the problem. The other common parasite in the fish we catch is the marine tape worm in Jews and large trevally. Some fisherman I have shown them to did not know they were a tapeworm, but as it is not transferrable to humans if cooked I don't suppose ot matters

Call in at the marine park headquarters and pick up a free chart showing the restricted areas of the Marine Park. The charter company will probably give you one if you are chartering. There are different restrictions for different areas and they are policed pretty rigorously, and we were checked several times during the week, and reminded of the restrictions in the area we were in. Also get a fish ID chart as the size limits for different fish vary a lot, and the fish look pretty similar. We managed a decent feed most days fishing the bottom a bit away from the reefs. Fishing on top of the reef resulted in lost gear very quickly. We used fish bait which was pretty easy to catch and identify.