steeevooo

Nice work saving it @ginko They can be hard work to get off a hook! And good call on not leaving rubbish behind. Oddly though, it may not have even been some discarded or lost gear but bycatch and snapped line... Lures that look like food to fish can easily look like food to other animals and those water dragons are too quick for their own good sometimes :/ I live around the corner from the dam & used to fished there loads, almost daily for a while, and had a few tangles with those poor dragons over the years. Never lost the line luckily, and only once got one hooked, which was no fun for either of us. The thing leapt through the air and chomped a cicada shaped lure while I was mid cast! Took a bit of a wrestle and a few scratches getting it off the hook before we both scurried off a bit shook-up. Not much you can do if the line snaps, so it's good to be extra careful around them if fishing with lures and light gear.

Nah we didn't bother in the end. We were mostly keen to fish the islands and reefs, and on the one cruise around the bay didn't even take rods with us, haha just wanted to get out on the water at least once. In the end we were glad we'd decided not to attempt going outside, after sussing out the swell from one of the lookouts it did look pretty wild, and also breaking waves across most of the opening between the heads.

Cheers fellas. Yeah ended up only hitting the water once for a cruise around the bay in a mate's boat. Mine pretty much just went on a road trip. As you said @longy509 haha if not rain then swell, and also quite unpredictable. Still had a good time, but mighty keen to get back up there for a fish. Hopefully can do another trip before things cool down too much.

Hey raiders, Got a week in Nelson Bay from tomorrow, which was meant to be a fishing trip + camping at Broughton... 😅 Given these shonky conditions with 2m+ swell all week, plus wind, not sure we'll be venturing outside much, at least not very far. Does anyone know the condition of the bay itself after all this rain? Any tips on where could be worth trying or will everywhere be much the same and full of floating debris etc? We'd originally planned for a trip chasing pelagics, still hopeful but it's not lookin' great.

Headed down to the south coast about a week ago, some questionable luck with the weather, but not as bad as other parts of the east coast have had. Two trips out so far, once in Moruya river and once offshore. River trip consisted of drifting a channel casting soft plastics along the edges. Not something I'd given a proper go before, always been more of a bait fisho (in salt water anyway). Had some great results, using mainly 2-2.5inch grubs and paddletails, on very light gear. Hooked quite a few flathead, some landed, some lost, some released and 4 kept for dinner. Second outing was at sea outside Moruya today. Waited patiently over the past week and picked out moment for a bar crossing, all went smoothly both going out and back. Firstly headed to a reef about 5km out, again using soft plastics, larger ones on medium gear. Did half a dozen or so drifts, only to have several result in all plastics getting devoured by damn leatherjacket. Eaten down to the jig head. Bastards. Gave up on that spot and headed back closer in, drifting the drop off about km off shore. Way more life on the sounder here, unsure of what a lot of it was at times, no interest in soft plastics, metals, jigs, but plenty of fish down there, including some big ones. Here we mostly caught a heap of sergeant baker and barracuda, and sadly had to end the trip earlier than we would have liked to, to head back while bar conditions were still ideal. Some more soggy days are predicted coming up, but we're here for almost another week so fingers crossed for another chance to head out again, especially back off shore. Had hoped to give Montague Island a go, but the weather has made short work of that idea. The plan for this trip were to give Montague Island, Batemans Bay & Moruya a go, have at least ticked one off the list Not many pics of the outing, nor much point taking photos of sergeant baker and barracuda, but the flathead were a delight. Stay tuned for part 2 if the weather plays nice.

@Pickles is spot on with the middle harbour suggestion. Our first boat was a tinny around 12ft, and we took it out around middle harbour loads. I would definitely recommend avoiding the harbour, it's not so pleasant being on a small boat in a washing machine. We considered the (invisible) line between grotto point and middle head as our limit, and just stayed upstream from there. (As one day we learned the hard way that even the wake from the ferry could be a bit of a challenge in a small boat, and both the ferry wake and any incoming swell tends to flatten out further in from grotto point. hehe lesson learned after a bit of bailing and picking a safe break to turn around in). From roseville boat ramp, there's a huge area to explore that is easily accessible with a small boat, most of the area is reasonably sheltered and easy going unless it's particularly poor weather. And even then if you're REALLY keen, you could go further upstream from the ramp, or hug the shorelines which are mostly quite steep and protect you from the wind (depending on the direction it's coming from). A few places I'd suggest giving a go: - bantry bay: seems to fire at random times of the year, but some huge fish lurking here from time to time, and it's quite sheltered also - seaforth bluff: where fishos regularly catch kings - around spit bridge: it's very hit & miss and can have a bit of a current depending on tides, but a lot of fish move through here. - clontarf drop off: there is a huge drop off here which can be worth a shot - balmoral: super popular with people fishing the wharf, you have the added advantage of being able to be out a bit deeper and away from the crowds. I've marked these on the map below. (worth having a browse of the maps on Navionics also, where you can see depths and plenty of fishing spots marked also: https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en) There are some very deep sections to middle harbour, some spots as deep as 30m, who knows what's lurking down there...

And if the weather is too shonky overall then we'll just try some of the rivers or bays. Does anyone have any thoughts on which would be fishing well this time of year?

So a casual 10 months later, post fires and lockdowns, this trip is finally happening Heading down towards the end of this month for a few weeks, staying in Moruya. Really looking forward to exploring, boating, & fishing around the area. On the plus side I've spent much more time off shore now and way more confident in heading out to Montague Island. Will observe weather and pick our days, and which bar crossing to take on. @JonD and @Stino the advice about the conditions around the island was really valuable, thanks for that. After looking at charts... no wonder there can be unusual conditions there. These are some impressive rises, wow. If there are choppy sections we'll just avoid them and I'm sure we'll have a great time fishing other spots around the island anyway. Haven't seen much in the way of recent reports, but I'm assuming Oct/Nov should be a decent time of year to give it a try.

Not familiar with Port Kembla area but Pittwater/Broken Bay is my main go-to and where I gradually built up confidence going out past the heads. My rig is smaller than yours (4.5m with 60hp), and after taking it out past Barrenjoey Headland a half a dozen times it feels like second nature now, no dramas. Your boat is more than capable, as long as conditions are decent of course. Haha you'll be surprised how many very small very questionable boats you see out there sometimes. But yeah weather is absolute key. What Zoran said above is about right. Under 1m swell and 10kt winds is absolute primo conditions for heading out. I generally try to aim for days where the wind is under 15kts and swell under 2m. Anything above that, more likely to stick in protected waters. You'll learn over time what feels comfortable in your boat. I reckon almost everyone would be nervous heading out the first time. And if you're nervous it's probably a good thing, because it means you'll take safety seriously. I still get nervous when heading to waters I'm not familiar with. Something I find handy is having a look at navionics charts of the area before heading out. Zooming in on areas you may plan to fish and explore. Most hazards are shown on charts, helps to avoid them. On the reefs just outside broken bay to the north for example (West Reef), it can develop dangerous swell in S.E. winds. Good to know this stuff in advance. And yep, make sure you have all your safety gear. Always a good idea to log your trip with Marine Rescue if you're heading outside also, either via their app or radio. Just an added backup.

Cheers guys! Now to remove everything so I can take the floor out and then have fabricators/boatbuilders patch up the crack and re-enforce it. Might fill the sides under the floor with expanding foam while I'm at it for some backup buoyancy!

Weekend in Port Stephens with a bunch of friends and a few boats. Some of us fishing, others just cruising or skiiing, towing donuts etc. Day 1: headed out just after sunrise and made the trip out to Boondelbah Island. Conditions weren't the best, but not too bad. Circled the island a few times, came across loads of slimies and bonito. Then moved across to the headland to try along Shark/Fingal Island. There we drifted across a few underwater peaks we picked up on the sounder, where we found bigger bonito mixed in with schools of kings. Landed 5 kings and a bunch of bonito. Kings were all undersized and released to fight another day. Great fun bringing them in on light gear! We were fishing unweighted baits of slimeys and pilchards, which were getting hammered on almost every pass. Headed back in the afternoon, only to find that the boat had taken on some water, so called it a day. Day 2: conditions were a fair bit rougher, so we decided to stay within Port Stephens itself. Fished around Boandabah island this time. Conditions were pretty windy and choppy, and we weren't there very long, as sadly the trip was cut short when we realised the boat was taking on even more water than the previous day. Lucky I installed a bilge pump! Got back to the boat ramp and after inspecting things discovered a crack at the bottom of the hull. The crack being across a weld which the previous owner must have done to repair it in the past! Will be taking it to fabricators/boatbuilders and asking them to repair and re-enforce it good and proper. On the downside, it'll be off the water for a little while until I get around to it, on the plus side I found the source of the leak! Cheers to Scratchie for some tips he gave us on the area. We didn't end up using them much but it was a great starting point. The folks are Ufish Brined Baits in Heatherbrae also gave us some good advice, and their bait was excellent! Highly recommend them. Definitely returning up there sometime. The fishing seemed great and wildlife plentiful. We saw dolphins, sharks, turtles, dingoes. Didn't take any photos of the bonito but got a few of some of the kings

Thanks mate! Boat is a 16ft Stessl with a 60hp so days need to be rather calm to head outside. Some marks would be amazing if there are any you think I can get to. And yeah Friday seems to be the go for going out, maaaaybe Saturday, but most likely sat/sun will be spent inside Port Stephens itself or maybe Myall River.

Epic catch Scratchie! I'm actually heading up there next weekend. Don't think we can go out as far as you do though, smaller boat etc. Would love some tips on fishing the area if you have any you'd like to share? I can message you if you'd prefer to keep it off here

Hey fishos! So my next attempt at a trip away with boat is on the cards, this time to Hawks Nest at Port Stephens this weekend. (assuming no surprise fires or floods pop up in the next few days) Just wondering, anyone who fishes the area, is it worth trying to target kingies up there? From what I've read it sounds like squid are plentiful, so was thinking to get some livies and troll out around the headlands and around Boondelbah Island (avoiding the sanctuaries etc). Pending wind of course, and if my little 16ft runabout can get out there safely. Is it worth trying for kings? Or would we be better off going for flatties etc. inside the port? Have heard of good snapper caught there also but unsure if inside or out. Any advice would be mighty appreciated. Visited there (Jimmy's Beach) by chance earlier this year and fell in love with the place so now it's time to take the boat!

Yep Rowland reserve. Good to hear they dropped the price, it was pretty outrageous. I heard talk of it but didn't know it had actually happened. I bought an annual parking pass for there, so haven't noticed the change. I see your point on water restrictions, but it's not a case of enforcing the rules, it's a case of the new taps making it actually impossible to flush your motor.

Heads up folks, Boat ramp at Bayview has now switched the taps over to a push down dealio, where water trickles out for about 30 seconds then it cuts off and you have to push it down again. Was in line for the wash bay and watching fisho after fisho trying to flush their motors on the weekend, the taps did not provide enough pressure. Basically a case of them starting their motors, watching the temp gauge rise, and so turning it off real quick before any damage was done. That was the careful ones, I can only imagine how many less attentive boat owners will end up cooking their motors if they aren't paying attention or don't have a temp gauge 😕 It's a bit silly considering that flushing your motor at home will only use more water as you have the run the it longer so it warms up again and the thermostat opens up. Also a bit rude considering that council charges up to $40 per day for people to park there... (Edit: Someone pointed out the fee is lower now)

Cheers Paddy, will keep it in mind. Good point about time of year! I think this weekend we'll do a bit of exploring, will try West Reef if conditions permit, and I probably also give Trawleys, Boultons, and Reggie's reefs a try. Again depending on conditions and time. Most online mentions I've read about these reefs tend to be from 10-20 years ago. Curious how they fish these days. One way to find out

Thanks mate! Yep I can see a mark near there on Navionics, just towards the bottom of West Reef. It does also have a warning about potential heavy swells, so a case of picking days and being careful I guess. Will give it a try when I get a chance and let you know how I go

Funny how different each of our experiences can be hey! Hehe we just got hammered by big fat yakkas, it was also around a month ago. We were using pillies and fresh squid, fishing the bottom up to around halfway up the water column. Were the snapper you caught of decent size?

Snapper would be great, a species I haven't really targeted in the past. Lately have mostly been chasing kings, keen to mix it up though.

Hey folks! With my planned trip south now postponed due to the fires down there, planning a weekend of fishing around home instead. Pittwater and the harbour etc. Keen to try out some new spots and have heard West Reef and East Reef mentioned a few times. Wondering if anyone has some advice on fishing these with a 15ft runabout. I've read that in certain conditions they can be dangerous, so will obviously avoid the area if there is swell etc. but anything else in particular to watch out for? Looking at charts it seems like some parts of the reefs are quite shallow. Also any other suggestions for reefs to try which are near Pittwater would be amazing. So far I've tried the Valiant wreck, seemed to only be home to loads of large yellowtail. Also tried a few of the reefs not far off Barrenjoey headland, but they seem very small, or we may have missed the mark with the GPS coordinates we were using. Any advice would be super appreciated Slowly gaining confidence going out past the heads but keen to stay within a few miles of shore for the time being.

Some great advice thanks guys! I'll have a think about the island, maybe doing some fishing in the rivers and bays etc is a better idea and then going on a charter to the island before considering taking my own boat out there. Local knowledge & advice is always so valuable Stino, some marks would be amazing! I'll send you a message.

Have been looking for Lunds squid but haven't spotted it at any of my usual tackle shops. Anyone know who stocks it? I'm on the Northern Beaches, maybe I need to venture out of the area?

Heya Raiders So I'm planning on taking my little boat down to the south coast over the holidays. Will be based at a friend's place near Moruya. Would really love to try fishing Montague Island, but is it a safe/realistic idea to take my small runabout out there? It's a 15ft Stessl with a 60hp on it. Have read that the bar crossing at Narooma is quite dangerous, is there any safe place to get a small boat out there? Not keen on trying the crossing, nowhere near confident enough in my little rig if conditions aren't dead calm. Any advice on other places to try down there would be very appreciated. Ideally keen to head out and target kings, but open to other suggestions for areas worth trying and species to target

Yeah we spent hours chasing squid this morning and no luck, and failed with yakkas too, haha only to learn there were plenty one cove over from the last spot we tried. Still a fun day out on the water though