Pickles

Good effort on the worms @beachwormer, grrrr about the stingrays.

A brilliant morning with 2 fabulous Raider mates - Jens certainly had a fine introduction and is now a real “Bass assassin”.

Way to go Dave and Amy. I love reading your posts and always look forward to some great pics. I trust you have a great time in South America (something I’ve always wanted to do, being an avid life long tropical fish enthusiast). Blessings for 2023.

Way to go Steve, some great fishing mate, pity Nozomi out fished you🤪 ( a few Raiders in “The Port”, if you’re going back, post some questions for places to fish, also the local tackle shop is very helpful.)

Nice job Dave - good feed there.

Blessings Neil, always a pleasure and you’re always welcome to stay.

Hey @antr, I was surprised at how well the flattie tasted as I was expecting it to be pretty ordinary, however as it was stuffed full of prawns (and the prawns are feeding in the fresh too), I guess most food stuff is a function of the “fuel” they input, so anything that eats prawns is going to taste pretty good.

Brilliant effort @Vara, those big Dollie’s certainly give a good account of themselves and taste fantastic - a great feed on the way.

Chunky bream @Isaac Ct, well done.

Great video @KhalidMSyed lovely country and some great fish- thanks for sharing.

Cheers Gordo

Great work @essjay, great bag of reds - mission accomplished for Christmas sea food 👏👏. When you’re off the reef at BH, do use lead, or float line and burley?? I’ve never fished that area, but keen to give it a try.

Can’t agree more @Varawho would have figured.

Water is fresh there (river pumps for irrigation and house water)

Nope - this one is for the pan - First trout I’ve caught and never eaten one before, so going to give it a try, but thanks for the intel.

Well done Rob, nice feed of fish for tomorrow

@big Neilwanted to slip out for a quick flick before heading off to spend Christmas with his family. So we rigged up the new Tinnie and headed to Colo / Deerubbin. In the past 2 days we’ve pulled out about 30- 40 Bass, but today we landed a 50 cm Flattie and a 32cm Rainbow Trout, both on a solid black small FeralCatt lures at the mouth of the Colo, as well as a dozen nice Bass. We were under strict instructions from Mrs Pickles to be home by 9am, (pre-Christmas family lunch) which meant leaving the water by 8.30pm - Mission accomplished.

Looking forward to catching up soon Gordo

Big Neil and I headed out on a Kingfish expedition, but we’re thwarted by the weather. The day was highlighted by heaps of boats on the harbour and BOM getting the prediction wrong again. We did have great day (Neil breaking into renditions of Frank Sinatra “My Way” whilst pulling in flathead). We didn’t try for squid, but filled up the “fish spa” with Yakkas in extra quick time We’re heading out for a Bass fish tomorrow - Neil to write this one up.

A brilliant result @Calais_loco. That 50 you caught is an absolute stonker - well done.

How about a once a year award this being the first “The Derek” to the most helpful, raider.

Welcome @j4jakin78, keep those reports coming

Hey @Bryant fish, there have been good kings in the harbour, but very tricky to take a live bait. Talking with 4 of the charter operators today, they haven’t landed a Kingie between them in two days and had 20 live squid picked to nothing without turning a reel, but last week they were taking Squid. I haven’t fished Pittwater for a few months, but trolling around Scotland Island and the peers and wrecks with a live squid, should certainly produce the goods. All the squid in the harbour have been arrows, if your getting green eyes, chances are further improved I reckon.

Went out with Buddy Peter today (Wednesday), hit the harbour - heaps of livies and squid - out to Iggy a reef & Kingies were going nuts (At Last) - used lures, plastics, strip baits. They were hungry and schooled up - a great day. 16 boated, until the SW start ed blowing at 30 knots and a very slow trip back. Looking forward to some Seriola time with @big Neiltomorrow

Of course you can use cape/hood strips for bait, but if your going to keep squid to eat, the hood (cape) is better than the head - tentacles of the head waving around attract interest- I usually usually use circle hooks unless live baiting & then Mustad Hoodlum in 7/0. Sometimes a snooded double hook rig - top hook circle, bottom hook Hoodlum. I usually only hook the bait once, if whole squid, through the tip of the hood, if the head, once in between the eyes. hope this helps Pickles