Pickles

Every trip Dunc😕

I know it’s hard to believe Chris, but I got 2 kg of meat of the remnants of th “head”. I didn’t see the shark, but assume it was a big grey nurse, Mako, hammerhead or tiger as they have been around and I’ve caught several hammerheads over past few trips off Long reef wide. HaHa Hoods, there were bigger units out there, but no hope of stopping them, I thought I’d won with this one 😞

A nice bag of fish Chris - well done on the Flatties and unfortunate for you mate with the Kingie. If the slimies are bled when caught, I quite like them BBQ’d, if kept in the fridge for a day to firm up. (Not sure I’d be bleeding them on a jet ski though - been hooking a lot of sharks lately offshore and some quite big hammerheads)

Hey Mike, the Mosquito hooks are hard to find in size 12, but 8 & 10 work well also, but on those days when you can see swarms of the little “ Kingie candy” size, the 12s are deadly. Other days they will take hooks as big as no1. EBay might be the place to look, but specialty fishing tackle shops should have them, my closest is in Penrith (can’t use name as against the rules), but if you pm me, I’ll pass it on as they blokes there are excellent. Only disadvantage is if you start off with the small hooks and they are hungry, you gut hook rather than lip hook them, so I usually start with a no 6 and work back from there if needed.

I generally only use a swivel and no sinker, but depends on current flow. The leader from swivel to hook is about 300-400mm long and I use a uni knot to hold hook on, but mosquito hooks have a tiny eye, so 6lb is the biggest mono you can get through the eye, but snoozing heavier line works. I don’t fish land based as I have a boat (you’re welcome out, but need you to tow the boat as I don’t drive - explain if you pm me). However Kingies are a lot more common than folks think and I’ve caught and seen them around most wharves and structures around Lane Cove, Gladesville, Middle Harbour, The Heads and heaps around Clifton and the Piers (Pier1, 2 etc) and around opera house and Kirribilli. My experience is they are always on the prowl and if you hold position long enough they will cruise by. Having the bait they are feeding on is the key. Live squid or cuttlefish are their preferred food, then Slimies and then Yakkas. I’ve even caught them on swell and mado’s when they are really hungry and also caught them on bread when burleying for Yakkas (rarely ever land them on anything less than 20lb line). Kingies like structure and current, when you get these together they will cruise past at some stage, but they can be extremely frustrating at times as they will be feeding on jelly prawns or tiny “eyes” and just will not take a bait. Other times, they will smash anything that hits the water (I caught 86 at Longie mid summer, just before aa southerly blow and had to stop fishing as my mate and I were cramping up - only kept 3 fish). My favourite lures are white and pink 6” Sluggos and Atomis Plazos. Generally don’t have much success on hardbodies or metals. hope this helps. Bob

Hey @Fab1, I use circle hooks almost exclusively, (but not off set, so more like a “tuna hook”) the only exception is when livebaiting with Yakkas and squid, when I use Mustad Hoodlum hooks (usually 7/0). But the key to success with circle hooks is to let the fish hook themselves as @Volitansays, I don’t touch the rod until the rod tip is almost in the water (boat fishing) and I the fish is swimming away. The reason Ilove circle hooks is that 99% of the time, the fish are hooked in the side of the mouth and very easy to get the hook out and release if not being kept. If you strike, much of the time the hook is pulled out of the fish’s mouth without engaging. Only my opinion - many folks do not like circle hooks.

Great stuff @LuckyFil, nice fat Flatties - a good feed there and great pics.

Hey @Aussie_fisher, the key to Yakkas at Clifton (and Balmoral) is a no 10 or 12 Owner “Mosquito hook” on 4 or 6lb line (I use a hand line in the boat, but 1-3kg rod 6’ to 7 1/2 foot rod off the wharf) will get you heaps of Yakkas if you burley and only a tiny bit of squid or yellowtail on the tip of the hook. Most fishos use line and hooks that are too big. I’d also give the multiple hook jigs a miss - by the time you get them untangled you’ll have 3 or 4 Yakkas in the bucket.

Great report Tash - good to hear from the girls. Next time you go, take some squid jigs with you and flick over the weed patch half way along the wharf and towards the cafe / naval base on Nth side, there are often arrow squid there and Kingies cruise by there and with a live squid under a float, you’d have some hard pulling fun. (Hope you were able to get a park away from the paid parking - super expensive if land based)

Good one Dave - I’m with you re the bream, but they are good scrappers on light gear and some nice looking fish in your pics - well done.

Hey Denis, send me a pm and we can organise a day out on my boat (weekdays always preferable to weekends, if you can swing one).

What area are you wanting to go fishing @AlbertW(NSW is a pretty big area). If the harbour, there are Kingies around and caught a few before the wind this week around the Heads, also plenty of surface action (salmon) on clear and white minnows (sluggos, atomic plazos etc).

Pity about the wind Frank - I’ve called off more trips that I’ve been on lately too - got to improve soon. Still a lovely part of the world to enjoy.

Well done @R E G I C Y C L E, great to see you posting, I’ll look forward to your reports. The Bass have certainly been going nuts at the moment with all this fresh flushing through, even trout in the upper Nepean.

Welcome Matt - Love to join you, but on the other side of town😞.

Well done Rob, the wind hasn’t stopped howling for several weeks now, such a pain😞😞. Good you were able to get a feed.

Great to spend time with the family and great that your sons mate shares the passion.

Brilliant report Zoran, sounds like a great initiation and orientation for Devocean and a big learning curve - darn those trawlers. Pity about the scuff mark, but looks like it will polish off.👍

Sorry for the locals mate😞. Always a spare room here if you need it.

Hey @Tommy TJ, I’m not much of a bream fisho’and for me, usually a by-catch, but when using live prawns, nippers and worms, I get heaps and some real stonkers (low to mid 50’s at times). I know lures are more creative way to fish, but live bait usually offers me the best results.

Brilliant effort @kingfish101, a truly meritorious catch, well done. The pie looks great (full marks to Mrs ‘101)

Ouch George, glad you’re OK.

Looks like a great break from the big smoke.