Pickles

Early start on Thursday chasing livies before a Kingie session. Squid were really hard. Water was green and very clear (where has the nice blue water gone this year). Heaps of Yakkas around, so decided on a quick stop of at North Head before a run to Long Reef. Picked up 3 kings - only one legal. Left due to a large seal that has been hanging around all year and pinching baits. He may think twice about it next time though as one of the clients on one of the charter operators hooked him through the nose (they thought they had a monster Kingie - for about 10 seconds). No Bull sharks today - hopefully they have headed north (until the whalers turn up with the cooler water) One rat at Longie - very few boats out there so headed to North Narabeen headland and got a bucket load of nice tailor, some small slime mackerel and one 63cm King. Weather was spectacular and water temp 22 degrees, but dirty green. sorry raiders, no pics as Kings were all rats.

Hey Raiders I’d appreciate feedback about who has found a reliable bait / bilge pump. Ive installed Johnson, Rule and Chinese copy of the previous model Rule ( round base- not new oval shape) and had all fail, on my 5th replacement in 14 months. What are suggestions on a good quality pump- don’t really care about price, I want reliability thanks

I’d appreciate feedback from raiders who have found a reliable bait / bilge pump. Ive installed Johnson, Rule and Chinese copy of the previous model Rule ( round base- not new oval shape) and had all fail. What are suggestions on a good quality pump- don’t really care about price, I want reliability thanks

I haven’t been out to Longie lately - how have you been going raiders??? Any reports?

“Red big eyes” are also called “happy moments”- be very careful handing these as they are very painful if you get spiked by their dorsal fins. Filleted they are superb eating fish (don’t eat the skin though). The skin is very tough like a leatherjacket.

Second trip chasing Kingies in Sydney harbour was on Sunday. Weather wasn’t going to be as good as Sunday and the prediction was correct, a brisk Southerly sprang up about 10 am, but we had boated 18 kings by then, so were please. Lloyd (originally UK) had never caught a Kingfish before and was over the moon about their fighting capabilities. Rob had caught kings before, but never experienced a “rat attack”, with all rods going of at once. They were all caught in North harbour and on fresh squid (left over from Saturday) and live - small yakkas. They fish were leaving the big ones and only hitting the tiny little ones. Balmoral wharf is crawling with these little yakkas and it takes 20 mins or so to fill the live bait tank - trick is to use no 12 “mosquito” hooks. Quite a few fish stole the bait and were not hooked as, although they were numerous, they were in quite a finicky mood. Amazing how they can get the bait off without a pair of hands. We only kept a few for a feed and all the rest were released (of course) The rats seem to be getting bigger as winter approaches and water temp has dropped to 21 - 22 degrees, so they will go out wide soon to overwinter on the off shore reefs, with only the occasional hoodlum hanging around.

Had 2 trips on the harbour over the weekend (Sat & Sun). I was a little uncertain of going out on the first weekend of the school holidays, but surprisingly there were very few boats either day. Saturday i took a few boys from school and their dad. Neither had been on a hot bite of Kingies before and although they were only rats 60-70cm they had a ball, boating 8 and hooking over a dozen. The day started targeting squid (kingfish candy) and we had 3 big green eyes in the live bait tank in about 20 mins. We then filled the second live bait tank up with yakkas (various sizes) and headed off to north head. The pics say it all - several multiple hookups.7u 3F98D86D-4E2D-43FA-9569-75923BCEF369.MOV

Great report Tyrone, sounds like a great day on the water

Good report hookerbruce,, thanks

Great reportmate - thanks

Kingies are still around in big numbers this last week.I last headed out on Thursday and boated 19 rats win Steve and few days before with my young bloke (now 26) and one of his mates. Over summer and now heading into Autumn there have been 15:1 rats to keepers. Kings been around the naval buoys - ChowderBay, Clifton and even a few cruising past Sow and Pigs They have been taking live yakka’s, squid and even caught 3 on prawns. there have been a few nice flatties around also - on live yakkas, which are at all the usual spots - Balmoral, Sow and Pigs, Georges corner.

Good job Centerpin (Geoff) looks like you had a great day out on one of iconic waterways. I’d love any clues on where to have a go at blackfish in the Hawkesbury - happy to reciprocate with kingfish spots / tactics

It’s not me, one of my buddies - happy for people to know it’s middle harbour - There’s lots of kings for everyone, so location I’m happy to not hide

Had a short session last Thursday with mixed results, only 5 small (rats) in the 57-63 size (no keepers). The Tuesday before, again lots of rats, but kept 5 in 67-70 size, (released 22). The crew RICHARD and PETER - great guys. harbour has been really firingfor Ki it’s this summer, but I’m perplexed where the big ones have gone, I’ve only caught 3 over 80, hopefully we’ll get a run of the bigger winter ones coming in soon. 2 of the “crew”

Great report - looks like a Barcrusher from gunwales, a great fishing platform.

Nice fish, it’s good when effort and research pays off

Great report and great catch - well done - love Port Stephens.

Nice effort Steve - not so easy to get Kingies land based, but a whole lot harder to land them. Good job

Nice job mate, nothing replaces the feeling of the “King hit” and run (except sterling in the net & then releasing to fight another day) Picles

I had dropped the kids from school at Luna Park for a school excursion and drove the bus to park under the bridge. Aldi had a special on 7’ Shimano telescopic rods with a reel (el cheapo, but hey it is Shimano) - perfect for sadly fish addicted school teacher (Deputy) totake for a quick flick when anywhere near the water. the result - 7lb snapper on a piece of chicken, at Kirribilli- right under the bridge. kids were stoked.

Planning to, head out fishing wide off TERRIGAL on the weekend, the weather had been so crook and past three weeks with heavy rain and big seas so when there was a break on Saturday I grabbed it. Haven’t caught a Kingie for 3 weeks and went wide on Saturday - perfect conditions, lots of live bait and target species within 1/2 hour and now bag limit is one - stopped fishing for Jews.

Great effort - pumping nippers is almost as much fun as pulling in the fish, but fish are better to eat

I’ve been out three times in the past week and each time I’ve got good squid, both in size and number. last trip (Saturday) 9 were boated, 2 annoyingly lost with lures returning with bits of the candle attached (need to be more gentle in future). They appear to have moved off the deeper sea grass beds and into the shallower kelp and there are a few “Crakens”amongst them, but also some little ones. A month ago there were quite a few little cuttlefish coming in also, but haven’t got any in the past 4 trips. WARNING - one of my buddies was squidding over near the “Toilet rolls” ( big white circular appartments in Many bay) and was issued a fine. This is / was an excellent squid ground, but not worth it. Nearly every time I go out on Sydney harbour I am checked by Fisheries, Maritime or water police - I am always compliant and have always found the services polite and positsive, but they are very vigilant. Pickles

I was hoping for one of the big winter kings that are around this time of year, but alas not happening yet

Brilliant effort, no “Baby blues” they are good fish and good to hear you looked after them getting onto ice