Killer

After many months, my mate John and I managed to get a day to go and fish our local rock platform. Forecast didn't quite pan out as predicted, with a moderate southerly and the predicted .5m swell lumped up to 2m at times. Never the less, it has taken a long time to get here, so it was a 'go'. I had to rig up, but John was already floating a bait before I even had the leader through the runners. Straight onto a fish. I tied my hook on and set up my float as he was landing his second fish. Too good to dawdle around, so I cast in with an immediate hookup. We had to backpedal a few times with some of the bigger swells, but the action was hot. We only fished for 2 hours and John had 6 fish with one dropped, whilst I ended up with 9 and 3 dropped. The conditions were improving rapidly, with smoother seas and the wind dropped right off. Left them biting. John got busted off on a fish and reeled in. I was drifting close by and got a savage down, hooking up and landing it. When I removed my hook, I saw 5cm of line hanging out of its mouth, so removed that hook as well, only to see a fresh bait and a shiny new Daiichi hook come out. It was the fish that busted JD only a minute previously. Guess they don't go into shock, once they are hooked and get released, as this one just continued to feed. No berley used to get them on the bite and there were a few big pigs around as well. We both kept a few for a feed and got back to the car all too soon.

Ah to be young again. I have aches and pains getting out of bed to go to the Jim (new name for the John). We will arrive in Narooma on Sunday for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to a few kayak sessions.

I found the invoice where I got my bolts from - Fuji Fasteners, M6 x 16 Weld Stud with PP. Part #XCM1616

I use these. The flat heads don't dig into your feet. I have about 16 left over.

You can still see the path it took, along the coast trail at Jibbon. Looks like a scythe has cleared the bush at a width of around 100m for almost 1klm before heading off across Bate Bay and then, of course, hitting Kurnell.

I was off Kurnell in the Police launch one time and a huge waterspout kicked off about 200m away. I most definately wouldn't want to be in its path. Lots of power to suck up that much water.

Great days fishing. Do you miss the kayak? I just bought a new 360 drive for mine.

Good work Rob.

How are you going to divide your time if you need to support your kids at all their various activities. 😄

My mate lived in a waterfront in Nth West Arm (Port Hacking) and one day when we had a teacher free day (jigging school) we were sitting on his lawn fishing for bream and a marlin cruised slowly past. There used to be many marlin, spanish mackeral and like species hooked around Jibbon and in the mouth of the Hacking, back in the days of my youth. I have seen loads of marlin on the surface within 1 klm of the mouth and in Bate Bay over the years. It is a rare thing but happens more often than you would imagine.

Went out fishing off the rocks in the RNP yesterday. It was a glorious morning and the seas were almost flat. Took a nice pic on the way out to the coast. It has been almost 6 months or more since we have had a chance to get out, so despite only having a couple of hours, we managed an early start. I was using an old rod and a Tempo reel and it was a bit soft to put much pressure on the fish, but managed to land a few. The biggest fish I have hooked in a long time, took around 5 minutes to coax up onto the ledge. Every time it would come close, it would power off back to the deep. I was using 6lb line so couldn't do much about it. Finally washed it up with a small swell, but the backwash allowed it to tear off once again and this time the line snapped. Regardless, I would have released it, as I prefer the smaller ones for the table. Had a great time and looking forward to the next one. I found the Tempo reel didn't run as freely as my Avon's, but maybe that is because it is new. Good times.

My mate's dad (and two sons) was the importer/distributor for Mustad hooks. DP Whitton and sons. The moved premises to Shell Point/Taren Point many years back, from Sydney CBD and have since sold the business. My mate Ian has boxes and boxes of 'new' Mustad hooks. Was selling some of the rare patterns to collectors a while back. He has a LOT of fishing tackle stored away.

Female Koel, Frank.

My Sportex rods are "yellowish"

Female Koel. Took this in our backyard.

They did make the Sportex 662 and 663 in 2 piece. I bought a 662 and my mate bought a 663 from Nivens back in the 1960's, both 2 piece. I swapped mine to L.A. several years back. I assume he still has it. I have a "new" (only ever been fished with on one occasion) one piece 663 in the garage.

That's a female Koel cuckoo, Frank. The male is a glossy black/blue.

Thanks Fab. Just for your info - As a general rule, taking photos of people and places in a public area does not require permission. We have no right to individual privacy in Australian law – this probably comes as a surprise to a lot of readers, but there you have it. Photographers, generally speaking, can freely photograph everyday situations, people and places, as long as they aren't breaking any other laws (such as trespassing). More information can be found on Australia's Arts Law webpages. All came to a head when rangers tried to stop Ken Duncan taking photos around Barangaroo. However, the intent of my post wasn't to highlight the guys kids, but to point out that regardless of warning signs, people pay no attention, nor have any common sense whatever in many dangerous situations. Sorry if I have somewhat hijacked your thread, Henry.

Lucky!!?? I can think of a dozen more apt words, Burger

I thought I was going to have to get my shoes and shirt off, along with a number of others at Cronulla last week to rescue this lot. The father took his three kids for a swim in the pool, where 1m waves were racing through. Walked past warning signs advising of strong currents, undertow and dangerous conditions. First wave took the little boy over the steps and tumbled him across the rock shelf. He popped out of the "life jacket" and fortunately the father managed to grab him from under the water. Next wave took the little girl over the side wall of the pool and same result. She was screaming and injured her arm as well as getting leg abrasions. Oldest girl got knocked over trying to grab the sister and prevent her being taken out by the backwash. She also went over and received abrasions. A family tragedy in the making and it all took about 30 seconds. Signs don't make any difference to to a lot of people.

Good work Rob. You have gone grey since I last saw you.

Went up to Forster/Tuncurry for our annual October break and found a lot of fish, mainly flathead, which are the target species. Last year we had terrible fires which threatened the caravan park and destroyed thousands of hectares of bush and several houses very close by. This year, we had very strong wind and torrential rain, which flooded several caravan parks on the lake, but spared the one we were staying at. Never the less, the park was running at full capacity and many locals were not happy with the influx to the population. I'm sure small businesses were happy though. Anyway we got out in the Hobies on most days for a couple of productive hours, but it was frustrating to continually land flathead after flathead which were just legal or just under 40cm. I only keep a few table fish 40cm - 60cm and managed a number of good fish each day. On my last day, a mate hooked up in 2ft of muddy water and was getting towed around for 15 minutes of so, before getting a nice, big girl alongside before finding it wouldn't fit into the net. He managed to lip gaff it and get a pic, before releasing her. She swam away strongly. I had a couple of mates stay overnight on their way to Byron Bay and took them out for a quick afternoon fish in their 'toy' kayaks. Trevor had never caught a fish on a lure, nor out of a kayak, so he was stoked to land a 54cm and two others over 40cm. Gordo also landed one. It was a bonus for me to see them hook and land the fish and hilarious as legs went over the side to save getting spiked by the fish thrashing around on the deck. Good fun. I don't ever shop at St Vinnies, but had to look at something whilst the girls were checking out craft shops in Wingham, and found a brand new XL Shimano fishing shirt with tags, for $10. Bargain. Hooked some nice bream in the racks this time around and found the whole system has undergone a change, with the removal of racks and the build up of sand and deeper water where it was impassable last year. Always something to learn and experience in the fishing world.

No licence required back in the '60s

Good mixed bag Yowie. I too grew up around the Hacking and started fishing there when I was six. Seen many changes in depth and siltation. Worked on the water there for 8 yrs and used to pump nippers in Nth West Arm when I was in high school and sell 30 dozen to Macs bait bar every Saturday morning, for some pocket money. Been fishing the Port for some 63 yrs - time flies.

Just recently sold my Quintrex and have only been back from a few weeks in Tuncurry in the Hobie. Was going to buy a new one, but no stock and super expensive, so getting a 180 V1 drive today. Mine is the same as yours was - including sunroof and onboard toilet. Here is a pic of one of the girls caught and released in 2ft of water last week. Report coming later.