damobows

Hi Glenn, got most of the flatty's on the flats around the racks up river on the run in to be honest (a bit out of the ordinary I know but it seemed to produce the most numbers wise)the skipper got most of them on 4 inch Berkley powerbait minnows in almost a clear colour (not sure what its called) - the bream we got the odd one near the racks (but didn't really fish them hard) we got most of them off the rocks there were plenty there among the sweep, yakkas, toads and slimeys. Good luck hope this helps. Cheers Damo

Spent most of last week on hols in Foster with friends - fishing fairly hard for the week catching a multitude of Bream and flathead to 40 and 70cm respectively which was fun with them taking mostly powerbait minnows and one ambitious bream taking a 5 inch rapala barra mag in grey ghost! We wanted to get outside for a red or pelagic of some description and as we were fishing out of a 470 Makocraft Frenzy we were able to for 3 solid sessions, with livies in plague proportions (slimeys and yakkas) we were confident - especially seeing a school of LARGE longtail smashing a bait school from our balcony, only to miss them even though we were there in 20 mins. Thanks goes out to the two boats that drove straight through the school that was really good of you, cheers! High light to the trip was hooking a 70kg Thresher shark on a live slimey on a stradic 8000 with 60lb leader and 30lb braid. Nice angling from the skipper had it nearly beat after a great aerial display BUT thats when it did a 180 and leapt full length from the water 30m in front and headed staight for us, a pissed off shark heading at the bow had us diving for cover, the tactic worked for him as he finally bit us off, a spec aerial display was something that was great to see, even if it did nearly land in the boat at one stage!! Sorry no photos as I was driving/chasing and ducking a leaping shark!!!!! Are they commom in Australia as I only knew what it was after seeing the DVD Threshers yak style? And all this was with whales and dolphins in the background. A good week but the fishing was a bit slow to say the least. Cheers Damo

Hey Ad's, me and a mate are heading up there as well for the week if you see a 4.8 Black Mako Craft say G'day as we'll be battling not knowing the area as well. Cheers Damo

Hi all, was just wondering if some of the learned folk of this site could advise me on some spots and techniques for around the Foster Tuncurry area. A mate and I will be up there with his 4.8 Mako Craft next week and we were wanting to get in to a few. How is the bar crossing? How far do you have to to get into some pelagics. Any advice would be greatly appreciated Cheers Damo

Hi, Would love to have a crack could you add me plus one, Ta Cheers Damo

Hi, Am looking to get into the boat market, have shopped around and the Stessco SF420 Catcher looks good value for money was wondering what you guys thought of them. Was wanting something around the 4m mark with full floor and casting deck was looking to spend up too $9000 ish give or take, would appreciate any suggestions. Cheers Damo Comes standard with 30 Suzuki 2 Str on it.

Thanks boys I thought that might be the case - ah well its an excuse to buy another stick, have to negotiate . Cheers Damo

Thanks Slinky, Yeah I agree with your thoughts I would love a Stella or a FB for a spinning reel but as for overheads the Saltists look the value for money choice for sure and that little bit of extra drag pressure will hopefully land me a solid hood given the oppourtunity!And while we're on the money side of things, as much as I would love to support our local tackle shops and buy AUS sold products - when I can get a Saltist 30th for $188 AUS delivered from the US I am going to have to get it, when the cheapest I could find here was $269.99 I can spool it and the rest for the money I save. Its tough going for Aussie retailers when the dollar is like it is I guess. Cheers Damo Hi CFD, I'm in the Sutherland area. Ta Damo

Thanks inhlanzi, yeah I've seen them and they look real good but I've got that covered with my Twin power - am looking for a solid overhead - haven't actually played with the Saltiga or Saltists. Cheers Damo

Hi people, Was just wondering if anyone knows who has the best range of Daiwa reels in the Sydney area? All my usual haunts are Shimano dealers and I just wanted to have a look at the Daiwa range of overheads. Cheers Damo

Hey mate , Don't think you can go past the Wavedance Kingfisher, electric motor may be a problem but value for money the Kingfisher is second to none. Have a look at the website, think about what sought of water you want to fish then maybe you can make your decision. Money no object its no decision at all - Hobie, depends how much you want to spend? Cheers Damo

Hi Guys, Have got a Shimano 'Barra raider' 6-10kg stick sitting at home that I am keen to use on some decent Kings when I can. Wanted to know what was the ideal overhead to put on it to stop some JB kings next season? Need some real good stopping power along with being not too bulky for the rod? Appreciate any feedback Cheers Damo

Hi Ritchie, I didn't really go on any charters as such, the Island I was on - Matamanoa, had fishing as an afternoon trip I did go with one local guy who was based out of Toko Riki Island but that was just organised through the locals. Not much help sorry, if your going to the Islands there are people attached to each Island that will help, I guess it depends where your going though. Cheers Damien

Hi Marty, I got it off an Island called Matamanoa which is not actually in the Yasawa's (from memory its in the mamanuca Islands but could be wrong, its on the way to the Yasawa's) but not far from it - I think the Yasawa's have got as good if not better fishing though If I could offer one piece of advice invest in some quality wire traces they are essential in that part of the world if you want to land big fish, it might cut down numbers caught but at least you stay connected to the ones that count! Yeah its a Kingfisher, love it only its getting bloody cold in it at the moment and the kingies have all but gone from the bay I hate this time of year!!! Cheers Damo

Finally added the photos!

Just thought that I would update you on how I went in Fiji, Went on one local charter catching a multitude of fish mainly Scaley Mackeral and I got a 6kg Skipjack Tuna which was good on light gear. Other than that I just went for a couple of hours with the guys from the Island in the afternoons only about 100m off the Island in a 6m tinnie. Most notable catches were this 25.5kg GT - caught on Shimano Starlo Stix Tourney Ed 7kg rod, Shimano Stradic 4000 spooled with 30lb Nitlon braid with a 30cm wire trace - it took a popper (Cultiva Tango dancer in Orange) what a fight that was took the best part of 40 minutes. The strike was amazing the white water from it was like someone dropped a washing maching in the water! Caught a few more GT's on the trip mainly this one's younger brothers along with some very tastey Red emperor and Tuna. Most noteable miss was an approx 20kg Baracuda that took a live bait (2kg Mackeral!) approx 4 feet long after a 30 min fight on the above gear got it to the back of the boat and the hook pulled......................................................................................%$%^$%^ would have loved a photo with that bad boy! The first run I just pulled it up with 1 metre of mine on the spool (125m of braid) and I saw the bottom of the spool 3 more times! Ah well. Hope you like the pics Cheers Damo Trying to add the pics......

Thanks Slinky will do Ta

Thanks for the advice boys appreciate your feedback Cheers Damo

Yeah great news - if all the ones are 59 now with them there in the next 2 years those "plague" fish will be 69! I'm loving that idea.' And all those blokes that catch those 60.01 fish will think twice now!

I really don't like asking for secrets but any help will be very much appreciated. Wanted to get some livies for the Kings in Botany, haven't caught them before have got a bait jig had a few questions. What berley etc, and where can I go to try to get them? Anything will help. Cheers Damo

Hey Mojo, I'mheading over there in a couple of weeks can you recomend any charter operators to look up while I'm over there. Cheers Damo

Big feed you must have been hungry...

Have been wondering what is the most succesful/productive retrieve for SP's when targeting king's? Been using 7" Gulp Jerks and slickrigs would appreciate some advice on depths and retrieves from the guru's! I realise variety is probly the key but just wondering. Had a great by catch (if you can call it one) the other day using 7" Gulp and a bouncing style flathead retreive a metre off the bottom up came a 78cm lizard Cheers & thanks Damo

Yeah mate I was there in October 2005, it was pretty good went out with "REEL TIME" I can't remember what the guides name was but I had a ball - landed 4 mahi mahi the biggest going 24kg and also 2 Wahoo to 13kg. All trolled up 250 - 500m from the beach just outside the lagoon, obviously we had a great day but I think that the fishing is good there especially when the wahoo are on - would definately recommend Reel Time for sure. Cheers Damo

Just thought that I would thank everyone for their advice and let you know what I ended up going with. Reel: 2008 model Shimano Stradic 4000FI Rod: Shimano Starlo Stix Tournamnet Pro Spin Max (4-7kg) Very happy with the rod the feel was second to none and I looked at everything! All for under $400 Still had enough money left to spool it with 30lb braid??? Cheers Damo