Derny Driver

I love this Sound like a great holiday Noel. I just got back from 4 weeks in Europe. The facebook page of Lake Illawarra shows the flathead are firing there. Im keen to have a crack tomorrow.

Well I do believe it mate it's quite muddy there. But I won't be chasing any crabs at night, thats for sure. Thanks again for the advice

I met fishing legend Noel a few weeks ago when I bought some boat trailer wheels off him. During the chat he kindly divulged his secret nipper pumping spot. I usually fish outside but with a weekend at Narooma planned I decided to grab a few nippers to use in the river. Only thing was, I had to get them Thursday after work as I wouldn't have time Friday. After a slight delay getting started due to the nipper pump washer disintegrating, I managed to get about 30. Put them in a small bucket of sea water with a cheap a fishing shop aerator and took 2 buckets of extra seawater back to my garage. By changing the water every 12 hours and running the aerator the nippers survived the 2 days plus a 4 hour drive and were in great shape Saturday morning on the river. I was hoping to have photos of massive fish to report ... I did catch probably a dozen small snapper around the oyster leases but only 1 keeper at 33cm and I released him back at the ramp as I only had the 1. But it was fun exploring a new waterway and I now know where to find a nipper if I need one, and how to keep them alive for a few days. Big shout out to Noel - legend !

Very interesting mate Thank you

Yowie I grew up at Lillii Pilli, just north of the baths / boatshed. Didnt have a waterfront but we lived on the high side and I used to fish from the neighbours wharves or the little sandy beach there. I was always under the impression that that deep water held no fish. Never saw anyone ever fish out there. The blackfish guys were always out in from of the boatshed (now gone) and most of the boaties would drift the channel across in front of the Rathane / Deer Park. I guess it makes sense that the deep would hold jewfish but I always thought it was just a deep dead zone.

Second that Ange supplied and fitted my MinnKota to my Webster Twinfisher. Custom fabricated mount. He's now up at Nelson Bay but worth the drive.

Went off Ulladulla on Saturday early hunting snapper. I've found that a subscription to C-map premium is helping identify the reefs and drop off's. I managed 2 small snapper, a morwong, a nice big leatherjacket and a flathead. Had to come in at 10 to do some repairs on my trailer with a mate. At the boat ramp cleaning table I met 2 chaps with 20 massive reds, I'm talking huge. Even make Derek envious I reckon. I didn't ask any questions but we chatted and I told them I'm learning. I think I may have seen his boat quite a long way out .. not sure. I was fishing in 35 metres, about 50 metres off the reef. From what Derek says, and from what I saw Saturday, I'm now thinking I need to go wider, in 50- 60 metres. I will try that next outing. I'm happy with my little mixed bag of fish. But curious as to where the big ones hang out.

You want your bait on the bottom. That's where the fish are.

Like Steve, I don't fish Sydney harbour either. Not sure why you would want to. Surely from Campbelltown your best option is straight down the Appin Rd to Gods own country, the Illawarra. Throw your metals off the Port Kembla or Shell Cove breakwalls, they get salmon and bonito off there. Or off Warilla or Port Kembla beach. Lake Illawarra fishes very well for bream, flathead and luderick, lots of shore access. Or you can hire a boat. Why not consider boat hire at Sussex or Lake Conjola ... you always do better out of a boat. A simple running sinker rig is all you need unless you are going deep sea outside. Windang bait and Tackle has great bait including live yabbies and worms ... don't limit your thinking to just Sydney harbour. There are better places . Good luck with it.

She won't get in the boat Yowie. But she doesn't mind me going out whenever I want to, which is cool.

I actually said nothing. I just laughed. But she knew I was interested in scoping out the conditions...

Decided not to fish today as the winds are less tomorrow, planning to go offshore early in the morning. So took the new lady for a nice cooked breakfast and then out to Jervis Bay National Park for a walk. Saw a wallaby, a diamond python and then at the cliffs some whales put on an amazing show. Walking back along the track she says with a big grin on her face, " so was that a romantic bushwalk or were you checking ocean conditions for tomorrow?" Crikey. I've only known her a few weeks and that was an amazingly insightful observation. So, what should I have said?

I wouldn't be going to the Fads on a 10 grand boat ...

Ive got a nipper pump and a couple of little micro lures that I'm keen to try. Sounds like a good plan. Thank you !

Thanks mate, Ive never been that far south ....just looked on a map and that area looks amazing.