jim77

Jeez - that is a pretty sad indictment about the calibre of some of the people out on the water. Sadly as Neil pointed out its pretty indicative of peoples attitudes right across society. I used to speak to a lot more people on the water but following a nasty incident with another boat keeping some undersize fish i now only speak to people when spoken to. Not worth the hassle when you consider there are #ickheads like the people you have outlined above who think they own "their" reefs. If you are trying to keep a hot spot quiet don't bloody fish it at peak time otherwise gauranteed people will stop for a sticky beak!

Sounds like your lure was way to big mate. Have you heard the saying "match the hatch"? If they were eating whitebait you need to be using a lure that looks like that. Even a 65g metal is often too big. Try using a really small metal - like a 5g halco or similar - and light line so you can cast it easy and far and you should hook up the bonnies pretty quickly. Also when you say jigging were you vertical jigging for them? You will catch em like that but your better option is just a fast retrieve back towards you.

Good advice above. Depending on where you were fishing it is quite likely that a King has grabbed your lure as they are more than a bit partial to those plastics. If it was a good King and it has grabbed it near the bottom you need to get on top of them early. If you are running light drag they will get you in the bottom before you know it and 20lb leader would stand no chance against a hard pulling fish and a rough bottom. If it happens again and you are still using lightish leader, try palming the spool with your hand to slow/stop the initial run, or increase the drag pressure significantly. From my experience people don't fish nearly enough drag pressure and then they wonder why they get smashed up when a reasonable fish hits. I have a mate who gets busted off all the time - i have never known anyone to lose so many fish - and its because he uses too light a drag pressure. Good luck next time.

What were you fishing for and what sort of gear were you using?

Good ya mate - always good getting that first hit. It won't take long until you have worked out. As soon as you have got fish under control get that bomb up asap. If you think one is fun, wait until you are fishing solo and have 2 downriggers down at once and they both go off at the same time with solid fish on... Then it gets really interesting.

Mate the Kings are everywhere through the harbour as well. I was out yesterday and today briefly and there were Kings smashing the surface at a couple of spots. Also some better fish holding down deep...

Yeah mate - it has been a pretty tough season. There have been plenty of very decent fish in the harbour although now it is getting harder to catch these due to the crazy number of rats. But as for fishing for Kings outside the harbour - i can't remember the last time i caught a legal fish outside of the heads, and its not for a lack of trying! The usual fail safe spots have not only not produced there have been zero fish there!!! Very frustrating to say the least!!! Seems like everywhere except Sydney has been firing. The current has really turned on over the weekend and seriously warm water has pushed in close - maybe that will be the kick start that is needed.

Thanks for all of the support guys. The downrigger was a Scotty 1050. I have removed the attached rod holder. It is respooled with 200lb Colour change braid. The most distinctive thing (if the perpetrator doesn't change it) is the attachment to the bomb. At the terminal end of the braid i have put a 8" length of plastic tubing to protect the braid and also make it easier to grab and pull into the boat. It had a very beaten up 8lb cannonball bomb on it. They obviously weren't able to remove the mounting plate so whomever stole it may well have had to rig up some other contraption if they wish to use it. (probably too cheap skate to buy a mounting base!) Keep your eyes peeled - if you see anything suspicious don't do anything stupid (unless you really want to ) - just make a note of the boat/car rego and a description of the boat and owner and pass it on to me. I have a pretty good idea of the boat but i don't want to post anything that maybe defamatory without being 100% sure. As others have said, i have no doubt that sooner or later i will see the downrigger attached to another boat. Sooner would be good though...

Its a contender 21 CC (or it might be a 23). Beautiful boat - expensive in the states... Extortionately priced here!!

Well done for getting a fish but you are crazy if you venture all the way out to the fads without any livies. Sometimes they will take anything and everything but often when they are being a bit more fussy you throw a livey in there and they go nuts for it!

Nice idea... But i didn't know it had been stolen until i got home! I will be keeping a close eye out for the boat though... And if i see him will decide on my course of action once i rate my chances. I have already had my life threatened over another fishing matter so i'm a little more gun shy than i used to be.

I've got a pretty good idea that it was one of the boats...

Went out today. Late start due to domestic duties so i wasn't too confident of finding any decent Kings. First couple of places i looked no fish and then i came across some surface action in the harbour. There were schools of Tailor, Bonnies and Rat kings right through the harbour it seemed. Everywhere i went there were most bust ups. Had a bit of fun with them for a while then went to look for some bigger Kings. Poked my head outside North Head but it was horrible. Really steep swell and short period stuff - nasty! Down rigged around a few spots for a few more rats - no legals to be found. After a bit more entertainment with the surface action i decided to call it a day. Got back to the ramp at Drummoyne and started packing up. Gave some livies and a load of other primo bait to a couple of guys who were just heading out and then went to get the car, I was gone for about 1 minute maybe 2max. Got the boat out went home. Clearing up. Thats funny where is the other downrigger..... NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! SOME DIRTY F@#KING LOW LIFE had the nerve to steal my downrigger off my boat when i was getting the car. It would have been a bit fiddly to get it off as well. There were only 2 boats there and some guys fishing on the wharf. I went back for a look but no sign. I have a pretty good idea who it was - so if it was you watch your back! Just a warning to people to watch their stuff carefully when launching and retrieving. I am very annoyed but also relieved that i didn't lose more stuff. There were far more valuable things that could have been pinched. I am always worried about this exact scenario when i am by myself but the downrigger was the last thing that i thought would go!

Good fish - especially on the yak. Would have towed you around a bit no doubt.

Is this any good Billy? http://www.couplemate.com.au/2855.html $67 - a pretty cheap fix. If they will pass it through rego way cheaper and less hassle than changing to the Aussie coupling.

Billy i have seen plenty of people leave them on... Not sure if they are using a different tow ball or whether they leave it on. Apparently they do work ok on the standard aussie towball. The other thing you have to consider is getting it through rego... let me know what you do as i'm sill considering the US boat thing myself.

Sounds like a fun session Kris. Just out of interest what gear were you getting smoked on?

Well done Daz - some good fish there. I was down at JB also from 26th to 2nd. When it was clear that the Kings weren't in big numbers in the bay we just targetted the squid and flatties also. Well done for persisting and getting some good fish! I might have to go back down for another crack if the weather picks up...

Use tiny pieces of raw chicken - it works everytime. When I cook with chicken I save all of the offcuts and freeze them in small portions in zip lock bags. You will catch 4 or 5 yakkas at least on the same piece of bait.

Nice fish mate! You deserve it for going out in those sloppy conditions! Bloody long way to those "traps"! Hopefully the weather cooperates and we can get out there soon and find a couple of big bulls!

Get rid of the bait jig. Use a single size 12 longshank hook, either weighted with a very small spilt shot or even better unweighted, and small pieces of fish flesh or meat for bait. When the yakkas are tough this method will outfish a bait jig by about 10-1 or more.

Good on ya Greg. Hope that brings you some good fishing Karma for the rest of the year.

Went out for a fish with fellow raider Fishmaniac this evening. With the late high tide the conditions were perfect for another shot at some evening Kings. Hit the water at about 6:10pm - sounded around for a while and covered a lot of ground. Lots of surface action spread right through the harbour but we couldn't find the fish we were looking for. We were going to give up when finally at about 8pm we found some good shows of fish. Next casts double hook up to what both seemed like good fish. Mine went 90cm and was very solid, Andrews went 85cm. Kept one sent the other back. After about 5 mins of searching we found the school again. We got another mid 80s fish and a few rats before it got dark and the fish went off the bite. Back at the ramp by 8:30. Another great short session. Pics to follow

Yeah plus one to what Mike said. You need to get on the water EARLY if you want to get your livies easily. You can still get em once the sun has come up but it can be really hard. If the sun is try going to some of the deeper water spots and set up a really thick burley slick. Sooner or later they will show up.

Good fishing boys. How fat and healthy are the bigger Kings atm!? Has been a slow start but its shaping for an amazing Jan through to April period.