pstern

Davo Not quite sure what you mean there. Finin did a great thing - he rescued a mariner in distress. He then reported an incident involving a yacht and a ferry. Who knows how the incident occurred. There are quite a few yacht owners who are fishraiders. We all look out for each other. Perhaps you could be a little more careful in your posts. Peter

Out fishing yesterday on a perfect day off Pittwater. The nor'easter came in about midday. Then the air became full of single strands like vertical spiderweb, some with little tufts of fluff on their ends. They were up to half a meter in length. On my yacht, this mysterious stuff got caught on the rigging, making the boat a little like the boat from zombieland. This material was blowing in the wind all afternoon and into the evening. I thought maybe it was baby spiders being blown about, but the tufts did not contain anything. It did not appear to be plant material. They weren't the usual "santas" that float down the wind, hardly ever hitting the water. "Santas" are globular and contain fine grass seeds. These were quite different, strands hanging vertically in the air and like nothing I have never seen before after many years on the water. Did anyone else see this and does anyone know what it was? Back on topic, caught some nice taylor in the Basin on Saturday night. Unusually, no bream. Peter

Thank you Dave. I will report on our adventure later in the week. For us, in a sailing boat, it means leaving Pittwater at about 3.00am. A little disappointing if the FAD is not there, but, as they say, it beats work. Peter

For the first time did not catch any bream at The Basin on Saturday night. They usually come on about 10pm - chicken breast usually works, as does cheese. Caught just one legal taylor which I released. Sunday at Pearl Beach - caught and released many undersized taylor. There were what looked like bonito patrolling the beach in very close most of the day. Saw someone sitting on a large tyre tube tied to a yak catch a great flathead. Hoping to go out to North Sydney FAD during the week. Fisheries report it missing. Does anyone know if it is there? Peter

Hi lure-em I was in the old timber yacht. Next time you see me, come and say hello. Where were you? And which boat? Peter

Got to the end of Jerusalem Bay just before dark on Saturday night. Tried pillies, raw chicken, everything but not a touch. One day (or rather, night) I will catch my first hairtail. Tried dragging a lure around my favourite spot near Pearl Beach for taylor - again nothing. Smooth seas and little wind - so off to Boultons. A few bites and bust-offs, but nothing brought in. Then three whales drifted past, quite close. Made it all worthwhile. Just to be on the water is enough. Peter

They are good to eat. Firm, white flesh. They are also good to catch - they put up a fight beyond their weight. But be very careful of their dorsal spines. A sting is very painful and takes a while to wear off. Easily avoided, like when handling bream, by holding them from underneath with a rag. I did not know there was a problem with their slime. Hallucinations? I'm always in a trance while fishing so probably did not notice. I've caught them on the mooring in Providence Bay on the north side of Broughton Island. Peter

Hi Waterrat Another possible reason for both boats missing out was maybe you were there too late - the fish had cleared off. I like to get there just on first light. I've noticed they tend to go off the bite an hour after sunrise. That gives you about an hour, maybe two. Best of luck next time. I'm curious about the picture on your avatar. Looks like an interesting sailing boat. Is it your's? Mine was built in Tassie in 1936. Peter - Kintail

Bream at the Basin Saturday night, dollies at the FAD Sunday morning, Taylor near Pearl Beach Sunday afternoon.

You mention trolling around the FAD. and that another boat was already there. I went out to a different FAD a couple of weeks ago. I was the first there - I've got a 45 foot old timber yacht. We stopped about 50 metres away from the FAD and drifted towards it. The dollies were certainly there and eager to take the unweighted pillies. Another boat arrived and also drifted. We waved to each other, watching the other catching fish. Soon after two other boats arrived. Instead of stopping and drifting, they trolled lures at a ridiculous speed between the two drifting boats and the FAD. They caught nothing. They made several fast passes, again between the two drifting boats and the FAD, before heading off to who knows where. After they left, neither we not the other boat caught any fish. Maybe we can guess why you caught no fish. Not speaking to you in particular, (I would never criticise a FishRaider) but any others who might wonder they aren't catching anything at the FAD, why not slow right down before you get to the FAD, see what others are doing, show some consideration and enjoy the great fishing. You would have had a quick trip, getting to the FAD at 18 knots. We manage 6 knows, which means leaving our bay at 3.00am. fishing for maybe an hour and then another three-and-a-half hours to get back. Time at the FAD is precious. We're happy if the breeze comes up a bit while we are at the FAD. That means we can enjoy a sail back.

Good evening Raiders An early start this morning to Boultons just as the fog was lifting. Used my usual bait of edam cheese. Caught a nice red fish which I think was a Nannygai. Nothing else except Leatherjacket, one of which bit almost completely through a wire trace. They have serious jaws. After a couple of drifts went back in close to Palm Beach for undersized Flathead and some large Yellowtail, of which there were many around. We just ate some raw for dinner. They are delicious sushimi - easy to fillet and skin. No birds working today and I didn't see anyone else catch anything. There were four or five other boats out there. I wonder if any were Raiders. I was fishing from Kintail - a sailing boat. Peter

Don't overlook another use for large yakkas. They make delicious sashimi. They are easy to fillet and skin. With a little care you will end up with sizable. beatifully clean, slightly pink pieces which you can slice thinly before adding a little soy sauce and wasabi. I also like them cooked if there are no bream around. Peter

I use cheese all the time. I find the best type for staying on the hook is edam. It is for me a sure-fire bait for bream at my favourite spot - The Basin in Pittwater at night. It doesn't go off. And if the fishing is slow and I'm feeling a little peckish, I can always take a piece off the bait board on put it on a plain biscuit with a pickle. Peter

This is my first post. I hope to be in JB on Saturday night for my first try at Hairtail. I would love to meet some Fishraiders (especially if you are on to some HT). I suppose I could stand on the bow of my boat (an old wooden sailing boat) and shout out "Anyone here from Fishraiders?" JB is not one of my usual haunts. My favourite place to fish at night is The Basin where I can usually be guaranteed a good haul of bream. Towlers Bay can also be good but is not so much a sure thing as The Basin. I hope to be able to post a photo or two on Monday. Peter