spence

Hello all - I am taking some mates up to Toukley in a couple of weeks - they are keen for a fish. We will be fishing from my tinnie. I had a look at Lake Macquarie last weekend around Swansea but it is a bit far from Toukley - although did find some good spots. Someone said to me they fish the southern end and put their boat in around Charmhaven. I will bring up some live poddy mullet and my mates wont be keen on using SP's. Anyone got any suggestions - no secret spots - i will find some areas as I am going up day before, but if there are any locals that could give me some idea's that would be good, thanks spence

thanks everyone forn your imput

Hi all, I have a small tinny and have a light board which I have to take in and out everytime I fish. I have seen the submersible trailer lights and am thinking of converting. Does anyone have any feed back with any problems with after market submersible trailer lights or otherwise? thanks Spence

Went out yesterday from Manly early and tried too get some squid. The spot was quite windy and choppy and as we are in a V nose punt (385 explorer) gave it a miss and headed into the sandy beaches of middle harbour. Lucky my fishing partner had brought half a dozen live poddy mullet and we tried for some flatties. About 15 minutes into a slow drift and I had a solid hook up. A big flattie emerges from the depths - there are also two flatties following. The flattie was landed and measured 55cm and the other flatties followed to within 15 feet. Also picked up some trevally on small poddies whilst drifting close to moored boats. (released) Flatty filleted and cooked in foil wrapped in some curry paste and coconut cream - beautiful. Photo of a poddy mullet The flattie fillets

I took a mate from work out yesterday in local lake (he doesn't fish). The rain had cleared at the boat ramp about 7am and put down poddy mullet trap. Looked to be full in short time but all little bream. Left boat ramp and pump 4 nippers in 15 minutes so was not looking good. Put nipper on for mate and show him how to cast. Within seconds the nipper is taken with a solid bite. Second nipper goes on and about 2 minutes later rod bends slightly and he lands his first ever flathead about 30cm. Starts raining hard and I have no wet weather gear so hide under bridge and use last 2 nippers. No bait and no fish and raining. Clears slightly so head out and put down poddy trap in a new area that doesn't look likely and pump a dozen good nippers nearby. Come back to trap and it has 6 primo size poddies. Mate wonders why I'm excited. Put out poddy mullet and first flattie comes in just over 50cm. Then mate hooks up and it is solid, taking line and running him all over and doesn't want to come up......2nd flattie comes in at 55cm which is at my size limit for keeping. I suggest letting it go and my mate gives me a glum look so it's in the esky. Two more mid 50's are released. He also gets a flounder on poddie and some bream and tailor on nippers all released. Back in by lunch. Flattie eaten fresh last night, with some left over for tonight. He loves fishing...... These are the two keepers.

nice work Ben good to see you had time to get out there, your Kayak looks cool

Went out yesterday morning from little manly into the harbour. I took some live poddy mullet as I usually like to target flathead at my local water way. Thought I would try squidding so I covered a fair bit of ground in the harbour till I found a spot where kelp meets headland and sand. This is my first go and after about half a dozen casts I felt a bit of a bump. I wondered could that have been a squid or was it weed. Threw into the same area again and worked jig like a soft plastic, then snagged. But hang on snags don't swim, then my light bream gear began to lose line and I thought a fish has grabbed the lure. Worked it to the boat and a large squid came on board. A couple of big ones were also following it. I stayed about another 20 minutes and managed a couple of smaller models which went out live but did not get touched. I prepared the large one for the table with salt, pepper and lime and it was a magnificent feed, much better than when I have bought it. I don't what type they were, but there were a few around and I dropped a few. If I had better technique I would have caught a bundle. I hope the photo attached.

Mate what a start to the day, great work

Ray that looks like a beautiful place to fish...

that whiting looks very thick

Jed, I have seen Blackies taken all over Narrabeen. If you are land based stick to the channels near caravan park and walk out to weedy drop offs. Have also caught them near Woollies bridge, Spence

Yes Doug, We put a small electric on the bow recently. It is actually a transom mount and we have turned the handle around and mounted it on the bow. It took a little bit of work to run it back to battery but how good are they. Makes launching much easier for me too because the kids can use it and get the boat out and back.. Plus the fish don't know your coming.... Spence

Hi Roberta, How did you go in Narrabeen??? I fish there a lot and although I don't Blackfish fish (does that make sense) I see guys there pulling Blackfish regularly, especially around the yellow marker out front of the caravan park and from various weedy drop offs on the southern side outside the caraven park. I have caught blackfish in there as by catch on nippers around the woollies bridge and also some weedy drop offs near Jamison park boat ramp. Just FYI info should you fish it again.... Spence

Mate looking at the backdrop of your photo, it looks like a magic place to throw a line

I went down Narrabeen 2 weeks ago and threw out a very large poddy mullet. I put the rod in a rod holder in the sand outside the caravan park, took the drag off and waited. About 30 minutes later I saw the rod flick out of the corner of my eye and then the rod seemd to have a heavy lean on it. Tightened the drag and struck and was on to what I suspect was a large flattie. overtightened the drag and was reaching down to loosen it when the leader broke (4lb braid and some light fc). Re-rigged and sent out some smaller poddies which accounted for a couple of what would have been undersize flatties around 30cm. I have been once only since then for zero. Spence

very healthy looking specimens.....

I agree, if this is any indication it could be an interesting spring/summer season.