Phil Bennett

Hi Billfisher, At the moment there's a small fresh running (all coastal as Holmesie as stated) and should clear in a few days. We got far less rain than points north and south, Port Mac got a real dumping. And you're right, it's just a enough rain to stir up the jewies (there was 4 caught today between 12 and 25 kilos), so hopefully I can pin one tomorrow morining! It's been a bit lean for them also... Hope you get a good patch of weather during your stay. Cheers Phil

Hi Guys, We've had the worst run of weather (and fishing) up here, so don't think you're alone with getting a flogging. But I can see your point about the long drive, must be very frustating (and expensive) indeed! Thankfully I can sit through the crap days and fish when the conditions allow- which hasn't been that often for since Xmas... I was just going to make a comment on Back Creek. In many ways Back Creek is more dangerous than the main river. Many people think because the run to sea is shorter, so it's safer. This isn't the case, and Back Creek claims plenty of boats each year due to the stand-up nature of the waves there, and the fact there's no-where to go when one arrives. Combine this with very shallow water at most stages of the tide and you have a pretty deadly access to sea indeed. I use to head out to sea via Back Creek (did so 3-4 days per week for 10 years) and never had any real problems, though I certainly scared myself a few times! I've used the main river now exclusively for the past 6 years and have to say it's generally a safer option. My reasoning is, there's more options with the main river. Even on a run-out tide with 3 ft barrels at the end, you can drift towards the nasties, see where the best access point may be, then decide whether you're confident to scoot through. With Back Creek there's no-where to go, once you're commited that's it. Genreally the best bet with the main river if there's a few waves breaking, is go out on the first of the run in tide (add an hour or more to what the chart says), and slowly edge your way towards the breakers. Keep an eye on your sounder, and don't go any shallower than 4 or 5 meters. Basically, where ever the foam stops rolling from the breaking waves as they head towards you is the beginning of the deeper water. Sitting back 20 or 30 meters is generally a safe bet and you're close enough so you can see the next lot of waves coming. Ideally go straight after the last breaking wave has fizzeled out. If the swells just keep coming with very short gaps between them (this is typical of nor-east swells), you're better off saving your fuel and fish the river. I always say, if in doubt, don't go out. Another option out of the main river is to run around the North Wall, staying close to the wall (say 6 to 10 meters out), and scoot up the beach for a 300 to 500 hundred meters before heading out to sea. This gets you past the north spit an into open sea. This is really only an option on a run-out tide, and preferable close to the bottom. You may have to go over a few small foamy waves to get out, but it's much better than taking on those powerful crashing waves out the main entrance! As for the beach launching at the jail, the sand spit has grown considerably in recent years, and at low tide it's fair drive to the deeper water (north along the beach around a 800 meters), so unless there's a nice little gutter closer by you may have to drive a fair way to get to water deep enough to launch in. Basically the beach launch idea is fine for smaller craft (say 5 meters and under), though I feel if you have to launch at the beach because the river and Back Creek is too bad, it's probably not worth being out there! Hope this helps a little. Cheers Phil

Hi Roberta, I was going to say it would have to be a bit dicy out off the jail in a canoe or kayak when there's any form of swell (you're not easly seen) and a few boats around. The local charter fleet can be pretty obnoxious at times, charging to reefs with little or no respect for those already there fishing there. I've had to wind lines in so they don't chop them off, and I know all the skippers! God help the holiday makers- and especially anyone in a canoe. Good idea all the flags and brightly coloured yaks. Mine full camo, I'd get run over for sure! Sounds like you and the crew had a great time, and that's what fishing is supposed to be all about. Cheers Phil

Hi Roberta, Sounds like you had a good time during your stay at SWR's. It certainly is a top spot and it's little wonder more and more anglers are heading up this way each year. I fished the river a few times during the week you were up, and it was hard not to spot all the canoes. One day I think I counted 6 brightly colourd Hobbies, definitly an unusual site at SWR's! Friends heading out to sea said there was even more canoes off the jail. Been some big sharks out there lately, I think I'll keep my canoe in the river! You're not wrong about the camp fees, they certainly know how to charge. Apparently the dearest camp fees in Aus... Probably better off getting a motel. Cheers Phil

I'm yet to find one unhappy Haines Hunter owner, they're an awesome boat- big or small. As for a name, I'd be happy to simply call it, "Sea Wasp". Sounds sporty and mean to me. What size motor is on it? Cheers Phil

Thanks for the info, Huey. I'll look into a SS prop in the same 19 " pitch. Might be able to sort out a deal with the dealer I purchased the motor from. As it stands I'm happy with the boats preformance, I just thought I may be lacking a little top speed compared to others I've spoken to. THe SS prop sounds like it may be the answer. Cheers Phil

Hi Huey, I choose the alloy prop to save a few bucks, though in hindsight I perhaps should have picked the SS model... Iwannajewy, I think part of the cavitation problem was me triming the motor a tad high and turning a bit hard. I've used the boat 3 times since, trimmed in more and not pushing so hard through the turns. So far no cavitation. Huey, do you think there's a great deal of difference, preformance wise, from alloy to SS? Or more specifically, what sort of top speed gain is liable to be made by an SS prop of the same pitch? Just trying to weight up whether you spend the extra and get an SS model. If the gain is minimal I'll stckl with the alloy. Thanks Phil

Hi Etho, My 4.8 metre Haines is called Painkiller, named primarily after my favourite Judas Priet CD, but also for the medicinal effects being on the water can offer. Though the way the weather has been for the past few months I should have called it Panadol! Cheers Phil

Hi Fishraiders, I just recently put a new 90 V-Tec Honda on my 16 ft Haines Hunter . All is well, plenty of power with amazing fuel eccon, but feel I'm laking a little top speed. With a 13" by 17 pitch alloy prop I'm getting 41 mph (or 67 kays) WOT. It was over reving (6200 rpm) so I tried 13" by 19 pitch alloy prop. GPS readings tell me nothing has changed, same grunt, same top speed, though I noticed a little cavitation... Not sure what to try next. Whilst I'm no speed freak, I thought I'd be able to reach close to 50 mph mark (As I've read reviews on bigger, heavier boats getting close to these speeds) Whilst blistering top speed would be fun, I'm more hoping to gain higher cruising speeds in the 3500 to 4000 rpm bracket to eat up the miles on our big northern rivers. As it stands 3500 rpm is 23 mph (37 kph). And 4000 rpm is 26 mph (41 kph). The boat is 4.8 meters by 1.93 wide and only weights 350 kg. Any suggestions?? Cheers Phil

Hi Fishraiders, Just a short word of warning for anyone planning on heading up to S.W.Rocks and heading out to sea. The river bar has been very ordinary for months, and it seems every week or two another boat is rolled. Yesterday it claimed another victim, rolling a 7 mtr plate boat. There was 4 on board and three of the crew are still in Kempsey Hospital. Hopefully they'll be ok. The boat is up on the beach near Grassy Head... It's really sad hearing of all these boating mishaps. I've lived here for 16 years and during holiday time it seems one or two boats get sunk every few weeks. The biggest problem is anglers having little or know experience crossing river bars. Heading out to sea via a bay or harbour in nothing compared to timing your run and pushing into breaking waves. There's no real advice to give other than if you're not sure, don't do it! It takes years of practice and a good understanding of wave action and tides to even contemplate taking on a river bar when there's swell breaking. Even the local charter boats are turning around at the river entrance lately. My theory is, no fish worth your life, so if you're unsure don't head out until the seas are calm again. Unfortunetly there have been very few good sea days since Xmas, and holiday makers are starting to push their luck during their visit. Don't mean to bare sad news, I just wish some of the visiting anglings would give the river bar the respect it deserves. Just fish the river for a few days and hopefully the swell will settle down a little, if it doesn't, fish the river some more. Regards Phil

Hi Robeebee, The good thing about using jigs for flathead is they usually don't end up deep hooked to dee, though there is the exceptions! I wouldn't stress over it as more than likely it will simple fall out. I hooked one last year that was "gut hooked" (you could actually feel the jig head virtually in the end of the stomach), so I reluctantly put here in the live well for dinner. Low and behold when I got back to the ramp the jig was laying in the bottom of the tank- you beauty! Sadly dinner was snags again but the big flathead happily swam off. Basically most hooks will rust out quite quickly if left in sea water, and the remaining jig head is easily spat out. If not, feel good about doing the best you could. Many still keep the big breeders with no thought whatsoever. Cheers Phil

G'day Methodman, I had a look last week and it was fine, shallow, but open and running well. But we're getting flogged by huge sees right now (6 to 8 ft nor-east swell and 30 knt winds), so who knows what the creek mouth looks like! I'm sure it will be open (Ive never seen it fully closed), though the very mouth could be a total mess after this crazy weather... Cheers Phil

Hi Elk, for what it's worth, my favourite plastics for big flathead are Squidgy 190 mm flick baits. On 1/2 ounce 6/0 heads they work a treat. Also deadly on jewfish. For smaller lizards the Squidgy 130 flick baits are winners. Cheers Phil

G'day Shaun77, Top flathead mate, and great to see you let the big girl go At this time of year so many greedy anglers knock the big breeders on the head for bragging rights back at the ramp. A nice, sharp digi pic like you took last far longer than a few fillets and a pile of roe. Top effort, I hope a few more anglers follow your led. Cheers Phil

G'day Ozdownunder, Things are starting to heat up here at SWR's, with cobia putting in an appearence on the close in reefs, rocks and even in the river. Jewfish ave been painfully slow in the river for a few weeks now, but I suspect with the small fresh heading down after the week of rain the jewies should fire up again. Tops spot for the shore-based angler is the South Wall (as Jewgaffer pointed out), and should be your first point of call if you're keen to find jewfish. There's also plenty of bream and some big flathead there, just fish the tidal changes and you should find a few co-operative fish. Hope this helps. Cheers Phil