Trapper Tom

Hey Dhype. Hit the nail on the head there mate. Kooks, definately not a whippy rod. And yes when you first feel its weight do set the barbs moderately strongly. Not too strong otherwise thats when you rip its tenticales off. Then a slow constant retrieve and pressure, pump and wind is not necessary and not recommended as it is a different techneque to a hook in a fishes mouth thing. Also try the razor backs they have additional barbs on their back and can increase catch rates when they are not quite as agressive. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Hey Fishraiders. Wow I thought this thread might have generated some significant debate and a HOO Bra Haa!!! None the less, Played on the computer last night and I cannot come across any external markings etc that would differentiate a male flathead from a female one. Keeping in mind that the males by forming 75% of the population are in fact unimportant to the the continued propagation of the species and can be kept with no discernable impact, its the 25% of the big females that ARE important. Have been mulling it over and have just thought of one common sense discernable aspect that could assist in ID. In the breeding seeson with the males if you turn them upside down and apply a slight/soft pressure to the middle abdomen and then slide down towards the anal area it will visably produce Milt (sperm). Those ones you can happily keep. If not, its a female breeder and back into the drink she goes. Also note that the same procedure will, if a females eggs are very ripe, cause those to be extruded and provide a positive ID there as well. Yes and I know that the response from many catch and release people will be "If their big just let them go". But in reality, the majority of fisherpersons are not a catch and release and they will keep their wonderfully large prized flathead that they worked so hard for and deserve to keep. If additional info can be provided so that they are aware of how to maybe ID a female they may just release that most important female. Hey Mods/Stewy I Reackon this is a actual very important piece of info for the species and your site, it could assist all FR's in releasing a higher proportion of the breeding females and thereby doing our bit. A bit of support here if you are able would be appreciated, I also understand it if you cannot for all the obvious reasons. And now I am going fishing! Regards Trapper Tom

G'day Raiders. I always love targeting these big buggers, awesomely satisfying to set up a specific area and tactics to succeed in that area. Had good succes this Jan. But I always try to seek an edge to gain that litle extra info to maybe increase options and chances. So I sometimes trawl some of the scientific reports to try to glean that little edge, better understanding of the relevent target species. Did the Dusky Flathead today. WAIT FOR THIS BIT!!!! Department of Primary Industrys report into sustainability of the Dusky Flathead, July 2008 Report No 101 fully funded scientific report. It Sampled 7783 dusky flathead of varing sizes from estuaries up and down the coast of NSW during the recognized spawning period Sept - March. Excerpt (and not taken out of context). "Overian and Testicular tissue was never once observed together in the SAME gonad", that being of the sampled specimin group. For those unitiated with the term or the processes, in laymens terms, it means:- Dusky Flathead do not change sex and turn into females as they get larger. They are either born Male or Female and remain that way for their life span. Yes FR's unfortunately its a myth that all the bigger ones are the female breeders. I was absolutely flabbergasted reading it. It does explain however why some of the bigger ones I have caught have been male, it was puzzling at the time but I put it down to maybe environmental inhibitors that prevented the sex change (as does happen with Barra). Interesting to note though that the females for the same age of that of a male, were slightly bigger. Hence that is where I think the myth has anecdotal substance ie its origin. Also interesting and don't quote me, but I am sure the sample specimens were 75% male and 25% female and this would be normal for most fish species for obvious reasons. That does dot necessarliy mean that you keep all the big ones, in fact you should not, I practice not just sustainabilty but a "Moral" approach to fishing, and that is if you catch a large very long lived slower growing species (bream incl here) it is treated with respect always and goes back into the drink with the blessings of the fishing gods to live its life to its natural end. I am now really interested to find out if there is ANY way to determine a larger male as opposed to female by suttle external physical examination. Keep you all posted on this as it really is astounding. If any FR can tell the diff externally betweeen male and female please post as it would ensure a even higher release rate for the important bigger females. Also on a side note saw some studies on mortality catch and release rates. Those sampled a couple of the fishing tournos. Findings were 10% mortality and surprisingly attributed to poor water quality in the holding tank and the use of notted landing nets and not the enviro ones. Hey fishraiders this is only one scientific report looked at so if anyone has accessed another that debunks this please post to assist other FR's. Oh and great info for myself and others trying to crack the 1m flatty mark. "Kailola 1993" reported and confirmed a 1.2 metre dusky. Cheers Fr's Trapper Tom

Hey Stevo Top of the line snapper mate. Also thanks for the great info on the rig. Ive been using the Snapper flashers specifically targeting flathead at JB lately and they absolutely nail em. Tried for snapper with limited success only getting squires (but they are a perfect size to eat). Over reefy areas it is now getting a bit expensive using them particularly when the Leatherys are around, I will give your thing a go. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey dave Makos are great acrobats arn;t they. Great photo too! Reackon its the beginning of a big waterspout, One was picured offshore a couple of days ago. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey RoyBoy Sorry but both you and your mate are barking up the wrong tree. The amount of water running off a bank and into a gutter is primarily governed by the:- 1. Size of the swell. 2. Direction of the swell. (Many of the central coast tailor fishermen would be familiar swell/direction patterns). Tidal statis becomes teritery. However, With the above taken out of the equation, think water down a drain pipe. Its Computational Fluid Dynamic stuff and partially chaos theroy stuff due to variable enviro factors. So fill up your sink or bathtub with water, pull the plug out, and watch. No need to time the results, they are discernably apparent. Please post your findings on your experiment and I will advise. He He Regards Trapper Tom.

Hey fishfever Can't give you much on the landbased stuff, but for the other Raiders with a boat. Yes the Blue spot flathead run is sill going. Have bagged out 2x with 3 people on the boat in the last 6 weeks. And yes with the snapper flashers. Didn't get hardly anything on just a bait presentation. Also lots of just pan sized reddies are around, beautiful to eat as well. Also some absolutely monster kings are patrolling from the Nth Head down to Longnose point and back again. Lost the biggest Kingy of my life there 6 weeks ago but thats another storey. Mind you the Flatty run could could end tomorrow. So FR,s get out there and get em, JB is good at the moment. Middle ground however seems absolutely hopless and barren. Good luck down there for Xmas Guys and Gals and a Merry Chritmas to all FR,s. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Hi Guys Grew up on Lake Mac years ago. Some of the Bully Mullet there were to say the least absolutely awesomely big. And I mean 3 foot in lenght. I am talking 40 years ago here. And being on the waterfront we always saw them happily jumping in the air. It was interesting to note that this was predominant in rainy weather. (Also note I/We may have only noticed this behaviour at this time because we were also housebound due to rainy weather. Note the jumping thing is not primarily a "I am escaping from a predator thing". I think they just like to do it, or just do it because they can. It does help to escape a predator but in Chain Valley Bay not too many of those suckers are there. Also note that there is the annual Mullet run and Anglers in past years used to line the shores of the entrance and Swansea and cast barbed hooks out with a fast retrieve, and jagg the mullet as they were so thick in those days. Can any of the Lake Mac/Tuggarah guys/gals report on current mullet runs since the Pro's have gone???? Note quite on topic but would be interesting to know. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Hey Jason That is the biggest flatty i have seen in a long while. Its imperitive for the site that the lenght be posted, a truely memourable fish. Ie did it crack the 1 metre mark. I have been trying for years to crack a 1 metre plus, always so so close but so far away. Also note the best eating flatties I have ever eaten have been the larger Dusky ones and not the smaller ones. Sand flatties aren't a scratch on duskies. That would have been one awesome feed. Swordie, well warned and jumped on quickly, the fellow has posted in good faith. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Mpala Lures and hooks and things as a carry on are a absolute no go. They would not let them on and attempted to confiscate our lures at Darwin last year, ended up being allowed to go and book them in at the special luggage section. Thank god, had more than several hundred dollars worth or lures, hence our reluctance to just put them in our bags in the cargo hold. Generally speaking our rods in the special carry cases and booked in as special cargo have always been safe. There is a lenght restriction though, just google and you will find the details Cheers Trapper Tom

G'day FR's. Been a while since I posted. Been a while since I damn well had a fish. Bloody winter, hate it. Got out last weekend to JB with 2 mates, camped at Honeymoon Bay 1 night for a 2 day fish. Ain't that a beuatiful place. First day got 30 odd squidies for 2 sessions over the weed. About 12 flatties on drifts and 6 perfect eating sized reddies. Anchoured, burleyed with floaters and hooked up on the biggest kingy I have ever had on in my life. For those familar with Longnose point the big kingies patrol from outside the heads all the way to this point and back again. Hooked this bugger in about 30m and it took about 2/3 of my reel of 40lb braid. (drag set approx 10 lb). Call was made, Anchour released on float and chased fish. As most Game guys know tactics from there is ALL important. Motered out and around, regained some line, re-gained the inititive to bring the bugger out and away from the reef. At the 8 minute mark Thought I had him, Oh dear thrumming on the line. "Andrew" please tell me that he is tail wrapped now. No bannana, reefed, and 15 secs later fish gone. I will say again that was the biggest Kingy I have ever had on in my life, a damn monster, and I have caught a 1m plus kingy on this gear before. None the less it is a memory I will never forget. Second day was flatties again, went just outside and used the Snapper Flashers that we have been using for some time. Bagged out at 20 fish each. Unbelievable never happened to me or my mates before. But the flashers with the circle hooks smashed em. All fish were around 40cms. Yumm perfect fillet size. And to boot, on Sunday had at least 25 wales in the bay all breaching, tail slapping and fin slapping, had whales up to 25 m from the boat. Awesome. And to boot again, was the dolfins, fairy peguins,(Bark Bark),sammy seal, white (Osprey) sea egles and believe it or not 2 Turtles!!! Arrived home and have been in Nirvarna ever since. Sorry no photo's charged the camera battery etc then did not put it in the damn camera. Bugger. Will try to post more often now Summer is here. Re-built my little run about over winter so will be hitting Botany B. See you out there. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Dicko. Spot on mate. This is not a myth. Last confirmed report I have heard of was from Manly Lagoon!! If I remember it was published in the local paper. Trapper Tom

Hey Jas. Shady Camp mate. Point Stuart. Brilliant for Barra. Can hire polycraft and go for your life. Can give more details if you PM. Also do not ever forget Crag Claw Island. Can hire tinny. Brilliant for mud crabs yum yum pigs bum, but really hard to fish, so mutch water. Last mud crab trip we did we got oodles and brought back a suitcase full of frozen mudcrab meat. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Hey Clemzii. What your looking at is what is termed "Floater" fishing. That being your baits are unweighted, no lead what so ever or only a tiny pea shot if currents warrent it. And this is strictly for bait fishing methods only. Just a hook with bait (swival optional depending on conditions). Caste out from any whitewater and let it float around. It will very slowly sink giving the fish plenty of time to investigate and eat and as it slowly sinks you cover all the water column. It is a particularly devistating method on fish once you have refined the method. For what its worth, when ever I fish from the rocks it is only with floaters. When in a boat and motoring up to a a wash and anchouring, only floaters again. Even in offshore conditions up to 50 metres with burley depending on what you are chasing of course. Benifit is. 1. Significant decrease on lost takle. 2. There is a lot of free play in the line once the fish takes the bait and the line becomes taught hence a very high hook up rate. (mind you if you are into catch and release this is not recommended as the fish has to much time to eat it and are generally deeply hooked. Please note that if you are using sinkers that send your bait sraight to the bottom you will generally only, 1. Catch the rock fish. 2. Catch an old boot. 3. Catch a red rock cod. Only trial and experience will assist you with this, no magical words of wisdom from FR's so get out there and start experimenting. You will be surprised at the results. Other FR's please add info as my reply is short for this type of fishing and I am sure you have a wealth of info to add. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Guys Definately a Red Mowie. Unusual catch on a line though. Tastes like weed the ones I have caught though ugh. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Yes Hodgey US, not Lake Mac, we don't have flathead catfish in Aus. Has been on the internet for some time. Sorry Yarrone, but at least you were only one third sucked in. (Unlike the catfish that sucked it all in bugger). He He. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Guys Stewy spot on, yes newcastle harbour was a damn good spot for them. And yes Clifton Gardens in Syd H and the deep holes in Botany Bay. I might suggest that if they have made it into the hawksbury they may/probably have made it to these other areas. Mind you too bloody cold for me now a days to have a crack at em. Interesting theory Stewy and one I concurr with. In my past posts I have always siad "Why were these things there then dwindled away to not being there. Its not a case they were there and not there and there again which would indicate migratory patterns etc. The decline and then disappearance of them is classic collapse of a fish stock. Even the ones caught this year are very small compared to the 2 +metre prehistoric scary monsters we used to catch. Still interesting/mystery that they still do not know where they come from or where they go to. I hope the buggers that made it in actually make it back out again. If so, and if they can get back in next year, then the fish size should be bigger next year. Will be interesting to see next year. Put a flag in your dairy for that aspect Stewy, I have and will re-visit next year and post on the subject. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Guys Don't ever forget the famous work done 20 years ago and documented in all the fish Mags at the time for the Hawksbury.. That is Red Feathered lures. (Large). And Yes GregL I concurr, at river mouths and only in heavy rain/flood conditions so that the baitfish are driven downsteam. It won't work otherwise. Cannot see any reason red feather lures would still not work. Did for me up t0 10 years ago but have not targeted this method since. Cheers Trapper Tom.

Hey Mtcolah. Not good at all considering its basically a new reel. A question.(and suggestion) You siad "really good rinse!" Did you immerse the reel, or spray water from the hose on it under pressure. Both sort of a general no no as it may result in water intrusion into the reels guts. All that is really needed is a light fresh water spray (I use a hand held spray bottle) to clean off exterior salt. Then a quick wipe down. Most reels at the $150 mark have a reasonable seal against salt/water intrusion. If the reel has been immersed, no trusting this, open up to dry and follow manu recommendations to clean. Also note try not to open the reel too often or unnessarily as the wear on screwheads and seals etc etc can mean painful replacement of those things. Generally I find the time I open and maintanin my reels is at the start and finish of each summer. Hope this helps Cheers Trapper Tom

G'day Rod L. Mate you did extra well!! Bynoe is a really hard place to get wired and fish. So big and expansive. Have fished with some really good Barra guys up north and they reckon its the hardest. I have seen the guides go out and come back after the day with one small barra to their name. As hard as it is I absolutely love Bynoe just something about the place. Going back in 2 months, will be my first Big Fish adventure for 2 years. Noted you did not put up any mud crab photo's. Hope you got some, it absolutely crawls with em up there and they are to die for to eat. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Spongy. Condolances to the families involved. You hit the nail on the head mate. The majority of the deaths are of a particular culture or two. Unforunately they just have no idea of the danger and in a lot of ways that is just not their fault. Its getting into these cultures and creating awarness/education programs etc etc that will create a difference. Still very hard to do but they have to start somewhere and then build trust with those communities. PS to Admin,is Martin the Pom still around, this is an aspect that he may be able to assist with as he is from what I understand amicably qualified in politics. Cheers Trapper T

Hey Hodgey Well done mate! Was certainly a puzzler. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey dingo Bad experience man. God they hurt. All fishraiders please note for stingrays, and other spiky fish oooglies the treatment is hot water. If you get stung don't muck around get to some hot water. Reason is that most fish toxins are extremely tempurature sensitive and break down very quickly if exposed to temps outside the fishes general survivable temp range. Its a darwin selection thing. Also note I don't belive this applies to the box jellyfish Any Docs on the site (and i belive there is) might be able to elaborate the more scientific explaination. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hi Hodgey Any reply yet. From Andy Loops post sure looks like it. Might suggest now that Gibbo63 post may have been a recent moult and had not coloured up yet. Gibbo how did you go with the 4 attena thing, it is the tell! Cheers. Trapper Tom.

Hey Robofish As the Terminator he also said "I'll be back". Suggest that should be your next campaign motto. Trapper Tom