SCOTTYB

Awesome work!

No problem Rod.

Used to years back with SP's - some good flatties then, but as I said that was years back. Haven't gotten one recently, but have only been to Lilli Pilli lately. There was a place called Atwell's Boatshed where you could hire a tinny from and nearly as far as Bundeena - not sure if they are still there, but might be worth a look to get out to some deeper holes? Have had Jew from Bundeena, but again haven't been back for the last few years.

Rod it was also a mix. First time (a few weeks back) was prawns, and poddy-mullet size bait fish that Dad noticed in a fish shop and thought he'd try. On Sunday was squid, prawns and pichards. From memory the bonito took the baitfish (not sure of the name, sorry will have to check). Rigs were also different. Dad had a smallish (1/0 or 1) size hook under a float on the alvey. Bro had a similar size hook, about 40cm leader to a swivel with a running drop sinker. Mine was the same rig as my brothers, although I muck around with the length of the leader, larger sinker on a 10-15cm running dropper, with 2/0 - 4/0 hooks on the big rod. Small rod simple running ball sinker - swivel - trace - hook. On Sunday we went for a good couple of hours without a bite, whereas the kids in a tinny 100m away were pulling in fish after fish, but they may have been berleying for a while before we got there, and ours wasn't effective in comparison. Hope that helps Rod - we've tried there a couple of times after hearing of some good catches in the area although mainly from boats. Still sussing out the area from a land based perspective. ScottyB

G'day Rod - have been there a couple of times in the last month, and come back with salmon and bonito, a few dropped salmon and a couple of bustoffs. Yesterday there were a couple of kids in a tinny that were pulling in salmon and tailor one after the other - naturally they were just out of casting distance. Between the 3 of us we had different rigs - one float, one dropper sinker rig, one running sinker. All using different size hooks, sinkers and rods, but were all getting bites. If all you are getting is the undersize snapper, perhaps try a slightly larger hook - expect to lose more bait as the pickers will still take their share, but experimenting with hook size means you should be able to avoid the little ones. Having said that though, my brother caught a 60cm+ salmon on a small hook he was using to try and get baitfish with...

Testlab that's awesome - if we get somewhere to have a fish and there are divers, we move up or down the shore line, or just wait to see which direction they are heading if they are already out a bit. Have come across a lot of divers, but none with the level of class you've just displayed

That's right - he was pretty angry (and stunned), but thankful we got his attention. From where we were we could finally give him the all clear - the height he was at and the lighting angle across the water he couldn't see the bubble trail from them. Came back a couple of hours later to thank us and apologise for being a bother. Funny thing is, we don't consider boats a bother, just takes a bit more awareness to know who is doing what. If you have to pull a line in, you do it.

+1 - the thing was, they weren't openly rude, or aggressive or anything like that. They just didn't get it. I think my frustration was more amazement at the fact that they seriously had no idea of how to act in the vicinity of others. It was just mindless.

Dear Mr Scuba Diver in training. I know it is a public wharf, but that is not the place to learn how to dive. There are two instances I can think of that justify this. One is when there is a 40' cruiser attempting to moor and you and your 'class' are at risk of becoming fish food because you insist on paddling just in front of and under the wharf - particularly when you are between the wharf and the reversing cruiser - was visibility so bad you couldn't see the size of the props? Surely you would have heard them. You are so lucky I got the skipper's attention. Secondly, and more importantly is when I am hooked up to a very solid fish - there is no need for you to try and get close enough to it that you get tangled in my line. The next time have the proper safety gear (ie a diving flag, so people in boats that can mince you up know where you are); use the wharf to get into the water and then get the hell away from it once you are under - better still, use the little beach 20 metres away! Stay away from hooked fish and DO NOT try to grab the line either 'to help' or to get a closer look. Why? I may not know you are there because you don't think you need to deploy a diving flag or bouy. I might think the fish is going for another run and decide to get serious, in which case my 50lb braid will untangle from you in a rather painful manner ie you will lose the limb you got tangled. Seriously, I know the water is there to share, but have some consideration and put your brain back in BEFORE you leave the house! I have always been mindful of divers, but this was ridiculous - the 3 of them could have gotten killed. We were out of burley, but that is going a bit far. Rant over. Need to go and clean up the gear. ScottyB

Albright or slim beauty for me - have seen the PR knot but need to practice it more.

I can imagine!

Thanks guys, Hull - yes it was a surprise, I'm sure we've all done the cranky retrieve when a cast doesn't go the way you like, I never expected to get smashed on one! Nick, we originally thought some type of tuna also, but searched through the fish id section and did a bit of general googling - apparently commonly mistaken for a Frigate Mackeral, or a Mack Tuna, but is known as a 'Watsons Leaping Bonito'. I know where you are coming from though, all the other bonito I've caught haven't had the spots, which is why I went hunting for answers.

Went out for a few hours with Dad and little bro - were going to try the harbour, but didn't like the look of the clouds, so opted for somewhere closer and tried Lilli Pilli wharf. My brother used to live close by, so years back used to cruise past often - love the Hacking. Figured the wharf might be alright with the weather (ie not crowded) and were right - no one around for the first few hours (when the rain stopped). Overall a number of undersize snapper, no squid, one just legal but very fat bream, a lot of lines bitten through (leatherjackets? would only feel the slightest bite and check the bait to find no hook, and in one case an entire trace 'snipped' off), and one monster salmon which Dad got to the wharf and....'ping' just as I asked him what strength leader he had (ie so I could lift onto the wharf for him). Oh, the suicidal bonito - this was tops! My second cast, watched the bait fly off the hook (tried to belt it out and belted too hard!) so got cranky with myself and as soon as the unbaited rig hit the water, started to reel back in at pace. BANG! about 30m from the wharf, something had smashed my hook which had nothing on it. Great little fight, especially as I got the fish closer to the wharf, and Watson's Leaping Bonito! The hook was new, but was black - not really what you would call shiny, and the sinker was a smallish dropper sinker. My brother put on a metal slice and got another one about half a dozen casts later, and that was it for the day, with the exception of a starfish, and the bite-offs that we think might have been leatherjackets. When I did change the rig to try and target the supposed jackets, all I got were very undersized snapper. Still, a great day, even though it was a bit windy and although it was only light, the rain didn't stop for the first couple of hours. But then, the fish are already wet... Tried attaching pic after a number of resizing attempts based on the how to post, but not getting any joy here. Will have another go later. [EDIT - tried the MS Office Picture Manager and selected 'Compress for Web', and seems to have worked] Cheers, Scott

Likewise - congratulations Roberta. I'd also add that you've helped plenty of Raiders (or at least this one) that hasn't yet visited Forster - whenever I'm not able to fish, and find myself scouring the old posts, yours are some of the ones I keep coming back to. Thanks and congratulations, Scott

Used to fish and prawn Narrabeen a lot when I lived in Crow Nest. A few years back now, but would find that the change could be anywhere from 30 min to a good 1.5+ hours, depending on where you were in the Lake. Have to remember that there is (or was) only a fairly small inlet to the lake, and at the absolute entrance is not really that deep. If there was a higher tide on the beach, the lake tide would rise faster, and if the high tide was relatively small on the ocean side, the far side of the lake would be minimal. If you can, plan some days where you can spend a good 4 - 5 hours at/around your regular lake spots when you know the tide chart indicates a smallish high, and also a substantial high tide for an indication. Remember that the lake mouth will change from time to time so it won't be exact, but you will get better consistency. Cheers, ScottyB

Looks like a perfect day to be out on the water. Which brand/model is that?

Looks like a perfect day to be out on the water. Which brand/model is that?

Cheers elferoz777 - don't think I have ever fished there. Without a car at the moment am limited to going with my brother and/or Dad, which means they generally get to pick the spot. We've tended to do more around Minnamurra/Stanwell lately, although they've both had time off mid week lately so the buggers have been getting out there while I'm at work. Had a quick look at Bulli & Woonoona from Google earth - looks like some nice rock spots along that stretch, so will have to talk them into exploring some new spots. Thanks again, ScottyB

Great topic and great info - I'm still jealous of the "bream (mostly over 45 cms)"!!

My Dad is a demon with a surf popper - younger bro and I haven't bothered with them much, but if the bite is slow, Dad puts on a prebought, prerigged surf popper + gang and catches 90% of his fish on the popper. He is also using this rig with a star or other heavy sinker, so the popper doesn't really get to the surface - I think it must be bubble trail, plus the attraction of the feathers that gets the interest, even if he has a tasty pilchard on the gang underneath the popper. Amazing sometimes that he will clean up on salmon, bonito and tailor from the beach or rocks - all on the little size 1 or 2 hook on the surf popper. He's also had good success using the same rig (popper + gang) under a float. Naturally he tries to tell us 'kids' that its just because of the alvey... we might win when it comes to size of fish, but the old man certainly gets the numbers.

We've been reasonably often (at least once every couple of months), although have been going to Minamurra more lately. Last few outings at Stanwell would always see at least a couple of Salmon, the odd bream, and undersized flathead. Haven't been for an afternoon/evening fish there for a while - would normally go in the morning, and every other trip get a couple of tailor. Haven't had great success when the beach has been very flat (sometimes it can be shallow for a good 50m) or when the current has been really strong - when its like this all you can do is up your sinker, or keep moving until you find a spot where you can hold in the current. Supposed to be a good Jewfish beach, but haven't caught one there for years. Scott

Just a quick shout out to my fellow fishraiders. Over time (particularly when I haven't been able to fish) I'm sure I've scoured just about all of the topics and posts in FR history! This would have to be the most informative, educational and generous post I can recall...showing the true spirit of FR. Very impressed, and glad to be a part of it all. Cheers, SB PS wish I could add something, but everything I know of has already been mentioned - haven't fished Gymea much at all....

I remember seeing a doco about giant squid - apparently the waters off South Aust are a favourite spawning ground, and squid travel from all over the place to spawn. Amazing to see some of the footage, even moreso to know that they picked SA as the preferred place to spawn.

I remember seeing a doco about giant squid - apparently the waters off South Aust are a favourite spawning ground, and squid travel from all over the place to spawn. Amazing to see some of the footage, even moreso to know that they picked SA as the preferred place to spawn.

+1 for Willy Weather. Used to use seabreeze, but WW has a format that is much easier to follow, and as Mick said the advantage of choosing your location is great. Scott