SCOTTYB

Off the rocks - the reference to kingy I can't be sure of as they didn't have hookups, only fast follows when checking livies/changing baits.

Thanks Guys - Dad + little bro have been at Minamurra a couple of times during the week with some big salmon and [what they reckon] were kingies following their live yellowtail in. Lots of trevs, millions of yakkas and bully mullet, the odd bonito and [apparently] kingies.

Take a kid fishing - still one of the all time best experiences of my life, seeing the excitement, joy, helping to break the boredom, teaching, learning, answering a million questions...all worth it. Pics are magic. SB

Taking Dad to Stanwell Rocks tomorrow - haven't been there for years, but he used to love it. Anyone been down that way recently? With Dad getting on he's normally settled for the beach, but every few months he suggests we do the hike as he doesn't know how much longer the knees will hold out! Scott

All done - when will you be submitting your assignment? SB

Awesome shot!!

Mate, no worries - nice to see some feedback on the suggestions. To clarify what I meant about the dropper for the sinker, instead of using an ezy rig, I use a small swivel in place of the ezrig, with a light dropper tied off that to the sinker. Not sure if this will make sense, but my rig will be [mainline with running swivel + dropper to sinker]---[bead (doesn't have to be lumo, just stops the running swivel catching)] --- [swivel] --- [trace + hooks] For the albright, I find doubling the braid and tying onto the shock leader or direct to trace (depending on setup) works well. As long as you are tying the albright with the braid, not with mono/fluoro and tie VERY tight you can get a very smooth profile. You should be able to trim the tag of the mono flush with the braid, tighten the braid again and the last wrap should tighten around the tag = next to nothing hitting the guides. Takes a bit of practice though - my brother showed me this after we had both been using normal albrights for ages and the first few times I just wasn't pulling everything tight enough. Slim beauty also works well, although have found this better with the braid doubled before tying also. Nice work on the bream too, by the way. SB

My 2c worth: I would run 30lb main straight to the trace - sometimes up to 60lb depending on where we are, but not less than 30lb Why/how are your albrights failing - I've never had one fail, although take my time tying and check, recheck. Perhaps explain how you are tying and how they fail and we can help you here. Albright should be fine. I used to use ez rig, but found it would tangle with braid. Now use a small swivel with a 8-10inch dropper to the sinker (light line so if snagged you only lose the sinker)then a bead before the swivel to the trace (hope that makes sense) 50 - 80 cm trace in my experience is good SB

Also done, good luck - can't wait for the prototype. You'll have plenty of testers hereabouts!

Maaate! Awesome - landbased or were you in a boat? SB

Hi all, There was a recent report that had a bit of debate around possession, and the relevant rules. Tony (Keflapod) gave a great example as to what would happen if one caught 11 whiting on Wednesday, and then caught more a few days later - if the total was over the bag limit, would he be in breach of the rules if fish were still in the freezer? Full topic here http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=62109 I took Tony's example and emailed DPI - took a week, but did get a response. Seems that the rule of possession is not based on a daily limit, but how much you have stored (in possession). Verbatim response from fisheries below... Hi Scott, Possession is not defined by DPI, it is defined by law which is the common law and laws made by the government. The common law definition of possession is extended under the under the Fisheries Management Act : - possession of a thing includes having the thing under control at any place, even though some other person has physical possession of the thing. Explanation on Bag and possession limits for freshwater and saltwater species Saltwater fish & invertebrates Possession limits (being the same as daily bag limits) apply to saltwater species when the fish are in possession of a person in on or adjacent to waters or if the fish are being transported or stored. EXAMPLE: The possession limit for Whiting is 20 (for single species or combination of species). A person goes fishing today and catches the bag limit of 20 Whiting, brings them home and decides to not to eat them and stores them in the freezer. That person should not keep any more whiting they catch until they dispose of some they already have. Freshwater fish & invertebrates Possession limits (note that for some species the possession limit differs from the bag limit) and also apply when the fish are in possession of a person in on or adjacent to waters or if the fish are being transported or stored. Hope this helps - the example makes it pretty clear. SB

Hey Jet, Nearly guilty of being 101st to view without a response - just can't help much as we don't have a boat and don't fish BB. Years ago used to fish Kurnell, but tend to go down the coast for rockfishing. I did appreciate the level of detail you provided in your initial post, so can understand the frustration of sharing a fair bit without a response - I'm sure you'll get some of the regular BB FR's replying at some stage. Sometimes getting insight is like fishing - you have to be a bit patient. It is the middle of the week, so my guess is that the regulars are probably out fishing as the rain held off today! Cheers, SB

Very Cool story.

Hi Buddy, We were there a couple of times over the past few weeks - lots of really small bream (like the size of a 50c piece), some fat but undersized whiting, although there was a bloke there that had hooked up to a small bream that something big had a swipe at. Having said that we were there really just killing time with bream/flattie rods - would be good to go at night/dusk/early am and target bigger fish if conditions were right. Water was still pretty brownish - one guy with a long (5m rod) was catching mullet on the SE side off the rocks with his grandson. He hooked up to heaps but didn't keep more than a couple - was looking for a feed, not bait. Fish are there, suggest taking a light and a heavy setup - if you get something that you can use as livebait then whack it out. SB

Thanks Tom - much appreciated. From the ad they seemed to be heavy gauge, just had never heard of them mentioned before. Will give them a go. Cheers SB

That's great! Nice to know that the combination of suggestions was useful, and even better to get feedback on what worked - Cool Flame, really appreciate your sharing the outcomes of trying slightly different styles/approaches. SB

I tend to get more hookups with a slow lift, or sideways lift with bream. Another method that I find works well is to just bounce the rod tip very slightly and wind s l o w l y - creating a jump/jerk with the bait and a slow pull away. Sometimes makes the fish really attack. Hook sizes I would agree with 1/0 - 2/0 as mentioned, although if they are finicky have done well with 1 and 2 size hooks, but not really any smaller. Size 4 - 12 we use more for catching livebait. If your hooks are good quality chemically sharpened, the slow and slight pressure will get the point to stick, and generally the fish will hook themselves trying to take your bait. If you are in an area that is snaggy, perhaps just tie a lighter leader with your new line. I definitely noticed a positive difference using lighter line, and sinkers, or no sinker if conditions allow. Hope this helps - just experiment a bit more, perhaps try different areas and rigs and slight changes with setting hooks and you will find a combination of methods that works for you more consistently.

Thanks Dory, just never seen them before so was curious. See how we go. SB

Thanks Dory, that's the argument we have with the old man, who loves the el cheapos. Are you saying you've used them and suggesting we stick to brands we know?

Hey Johnstar - sp's can be good both from rocks and beach, just depends on what you are targeting. In very general terms you will do well on flathead if they are around from the beach, I've found that rockfishing with SP's is good for baitfish - slimies, yellowtail. If you can see small baitfish around and match your SP selection to what is live, then you're likely to be on the menu.. As to baits, they all catch - just depends on what the local bait is. eg beaches with a creek running out will generally have mullet, which should be a gun bait if that is the environment. Some rocks will have sandy sections - if you find small shrimp, then prawns will be the go, etc Baiting livies - there are a few ways - through the lips ( between the nostrils), behind the dorsal fin, back from the anal fin. Have read about trimming the top or bottom of the tail to make the livie swim up or down, depending on whether you are using a float or a sinker. Where do you fish and what do you normally go for? A bit more detail will get you more specific responses from other FR's, but I hope my 2c helps.

Hi Raiders, Got an online ad for Penotrate hooks - apparently made in Japan but packed here in Oz to keep prices down - just wondering if anyone has used them, and has feedback? We normally use Gamakatsu and Black Magic - the circle hooks look very similar, but hard to tell from a web clip. SB

Awesome level of detail and great pics. Worth Pinning, or adding to the articles/how to?

Haven't been playing with plastics for a while, but used to do really well with Atomic's prawn - would catch bream on a slow retrieve, and a fast one would get yellowtail and slimy mack, bonito if they were around.

No worries - just be sure that you follow the 'contour lines' with the associated reading. A couple of times I've gotten caught with thinking "wow, high barometer - let's go!' only to find that the higher readings were in different areas, but split with a lowish reading. Having said that though, low barometric pressure doesn't always mean no fish - sometimes just a clue to berley more.

Yep, some drinks, snacks from the shops before the bridge, and a lovely lazy afternoon - still likely to catch flathead and bream on their way through. ScottyB