dacobra

Weasel - I don't get over to Hawks Nest much so won't be a big help. Along with the tips already given it could be worthwhile to work the pylons of the Singing Bridge and also to hit the channel around the fish co-op at Tea Gardens. Try different times/tides. The lizards have gone off the bite with the cooler conditions but there are some decent tailor around and jew are still turning up. If you can get onto some racks the bream might cooperate. Just watch the tide flow as it can get savage at times - plenty of backwaters around though. I hope the weather is kind and that you enjoy your visit. If you get the chance please let us know the results of the trip.

Spanker - here is a pic of Tomaree from the ocean side. The main ledge is just to the north of the cleft. Might give it a go during winter but its easy to put it in the too hard basket at the moment. Havn't heard about the soldiers point tuna but it wouldn't surprise me......

Spanker - glad you enjoyed your visit here. I had tailor for dinner tonight - plenty around at the moment and they should be in attendance for a while yet. Tomaree ocean side is heart attack hill so be warned as the climb out looks fearsome. I still haven't got up the courage to fish there - easier places to get a good feed. Are you sure that spot is called Fishermans Beach? Don't know it - Fishermans BAY is near Boat Harbour?????

Muscle - I wont be of much help as its been 7 years since I visited the Bridal Track. Can remember chucking number 3 celtas around some of the big pools and getting a few rainbows. Before the drought there was a lot of water mixed up with the fish. I dont know what its like there now but water levels will probably be low. Hopefully you can find some good holes where your Tassie Devils can get a run. Even if the fish are scarce you will see heaps of great scenery! Lots of good camping spots as well. Dont forget to pack plenty of warm undies, and good fishing!

Walking those Blue Mountains trout streams - never seen such great scenery and never seen such great water. Never thought catching and releasing trout could be so addictive - those bow waves as a fish charges your lure...... Gotta do it again as soon as.......

I lived in the area for many years and have fished the Macquarie and lots of its tributaries. As Michael said, find out where you will be camping then get back to us. Trout are the main species in the upper reaches with cod, yellowbelly, etc from the forge downstream. If you are fishing the bigger water Tassie Devils should be good. If you are fishing small feeder streams you need small lures like celtas. The drought has decimated the trout population but they can still be found in numbers in spring fed feeder streams if you can put the legwork in to find them.

Rock fishing yesterday - located a very small bay with tailor really smashing into baitfish. Caught a couple of nice ones using a 30 gram spinner and was still working the water when a half cabin boat zooms up then reverses across my line of fire with 2 anglers spinning from the rear. I thought this was bad form as I had nowhere to cast except across their lines - so I did. A few friendly words were exchanged before they headed off. Needless to say the tailor also left. I was a bit aggro - anyone else had a similar experience?

Thanks for the feedback guys! They were caught on an old 30 gram silver wonder wobbler.

Hi Fishraiders - went out this morning and caught bonito when I was trying to catch tailor. I know bonito are good bait but do they taste OK? Recipes??

Hi Norm - the discoloured water has slowed things down but we will bounce back!

Bluecod - I was over there yesterday but did not hang around the breakwall for long as the wind and swell made conditions unpleasant. There were five guys fishing for luderick - no fish landed while I was there. They were all clustered around a small area about 200 metres east of the restaurant. Might be worth your while to phone Nelson Bay Sports and Tackle 0249812333 - perhaps they can give you some current information.

Good result/report Norm - that 4 am start would have stopped me though!! The weather around Newcastle has been very damp lately. I try to get the tinny in the water between showers and some of my sessions have been very short due to approaching rain. Plenty of bream, lizards and tailor (bruiser of 1.2 kg this morning) but the whiting have been off the bite the last couple of days.

Yes - guilty as charged. Never stop sussing out likely water. A few years ago I was returning to my Central Tablelands home after a business trip to the coast. Stopped on a small bridge over a small creek and checked the water. Large trout rising everywhere both upstream and downstream - I was sitting there salivating wearing a suit and with no fishing gear! Sometimes its better to keep your eyes on the road...... sob...

It looks like you will be lake fishing - Lake Wyangla near Cowra is underestimated trout water and it may be worth your while to make some enquiries before you go on leave.

Evan - I lived in the area for 16 years and enjoyed some wonderful trout fishing. Never ate the buggers just loved chasing/catching/releasing them! I am a stream fisho but have explored most of the big dams on the Tablelands. Thompsons Creek Dam and Wallace Lake are near the town of Wallerawang which is a short drive from Lake Lyall. If its no good at Lyall try the other two. Good fishing!

Keep in mind that you have other options if Lyall doesn't fire - Lake Wallace and Thompsons Creek Dam are close by......

I havn't fished the racks beyond the new bridge - nice to hear that they are firing. Karuah is an interesting location with some good structure and productive water. My problem is that I boat over from Lemon Tree and there are too many tempting spots to flick a lure on the way! If I put blinkers on I might stand a chance of getting to the bridges!

Good Idea! A Lake Macquarie get-together sounds like fun.

I also own an old 8hp Mariner - 50:1 is the go.

Clutch - it was a real surprise! If nothing else I know my bream outfit can handle a lot of punishment.

HI FISHRAIDERS - Had 45 minutes to spare before breakfast today so launched the 8 foot tinny TITANIC into the rain discoloured waters of Port Stephens. Hit my usual haunts and deadsticked around the rocky shorelines using 2" grubs and bass minows. Pretty quiet for 15 mins then lifted the bass minow from the bottom in 2 metres of water and all hell broke loose! The beast took 80% of the line off my reel in a long sustained run. I thought it might be a ray/shark/jew. Slowly tightened the drag as much as I was game and recovered some line before it took off again. By this time I was about 400 metres from shore and still heading away from it. Then a huge sea turtle breached ahead of me and my heart sank. I cut the line soon after to save the animal from further stress. Very disappointed this happened. I believe turtles eat seaweed and jellyfish so I probably foul hooked it on the shell. I hope it survives and DON'T want to hook another!

Thanks Simon - I will try the mountaineering trip in the cooler weather. If I survive the ordeal I will post a report!

Thanks for the replies guys. Clutch - I DONT have a death wish so the tinny stays inside the port! Simon - might try to look at the south ledge first. Did you access it from Zenith beach or did you take the trail to the top of Tomaree and then head south? Many years ago I walked from the lodge around towards the cleft but the thick scrub stopped me so I am ruling out that route.

Fished 3 private dams at Bilpin a while ago. They were stocked with yellowbelly - spent the day chucking lures and cleaning fish. Best results by far were with number 2 gold Celtas in green/black.

Fishraiders - has anyone fished Tomaree headland at Port Stephens? I mean the ledge to the north of the cleft. This is accessed by climbing to the top of the hill then dropping down a steep path to the ledge. A mate wants to give it a go but I have some reservations about the climb back out (perhaps with a bag of fish). They don't call it 'heart attack hill' for no reason. Anyone been there done that?