yting

Hi Raiders, i'm looking to chase my first King on lure this summer. I'll be fishing from my new yak in the Hacking. Anyone got any suggestions on lure patterns. I was thinking maybe those flick baits. any help would be great thanks

Just an observation here and although not terribly constructive, I like how everyone is talking about Jews like they hook up every session. I find this fascinating in itself. I'm still waiting for the 1st one so these small issues are neither here nor there for me yet. Having said that I haven't been putting in the hours lately like I used too so don't deserve one I suppose. looking forward to eventually contributing to these discussions one day.

Mate to be honest I've tried many different set ups over the years. I'm probably not the man to ask given that I've never got one. I use an Alvey and I usually have a couple of different rigs ready, depending on the surf conditions and what bait I'm using. The other night I was using squid so two snelled 8 0's coming off the main trace on 20kg mono was what I went with. I don't know the answer really. I do know that in the dark, you want to be using a rig that doesn't tangle up every time you wind in and cast out. I might be a bit old fashioned though. Some of the other guys on here are good with the technical side of things. Good luck Betto

So went out again the other night off the beach. Didn't manage to catch any squid again in the afternoon so had some back up squid bought from the seafood shop. Conditions were quiet rough so it was difficult to spot any gutters. None the less I was there and in with a slim chance of that first Jew. Around an hour before high tide, bang the rod buckles over violently. Line peels off for about 30 seconds and then it drops the squid. Again just on high tide, bang off it goes again. This time even bigger run. Managed to hook up and battle with it for about 5 minutes before losing it in the waves on retrieval. 20kg line was snapped, didn't appear to be knot failure. What do you guys think? Shark? I don't think it was a ray as the odd head shake was there. Never caught a Jew but for some reason I don't think it was one. At least that's what I'm telling myself anyway. On a brighter note. Good to see fisheries at the beach at 10pm at night checking fishing licenses. Good job guys.

Well done mate, Well deserved.

That's a real shame mate condolences. At least you've got that first run and you've found the secret ingredient.

Hi guys, Just wondering if anyone has any info on fishing around the lakes entrance there near the bridge? I'm guessing whiting might be around judging by google earth. Thanks

Hi Raiders, Went out again off Wanda beach the other night. I thought I would try something completely different and fish the first 3hrs of the run in. Bit unauthordox I know. I can confirm that this idea failed to deliver aswell, so don't bother trying it out like I did. There were a few guys turning up late in the night for the last of the run in. The beach was fairly busy when I left but I didn't see anyone onto any fish. I'd be interested to hear from any one of those guys who were there to see if they had any luck. I was using pillies for a change. Thanks

No pretty sure they weren't from the life savers. Slightly different from the IRB's you normally see at the beach. All three were the same style though.

Hi Raiders, Some of the older members might remember my quest for my first Jewie. Well long story short still no Jewie but I thought I'd share this story with you anyway (apologies there's no happy end here). The story actually begins weeks ago when I focus again on researching techniques, methods etc to enhance my chances when the time and tides are right. I decide tonight is the night to have another crack. So the other day I suggest a "walk along the beach" with the Mrs which she knows is of course code for gutter searching. So I swim out to the most fish holding looking gutters to assess their various depths. I decide on one in particular that drops away steeply from a shallow bank to around 7ft deep (and that was at low tide). I decide that fresh squid is my best hope so I plan a session yesterday afternoon so it is still fresh for tonight's attempt. As we all know it was p###### down with rain yesterday and I get completely soaked. None the less I come away with only one squid but I bank on this one squid to get me that first Jew. By now the Mrs thinks I've lost it and I've gone mad. Off I go to the beach this evening. Half an hour before high tide,using some other squid I bought from the seafood shop, I hook a large Tailor or Salmon (not sure but it jumped out of the water and spat the hook). I decide it's time to put on the fresh squid that I worked my back side off for. It's dusk, just before high and looking promising. My fresh squid is out in this gutter for about 5 mins when out of no where, 3 absolute more-ons in rubber duckies come speeding past. They must have been doing 100kms p/hr and about 30metres off shore (just at about where my line enters the water) one gets threw, the second gets threw then of course the last one catches the line. my rod suddenly bends violently and snap goes the lot. Line, rig and most upsettingly my one best bait. I just want to say to those guys who did this " thanks a lot you absolute dick heads! ( admin please don't edit that out) Weeks of preparation and planning gone in a second. I give up and pack up. My mate said to me yesterday, " if it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck" after tonight episode I'm beginning to think he is right.

Surely it's a Bull isn't it? White pointer in the Hacking? I guess it could be.

Hi Raiders, I've heard reports of a 4 to 5m shark in the Hacking at the moment. Anyone seen him? wonder what the bugger is dining on...

Hi Guys, Taking the family up to Mooloolaba for a few days shortly. Flying up so no car but I was wondering if it was worth sneaking a small rod and and a bit of tackle into the suitcase, the won't know until she unpacks when we get there! That's the plan anyway. Would there be any Whiting off the main beach at this time of year does anyone know? Thanks

Yes I too was interested on how people were fishing that break wall. What was confusing me though was how the current was always running out to sea the whole time I was there. I would have thought it would change directions on the run in. It's got me stumped.You'd just about have to be Usain Bolt to try and keep up with your line if you wanted to chase along the break wall with it.

Hi there, Not much to report after a few days of windy weather with the family up at Tuncurry/Forster over Easter. The main reason for this report is to warn people about "Red Weed". If anyone has tried to fish when this is in the water you'll know what I mean. It's a complete nightmare and makes fishing almost impossible. It catches your line and jams up in the runners of your rod. Very frustrating! Second thing I have to report was that the river seemed pretty dead. That was until I saw the pros hauling in net loads of mullet off the beach adjacent to the river mouth. After asking one of them I learned that the mullet swim down river and out to sea around this time of year. I'm guessing netting tones of them must be legal judging by how these guys operated but I don't really get why they're catching all these mullet and who's buying them. Bit of a mystery really. I can't help but wonder what the by catch must be as a result of this netting. Still I supose some one smarter than me has considered this.

Sympathy for you mate. I was the same as you and eventually it got the better of me. I had tried everything mentioned with the help of fellow raiders, still nothing. In the end I had to call it quits as I started to take it personally and way too seriously to the point where it affected my moral on and off the sand. Maybe one day I'll give it another couple of years of my life. I'll never understand how anyone can catch them regularly. My conclusion, There is still a big element of luck involved.

Hi all, So a couple of weekend's ago, I tell the I will take my 3 year old son down to "the park" under the Wonnie Bridge. Naturally the rod and a couple of hard bodies somehow find their way into the boot before we leave. We get to "the park", quickly rig up and I instantly know I've only got about 10 casts before the boy gets bored and wants to play on the swings and slide. The pressure is on and I'm feeling the heat. Before the first cast has even hit the water, I get the expected "have we caught one yet"? "why haven't we caught one yet Dad"? It's hot and as each cast returns without a fish, I realise my chances of keeping him interested are quickly fading. I have been in some high pressure situations before in life but nothing like this. I say to him, "one more cast and then we'll go on the equipment ok", this last cast is perhaps the most important of my fishing life. Catch a fish here and I have a fishing buddy for life, don't catch a fish and the chances of me convincing him again that going fishing is a good idea are slim. Here we go. The lure hits the water and I get that feeling we all know. The retrieve is as slow and drawn out as you can imagine. Something tells me to stick with it all the way to my feet and sure enough, just when I think it's all over, tap tap tap "WE'RE ON SON!" I know it's not big but I'm grateful just for the hook up. We get it in and its a small Flatty but more importantly he thinks it's "the biggest fish ever". Job done my son is hooked. We quickly go play on the equipment and race home to come clean with . He's happy, she's happy and so as the saying goes I'm happy. Sorry it's no Marlin story guys but thought it might appeal to some.

Hi all, Heading up to Forster at Easter. my question is, will the Whiting be on the chew at this time of year? I'm pretty keen to have a go off the beach. I would like to try an catch my own worms but don't rate my chances given that I'm a novice at this. The local tackle store would sell live worms up there wouldn't they?

Hi guys, The missus wants me to cook at Snapper on the BBQ for Chrissy. I've got 6 people. Do you reckon a 2kg specimen will be about the right size? Any advice thanks

Well done mate, awesome stuff. I like the fact you let it go too.

Hi Chris, Fishing can be very frustrating at times. In dry spells I tend to lighten everything up, try lighter line, lighter weight, total lighter set up all together. Also as I'm sure you have already thought about, I find tides and bait to be 2 of the most important factors in any kind of fishing. Try fishing around tide changes with fresh or live bait and you should find some interest from something. Of course this is only my opinion and each location will have its own unique set of reasons why fish will or will not be biting. Oh and no matter what anyone says, you can be doing everything right but you still need an element of luck.

Great work mate. Only 2 years trying as well. I must be due then. It's funny how these fish make you work hard for it. I wonder if there is anyone out there who has caught a jew in under 2 years of trying?

Adventure bound with out a shadow of doubt. Especially the early episodes with Neil

Thanks Whitewash, I was a fair bit north of there. Although deciding on the right gutter can be difficult at Cronulla. There are so many to chose from ATM. I got there just after low tide in the afternoon so I could spot the best one (I thought). I was happy with the one I was fishing as it had an entry point and and exit point. Just got to be lucky to chose the correct gutter I guess.

Thanks for your advice quaddy. I'll had that to my folder of research.