hookerbruce

Hi Guys On Mon we did find 3 traps east of 12 mile but they were not holding fish. When we are travelling around we scan the ocean. On mon we found a helium balloon, a larger heart shaped balloon and a lump of polystyrene, could find nothing else in the water. We will head east of the wide Botany Fad on tues and see what we find. Any information on likely areas to visit would be appreciated eg approx. water depth and distance out. Thanks Bruce

The last couple of years we have been spoilt with good dolphin fish runs. This year the reports have been very quiet. We decided to give them a go. Launched the boat at 630 and decided to use some time and catch some livies, they were even slow. Got out to Botany FAD near the peak and saw 6 boats fishing around the FAD and nothing happening. Set up to drift live baits to the Fad but were surprised to find the current running to the north not the south, not a good sign. Slow trolled the livies 250 m to the Fad and beyond without a touch. The other boats all dispersed so decided to try different tactic. Motored up near the FAD and cast a 5 gm slice on light tackle instant hookup with a 65cm dollie. Next drift floated out a pilchard fillet on light gear a 68 cm fish. A half pillie on light gear a 70 cm fish. Then no bites for 3 drifts so headed for the wide Fad. aught a cotton mouth trevally which swallowed the hook, kept it. Nothing else happening so ran back to the Peak for nothing then back to the ramp by 1230. Not a huge catch by sizee or numbers but changing methods produced a feed. Going to give it another try on tues Hookerbruce

Hi Ray I am still overseas on hols. Enjoy your trip to Weipa and good luck with overcoming your health setbacks. Will try to catch up with you sometime in the future. Bruce

Another consideration is the weight of the boat. A heavier boat (glass or heavy plate) will give you a better ride offshore but if your towing from ACT to Narooma and back on a regular basis you might do better with a lighter aluminium. Not as good a ride but can use a smaller tow vehicle, have a smaller outboard and is a lot easier to launch and retrieve if on your own. In Canberra you can join Canberra fishermans club they have fishing trips and weekends away, might be able to get some useful information from locals who fish the local area. Bruce

Pretty obvious when your in Aust you will have plenty of fishing trip offers add my name to the list of offers when your in Sydney. bruce

Congratulations Good result keeping it simple and catching some good fish off the breakwall. Makes for a great weekend.

You must have had a very good black fishing coach. Plenty of weed around here but no one fishing for blackfish. Did see a very similar looking fish when I was snorkeling yesterday

About 20 yrs ago some one gave me a fly outfit, I didn't know much about it so took it and some black woolly buggers up to Burinjuck dam and caught some carp. I now have 3 outfits still don't know a lot about flyfishing but always carry it in the boat with me. The number of species is growing. When I get back from hols in oct I'll send you a PM and try to arrange to have a trip in/out port hacking. bruce

If we are fishing a comp we tend to keep the bigger fish and release the smaller ones although we will release the big fish if it is length based comp or we can weigh in live fish. When fishing for the table we will keep the fish that don't look healthy, or we will target jackets or blue spot flatties.

You landed 2 more than me. I fished georges the other day, wrong tide and just didn't look good. Result 2 throwbacks and lost 3 fish mid 30's on the surface before the net. I only had 6 downs in 2 hours, the little ones weren't there. Might have to try further upriver. I think the georges has been quiet this year although I've been up Qld for 5 weeks and havn't fished it much. I am going away for a while very soon so won't get a chance for another try. Unless I get Up at 6 am sat morning. bruce

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR BEAGLE

It wasn't that hard to wind the fish up from the depths it is quite doable, but I may think about an electric reel when I get older. Will probably do it again to get a couple of fish for the table as it saves going home without a feed when the tuna don't co-operate. They did cook up good for dinner. The rest of the family were very happy with a feed of gemfish. Bruce

That looks identical to black spotted cod we catch up in Qld and similar to the Gold spot cod. We used to catch a lot of black rock cod in nsw estuaries back in the old days , they were an occasional catch not rare. Weeny Bay used to be a good spot for them as well as around any of the break walls on the north coast rivers. Back when we used to eat them they weren't protected and Weeny bay was not a marine reserve.

I have a 90 hp Etec on a 5.6m tinnie 2 yrs old 250 hrs and hasn't even looked like missing a beat. I use less than half the fuel I used with my 2 stroke mercury and a lot more reliable in the first 2 yrs than the merc was in its first 2 yrs. bruce

Been catching these for for over 50 years. they are one of my favourite offshore reef fish, on par with long fin perch and just ahead of chinaman jackets. I lightly pan fry in butter and they are fantastic, but don't overcook. bruce

South west rocks near kempsey

Just finished filleting 9 blackies 34-40 cm, Threw back about 20 smaller fish and a bream. had some for tea they are beautiful fresh. Weather has been beautiful up here today had shorts and t shirt on in the garden from about 830 till I went over to the breakwall just after 3. fished thru till dusk plenty of bites and plenty of fish. Had berley with me but never needed to use it. This year the blackfish season is the best for about 7 or 8 yrs according to the locals. If you were thinking of heading up the coast to chase the blackfish this is a good year to do it. Have heard a lot of places on the north coast are firing. bruce

You can add a large mullet and a tarwhine

Just booked my flights for May next year couldn't get there this year ( Driving up to Qld with the caravan. then overseas) so going for two weeks next year. 14th trip in 14 years. I like to spend a few hours bait fishing over the shallow reefs and they sure take some stopping. bruce

Just read this post from start to finish. At this stage I'll be going out from Gray's point ramp (plenty of parking if earylish) if my crew aren't available I'll have a spot available in my tinny. Will post in a few days if I'm looking for a crew member. bruce

Nice feed of flatties the simple fishing still pays results. We were down there on fri but the wind and the seas made it to uncomfortable to fish once you got 1 km offshore. Played with rat kings in close up to 64cm Will be heading down there a few times week days in late april/ may I can send you a message a couple of days before I go. Had noticed you hadn't posted for a while surgery will do it all the time. Hope all is well now. see you on the water one day bruce

Plenty ay the Sydney south fad on sat, a bit of a bumpy ride guess that's why there were only 2 boats there at 10;30. all fish were under 80 cm.

I try to go out the bar after the tide starts coming in this usually flattens it out a bit. On the way out you can see the calmer sections much better than when you come in at the back of the break so I save my GPS track and this is usually where I come back in. Try to come in before 2 hours of runout tide The bar is usually quite safe in a southerly except when a big swell is running. 3 weeks ago we got down to the mouth watched for 10 mins then went and took the boat out , decided it wasn't worth the risk. The other option is the ramp at the jail but the surge can have your thailer out of the water one minute and half way up your car doors the next. Also this is quite often closed in peak holiday times. I'll be up there at easter for a couple of weeks and will just pick my days to cross the bar. Fish the beaches or the river at other times.

Hi Ron You are getting some nice fish. You have got my attention. I'm going to get some weed tomorrow and give them a try before or after work one day this week depending on the tide. bruce

in near the rocks either end of jibbon beach. going out to look for kings this arvo. let you know how the live bait works.