hookerbruce

Glad to see your preserving paid of with some legal fish. Much more enjoyable than what I was doing (gyprocking the kitchen). I walk at 6am down at Cronulla most mornings and don't see many fishing the beach. I gave the walk a miss yesterday didn't want to get wet. Bruce

If the fish were iced down when caught, a cold fridge, make sure the fillets are dry (wipe with paper towel if need be) place on a plate and cover with plastic film, will be good for mon the bream in particular. I have dollies in the fridge from wed I'll finish eating them on sun night. They went straight into ice when caught then into the fridge at home. bruce

A few years ago I was fishing near Jibbon Bomie catching sweep and trevally on light tackle ( a 800gm sweep goes hard on a 1kg outfit) and had a marlin come up to the back of the boat and take a sweep off my line. Another time fishing with a smaller hook and a piece of prawn and landed a 10 kg king on a 4kig outfit I was very pleased. When I cleaned the king later in the day I discovered the king had actually swallowed a sweep which had eaten the prawn bait. The sweep was actually wedged in the kings stomach with the hook in the sweep's mouth. If I had the choice I would use a slimey, yakka or pike before a sweep.

Any morning on the water away from work is a good morning. A sunrise like this is the bonus for getting out there early.

A light berley trail of bread on top of the sand flats seems to get them in the mood, it even got the blackie feeding yesterday. Once fish start feeding I float unweighted pieces of bread (no. 6 hooks) along the surface on 4lb mono. Last week I even got a small kingie on the bread.

Fished the Hacking this morning. Pumped some nippers then fished the sand flats saw a few whiting- not hungry. Had a couple of swims and ended up with a feed. The blackie was just over 40cm and took a piece of bread.

To add another possibility have heard of a couple of spanairds being caught while trolling for kings. First just south of the Hacking (I was sceptical). The second from Jervis bay from a reliable source. They will cut clean thru line like lke the wahoo.

The council have decided now is a good time to build a car park at the silver beach ramp so the ramp is there but no parking. You have to drive the car/trailer down along the beach road a far way then walk back or get picked up off the beach. Bruce

No fishing for me this easter. But next week, two weeks fishing in Weipa on the house boat might be fair compensation. Will have two other raiders up there with me. Anyone else going to be up that way. Bruce

Hi Basil I fished out from port Hacking on fri and found heaps and heaps of kings. Would have landed about 30 in an hour on my own. But not one was worth measuring. Then tried a few other spots with no luck. Gave up on kings and kept a few trevs for a meal and home by 10am like I promised. Have to try a few more spots this fri and sat. Bruce

Hi That pig would really have gone hard one of the dirtiest fighters in the sea. I have been smashed by them heaps of times while fishing for blackies. Good fish - good capture. Bruce

Hi Went to a mates place for dinner on sat night and he had some big slabs of yellowfin in his fridge. I didn't believe where it came from at first till I got the full story. His brother in law and nephew were rebuilding the rock retaining wall at the back of their waterfront property backing on to Gymea bay/North west arm. Noticed a large disturbance in the water and saw what they thought was a shark up in the shallows with birds around it etc. On closer inspection decided it was a fish of some sort so ran into the water and managed to grab hold of the fish and hold on until a neighbour gave them help to drag it up onto shore. Turned out to be a yellow fin which had a head injury hence the reason for it being able to be caught by hand. they estimated it was over 30kg and it cooked up very well. So next time your fishing Port hacking and hook something huge just think maybe a yellowfin. Bruce

Hi Fished the Nowra Sportfishing Comp with my family (15/16 feb) have just uploaded photos to my computer. Started fishing in the river down near mouth of Crookhaven Riv, caught half a dozen duskies to about 60cm in an hour then headed outside. Checked out Seven mile beach but the usual schools of salmon etc just weren't visible so loaded up with slimies and headed for the banks. Conditions were perfect you could see the schools of rat kings cruising on the surface. Caught and released rat kings then slow trolled slimies for marlin. We get bored with trolling so after 40 mins no sign of marlin and no action seen gave up and had a bottom fish on the insde of the banks. this produced couple of mowies and large coloured reef jackets plus heaps of throw back wrass etc. Decided to head back into the riv to chase duskies. Travelled most of the way back in and near Nowra Hill reef saw a marlin chasing bait fish on the surface in 30 met of water so out went the live slimies and slow trolled a figure 8 for about 40 min and saw the marlin 2 more times but no interest in our bait. As we entered the river a quick cast near baitfish produced a frigite for bait. Went and caught more duskies/bream and some 40cm mullet. Lost a flatie about 3kg (seen) on a rock under the boat. Next day more of the same duskies/bream/mullet but went and fished for sand flaties out front of surf club insstead of banks. Had to deploy the sea anchor to slow the drift as SE started to blow. Kept 20 sand flathead in hr & half then back in the river. tried 4 or 5 spots all produced plenty of flaties but no big fish. As we had the sand flaties released the duskies. Sunday was a good chance for all the families to go out in the boats, found a suitable sandflat and had a pleasant morning. My 2 sons and I did no good in the comp. But over the weekend my grandson caught numerous flathead and bream he weighed some in for the comp for the subjunior section (under 10 ) and managed to win a trophy and prize, as well as getting a new pb flatie. I think his best fish went 0.9 kg on 1 kg line. He caught all the fish in the photo as well as more than half a doz released. Someone was a little shy at the presentation, but was really thrilled with his new rod,reel,tackle box,hat and trophy All the fish in the river were caught on 1 kg line. Next year we may have to fish the Basin and follow Ron around. Bruce

Spot is now taken. WELCOME ABOARD ALF, weather permitting we'll have a great trip 6 weeks. Yes Ray you could have come but I know your going in sept. Thanks all Bruce

Hi The flathead outside are always a good fallback for a feed, especially that big one. I'm looking at replacing my motor later this year, ( big expense before I retire, just got a new trailer) wondered what the old motor was and what speed you got from it. Í currently have a 115 2/st which takes me up over 75 km/hr. Thanks Bruce

I'd try to take the family to Fiji for a family holiday, and do a week on your own serious fishing. Trying to organise days while on a family holiday seem to get to complex unless everyone fishes. Lord Howe has some great fishing shore based and from a boat. Bruce

Thanks for the report. At least it wasn't a zero you caught a taste of fish. Did you try on the flats at all. I hope to fish Lilli Pilli sat night depending on the weather. Bruce

Yes this spot on the boat is still vacant. Your chance for a great fishing trip in Weipa. We have a good idea of where and how to fish the Weipa area. Fishraider Raysenior came with us in 2011, had a great time and has gone on to organise his own trips I'll post some photos of the boat and the fish we usually catch later. Contact me for a few more details. Will only cost you a phone call or email. No obligation if you decide you don't want to go. (No we are not axe murderers). Bruce

Hi This will be our 10th trip to Weipa fishing. So starting to get a pretty good idea of where to fish. Someone has dropped out so we have a spot available. Crew so far 2 brother in laws, a cousin, my son and me. Ages 55 to 60 ish plus son at 31. Vary from casual fishers to mad keen. Get onboard house boat 12 th late afternoon, (there's a flight arrives 3 pm) we will travel down the coast to Red Cliffs next morning after a morning fish around marker posts. Catch barra at red cliffs then head down to Boyds Bay, anchor the house boat then fish for the next 6 days. Regular captures are barra, queenies, coral trout, long tail tuna, spanish mack,mangrove jack, various trevs, finger mark, bream, cobia, sharks and the list is to long. Normally 30 diff species for the week is common. There is plenty of time to relax if you want to spend time on the boat or beach. Or like me you can fish 20 hrs a day. Have hired liveaboard boat plus two polycraft boats. We buy up food in Weipa. We divide the total cost up which this year looks like being $1300 each for six, boat can carry 10 but we prefer a less crowded trip. Everyone has to do there share chores, ( cook, washup, cleanfish, keep the beer cold, etc). Of an evening you can fish off the back of the boat or hand feed the gropers and tawny nurse sharks. We have a good time. Basic gear needed (can go thru this in full detail before we go). 4kg outfit for beach and creek fishing 10 kg for most general fishing 50lb braid for trolling/live baiting plus heaps of lures. If you are interested message me and I can send further details or meet up with you. Bruce DETAILS DATES 12TH TO 19TH APRIL 2013 FLY IN ON 12TH (OR EARLIER IF YOU LIKE) WE GET OFF BOAT ON 19TH AND STAY IN CABIN IN CAMPGROUND FLY OUT OF WEIPA ON THE 20TH. COST 1/6th of total should be $1300 plus your airfares plus YOUR alcohol (mine is a block of xxxx and a bottle of wild turkey for the week)

Hi I think it's actually a female Herring Cale Bruce

Went out sat morn threw lures at a few scattered surface fish for no takers. Pumped nippers at mainbar then fished the lilli pilli flats. Very quite kept 3 bream x 30cm and 3 whiting including a very nice fish of 40cm. Counted 7 other boats on the flats at one stage Dropped a nice flathead in shallow water, looked high 80's saved on a release. Had the boat out before the southerly came. Will probably try again next week. Bruce

Hi I'm going out in the tinny from Gray's point ramp tomorrow morning 5:30 am. Pump nippers chase whiting, bream whatever on the sandflats with the rising tide. then salmon or whatever poke there heads up. Back at Gray's point 12 ish. Anyone want to come for a ride ? room for 1 or 2. Looking for someone to hold boat, pick up nippers, set anchor, net my big fish, catch less/smaller fish than me, take pictures of my big fish, pull up anchor, winch tinny onto trailer,etc, etc, etc. Send me a message if interested (or reply here and I can contact you). Bruce

I'll have a look for them tomorrow while I'm out there. Weathers looking ok. Bruce

Hi I've booked a trip to bottom fish for blue eye, gemfish etc this wed with sons etc. Someones dropped out so 1 spot vacant ( share cost)if interested send me a P.M. for details. Bruce

Blackies were in the Georges early this morning before the runout tide brought down too much dirty water. Worth a try on the high tide. The local bait shop was selling it last weekend. Otherwise the freshwater weed from the ornamental ponds is working at the moment. Bruce