[Fish for New Year's Eve]

As I'm a fisherman I was allocated the job of supplying some fish for a small gathering of friends 

Looking at the weather forecast decided I had better try and get some fish today. Headed out from gray's point and flshed off Jibbon for blue spots. First drift in 38-42 m produced 1keeper, decided to move shallower rather than deeper and found reasonable numbers 35 to 42 cm. 

Two drifts in 33 m produced another 8 keepers so I packed up and back at the ramp before the sout southerly. 

Part two of the meal calamari might be a bit harder to catch on wed.

[Bate Bay]

Very nice bag of fish and that is a good red for Bate Bay

[School holidays are on]

On 12/19/2020 at 9:48 AM, Yowie said:

Shame about the size of the kings Bruce, but at least the boys had fun on light gear. 

The whiting must have seen you and disappeared. 😂

2 bream and a whiting is something to take home. 

Hoping to go outside with my mate for a few flatties sometime in the next few days.

Hi Dave from when I pumped the nippers to when we fished the tide had come in 20 cm and all the really good shallows had gone.  Couldn't find where the whiting had moved to.

I am aiming to fish late Tuesday or early wed.

 

[School holidays are on]

On 12/19/2020 at 2:55 AM, big Neil said:

 

 

On 12/19/2020 at 2:55 AM, big Neil said:

That's a great report Bruce. Catching those rat Kings on such light gear would indicate a high level of capability in all of you guys Strange how sometimes fish will only take ONE PARTICULAR bait.

I had a similar experience yesterday where both Murray Cod AND Trout Cod, in numerous locations, would only take chicken breast and refused cheese and live shrimps.

Anyway, I hope that you all have a great time fishing together during the holidays.

Cheers, bn

Yes the grandkids fish well and are very keen.

Try blackfishing, several people fishing using same weed and only 1 getting bites even when floats are drifting cms apart.

Might head out your way to try those M Cod next year.

Bruce

[School holidays are on]

On 12/19/2020 at 2:55 AM, big Neil said:

That's a great report Bruce. Catching those rat Kings on such light gear would indicate a high level of capability in all of you guys Strange how sometimes fish will only take ONE PARTICULAR bait.

I had a similar experience yesterday where both Murray Cod AND Trout Cod, in numerous locations, would only take chicken breast and refused cheese and live shrimps.

Anyway, I hope that you all have a great time fishing together during the holidays.

Cheers, bn

The grandkids have been fishing whole lives cut up bait, rig lines, pull up the anchor even help winch the boat on the trailer. Fish with 1kg line up to heavy braid bottom bouncing offshore will fish all day then fish at the ramp and ready to go out all day again next day

They had both caught kingfish before but this was first time they had caught 2 in a day. They didn't lose any on the day.

They are looking forward to a trip out to the fads soon.

Thanks for your comments. In the new year when covid settles down I hope to head out your way to try and get a legal M Cod. Might catch up with you.

Bruce

[Port Hacking 15/12 and 17/12]

Hi Bill

Thought that might have been you, weren't that many boats fishing that bit of water.

Fish the hacking most weeks though trips vary might end up at fad in summer or chasing blue spot flaties outside in winter .

Bruce

[Port Hacking 15/12 and 17/12]

Looking at your report sounds like we were same areas on thurs. I was in a grey cuddycabin and anchored out off lilli pilli  or on sandflat. Pumped nippers at mainbar. 

The kings even small are still exciting to catch.

Bruce

[School holidays are on]

Thursday was first day of the holidays, my crew was eager. I headed out not real early, had a quick fish for kings near lilli pilli for zero. Went and pumped some nippers at mainbar then picked up grandsons at Wally's wharf at 830. The whiting I'd seen had disappeared we only got 1  at mainbar.

Fished 4 spots between there and lilli pilli for nothing. The sandflat produced 2  35cm bream then quiet. Then moved to the deeper water which kept the boys busy with small red bream. I perservered with squid bait and  pilchard hoping for a king. Decided it was time for a swim in a while, so I pulled in the kingie rods and dropped a nipper to the bottom . 30 secs and I hooked up on a king after a prolonged fight on light gear boated a 60cm fish that fought well above its weight. Swim was forgotten boys both dropped down nippers for a double hookup on light gear. After both fish swaping swaping up and down and round the boat knitting and unknitting the lines two 55cm fish were landed on 2 kg line. Ditto another double hookup for the boys 1 on 2 kg 1 on 3kg landed. The day was a success even though we didn't get a legal king.

Interesting kings only on nippers not interested in other baits. Will try again next week

Bruce

[Port Hacking]

Good bag of whiting, always a tasty feed with them. 

Last week up the coast the whiting were a little quiet.

I had a busy social weekend aim to put on the rain coat and have a fish wed or thurs morning.

Bruce

[Wanda beach bread and butter 13/12/2020]

You have shown what is possible on our local beach. We just have to put a bit of time in and go for a walk.

Might bump into you on the beach one day soon.

Bruce

[Couple of trips over the weekend....nice flatty saved the day today!]

Nice fish to christen the boat. 

[finally got one from the yak]

Very nice fish and it would have fought hard. What line were you using.

[Sight fishing blue nose bream with 110mm soft vibes???]

nice bream. Heaps of excitement when you can see the take.

[First Hacking King for the season]

2 hours ago, Yowie said:

Very nice there Bruce, a legal kingie to start the season. A few whiting and blue spots will keep you in fish for a few days.

My mate headed out yesterday arvo with one of his mates, and could only pull out 5 blue spots.

Hi Dave

The blue spots were a little quiet for me too, found a few in 45-50 m. The whiting were where you got them last week and disappeared to somewhere as the tide rose. Couldn't find them again but they are good fun in the shallows. 

You seem to do really good on the jew in the hacking.  I'm going to have to learn your secret . Probably get out of bed earlier

Bruce

[First Hacking King for the season]

Left ramp about 7 am yesterday caught a few live poddies and headed outside looking for surface /baitfish schools. Went as far south as Wattamolla had a troll at the usual spots nothing  seen or caught. Worked my way back to Port Hacking having a short drop along the , kept 4 blue spot flatties for a meal.

In the river pumped nippers and kept 3 decent whiting from about 20  throwbacks most over 20 cm. Moved and had a try for crabs which normally arrive in Nov. No crabs but a couple of legal bream their lucky day already had a feed of fish. Next went to the edge of the deep water off Lilli Pilli anchored up put out berley fished 3 rods squid livie and pilchard, things were quiet a few reddies not quite legal. Got the little whiting rod out still rigged up for whiting and dropped a nipper into the berley trail hoping for a trevally or bream or something. After a few minutes something playing with the bait so tried to set the hook. Line took off in a straight line thru under the boat full drag about 30 metres of line. After what seemed a long time of over the anchor under the anchor again and again got to see a legal king, it then decided the keel of the boat looked a good place to hide swimming up and down under the boat.

I was lucky normally everything worked and I landed 68 cm king. Doesn't sound big but on a 1-2 kg light whiting rod no.4 whiting hook 2kg mono mainline bit of 12lb trace I was very pleased. Weighed in at 2.39 Kg

[Port Hacking]

Fantastic result after the weather over the weekend.

I'm looking at going early tomorrow morning, .but I don't expect the same result.

Will definitely have a try for crabs and pump some nippers, 

Bruce

 

[3 weeks off..... the saltwater]

Nice going.  On light tackle all those fish  would put up a decent fight.

I assume you were in the Nambuca system. How far up the Macleay would you recommend trying? 

[South coast trip so far.]

The weather down here for the last week has been poor to bad for over a week.  Fishing the river on a better day was a good option and produced for you.

Another thing you could try would be to chase estuary perch in the Tuross river with flathead as a possible by catch. 

Here at Duras it's been raining continuous since 7 am with thunder ongoing . Good luck with the weather over the next week. 

[South coast beach fish]

Pilchards were only getting chewed so went to small pieces on a smaller hook.

 

Yes you have the exact location we are staying.

Thanks

 

[South coast beach fish]

[South coast beach fish]

The last few days have been frustrating strong winds,  big swell and lots of rain, rain and  rain.

Everything improved today and I managed a short beach fish, nothing spectacular but I managed a few. Couple of throw back blue spot flathead,  couple of toads and kept 6 yellow eye mullet. Eaten them in Tassie and Vic and they came up good. Fillet skin bone and roll in flour, they should come up good. Fished south of Narooma the place is a Mystery. 

A photo will follow when I get better reception 

Bruce 

[Port Hacking]

I had a later start yesterday only got smaller reddies. Several just over 28 cm, pulled the hook on one good fish.

Then had one quick drift outside kept 2 good flatties enough for a feed then trolled for a while, kept a couple of 37cm tailor.

You had a successful day in the Hacking. I'll have to get out of bed earlier and fish a good spot.

Nice catch.

Bruce

[3 foot croc]

54 minutes ago, Drought Breaker said:

Great fish young fella congrats. Think your only allowed 1 over 70?

 

100% only allowed 1 over 70cm . It is very rare for us to keep 1 over 65 cm. We would have released 5 over 80 in the last year plus plenty in the 65 - 80 cm range. 90 % of our flathead are caught in less than a metre of water.

He is very proud of his capture and that he caught it all on his own except for me netting it.

Bruce

[Bate Bay]

Nice red. Considering fishing pressure and easy access from the river it is surprising how many decent reds still come from the bommie.

Bruce

[3 foot croc]

Thankyou everyone for your replies and comments.

The fish has now been cut up and distributed thru the family so everyone can have a taste. We had it for tea tonight, my wife didn't know what fish she was eating and commented how nice it was. I cut it up into pieces the shape of flathead tails and it did turn out good. Grandson had a smile on his face all weekend. Grandsons read all the fishraider reports on their tablets thru their fathers login so follow what is happening.

Thanks          Bruce