hookerbruce

We spent the second week of the school holidays at South West Rocks with 3 of our grand children. Fished 6 days in a row between 3 and 5 hours. This was the ultimate trophy fish of the trip and will be remembered by my grandson for the rest of his life. Even though we encouraged him to release the fish he insisted on keeping it, he even pointed out by the rules he is allowed to keep 2 fish over 70cm. He has agreed he will not be keeping another large flathead this year. We were fishing one of the sandflats in the river (with the nor easter blowing very fresh) I was about 80 m away fishing with live herring 1 grandson was in the boat the younger one in the water almost up to his waist flicking small baits just past the drop off. I saw he had a fish on then after a couple of minutes his brother got out of the boat with the landing net so I started fishing my way back to the boat no need to hurry then they started shouting about monsters then I worked out it was a monster flathead and headed for the boat. Older grandson decided he'd better get a bigger net. I arrived just in time to take over netting duties and after another couple of anxious minutes going under the boat and under the anchor the fish was in the net. Walked the fish back to the boat and lifted it in took a quick photo then discussed how it should go back, during this short time it never moved and maybe it would not have released well anyway. Fish was 93 cm weighed in at 5.2 kg on Certified Scales, caught on 2 kg platypus pre test on a 2500 sedona reel on a light 2-4 kg rod. Bait was a small piece of herring fillet on a no. 2 hook and a short 15lb trace. It appears it will be a State and a National sportfishing record for a sub junior. Fishing in general was a little quiet flathead were mainly in 40-55cm range usually kept about 4 a day released more then we kept, up to half a doz bream and whiting each day and a few longtom. The fishing will improve as the water warms up a bit. First day fisheries check, second day jetski waterways check and third day the big maritime boat checked us. Not a lot of boats out on the river so I guess thats why we were so popular.

I've fished a few years and haven't managed a jewfish on lure, congratulations. I guess it fought harder than a blackfish at como. Your keen and there will be many more good fish to come. bruce

When I was working I would fish 2 or 3 times a week now it is once maybe twice except when I take the grandsons fishing or fish with my sons. I think this year has been less fishing as no ANSA fishing comps or trips to Weipa or caravan trips for winter to north Qld. Did manage 3 weeks at south west rocks chasing blackfish which was good even if I had painting and house maintenence to do. Bruce

Couple more photos

Headed out on wed from Grays point about 6.30 with a mate I haven't fished with for about a year. When we were working we used to get out every 3 or 4 weeks, now we're retired don't have a spare day. We had booked the Weipa house boat for two weeks early sept but that got cancelled. Stopped and said hello to Yowie on the way, probably scared his fish away. Plan was to head south catch a few flathead for the table and find some salmon to play with. Went south to Wattamolla caught just enough flathead for a meal but couldn't find one of the big salmon schools. Made do having fun catching a few salmon on 2 & 3 kg out fits added a few wrass and other reef ogglies. A quiet day for us overall but luckily it was a day to catch and hopefully start fishing on a regular basis again. Wed afternoon when grandsons came down after school fishing was requested, so they rigged up a couple of light handlines raided the worm farm for bait and walked down the creek. Had to change out of school uniforms can't get them wet or dirty. Selected a small pool threw the lines in put the spool on the ground, 1 min later spool starts spinning towards the water grandson (who has been warned how slippery rocks on the edge) races for it hits the edge of the rocks and straight in. Okay old clothes on, no injury no probs WRONG still had school shoes on. 10 mins later same thing happens with the next grandson. two wet pairs of school shoes. They were happy caught a small fish each and saw an eel. They didn't have to explain wet school shoes. Tues 15th sept Took grandson out for his birthday fishing trip (any excuse to go fishing) caught a feed of flathead then headed looking for reef fish, found a school of salmon he landed 3 between 2 and 2.4 kg on 2 and 3 kg gear, I got two and lost two on fly. Worked out other fish in the school must have been hitting the tippet loop which looked white in the water. Gone to a short piece of line tied to the fly line and will try again. fished over near boat harbour out of the very fresh nor easter and he caught some reef fish, he said the hard fighting salmon made the day. fri 18th sept went out for a couple of hours with my son to chase pelagics south to Wattamolla, the seas were a little lumpy from the southerly the night before so only saw one other boat at sea. We cast lures at birds (son caught the biggest) and anything that might have moved for the grand total of 1 frigite and 3 slimmies . had a short drift and WE caught 4 flathead and a flounder for a meal.

Hi Dave That is an impressive bag of fish. The fishing in the Hacking seems to pick up around the Oct long weekend lets hope this is the start of a good season. I tried not to disturb the fish to much when I pulled up to say hello. At the gentleman's hour I was heading out the bite is usually slowing down anyway. We had a quiet morning outside. Bruce

With a reasonable weather forecast thought you might be out there had a quick look out front of the bommie as we went south. We didn't see a lot of boats out today. Always reliable yowie and blue spot flathead. H

Headed south from Port Hacking this morning plan was to NOT drift for flathead. Travelled down the coast to fish reefs I haven't fished in many years. First stop was not encouraging, as soon as we stopped Sammy the seal was at the back of the boat before we even had bait on our line. Had a distinct liking for reddies four throwbacks plus a nannygai were it's breakfast while we managed to land a couple of legal reds and some jackets. Best red of the day was taken by the seal which surprisingly then disappeared. Fished with my son and grandson, grandson caught best red, biggest mowie and the largest pig fish of the trip as they always tell you Bait was octopus backed up by sweep and mado fillets. Had a good day with pleasant sea conditions, had a line set up for a Mako today but it didn't turn up. Couple of photos to follow, thanks.

Weather leading up to sunday was not encouraging so decided to do a short afternoon trip with a grandson. Left grays point ramp at 2pm and headed out off Jibbon Pt the swell had backed off a lot but the Bommie was still working well and got my grandsons attention. Stopped in 35 meters for our first drift which produced 1 keeper flathead and a couple of whales making an appearance. Second drift no keepers so moved to deeper water for the next drift. this produced just 2 fish plus a small baracoutta in 45 meters. Moved out to drifted in 50-55 m got got 4 lost at least 3 good fish to medium sized mako. Had another drift and got 6 without the mako showing up. Flathead 35 - 47 cm grandson got the best. Headed back in near Jibbon beach landed some tailor and trevally on unweighted pilchard pieces drifted down the berley trail, kept a couple of each then fished deep water off lilli Pilli till just after sunset for undersize red bream, back at the ramp at 6 PM. Managed a new species for grandson ( barracoutta) plus a PB tiger flathead, and had a pleasant afternoon keeping 17 fish. Over the last couple of weeks I've had a few blackfish trips George's river just a few fish and the Macleay River quite productive with several fish in a day over 40 cms. The weather for the next couple of days is looking good so I'll be having another fish

Good size luderick and super fish on fly. I've just put a weed fly on my fly rod and will give it a try next time I'm chasing blackfish, never tried for them on fly. Your details of bite indicators etc is very helpful. Bruce

At SWRocks if you take the road to the new entrance where you cross the little one way bridge you can get nippers on the flats at low tide, also worth a cast as the tide starts coming in. Watch out for the sand flies. Also can walk up from the main boat ramp and pump nippers and fish the mouth of spencers creek where it meets the river.(again at lower tide) I intend to chase blackfish in the main river at some stage over this weekend. Bruce

It's good to try something simple and be rewarded with a good catch. The tailor love the little lures but can get expensive when they eat them. Nice bit of water you were fishing . bruce

Some good blue spots among that lot they always eat well. It's nice to have reliable tucker just outside the river. I went Tuesday afternoon like you say found they were scattered this week. took nearly 2 hours to get 10 , although had a lot of just legal throwbacks. Then went and fished inside out from Lilli Pilli for two hours with a zero result and back at ramp by 5;30. Bruce

Hi Dave Had a look and yes it is a trumpeter whiting caught it while I was fishing with small squid baits for jackets. Just noticed it seemed to have a slightly deformed head when I caught it. I'll plan another trip for Tuesday at this stage. Rebel I don't claim to be a photographer so I just take pictures of fish thanks for the very kind coment. Gordon Certainly a nice feed had jackets and squid last night with a couple of blackfish fillets from Tuesday. Another feed to go plus some fillets for the freezer Welster Yes didn't take long at all, flathead were 38-48 cms. I have found they are quite thick out there at the moment and can get 10 in an hour easily. Haven't come across any jackets outside lately and luckily no toads.

Fished the edge of the deeper water near lilli pilli. Encouraged by yowie's catch (and release) of not quite legal jewies had a go for them this morning. First problem too hard to get out of bed early, so left the ramp at 630 am instead of 530. Caught a couple of pilchards and put them out, took 40minutes to get chewed to pieces. Had a squid grab a salted fish strip dropped a jig down caught it straight away. Used squid pilchard and salted fish strips but still no jewies. I think yowie frightened them away. Did manage a bream, whiting and some jackets. 9 am headed outside to chase some flathead, had my bag limit of 10 by 10 am. Headed back into the river and didn't catch anything so called it a day at 12 o'clock.

The jackets will cook up good. Pity about the jew. I'm going to hit the river in the morning for a while then go out and chase blue spots. Had thought you might be out there. Been getting a few blackfish in the Georges but not many where I've been fishing. Bruce

Hi Skipper What did you catch when you went exercising

I bought one of these last year for my car toper. It works really well can't believe how good it is for the cost. Set it up on a removable piece of ply which sits on the thwart use a rechargeable battery (spare caravan brake 7AH battery cost $28) lasts 3-4 trips. Set up transducer so it is removable when the boat goes on the roof. In the Hacking like everywhere else you need to fish structure or bait schools sounder shows where they are. The GPS plot of your trip really handy in twisting mangrove creeks trying to find way back out and where you left the crab traps the day before. Bruce

Nice work Dave The smaller flattie fillets are sweeter just more work for less meat. Still a nice feed. Lost the baits a couple of times on Friday without feeling a bite, mainly when over 40 m of water. Didn't get around to trying a smaller hook. next trip I'll try 1 large and 1 small hook

This was just a short trip out had thought about the FADS but decided it wasn't really in the spirit of the covid 19 restrictions. Left home just after 630 home by 1130 straight to ramp and back no close contact with anyone. Not even my son. A photo of my catch some to my son rest to be eaten over next couple of weeks.

Hi Dave I agree port seems very very quiet . No surface fish at all except for big slimmes out off Oak park. I fished near lilli pilli Tuesday surface was smooth and not a baitfish to be seen. The reddies stopped biting about 730 and then it was dead. Ended up with a legal red and a Trev . I didn't try for whiting, back home 1100. Bruce

A few photos

Nice to have the time to amble along. Tried some razorfish tonight cooked it tastes just like an oyster might have to try them raw. Heading up to where we went the other year have a spot available for 1 or 2 weeks 4 to 18th sept this year yes no maybe

Started fishing in Ceduna they had been getting blueswimmers off the jetty so I bought a couple of crab nets and went to the jetty late afternoon. No one else there. Maybe the 20 knot southerly had put them off. Caught a few Tommy rough as well hadn't tried them so kept them for later. Managed 5 legal crabs in windy conditions in less than 2hours. Next afternoon had another go managed 6 with slightly less wind, again had jetty to myself. Moved along the coast to a beach about 20 km before streaky bay. Guy camped Next door offered a trip fishing but I was going into Streaky bay for the day. My wife said don't be stupid go fishing. Result was squid king George whiting and Tommys, apparently a quiet morning. Went to Streaky bay for the afternoon. Next day moved on to Sheringa beach near Elliston, a salmon fishing spot. First morning fished beach near camp area for some very small salmon. Then went exploring and found a guy catching medium sized salmon off a beach. He was very keen for me to fish right next to him to keep the school active. Landed about 20 salmon 30-40cm kept a few and surprised how good the smaller ones cook up. Moved on to Coffin bay for two nights but didn't have a fish. Next stop near Port Lincoln place called North Shields. The jetty at the back of the van park was irresistible. An hour before breakfast or at tea time would produce 2 or 3 squid, on the last evening I fished till dusk and scored 7 squid and a nice king George. Heading to Cowells tommorow and hoping for some blue swimmers. As this is a touring holiday I am happy with what I've caught. Will add photos when I have better phone service.