Rhino2099

Hi Cory, If you are intending to try and cast big heavy baits for jewies etc then you might want to try running a 30-40lb leader so that when you are in the casting position you have the leader going from waist height through the rod eyes and about 3-4 winds around the spool so your casting finger is not holding against the braid. But if your not going heavy baits then dont bother, what your doing sounds fine. Cheers Ryan

Hi adzzy, Can you sell us what reel and what braid you're using ? Cheers Ryan

Hey steve I had a similar experience last weekend at narra when my baitrunner started peeling line off (bait runner drag not fighting drag) and went limp and thought what ever it was had spat the hooks to find my main line was cut somewhere above the swivel. My only explanation was the leader was tangled up and over the sinker and main line and when the probably shark took the squid it had my main line in with it. The line was Platypus platinum 25lb. Ryan

Hey Breamhunter did you make a cameo appearance about 8ish with a friend and only stayed a little while ? I was fishing next to you I think, never mind the only things out that night were the crabs bb4life I think he's referring to the wharf at Bobbin Head Ryan

Hey humesy Good to know there are some about even if you didn't get any. I fished the arvo at one of the beaches near you on the northern end there was a nice hole near the rocks but only managed a small flatty and salmon. Ryan

I caught one exactly the same up in the Tweed river a couple of weeks ago and just thought it was something you get up north, but they must be everywhere if I have now caught them in Pittwater Ryan

Thanks guys !!! I kept a few and might try them butterflied of the beach for a jewie one night. Cheers Ryan

Hey Raiders caught a few of these today in pitwater and was just wondering what everyone thought they are ? I first thought they were whiting until they were in the boat and realised they weren't. could be long toms ? but the jaw and fins don't seem right. What are your thoughts Cheers Ryan

I found them the first time I tried (must have got lucky) If you turn the head upside down so the gills facing up you then need to find the bottom of the skull an inch or two behind where the eyes line up and break through the splintery cartilage and dig around a bit and they should pop out of their fluid sack. Worked for me Ryan

There is a photo of a 16.5kg Jewie at Narrabeen bait and tackle that was taken on a half pilchard right over the back of the lake near the academy. very very lucky is all I can say

To butterfly a yakka you simply cut from the tail up the back bone(like a reverse of filleting) on both sides of the fish then cut through the back bone up behind the head and you are left with a head and two fillets still intact. To rig a butterflied yakka I use a sliding snell with a Gamakatsu 9/0 at the bottom and a 4/0 that is sliding, important to make the snell around the hook shank and leader tight to stop the hook from wanting to slide too easily. I put the smaller snelled hook through the nose of the yakka(pinning the mouth shut) and the main hook through one fillet about half way down the yakka. By the way where were you fishing this morning ? Cheers Ryan

Good stuff !!! Were you using bait or SP's ? Should be a few good feeds there Cheers Ryan

Great read as always jewgaffer !! Another important point that I have learnt is to learn to catch fresh bait consistently before you can master catching the fish. I have spent months trying to catch fresh squid and think I have finally worked out the 'where and when' to consistently catching them. On friday night the 18th April I was standing on the sand in the howling southerly wind and rain and thinking why do I do this and then suddenly my reel screamed and 10 minutes later I had my very first jew on the beach. It weighed 7kg. Still buzzing I rebaited and casted out a fresh squid and 5 mins later I was on again. This one felt bigger, lots bigger and after half an hour of being pulled up and down the beach I landed my second jew which weighed 14kg. So all the cold lonely nights finally paid off !! Here's me with the bigger one Cheers Ryan

Thanks Guys On a side note, Peter(ludrick59) were you fishing for black fish off the Mona pool on Monday ? Cheers Ryan

Hey Raiders Long time reader first time poster I'm wondering if anyone could give me some insight into squidding off the rocks around the Northern Beaches? I have been trying around Manly (harbour) and Palm beach wharf (pittwater) but have only got about 4 squid in 10 trips. I am using Yozuri and Yamashita jigs 1.5 and 2.0 sizes . I was told to try off Mona Vale pool area but not sure which area or what tide etc. Cheers Ryan