Adz

I politely coerced a mate to take me out on his boat and give me some fishing tips. We launched from The Spit on the Gold Coast and made our way to Crab Island. A 6am start and damn it was cold! My mate's gone to HB's lately, so I joined in. Hitting the edges of the sand banks where the weed meets the deeper water. And what a spot too! But no-one told me about these damn things called Pike By the end of the day, Pike were at the top of my P155ED off list! With patience and a bunch more casts, we were getting into some bream and an undersized flattie With nothing to write home about, I was starting to give my new mate a real ribbing! Giving him heaps about all the 'stories' he'd been telling. But, true to form, he found the bait fish and ... OHMYGOSH !! BANG! WHACK! And ZING baby!! (Yes, it's a different tailor) A great day. And big cheers to my mate Reevo!! You've certainly proven yourself. At close of business, just short of midday, my total was 5 pike (YUK!!), 8 bream, 2 flatties and 2 tailor. Reevo did better than that!! But needless to say that this was certainly a day I'll remember and a great motivation to keep on fishing. How awesome. Adz ** If fishing was easy ... It'd just be called 'catching' ! **

Hey there breamfisher82, Mate, I'm new to fishing and plastics too. Here is my personal top two picks for speeding up the learning curve. The first one is about tackle, the second is about technique - both are very cheap and easy. Sound too good to be true? Read on brother... Tackle - the biggest difference for me on plastics was to ensure I used braid, coz without it, it was impossible for me to get the 'action' from the SP lure. Rods help too, as does a good reel, but the best rod and reel combo will still lose all its action by the time your movements reach the SP if you're using a 'stretching' line. Technique - I copied lots of 'tips and tricks' but at the end of the day, I never understood what the different taps, jiggles and pauses were doing to the SP until I swallowed my pride and went for a fish in my own backyard pool ! From there, I could SEE EXACTLY what effect my rod action had on the SP at the time of doing it. Got an idea of how fast the SP drifted to the bottom, whether the tail was working as it was supposed to - and generally if it 'looked' like a fish! Needless to say that my missus had a good ole laugh at my expense when she caught me . But the tables turned the very next time out with a good few catches (and a PB flattie to boot) . It helped me realise that some of my SP/jighead combos were all WRONG. Two VERY simple things in my book, and as a beginner, things I wish I'd been told earlier. If you're already aware of this, that's great, but I couldn't resist sharing something with you that made such a MASSIVE difference for me. Adz

Iricangi, noticed you're on the Gold Coast also. PM me and we can meet up there some time. It's a great fish at night with a run in tide for bream (apparently). I've been there a few times when I finish work (I work shifts, so I can finish at 10pm some nights). It's near Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast. You'll find 'Emerald Lakes' in any UBD Adz

Maaaate. Love your work! Adz

I've learned that I'm working to support my fishing habit!! So ... I went with the flow ... A trip to a tidal lake in SE Queensland where the promise of BIG fish had been made by several independent sources . Being new, I have no ego to consult and dragged my 'P' plated rod down on a whim A 3" Berkley Minnow on 6lb leader with 10lb main line floated and twitched in the flow from under a bridge and with the current, along a rock wall saw a small flattie and two (2) bream - all undersize - soon reaching the shore with little fanfare and quick release Swapped for a heavier jig head and a change of colour from red to green (same lure) and I soon felt the scraping of the rocky bottom. Now I'm thinking ... bring 'em on Clock's ticking and wife's packing the car , the good 'ol "one last cast" happens. However, on the fourth 'last cast' it happens ... Zing ... zoom ... the rachet screams and a solid shake is felt through my lightweight graphite rod. Damn! I work for that feeling!! It's what I've come to love Let the fruits of my labours unfold... With my wife and daughter in witness My PB (landed) flattie was taken. Proud to share... (Remember, I've only been going 6 months - so this is HUGE ... to me, anyways) And I've certainly kept my word from previous posts, in finding the 'parents' (see links below) http://fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.ph...c=30670&hl= http://fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.ph...c=30837&hl= Cheers fellas, Adz PS - 64cm & 1.8kg (weighed and measured - fat bugger). Remember, you have to throw 'em back at 70cm here in QLD. Took it home, kept alive in my esky with an air pump. - Got home - Started the deep fryer - Made the batter (simple blend of flour and VB) - Killed and filleted - On the table with Beer Battered chips and salad within 15 minutes of being 'knocked' A most proud meal for a dad to bring his family. And the whole thing was polished/devoured in seconds. AWESOME !!!!!! Yeah baby, bring 'em on!

Mate, I'm with Hodgey... the photos say it all!! Xbox is for one moment, but memories like these last a lifetime. Fishing and getting outdoors is what I *work* for. The expression on your face is exactly the same stupid/silly grin my wife 'complains' about when I get home, but also thanks me for because it brings such joy!! Awesome effort. And I'm jealous, coz I want that too. I'll catch a few fish like that in my time, but for now, reading your post really spurs me on. keep 'em coming Adz

Maaaaaate! I *love* it The fact that you're doin' it from a 'yak makes it all the more adventurous/impressive/awesome Love your work Adz

Awesome viewing!! Days you'll never forget

Mate, well with you on that one. I've done just that. Took it out coz all the bubbles won't let me take photos with my crummy phone camera. Good advice though. Cheers. As for you other raiders, THANKS for all your comments and support. All the replies give me a HUGE kick and makes writing the report a real cracker! Back soon with 70cm flattie picks ... Adz

Oh Anyone else help?? Reefa bust my bubble . It's OK dude, I'm still chuffed for pulling in four fish in one session. But I would like to know if they're sandies or duskies, don't want to be taking home undersized fish, AND, would like to improve my fish recognition skills. Cheers for pointing it out reefa Adz

Yeah baby!! Let's get STRAIGHT to the business end... Threw the boat in the Nerang River QLD, and the line soon followed Half hour in one area, with nothing to show for it. Time for another spot. Cruised downstream and chose a spot under a bridge. Shelter = Yep Sunset = yep - and looks good too! outgoing tide = yep mangroves = yep bait fish = yep Three casts later and ... WHACKO !! Fish on! Straight up and it's a 36cm sand flathead (legal here is 30cm) The boat was drifting (still no electric motor) and hurried to flick the soft plastic bait into the same area. Shortly after I round the boat for another pass. This time, a 39cm dusky flathead (legal is 40cm ) reaches the boat (see below). 20 minutes and two drift passes later and my final effort from the sand bank is a measely 28cm sand flattie. With only a half hour more of 'leave' provided by the minister for war and finances I saw a sign which had the words "Danger: rock shoals" which I read to mean "Opportunity: fish structure" Second cast and BAM!! Zing and WOW. Please know, that as a person who's only just started fishing for the first time in recent months, that sound was THE experience !!! Yeah baby It's been a LONG few months. Standing by my belief that SP's are the way. So the final tally was Fish 0 : Adz 4 Dusky flathead 39cm (40 is legal) Sand flathead 36cm (30 is legal - yeah baby) Sand flathead 28 cm (again, 30 is legal) Bream 25cm (23 is legal here in QLD) So, at the end of the day, my family doesn't like to eat bream, and a single 36cm sand flattie was all that would make the 'hit list' on the menu ... so, back they all went, into the water - to fatten up for next time. Tell you what though. I felt 10 feet tall and bulletproof releasing four (4) good sized fish, right under the noses of a whole bunch of people back at the ramp!! Here's a picture of my bucket full of goodies. My BEST day yet! Adz

Poddy - mate, what a great idea! If anyone reading this can vouch for a person up here on Gold Coast, QLD speak now or forever hold your peace. Jewhunter (on this forum) has kindly offered to meet up with me to do just that. Looking forward to it ... desperately, actually. ... Katsuo - dude! What a GREAT reply . Thanks and REALLY enjoyed reading that. Reminiscing about your first time was a VERY interesting read. You saying "fishy, fishy" was what brought the biggest smile to my face, very cool Cheers to all who have replied. Oh, what a kick to get so many replies to such a simple post on my first time. Adz

P.S. I'm interested to know how you have only just started fishing now - if that's not too personal. ... Well mate, it's just that dad passed when I was 4 and no other males in family (both grandparents gone and no brothers or male cousins in the area - family flooded with girls!) Adding to that, my only experience with fishing had always been putting a frozen prawn on a rusty hook tied off with a granny knot. The only thing I'd catch after sitting three hours in the one spot was the odd snag. So, it's not surprising it didn't hold much appeal. Late last year a mate was fishing with plastics and I sat back talking crap and drinking bourbon. After seeing his second fish pulled into the boat, I wanted a go. Didn't catch anything, but loved the 'hunting' style version of plastics. Always on the move and doing ALL the work (no waiting or trolling). Also if there's no fish in one spot, then move to another... Loving the 'brains' part of reading the water, structure, area. Choosing the 'right' plastic and making it 'swim' in all different ways to entice the target fish. I am truly addicted! Thanks for asking, Adz

First post! (remember yours, by any chance...?) Anyhows, decided the day was too good and at the very last moment towed my tinnie to the boat ramp right near work on the Nerang River in QLD, pretty much on a whim. Never fished it, never even really seen it... Launched and travelled down stream, spotted a location: bridge pylon = 'check' sand bank = 'check' steep drop off = 'check' flowing water = 'check' structure = 'check' bend in river = 'check' good water flow = 'check' bait fish = 'check' What luck. Rod, reel, lure ---> already in the water! Ten minutes later ... getting impatient. Slow down Adz... Slow down. Going slow, BANG I'm on! Oh god, I wish there was someone I could share it with ??!!?? Short time later and it's flattie in the boat. Legal = 'yes' Happy = YOU BETCHA!! Stayed another hour, looking for that elusive PB (oh bugger ... that WAS it!!). OK so today, only one more flattie (and only 'just' legal) but at the moment, I feel like I've gone PRO! Later on however, there was not enough to feed the tribe, so both were returned to the water with clear instructions to grow up (and remember my boat rego ). Needless to say, a local with an electric motor (ooooohhhhh, I want one!), glided along and caught both their parents in, what felt like ... 30 seconds With modest gear and just a few months since I *first* threw in a line (at 33, mind you) Mate ...................... today was a *GREAT* day !! so I HAD to share it. Do YOU remember YOUR first time???? Thanx for listening, Adz Oh, and AFTER I'd let them go... I kicked myself for not taking photos!

Most awesome write up. Being in QLD myself, made me think I was in the wrong spot today. Only managed a couple of flatties myself, up the Nerang River. DID find quite the spot today however, by chance, and am super keen to get back there on the tidal flows to meet up with the parents of my 'just' legal flatties. Top read James!