jlloyd

Slinky, sorry for the delay in a reply but thanks a heap, this solved the problem but I fear I have a friction trip ramp (I think this is what it is called) on the other side which is even worse, several small parts a spring and a bushing, I know where the bushing and spring goes but the two blades and wheter any tension is on the spring is needed is beyond me. I thinks meeself will need professional hepls for this. Guys this section is awesome as parts diagrams don't describe excatly how it all goes together and tackle shops aren't always the most helpfull for this level of detail. Thanks

I agree with the above, slim beauty is my prefered knot for leader to braid as it is slimmer, the uni knot is also good and I find it easier to tie under pressure as I haver done it hundreds of times for terminal tackle and limp braid can be difficult to wrap around the leader in a kayak in rough seas. I have not had either fail me aside from once where I didn't tighten the slim beauty knot properly.

Thanks a heap Slinky, being looking at these parts going huh how the hell?

This sort of information is fantastic, Thanks Slinky. I have one query though, I have a 420 ssg that was dropped in the drink at North Head (my squidding outfit) and was recovered in a miracle wrapped up by a mates livie. I stripped all of it as the unit was seizing and the bail return was also seizing. All of what you describe above has been done but bugger me if I can work out how the bail return works. Does onyone know this as the parts sheet is lacking in this area. Thanks

Go a natural in QSK, get one in 2.0 and one in 2.5, I find a 2.0 catches more but when the wind picks up such as in the afternoon I can't cast a 2.0 or smaller. Also using a AJK, KNH (to lesser degrees) and YAMASHITA-EGI OH Q KOGU-GLOW in OLF (equal favourite to the QSK).

I agree that a light rod and light drag is the way to go. I caught some big winter middle harbour squid on my 2-4 kg Berkley dropshot rod. As for drag it all depends on where you are, sight fishing at this time of year off wharves in the harbour I use very light drag. If fishing with dead baits with a spike off north head for big southerns I up the drag. For bigger squid a net is essential.

I kinda agree but have had a lot of success with very light drag set up on a 2-4 kg IM-6 graphite rod. The rod enables me to feel hits better and control the jig whilst when a squid hits and sticks the light drag stops him pulling off the spikes. I set drag just (and only just) above that required to move the jig. I find now with whippy rods I don't catch anything as I can't feel the hits as well

Darling Point Wharf was okay for fishing last year, I fished there off and on prior to getting my Yak. If early or late enough yakkas can be caught there along with squid to the east of the wharf. I caught a salmon, flounder and little flathead there and saw several kingies taken there. Beware of the bird life some fisho fed it in the past now it takes your bait. I hooked it up once without realising when it pinched my live bait, unhooking it was fun I can tell u.

The guidelines above have been developed based on someone eating considerable quantities of fish from the harbour (ie virtually daily). As most fishos don't do this (I'm thinking a weekly catch if lucky) I would not be concerned. I would not eat anything from homebush bay (fishing banned) and around Camellia as I know what is or has entered the river there such as dioxins, hexavalent chromium etc. Women who are pregnant shouldn't eat too much fish from the harbour (ie abide by the government regulations).

I have several types of rigs all on Shimano technium 12 foot rod (it is cheap and I won't cry when it is trashed or washed off the rocks) and Penn 850 with 25lb Mono; For pigs and bream I use double strength 1/0's, small ball sinker (simple and easy) and use in the wash at my feet (using cunjie, prawns, yakka , bread or weed), I find pillie is way to soft for the high energy wash zone. Find a fishy spot and prepare to hang on. if shallow floor then a ganged pille or live bait and if deeper I use a float with yakkas or squid although 8 out of 10 times I will end up being squided with the yakka so always have a squid jig on hand. Tailor, Salmon and Kingies love the jelly bean yakkas or small squid (but the usually robs me of the squid). On a side note the squid are back in my favourite haunt for spring, bring on the lazy summer afternoon squidding session.

Following and extended stint of work in Melbourne (4 days off in 7 weeks) I got back to Sydney and hit north narrabeen this morning with a heap of old frozen bait (squid heads and pillies) and a tub of Gulp alive sandworms (my first try with these). Got to the beach at 5 and found a nice gutter, cast and then spent ten minutes fighting a decent sized weed fish which got the better of me. Set up again and 2nd cast, I am onto the mother weed fish which takes another 15 minutes to land. Success, 15 kg of seaweed to take home. So this is what I missed in Melbourne. I move along the beach 20 m to an area that appears devoid of weed and ditch the frozen bait. I set up a double rig for the soft plastics and cast, nothing happens so I bring it in to find a 4 inch croc hanging off the soft plastic. That's a win for the soft plastics Send the monster back and recast to another area. After several casts I feel a slight bump and even slighter weight, I pull in a 20-25 cm flattie on the soft plastics. Throw this guy back and find it is time to leave. Considering that I bought the soft plastics for use on sand flats not off the beach two small flatties is okay.

Great looking flounder there, they are great pan fried (crispy) with a little olive oil, soy and garlic

Another vote for a Penn 850ssm or an penn 750 slammer. I have an 850ssm and love it for its strength and durability on the rocks where it is the next best thing to an alvey for simplicity.

Love it, hope you gace the little bloke a stratch on the belly and a tidbit before letting him go

I tend to use both, Mono for off the beach, rocks and LB in the harbour for pelagics as I get dusted so many times by bigger fish on rocks etc, I am in the process of changing to braid for lure fishing and jigging for squid due to the better feel and the fact I will be lure fishing this summer if I can get a yak by then if the allows it

Sorry that was meant to be North Head (perhaps I need my head read)

Old Mans Hat South head along the sandstone fence off the drive (south head drive), gates are closed at night also but you can get pelagics, pigs, blackfish, seen a monster blue groper hanging around there, have caught my PB squid from there as a bycatch on live yakkas also, just be carefull on southerly swells particularly on high tide

I agree with monch but believe colour is very important I have three similarly coloured jigs (all naturals) which catch all of the squid (I think they replicate local food sources for the squid)whereas I have other jigs which are identical models but in other colours which have never had even a hit (and using them alongside the above jigs). I also find that a 2.5 is a good size if cost is an issue, smaller squid will still attacka nd be caoght with larger (I have caught squid up to 2.5 kg this winter with 2.0 and 2.5 size jigs and perfect kingy candy in late summer autumn). Considering sight is extremely important for squid when hunting I believe the colour is extremely important.

I swear by the Yamashita natural range in a range of 2.0-3.0 and have several of each. The smaller jigs work better for bait squid but if windy or tidal they don't drop down to the strike zone or cannot be cast. There are new jigs avaliable in a 1.8 size (yamashitas) which are heavier and should sink quicker which have been recommended for bait sized squid in Sydney harbour (I think they are the range hunter series). The other difference is sinking rate, shallow water is better with a slow sink rate while deeper water requires a faster sink rate. but it also comes down to experimenting with retrieve methods which can turn a crap day into lots of kingy candy

Find a gutter near Conjola Caravan Park and through out a pillie or two, should be a salmon or tailor around and maybe a winter flattie. My uncle lives on the lake and he says it shuts down over winter apart from occasional blackie sessions but the beaches are always on.

Great catch there well and truly legal size but 4 days to haul in must have been intense. Ours just turned one and is running around getting into everything (including spooling 30 lb braid into the biggest rats nest you have ever seen)

Thanks for the info, will go the braid option, probably 8lb braid so I can put more force on when the jig gets caught on weed etc

I will be a mix of harbour landbased (not the rocks) and a Yak (if the comes to the party)

Wondering on some feedback on a squidding/ultralight setup I am putting together. I have a Penn 420ssg reel and a Berkley Dropshot IM6 2-4 kg rod that I want to combine. Wondering on whether I should go 4-6 lb (as the reel recommends) mono or get say 6/8/10 lb braid. I am tending towards the braid but as good braid costs as much as the reel I would like some recommendations as to the type and strength of braid. I have been using the rod with a cheap light weight reel (Shakespeare Inspinity) and love the direct feel and casting ability.

Main comments for squidding are; - look for squid ink around a likely looking area if you are shore based - do not skimp on squid jigs, get a few yamashitas etc in natural colours and the standard orange/pinks around a 2.0-3.0 size. - I find letting the jig settle on the bottom is very successful (this is from Yamashita develoment staff) and fast erratic movements get the squid interested but other days usign the jig like a lure works (or even letting the jig sit for 20 minutes on the bottom has worked), basically have mutiple jigs and retreive methods available.