jamesds

I was fishing at Thames Street Wharf yesterday and there were heaps of decent size mullet in the shallows at high tide. Couldn't tempt them though. I was already using mullet strips for bait when the mullet showed up - don't think they're into cannibalism

I had a couple of big hits there last week, see my earlier posts. Next time I go I'll be taking my heavier gear. James.

I'm heading out to Louisa Road, Birchgrove. The rain seems to have eased up and I fancy my chances of getting a jew on the run-in. Heh. I'll be there in about 45 minutes if anyone would like to join me.

Hi Nathan, There's not much light where I was, but nearer the wharf there is. You could always bring a head torch though. Where I was stood is quite high up - you're a few meters off the water so may not be the best place for squidding. But if you keep walking around Mort Bay in a clockwise direction from where I was there's a rock wall and you can get right down to the water. There's plenty of kelp around, so I reckon it could be a cracking squidding spot. I wish this rain would bugger off - I'm pretty ,much ready to head out for a fish right now.. James.

Hi jewiehaven, There's no cover. I was being a bit stupid really - I was soaked through! If you're going to be fishing at Cabarita on Monday and want to buddy up, PM me (I wasn't actually targeting jewies today, otherwise I would have gone all-out and moved up to 50lb leader with a livie!). Hi SnapR, I was thinking of going to the end of Louisa Road today actually - but I didn't want to walk that far in the rain. I've never fished there but when I'm oggling Google Maps for my next likely fishing spot, it's always looked interesting!

I was fishing at the yellow circle, and alternated between casting across to the structure to the north, and dropping the line at my feet. When the summer comes it's a pretty good place to be. There's a small wharf across the water to the east, and fishing off there an hour both sides of the high can be great. I've seen kings caught at locations around Mort Bay, and I've seen large jewfish at night, just shine a torch in the water and walk around the edge - never managed to catch one though. Today though, there was pretty much nothing except for a two big hits and the odd picker. I was berleying heavily, and that usually raises something. I got busted off on 6lb braid. I'm pretty impressed that I managed to raise so much wood from the water on line that light. Hi Grant, I've never caught a jew - tried a few times and gone home empty handed each time. But know they hand around the area - I have seen them plainly, and there's some lonesome stonkers too. Today I fantasized that I was busted off my a jew, but I without getting a good look I couldn't be sure Thanks for the info, it might be time to seriously try again! James

Hi Raiders, I fished near Thames Street Wharf this arvo, braving the rain. I arrived to see a lone tailor leaping out of the water - must have been chased by something but couldn't see what it was?! Rigged up three rods - one with prawn, one other mullet piece and I used the other for casting lures. I was sure the overcast weather would mean the fish would be active. So my two baited rods were cast out, and while I was winding in my lure, something massive hit my lightest gear, and to top it off, I had to finish winding in my lure so it didn't sink and snag on the bottom..... if you could have seen the tortured expression on my face! Anyway, I get to the other rod, and feel some really big shakes and then all of a sudden NOTHING. But the line was still tight, I start winding in and I can feel something very very heavy on the end. Turned out the fish I had been fighting had tangled the line around a half a bloody sunken tree! I managed to get the half-tree to the surface and could see a flash of silver - something big - trying to get away but failing. About two seconds later and PING, snap goes the line - and the half a tree sinks back down, with whatever decent fish I 'caught' still attached to it. Had another bust off shortly after, then after the adrenalin wore off, I realised I was soaked and freezing cold, so I headed home empty handed. Great fun though! James. P.S. If the weather isn't too bad tomorrow, I'll head out again to the same spot. However, if anyone would like a buddy for the day landbased (or boat-based ) send me a PM.

My missus is off to see her folks this long weekend. I was supposed to be going camping with a mate but that fell through. So instead, I intend to do lots of fishing If anyone would like some company, I'm happy to travel pretty much anywhere within an hour or two of the Sydney CBD. Would be good to meet some other fishos. I have all weekend free! Tight lines, James. EDIT: Actually, I might be willing to travel further up north or south for a really firing beach fishing spot - any recommendations?! (somewhere I can get to with public transport is pretty much the only limitation - I don't have a car at the moment).

I saw an old bloke fishing with a hand line just to the right of wharf 5 about 6:45pm tonight. Despite the ordinary weather he was out there braving it and pulled up a stonker of a bream - must have been 35cm. Just wondering whether fishing is allowed down there? I didn't think it was, but he wasn't doing anyone any harm! James.

I saw it too. In all fairness, who else but fishos leave fishing line in the water? Sometimes it snags and breaks and there's no easy way to get it out. A mate of mine scuba dives, and he reckons Clifton Gardens is an under water rubbish dump - I never realised just how bad until I saw that on the news. Regarding fishing line, it's a fact of every fishing trip that tackle gets snagged and line gets left in the water. Banning fishing at Clifton Gardens is not the answer (why anyone goes there I don't know, it's too crowded and I think I've had a bite once three or four times I've been). I think one possible solution is to add X bucks a year to our fishing licenses and use that to pay for quarterly clean-ups at the busy spots such as Clifton Gardens. I'd gladly do that. And it will improve our image with some good PR. Somewhere there is a healthy balance between total freedom for recreational fisherman and fishing being banned entirely with extensive sanctuaries - we need to find that balance, and the disgrace that is Clifton Gardens is not it. I'm ranting, I'll shut up now. James.

Hi guys, I'm up for it, add me to the list I've just been lucky enough to be offered a deckie spot with rainman. And I'll bring some bacon & eggs. James.

Hi there raiders, I'm planning on having a fishing session on Saturday, and I'm taking a work colleague with me, so finding somewhere that will likely produce is a must My usual spots in Balmain, are fairly reliable by my standards but usually entail 6 hours of line wetting without a nibble and a thirty seconds of reeling in a single fish. I'll have a car, and will be willing to make the effort to get to a hard-to-reach place if it means lots of hits. I'm happy to target whatever species is firing at the moment (except for leatheries, they are usually by-catch anyway!) So if anyone has any good tips (location / species / tackle), let me know! I have rods and tackle to suit pretty much any land-based fishing, bait/lures/soft plastics. Let's hope the glorious weather holds this weekend! Cheers guys, James.

I've only hooked up accidentally - I recall posting about it earlier in the year / late last year. I was fishing for bream opposite Thames St Wharf, hooked up a kingie on 6lb line. Almost got him all the way in without much of a fight, then he just went mental and the line broke. I have tried since, but never hooked up. They are around - on a sunny day you can see quite far into the water in the old ship yard at Thames Street Wharf, and you'll often spot them cruising about. They were a decent size too - well above legal. Also seen a couple of very large jewfish cruising the edges of the walls at night while I was looking for squid with my headlamp on. Very annoyed that I didn't have anything other than squid jigs at the time!

Not good. Trolled for about 4h30m hours from Botany to Browns for zilch in ordinary conditions. 2 meter swell. Cubed for about 3 hours once we got there for a single run, no hook up. Then back again, only faster, in the dark with bigger swell. Quite disappointing really. In my view, we should have turned around once we saw how bad the swell was and stayed closer in, maybe for kings or bottom bashing. On the way out we only heard a single report over the radio of a single yellowfin being caught. Another boat reported some albacore, but mostly just nothing. I realise there are no guarantees and it's a risk we take when we go on a charter. But we could have pursued other options - and it was like that idea was never even on the table. It will be a long time before I part with 240 bucks for a charter again. I could have almost hired my own boat for the day for that, which has the added bonus of being fun even when I don't catch anything! Perhaps I'm just being naive, but I would have thought that the worst thing that can happen is for clients to go home empty-handed. There should always be a plan B. On the other hand, I got to meet some more raiders which is always a good thing

10am, Sans Souci Wharf according to SMS I got from Scot. See you tomorrow

Ha-ha! Yeah. I, uh, remember now. Must have been tired....!

Hi Scot, I didn't seem to get the memo, but I take this Sunday is our long-awaited tuna session? Sunday is fine for me. Cheers, James.

Seems like one of those random days when the fish won't bite. I normally have no problems getting them. I simply berley up (usually with off-the-shelf berley as I'm too lazy to make my own) and drop in one of those pre-made live bait jigs with about 6 tiny hooks with 'fish scales' on them. Usually works a treat! However, there have been days where no matter what I do I cannot seem to get any to bite, even though I can see hundreds swimming around my line.

Good work mate. Bet you went back home all nice and contented after that tussle.

To all fishos heading to the tuna fishing day on Sunday, just wondering if I can get a lift with someone down to Sans Souci? I live in Balmain, but could meet someone in the city if that's more convenient. Just trying to save money by not forking out 60 bucks for a taxi each way. Will supply snacks to the lucky person who can give me a lift James.

PM sent.

I'd like to be a member of your raucous piratey crew, cap'n.

ditto for me

That's awesome.

Went out onto my balcony for a smoke just now. There was a pungent rotten-fishy aroma in the air. It was then I realised that last time I went fishing, I'd left my bucket outside with half a bag of pilchards, some squid and some prawns - for about 4 days. Bleh. Nearly puked. One mouthful of mints (to distract from the smell), some bathroom air freshener, one quarter of a bottle of pine-o-clean and five minutes later, the abomination was dealt with. Good job the hadn't stepped outside or I would have been in heaps of trouble. Was thinking of selling the resultant gloop to the local servo - it's still better quality than their own stuff