Hooky.

dicer cheers Hooky

I definately know where this one is and I'm as happy as a pig in sh!t to see the water level at that height. Not only does it make for good fishing but also saves the legs from having to walk from the camp grounds down to the water line to jump in the boat .......not a problem if you camp on the other areas away from the amenities though. Thanks for the pics Joe. cheers Hooky

I don't have a tackle store like ABA near home, so when I go there I usually study everything and inspect nearly every lure one by one. :wank: I only spent $70 on the day but I do have some stuff on the way soon that I ordered whilst there.

Probably no other spots they I have fished recently and I don't want to just pick any spot as it might not be fishy at the moment. Molineaux Point is working well for trevally but I haven't seriously fish it lately. Hopefully someone who has will be able to help. Good luck tomorrow. cheers Hooky

Top yellow circle is the area where the old control tower and the mouth of the Cooks River is. The bottom yellow circle is where your dinner should also be.

Blimey-Charlie, I was in at Australian Bass Angler today for one and a half hours and I only spent $70. Got myself a couple of Ecogear SX-48's, a shirt, some worm hooks................blah, blah, blah. In saying that, I also have a few Ecogear SX-40's on back order which will turn up shortly and something else which should be in on Monday. I also had the thought of a rod and reel purchase in the back of my mind for most of the day which slowed my spending. Anyway, at the end of the trip I effectively spent, hmmm, doesn't matter 'cos it's therapy so my wife tells me. BTW, I drove about 100 k's to ABA and back and it is definately worth it, great tackle shop with a fresh feel about it. Anyway, go and check it out for yourselves. P.S. Hope I wasn't too much of a pest Mick. cheers Hooky

I can't help you too much with recent reports but there are a few in the fishing reports section that will help you. I was out in the Bay last Sunday and found flathead sitting on the bottom in 10m of water off the old (southern) runway about 100yds south and in line with the runway wind sock. I also found whiting in 1-2m of water just off the little sandy beach near the old control tower at the mouth of the Cooks River. Don't know if this helps although you should get a feed but you will also have to work hard for it. Good luck and cheers Hooky

G'day Raiders Not a real lot on this weekend. Saturday, I'm going shopping at Penrith. Sunday, I may head up to Chippo' for a spin, don't know yet. Have a good weekend Raiders. cheers Hooky

Well done all of you. Good to see everyone got a decent feed. The Bay is certainly clean and clear at the moment. cheers Hooky

That's interesting Mick. I was talking to dad and he was saying that there were a few jews taken and hanging around the reef just off the point. If only the old boy would walk the few yards it takes to get to the sand, he may well be eating fish steaks as well. cheers Hooky

Nice jewie Mick.

Not wrong there Chris, and I let the boys know it as well.

Nice end result there for you blokes. We didn't plan to go to the point but when Chris rang me as we just got on the water the boys got excited and we changed our start up plans. There were only prawns on board and I knew that wouldn't cut it but we still soldiered on and in the end we caught ziltch as far as blurters go. I guess that's what happens when one starts at 8.30am. Oh well, it gave us a chance to have a cuppa and a biscuit. I went back to the plastics after we left you blokes and found a few others species that wanted to play so all was not lost. Again, well done on your catch. cheers Hooky

Here's hoping Chris. Great stuff there Brian, hope they are still there on Sunday. I went and bought myself some more plastics today so hopefully they will get some use on the trev's as well as the whiting and flatties. Well done again and good on you for posting up your thoughts on your deckie for the day. It's always good to know who's who on the forums. cheers Hooky

Here's hoping that it's not a sign of things to come this summer.

And so it is that another weekend is bestowed upon us. Saturday is a big day, wifey's going shopping all day, she said something about filling her side of the wardrobe. That's cool 'cos I'm sittin' on my four acres and watching fishing shows on ESPN from 9.55am till 11.55am. Then I get to have a toilet break for five minutes and then on Lifestyle Channel I get more fishing from 12.00 till 2.00pm. Then at 2 o'clock I will get my fishing gear all packed 'cos on Sunday I'm heading out on to Botany Bay with the boys' and hoping for a feed of whiting and flatties. Hitting the water at about 8.30'ish, not too early so I am told. If you see three fools in a 4.75m Sea Jay bowrider in the usual whiting and flattie areas or even in the Yarra Bay/Molineaux area looking far a salmon or two , flapp your arms and say g'day. Have a good weekend Raiders. cheers Hooky

G'day Motty No thankyou, not at all. Although I did see a few boats similar to mine out there on the weekend and even one or two that may have been smaller??? More or less it will be in a mates 4.75m Seajay. Just trying to score info on how to approach fishing outside to make things a bit easier. I don't need to be heading out and not knowing what to do or look out for. Always willing to swallow my pride and say I'm new to it and don't know where to start rather than go like a bull at a gate and stuff up and not enjoy the days outing. We've been out to Jibbon and caught a few different types of fish but we really didn't know what to look for and/or do to make a success of the trip. BTW, the 4 metre swell didn't help. Thanks for the info guys, the more the merrier. cheers Hooky

G'day Raiders, Just wondering what type of fishing all you Fishraiders' that attended the salmon social were doing when outside the heads, ie bait fishing, trolling, lure casting, fly casting. Were you anchored up or drifting? The reason I ask is that "the boys" want to do more outside (within 2 mile or so) fishing and I'm just trying to piece together what the best ways are to approach the different types of fishing that can be done within the 2 mile radius. Target species will be anything to start with until we sort out what's what and I guess the methods will involve trolling, lure casting and soaking baits. P.S. Even if you didn't attend the social, please feel free to throw in any advice you like which may help with fishing within the 2 mile radius or even further out but to start with I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE LAND. Thanks and cheers Hooky

Question for the Raider bait fisho's or anyone who knows the answer. When you blokes were hanging off Manly were you anchored up and throwing berley or just doing a drift? Thanks and cheers Hooky

Thanks for the reply Joe. I can understand why they'd be raising the dam wall down that way. cheers Hooky And a bit of info on the dam, if anyone is interested. Media Release - Work Starts on Raising Sooley Dam Wall Mayor, Paul Stephenson and Manager of Water Services, Matthew O'Rourke perusing plans for new work at Sooley Dam Work to raise Sooley Dam's wall and increase the dam's capacity by around 30% commenced last week. Austral Marine Constructions Pty Ltd, the company contracted by Goulburn Mulwaree Council to undertake the works, began establishing its site office, access roads and fencing. The $10 million project is expected to take 12 months with up to 40 staff on site at the height of the works. Goulburn Water Services manager Matt O'Rourke said construction of the rock-cut spillway west of the existing dam should be completed by Christmas, and work on strengthening and raising the existing wall commencing early in the new year. "The combination of works to strengthen the dam and increase its height will address two issues, namely the dam's structural integrity and increased water storage capacity," Mr O'Rourke said. "Raising the wall by 1.5 metres will increase Sooley Dam's storage capacity from 4100ML to around 6000ML," he said. Mr O'Rourke said the current low water level due to the drought would be an advantage during the upgrade work as part of the requirement is that the water in the dam remain one metre below the full supply level. Sooley Dam was originally constructed in 1930 and the height of the wall was increased in 1961. Goulburn Mulwaree Council and the NSW Department of Environment, Utilities and Sustainability are jointly funding the current upgrade project. Mr O'Rourke said the upgrade would create an environmental buffer zone outside the increased storage level, with the buffer zone to be vegetated to provide a filter zone, and planted with trees to reduce wave action on Lake Sooley.

No doubt about your local club weigh in there clutch. They always seem to produce the goods and what a top looking feed of fat fish. Yummo!!! cheers Hooky

Welcome back granpop. Looks like you had a good trip as far as catching a few fish goes. Some good looking species there and pics as well. cheers Hooky

Any more info on the actual whereabouts of Sooly Dam there Joe.

Nah, I didn't try any but wish I did. I like trying new foods and being our first date I didn't think it appropriate to be a seagull. Next time things will be different. Looking forward to giving the sluggos a try, hopefully next Saturday outside of Botany, weather permitting. Thanks again. P.S. Sorry about the broken fingers when I shook your hand. I always get told I have a firm grip. (Handshake grip that is.) cheers Hooky

The lunchtime meeting grounds, Clontarf Park. And the weather was great, after the cold start. That's it, looking forward to the next Fishraider outing.