leatherjacket

Hey Raiders, Heaps of bonnies but not much else, but after 5hrs I finally connected to and landed a legal kingie ! My day started at 5am at Balmoral and I fulled up my 20ltr bucket with 8 yakkas in about 5 minites. Then drove to littlle manly, lauched and headed to Quarentine Point where I put in a few laps up and down the drop off at about 60ft deep - it has always been a productive area for me but today their was only spariotic little bue dots on the sounder (small fish). Some guys were having a ball fly casting and catching a few bonito but that was not what I was after a and the Yakkas would have been too big. I then headed around to the point at North Head, I checked my livey at it was gone without me knowing! Put a new one out then I was off to Blue Fish Point. Lots of birds working abouve the bonito schools and plenty of fishermen chasing them... The wash back and foam was playing havoc with my depth sounder and kept telling me that I was in 4ft of water. Again, at Blue Point my Yakka had been stolen by an unknown culprate! It wasn't until I was going back that I connected to the kingie around the point of North Head. It was a good fight with plenty of diving runs but eventually I got it out of the foul and landed a kingie around 70 - 75cms. THe leader was all frayed but somehow still intact! Looks like sushimi tonight! Tight lines, Andrew

Thanks guys - good advice. Look out for the report in March:)

Hey guys, I was thinking of going to South West Rocks for my holiday in March and was very excited at trying for a Spanard, but from reading articles on trolling they say the best speed to troll a Rapala CD12 and CD18 for a Spanard is 6 - 10 knots. The problem is my Yak only goes 2 - 5 knots, pending chop and swells. Has anyone had success slow trolling for Spanards or could recommend another technique? Cheers, Andrew

Mate, Those hoods are soooo... big and fat it looks like some of them could eat you head first Trung. Better that you stay out of the water would be my advise... :074:

Great catch mate and well deserved for the hours put in during tough conditions... I'm looking to target some Jewies myself and everything I read indicates that you need to use lighter gear than a kingie outfit as they are a bit leader shy? I was thinking of dropping down to a 6 - 10kg rod and spooling up my 4000 reel with 30lb braid & 40 lb leader. Then using smaller hooks like a 3/0? Does anyone have an opinion on this? Cheers, Andrew

Ha! Unbelievable that there are lobsters in the harbour and what fluke to actually hook one! Well done and great catch...

Sounds like it was a good season - gota luv the kingies for a bit of fun. Those just legal types are the best sushi!

Nice feed and good to know they are their.

That's worth getting married for!

You deserve results if your staying up all night! Luv the croc and might consider looking for a Botany Jew myself. Just got a light on the yak Cheers, Andrew

They look like a nice feed... good size too. Those just legal ones at around 70cm are the tasties kingies! Sushi:biggrin2: Chers, Andrew

Nice haul mate!

Gotta love catching a big kingie, they are such brutes to fight! No finesse, they just go hard until something breaks or they get to the bottom... I can't imagin what it would be like to catch a 120cm+ Hoodlem!!!!!!!!! I've caught 99cm and that was awesome. I take my hat off to you guys! Looks like you were on a off shore reef? were you jigging or did you catch these on livies? Cheers, Andrew

I believe the Hype!

GReat looking fish mate... Some big ones out their at the moment ;-)

Awesome bag their! Some really solid snappers for Sydney. Gota luv fresh snapper in the frying pan with only butter salt and pepper - yum! Cheers, Andrew

Sure Marty... the set up is: 8 - 15kg rod 6000 reel 50lb line 80lb leader 6/0 hooks Cheers, Andrew

Great effort to land a kingie on SP's, looked like a good day on the water with a feed as a bonus!

Speed wobbles;-)

Hi mate, There is no point disclosing a particluar spot because the fish roam through out the harbour. I do recommend that you look for structure and banks that drop off between 20 - 60 Feet. Some of my favourite spots include the wedding cakes, pig and sow, quarantine station bouy & the tripod at rose bay. I hope this is helpful... Cheer, Andrew

Hi mate, I've mounted a downrigger on my yak - it's a small Scotty with a 3lb ball. If you don't have a downrigger I recommend using a #10 ball sinker with a 1mtr trace which is what I used to use. Cheers, Andrew

Nice pics! Looks like a great day on the bay... I've seen lots of cuttlefish feathers on the beach today, a good sign that the kingies are on the inshore reefs;-) Cheers, Andrew

Don't know what that is... Have you got a pic?

Nice mate! There are some solid kingies in the harbour at the moment!!! Well done.