leatherjacket

Hi Fishraiders, Does anyone know (and care to share) what is the best line weight for Mahi Mahi? Are they leader shy? I've also heard that unweighted live baits are a good way to catch them around FAD's. Any other good methods? Cheers, Leatherjacket

Nice fish....Again! Can't wait to see your next "Fish of the Week". Cheers, \Andrew

Hi Fishraiders, I've been looking for a 8-15kg Wilson ‘Live Fibre’ 7ft Spin Rod to upgrade from my cheaper/heavier glass rod and I saw one in a prominent Sydney tackle store at $249.99, today I was down on the NSW south coast and saw the same rod for $199 - needless to say I bought it on the spot! Just goes to show you the difference in price at some tackle shops.... Cheers, Andrew

Hi mate, It would be very interesting for me to hear what ur rig is? What lb line and hard body lure? I was always told you need live worms to catch whiting and I've seen large schools of them in the shallows of sandy bottomed Sydney harbour beaches. Cheers, Andrew

That is staggering!!! Well done, top skills and I bet the relies luv u!1

That’s a beautiful fish and I’m sure it was the fight of your life on 20lb! Well done m8!

....and I thought I was obsessive about fishing>

Nice fish, they can go hard too and always a good feed I get lots off the jetty/ structure especially when fishing with bread or prawns... Cheers, Andrew

Hi George, You would be very suprised m8, the hobie outback kayaks are actually very comfortable, stable and you have the added advantage of stealth with out the cost or smell of a engine... The only challange is lifting the 28kg yak onto your roof without scratching it! Cheers, Andrew

Hi Jim, Very sorry to hear your bad news m8! It's a reminder for me that in this great sport/ passtime of ours there are a fair few people who have no respect for others and their property - I'll be sure to keep a close eye out at the boat ramp next time! Thanks for the heads up and I'm sure they will get what they deserve. Cheers, Andrew

Absolutly m8, When I go fishing I only target one type - THE BIG ONE!

It was more the current than the fish... Luckly I was fishing on the right side of the hbr. Thanks to all for the positive comments. Cheers, Andrew

WOW! Well done Fishmaniac! Good eating too! Yum Andrew

Hi Fishraiders, I caught this bad boy this morning (Sunday 9/1/11) around the lower reaches of Sydney Harbour on some large Yakkas. I trolled them on my downrigger at 30ft and it did the trick... My first hook up I got busted off - must have not been hooked well. Then I caught this guy - He bent the rod over, took line some line and I got a little back. Until he had a blistering run, then I knew it was a good fish and it was on like donky kong! We are eating fresh sushi and will be having Kingfish steaks for the next four nights;) It took me out into the middle of Port Jackson about 100 meters from where I hooked up and I was stumbling to get the downriggers up as he was trying to rip my arm from it's socket If you interested the gear I used: 10 -15kg rod 6000 reel 50lb braid with bimini twist Albright 60lb Monofiloment Swivel 100lb Florocarbon Double snelled 6/0 Owner Circle Hooks I hooked the yakka through the first hook and I left the second as a stinger trailing behind and that stinger is what did the job - right in the corner of the mouth. Gotta love Sydney Kings! Cheers, Leatherjacket

Was out there later in the morning down rigging fresh squid in my yak and caught five rats Good top see someone had success! nice fish.

Good to hear you got a fish mate - it looks a bit skinny but I'm sure it will be very tasty! I was in the kayak at longie but went home empty handed after throwing about four rats back, I should have just salt and peppered my calamari... Next time... but glad to hear someone got something... Andrew

Hi mate, The best bait is squid and I prefer the big calamari to smaller arrowhead squid so one can land the big bastards! So look for the harbour bays (in the lower reachs) with kelp beds....... I like a 2.5 jig at high tide or a 1.5 at low tide, but make sure your line is 6lb or more to stop you from losing your jigs. Yakka's are easy to catch and my advice is to use a size 10 hook and a v.small or splitshot sinker on a 10cm 4lb leader. Try Manly Wharf and/or Aquarium. But you can find them around most structure and wharfs, also the wedding cakes are a good spot and you can catch your kingfish there....... Good luck and happy summer!

Just a thought, But a person who is so disrespectful towards other peoples property and capable of such an act would be lower than a snakes belly and deserving of being keyholed from the very boat that he or she stole - Dirty Harry style punk! Good luck on finding the culprit and I hope this gives the Hornsby Police something better to do than sitting on the side of the road and handing out speeding fines... Cheers, Leatherjacket

It would hAVE been a good workout on the Bicepts pulling that Hod out of a 100mtr of h2o, very rewarding - nice eye fillets! cheers, Leather

Beaut fish, Going to try for the same tomorrow at longie in my yak. Cheers, Andrew

It's an amazing experience to see these beautiful creatures in the flesh! A mate and I saw some whales breaching while fishing off Seal Rocks and went to investigate - there was about three of them. I said to Wes that we should give them room, but Wesley's understanding of a safe distance was about 10 - 20 meters and not the 30 - 40 meters that was intending and it was his boat. So we fanged it to about 15mtrs distance and cut the engine. We were in awe watching these whales flopping about and splashing the water with their fins and tail when I realised their was only two. Then the mother breached just in front of our small trailer boat in between us and her calf’s. She was huge - about 4mtrs wide and 6 mtrs from nose to the water line. We could see the barnacles on her white ribbed belly and her big soft eyes looking at us until she slipped below the surface. That was the most awesome and scariest moment of my life. Wes and I looked at each other and said "Amazing" quickly followed by "lets get out of here!". Nice pics! Cheers, Andrew

Hi guys, I've been reading all the techniques closely and am a Jewfish virgin although I've caught plenty of Sydney Harbour Kingfish. Normally I fish with braid to a round sinker, swivel and a one meter fluorocarbon leader attached to a 6/0 circle hooks and a treble in a fresh squid - it's a killer rig, especially when trolling. I've just learnt how to make a binimi twist and have added a 6 meter monofilament shock leader to my rig... Will this work on Jewfish and does anyone have any better rigs that are tried and tested? Cheers, Andrew

Hi guys, I'm normally based in Sydney but a mate and myself are going to HH for a week with his trailer boat. We plan to do a combination of Beach, Rock and Boat fishing... The only problem is we are not familiar with the area and don't know where the bait grounds are and good fishing spots. If anyone is feeling generous please reply or PM with GPS or description... I'll be posting all the pics of all the Cobia, Jews, Blue fin and Black Marlin in a couple of weeks I hope! Cheers, Andrew

Hi Clem, Go to Marine Parade and follow the white stone path to the parkland and clifftop. You will need to go down a step slope and the surface is shingles and unstable. I definatly would not advise going when there are big swells! You'll need floats, a long gaff and a few spare rigs as you're going to get busted off more than once or twice! Oh! did I mention life insurance? Good luck and take a fishing buddy... Cheers, Andrew

You may want to try "The Oven's" - it's south of Whale Beach and you can walk around to a point or go through a park and down the cliff. It's one of the best land based spots in Sydney, but it has a rocky bottom and its very likly that you might catch a kingie or two so 12lb line would be too light. If your looking for whiting or flatties go off the beach in the early morning and look for the gutters - use live worms (sometimes avaliable at Narabeen bait and tackle). 2/0 bait holder hook on 12lb line is a perfect rig. Good luck and let us know if you catch anything! Cheers, Andrew