SimJ

Went to Hawkesbury with a mate on Friday night, fished off the back of the pool. Pretty good for a short night with 2 flatties (biggest 50cm) and 3 bream (biggest 29cm). Heaps of Pike eels and a few catties too Also caught the smallest flattie ive seen b4 On Sunday night we went for a bit of a trek to Palm Beach, first time there, wanted to catch salmon but no luck. We did catch a few unusual things though, there was heaps of cuttlefish, squid and real big yakkas all night average was about 28cm, threw some out livies and got hit after hit . Mate pulled a huge flattie to the surface then unhooked and swam off . I kept catching these wierd rays, that actually fought pretty hard. This one weighed 3.6kg and fought like a big flattie Anyone know what type it is? My mate pulls in a livie he had out and its being chased by a big squid it ran off when it saw us, but he was persistent and got it to come back, I got the jig ready and got him. It also fought pretty hard! (is it worth using one this big for live bait? or is it too big?) Had so many big hits and nice runs that it was a really good night even if we didnt bag anything massive. Also is this a mullet? (32cm caught on bread) Massive post I know but wanted to fit both nights in! Cheers guys, Simmo

What size jig were you using? If the jig is as big or bigger than the squid they will go look at it and then run away. Cheers, Simmo

Havent eaten it yet, but im a bit scared to now after what everyones saying! So should I send it to fisheries department? or just close my eyes and eat it? Cheers, Simmo

You make my catches look like a joke Nice work mate, those flounders look yum. Cheers, Simmo

Thanks everyone! Simmo

Mate wouldnt have it without ur advice, and bidding on a net right now Cheers, Simmo

Cheers guys, its a dusky right? havent caught many before but why is it wierd? Cheers, Simmo

Went for a quick lb sess with a mate today down at a regular spot in greenwich. The water was very dark almost black and after pulling up only toads for 20 minutes things didnt look good. Our plans for getting live bait werent going well with about 10 toads, 20 tiny snapper and 10 or so mixed minnies (trumpeters, breams etc.). So a big chunk of chicken breast it was. I couldnt believe it, but Gary's (Brickman) prediction actually came true! Got some nice hits and pulled in a big flattie but wasnt properly hooked and let go at the surface right next to us! NO NET! After a lot of swearing I sent the chicken back out to the same spot then switched lines and pulled in yet ANOTHER diseased leatherjacket! keep catching them with bugs buried in them, makes me sick and always throw back Getting ready to pack up, start reeling in the line with chicken and the same feeling as the flattie before. This time Im a bit more prepared and give it a good yank and get the bucket ready. Not sure if its the same one but manage to land a nice one (70cm). For a 3 hour session and a new PB Im but im DEFINITELY buying a net asap Simmo

Caught this big leathery last night (I know thats nothin to be proud of ) From head to very tip of tail it measured 38.5cm but I wonder does that tiny sliver at the end of the tail really count?? Cheers, Simmo

Thanks for your replies guys very useful . Last thing, when using a yakka how much trace should there be (mainly hunting kingfish and jew). Cheers, Simmo

Does anyone have any advice on using live bait, such as yakkas and squid, from a wharf/jetty? Each time I have tried, the livey tied itself up on the pylons. Is casting it ok? Cheers, Simmo

will do mate cheers, Simmo

Went out with 2 mates last night first to the spit bridge, then to Bayview boat ramp. Night was slow with about 5 or 6 yakkas and some undersize bream and snapper but nothing worth keeping. Finally managed one nice bream (28cm) When we were about to leave Spit bridge some guy walked up and gave us a shark (90cm) We werent very hungry for shovelnose so after thanking him we let it go. As soon as we got to Bayview things picked up a bit, we hooked a good bream (31cm), ok tailor (30cm) and an ok bream (25cm) not sure if it was a tarwhine it looked a bit different from the other. As we were packing up to leave I felt something heavy on the hand line and pulled up what I thought was a dead fish or old boot, but ended up being a something better . The same milk crate we used to catch 4 calimaris came in handy again as we pulled this beauty in with it (90mm) Going to cook it tonight, any suggestions? My mate looking hungry All in all a pretty slow but fun night!!

Everyone's hearts go out to Melbourne Bushfire victims. If you wish to help please donate blood... Much sympathy and many condolences from family, friends and me. Simmo

Absolutely awsome post guys! haha Gary you look like your struggling mate! Was it an expensive trip? Well done, Simmo

Hey guys, recently I was wondering the same thing about the chicken and steak, after some advice on here and some experimenting I reckon straight up raw chicken breast kicks @ss! stays on hook well and easy to shape and size. caught bream, tailor, herring, yakkas, snapper, whiting and more on chicken. I only used steak once, and i dont think it was skirt steak(which is meant to be best), but I didnt have many hits. also beach & blood worms are buyable and gr8 Hope this helps, Simmo

Greenwich (near the wharf)

I wish I had taken a pic but I was more interested in catching them! They werent like the ones in the other post, and were literally following head to tail in a long line. Cheers anyway, Simmo

Yesterday evening while fishing lb in the harbour I came across about seven 40cm+ fish swimming in perfect formation head to tail biggest to smallest. They were practically holding on to each other and near the surface. I dropped a line in fairly near them and they simply split up and 3 or so went one way and the rest the other, no interest in feeding whatsoever and were soon gone. A school of small bream was near by and werent even worried about them. To me they looked like really large bream but maybe a bit thinner, way bigger than any bream ive seen. Being fairly new to fishing I was wondering if this a common occurance with a few types of fish or if a certain species acts like this? Any help with this would be much appreciated as i was annoyed i didnt manage to catch any or find out what they were. Cheers, Simmo

Thank you very much for the replys guys will check them all out. B.F. the government is certainly paying for my new Baitrunner Cheers, Simmo

Can anyone please let me know of any good books that contain species of fish in NSW? Thanks guys btw if posting the title and author is prohibited could u please p.m. Cheers, Simmo

Mate all the herring we caught were over 20cm... would bream really be able to handle them that big? or would it be better to gang hook them and try for a jew? cheers, Simmo

Cheers Hodge, definitely giving it a try next time! Simmo

When u guys talk about chicken and steak u mean raw right? Cheers, Simmo