Diane

I landed a excellent Sand Whiting in Dora Creek on Monday evening using prawn segments and a glass of good red wine. It was amazing on light tackle and was 42 cm weighing one and a half pound!! One happy fisher girl Diane

We had an early morning start from Dora Creek onto Lake Macquarie to target Blue Swimmer Crabs for the Sydney visitors and we were rewarded with 10 beautiful specimens. The crabs were caught on hand lines and scoop nets with mullet as bait. Our witches hats were not very successful with only one crab from five nets. Lately the crabs have been a bit shy and tend to drop off the bait very easily - some days they all hang on well and other times they are very timid. We all ate well that night with a couple of wines/beers. Yum

We had a very successful session on Lake Macquarie last week with 18 beautiful large blue swimmer crabs in the bag, one self hooked 70cm Flathead (tangled in crab line) and 8 nice whiting. The Whiting were caught mainly on Gulp beach worm plastics, the crabs on handlines with mullet bait and a net to lift them into the boat. The crabs were delicious and enjoyed by both us and our neighbours - giving them away is half the fun!! There were plenty of undersized bream and snapper caught and returned to the water but it bodes well for the future when they grow up!! I knew we moved to Dora Creed for a reason!! Cheers Diane

We phoned fisheries and they told us the witches hats were ok some weeks ago.

For anyone purchasing a new trailer make sure you get the mesh walkway as it saves any problems of slippery boat ramps - it is excellent value and we would not be without it.

As far as we have been told and read in the regulations witches hats are ok, either four or five per person (not sure which) with name and address on the net and the float. Traps are not allowed meaning the box like traps with slits either end and also lift nets are not allowed. You can read the regulations for Lake Mac on www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au

About 2km and I caught it on a chunk of mullet and fairly large long shank hook. Can't say I didn't have help, David (my better half) did the cleaning!! We do need our men!!! Dora Creek is near Morisset and runs into Lake Macquarie. Bait was mullet, large long shank hook and an old telescopic $20 rod with $20 reel!!!!! Good luck with finding a fishing girl - we are a rare species!!

Had to share my news!! After much frustration trying to hook a fish over the last few weeks my efforts finally paid off last night. A beautiful bream just over 40cm landed and in the fridge ready to eat! Woo Hoo!! Go Girls!!

We have just purchased a 90hp e-tec. Cant compare it with the 4 stroke but do know that the boat shop that sold it to us sold ALL brands of motor including the Yamaha 4 stroke so no barrow to push and they recommended the e-tec. The recommendation came as far as we know as unbiased advice - in fact they get more commission from the Yamaha people. The motor is virtually fume free, quiet, very quick to plane our 5.1 Quintrex Bowrider. Have only used it twice so can't comment on fuel and oil consumption but we are happy with our purchase. The motor is happy to go along at slow speeds as well as fast, we have motored up our river for an hour at 4 knots and it never missed a beat. The servicing costs are certainly worth considering. Either way, you really can't go wrong, we went through the same worries but made our choice and are happy with it. Hope you get some sleep soon!!

Thanks Chris, no, I did not know! I will certainly try putting the hook through the tail - I wold have threaded the prawn onto the hook and killed the poor bugger!!

Thanks Bluecod, we will try that tonight!

Shall do Pedro, do you have any advice on how to catch them - we seem to miss a lot. They are not on the run, just sitting on the bottom - when you drop the net over them they tend to burrow I think - should you try and get under them or drop over then drag?

Hi Bob, We are flying blind as far as fishing spots around Dora Creek so any helpful tips you have would be gratefully received! I caught some prawns out the front last night for bait. We are planning to take the boat out next week when things are quiet and hopefully the rain has stopped. Cheers!

Yep, that's right, Dora Creek is near Morisset - we are about 2km from Lake Macquarie by boat. Diane

Just picked up our new Quintrex 5.1 Bowrider with bimini, extended front canopy and 90hp e-tec motor. Wont be able to put it in the water for another week due to moving house from Sydney to Dora Creek but cant wait until we can. Had to share our good news with you all!! Diane

Hi Rob, we hope to have some tuition when we get the new boat as it has been a long time since we had anything to do with boats larger than the Zodiac (small with 4hp). Apparently you can buy 3hrs on water tuition with your own boat for $200 so probably will be good for us as we get used to our own boat instead of someone elses.

Thanks for the warm welcome, we have just ordered our new boat - Quintrex 5.1 Bowrider and it will be taking us fishing on Dora Creek and Lake Macquarie in a couple of months time. At present I only get to throw a line in out the front of our new house at Dora Creek and have caught two legal bream but that was before the weather got so cold. Most of my previous fishing was done in the Northern Territory off the Arnhem Land coast but that was many years ago. Also we have just completed an around Australia trip in our caravan and took a zodiac with us. We fished all around and had most success in Tassie, Curumbin and Mosman (Qld). The rest was a bit disappointing really especially W.A. Caught lots of undersized Barra at Daley River, husband caught a legal Barra at the Border Store Crossing (N.T.) and I lost one at the same spot. But if there was a prize for trying we would have won it. I am happy if I am casting a lure or have a line in the water, don't profess to be very good at fishing but LOVE it!!!

I over heard a conversation today whilst sitting for my licence (yes I passed!) and apparently you get quite a lot of lee way if your licence runs out so I would not imagine you will have to re-sit the test. Love this site - my first post - hope us "girls" are welcome!