On Strike

Mate I'm with GregL. I'd use the garfish as livies. If you do down size the float from that you would use for a yakka or slimie. Hook needs to go on the under side just in front of the tail. Avoid handling them as much as you can as once they loose their scales and slime they die fairly quickly. Getting cool enough for a early John Dory too. Good Luck. On Strike Paul

Hi Pete, Looks like a red morwong to me. On Strike Paul

To wear a life jacket or not or to fish on the rocks or not. You are not going to be able to stop people fishing off the rocks even if they can't swim. This is a reality and since it is, those who choose to fish the rocks and can't swim should wear a life jacket. If I couldn't swim and got washed in I would rather take my chances with the life jacket on. I'd rather float and have a better than average chance of survival than have no life jacket and sink to the depths. If you can't swim you got bugger all chance of swimming away from the rocks. Education is a great way to get the message across. Perhaps a handout with each purchase of bait and or tackle will go some way to educate more. An incentive to buy jackets and manufactures making the jackets more affordable could help. The jet ski style jackets are comfortable and close fitting. At least you increase your chances if you are wearing one. Thats my thoughts on it anyway. Anything that gets people thinking and talking about the subject cant hurt. On Strike.

Some bad news unfortunately, Just heard two rock fishermen drowned today in the harbour next to Middle Head. One got washed in and the other jumped in to save him. Both couldn't swim...... Come on guys if you can't swim and you want to fish from the rocks or a boat wear a life jacket or other form of floatation. Its such a waste of life. You put a seat belt on to drive a car. Why not a life jacket when you go fishing. Condolences to the families of those lost. On Strike

I'm with Brickman, Baby steps first. If your new to boating you first need to work out your own ability to handle your boat then you need to work out your boats ability to handle various conditions. I started with trips to the heads before heading further a field to say Long Reef or the close reefs to Sydney. When you have it all sussed then you can enjoy your day more than worrying about what might happen. You should also go with another vessel when ever you can when heading offshore, especially in a boat your size, or if you cant find someone to go with head to areas where others will be eg FADs and known marks. The fish are always going to be there so take your time and learn your abilities. It will be so much more enjoyable. On Strike Paul.

Nice work fellas, You did alright considering the conditions. Nice dark colours on the rainbow. My turn next week me thinks. On Strike Paul.

Hi Chris, The fish we got were rainbows the size of your bigger ones and two browns up to 4.5lb. This is going back to Oct last year. We generally fish the shallow section at the opposite end of the wall to that you were fishing. Sometimes you can make the fish out but the water clarity is limited at best. Also see some up towards the old quarry. The water is clearer there, probably due to the rocky shoreline rather than clay. Making a trip up in the next week or so. Paul

Hi guys, Great info and good to see the fish moving around the edges. Those bigger fish seem in good condition. To add some more I have had great success at TCD using the same method with a size 12 caddis bead head nymph in green. Looks like the water levels up a bit. What is the water clarity like at the moment ? Did you sight fish many ? On Strike Paul

I am sure there are a lot more marlin swimming along the close in coastline than most of us think. They will be where the bait is and when the water is right the marlin will come in real close. We hooked a Black of 70+kg at the colours last year on a live slimie after it was marked on the sounder stalking the kings we were chasing. Gave a great show for the people at the gap before busting us off. That same week two more were hooked at North Head and several more at Long Reef and off Avalon. It was a day or two before the guy on the kayak hooked one. Years ago we would hook them off the rocks at Watamolla and of course off JB rocks. Hey Jembro, you will have that memory forever and good to be able to share it with the wife. Guess you'll be getting some heavy gear for Christmas. Good Luck and Merry Christmas. On Strike

Thanks Scoop, Unfortunately the Tonga is on the North Island and I will be on the South. We definitely get there on the next visit though. Heard lots of good things about it. Paul On Strike.

Hi all, Just booked to go to New Zealand in the first week of Feb next year. Will be landing In Queenstown and Fly Fishing with an experienced friend. Would appreciate some info on rivers I MUST fish if someone is willing to share. Don't mind traveling the length of the island for the right river. Any info is greatly appreciated. My friend has been there a number of times and knows a few but I would like to be armed with some other possibilities. Thanks. Paul On Strike.

Manly ramp is at Little manly Cove off Stuart Street. Its marked in the Street directory. Can be a bit of a bugger to use in a southerly but you probably wouldn't be fishing then anyway. As for distance to Long Reef I'm not sure exactly, maybe ten k's, but The ramp is just inside North Head so it takes about 20 min to get there but with the added bonus of passing a number of good spots on the way like North Head, Manly bommies, the wave rider and then Long Reef. The time spent travelling from this better ramp is worth the effort as you will probably spend that amount of time trying to get your boat out at Longy if you don't know what your doing. Hope this helps. On Strike.

Hi there Paul, Long Reef ramp is a ocean ramp and should only be used by those with experience at that location. It is subject to winds and swell pretty much at all times. I've seen guys bogged, cars in the water and boats sitting on the concrete ramp with the swell smashing them. Generally boats are launched and retrieved off the eastern side of the ramp rather than on the ramp proper. This is over sand and thus you will need a suitable vehicle capable of pulling your trailer and boat off the sand and back onto the ramp. The better and safer option is the ramp at Manly ( very restricted parking ) or Roseville. Its a great spot to fish but can be very dangerous in swell due to the nature of the bottom and various bommies. Best to pick a nice day and check out where the other boats are fishing. Good Luck. Paul On Strike

Thanks, Caught the browns on a Jindy bugger ( a form of the olive wooly bugger ) and both rainbows on a hair and copper nymph drifted with the wind. On Strike

Bad luck guys. I fished it on Thursday just gone for two browns at 3.5lb and 3lb and two small fat rainbows at 1lb a piece. All caught on fly. Wind was strong to say the least and about 4 degrees. Found a sheltered corner but had to fish for most of the day for my fish. All released to play another day. Saw about four other guys who appeared to be spinning but none seemed to have any luck. On Strike.

Thanks guys. Weathers looking cold but should be ok. Looking forward to giving it a go. Paul On Strike.

Hi All, Heading down to Euc during the week but haven't fished it before. I'd like to fly fish the river mouth but are not sure where to approach it from. Can anyone advice me on where to get to it from. The google maps look a bit old and the lake looks a bit full so I gather there will be more river than on google earth. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks Paul On Strike.

Hey Reece, Its amazing what others will share on this site. To add my bit I grew up fishing with Mr Twister double and single tails in the same areas you mention. Plastics have come a long way since then. Try near the mouth at Lake Illawarra ( Southern side used to be best ) , The basin at the back of Bundenna ( Between Bundenna and Mainbar ) is unreal. Fishermans Bay at Mainbar and when the tide drops the channel behind the ballast heap ( Mainbar again. Try the Entrance channel on the Central Coast and at Nelson Bay, Between the signs at Little Beach or just walk Shoal Bay Beach. Good luck with it. 4D On Strike.

Monch & Snipe, I grew up fishing the Hacking, caught heaps but you have to make the effort. For spinning with plastics the best place I found is Mainbar ( Land based ). Fish the edge of the sand flats at low tide and wade the channels to get to the banks west of the fishermans bay channel. There used to be small channels in the middle of the flats that produced flathead and bream ( just keep the plastic above the weed ) or you can walk out and fish the Ballast Heap ( at low tide ). Another good spot is walking up Cabbage tree creek ( Between Bundeena and Mainbar ) You would be suprised at the size of the lake up there and the spinning is great. The effort to get there is small considering the potential of the areas to fish. If you haven't got a car catch the ferry from Cronulla and walk/ride. And Snipe, The Royal national park has heaps of great places to fish ( Beach and Rock ) like Bundeena, Marley , Watermolla and Burning Palms. Good Luck

G'Day, There are a number of ledges around JB for spinning and the like. The tubes is good but crowded. Try Mermaids inlet or eves ravine at Currarong and even the rocks near the wreck ( Just around from Currarong township ). Mermaids track is about a twenty minute walk and a safe ledge to fish with heaps of room. Eves is out past the water tank at the back of Currarong. A bit hairy getting down especially if your not good with heights. Devils Elbow is on the southern side of the bay. You get to it by parking in the Murrays Beach carpark and walking south. Its a bit of a difficult spot to fish because of the angle of the ledge and the small amount of room. There is a ledge back towards Murrays which is much easier to fish ( Just inside Bowen Island. ) But if your looking for safe spot with plenty of room them my pick would be Mermaids. Ive caught Bonnies, kingys, small tuna, tailor, salmon and snapper there. Hope this helps. On Strike.

Had the same amazing exprience with a Whale Shark on Friday 20th at Broken Bay Wide. It spent half hour at the back of our boat. Had a few pilot fish with it but no cobes. It was about 5m long and was more than happy to let us touch her.