My First Trip To Botany Bay

[MrChipsnSalad]

Well, I have missed few reports over the past weeks, but since the fish were scarce, i have not bothered. I had a dinner at the in-laws in Sylvania this evening, so I convinced my wife that we should take the Tinny out for a run and throw a line. As is the case, when you take the whole troop along, the early start finally kicks off at around 10.00am. So it was today. Being a Northern Beach based fisho, I knew nothing about the south. A quick call to my accountant (he fishes this area in his boat a lot), and I had a plan. Stopped in at the bait shop near Smiths Seafood, and picked up some ammo. The guy there was really helpful, and he suggested that I drop the boat in at Hawkesbury Blvd Ramp in Sylvania Waters. This seemed good, as it was a short drive from dinner. The tide was really low too, so a deep ramp was appreciated.

Anyway it all started badly when i caught my wedding ring on my handle for the canaopy on the back of the ute, and was left with a perfectly round cut around my whole finger, and shredds of skin hanging off (lucky it wasn't broken). Then I backed the boat down, only to find a massive crevice under water at the base of the ramp. Lucky I didn't smash the motor, the tilt lock held, and the axle for the trailer didn't suffer too badly. The joys of visiting area's without local knowledge. Some other guys were coming in, and even they admitted not knowing about the crevice. Well it's there and I found it!!!

The mood lifted as we headed out towards the oil tanker jetty, where there were Trevally, so I was told. Spent about 30mins tossing prawns, squid and squidgies around the area, but not even a sniff. Drifted in close to the pier, and realised that those big yellow signs were telling us that we needed to be 100m from the pier. Fished around something that looked like a fish farm, until we saw signs telling us to get 50m away. Started to feel a bit unwanted, so we went to plan B.

Plan B was a drift 100m off the front of the boat ramp near Towra point. The idea was to find Flathead. This also proved to be fruitless. After about 1.5 hours we had not even had a bite. My son was having a ball practicing his casts. The wife was settling in for the long haul, and asking where we would get lunch. I remained indifferent, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Towed a Halco Lazer Pro for a half hour or so, as we decided to motor slowly back and look for spots that may hold fish. Not having a depth sounder is a real pain in unknown waters. As it turned out, we didn't need a sounder. You just needed to look over the side. We were about 300 -400 m off Towra, and I thought we were going to run aground. Man it is shallow there.

Next stop Captain Cook Bridge. For zip. And on to Tom Ugly. Spent some time around the Pylons here, as we were actually getting bumps on the line, for the first time to day. Worked around the pylons and got nibbles and soft tugs, but nothing hooked. Does anyone actually notice that the bridges are "No wash Zone". There are big signs everywhere, yet everyone hoons through the place like there is no tomorrow. That goes for the local Waterways launch too. No wonder there was that accident there some months ago. "No Wash" means go slowly!!!!!!!

Anyway, we called it a day at about 4.00pm and packed up. Not a single fish was taken, nor did a single fish even cross the rail. On the other hand, the day was pleasant, and warm. The bay was lovely, and the sea nice and calm, which made travel comfortable.

Had a fish soup at the inlaws, so I did at least taste fish today.

[CR@ZY OS@M@]

man sorry to hear of your first experience out there.

hope the next time you decide to go out there again you have much more better luck throughout the day of fishing.

atleast the day was good to go out with the kid and mrs.

[sanger]

I have had a few days like this recently but as long as the weather is nice at least its still pleasent on the water.... And think of it this way your now one day closer to that magic session when everything goes right!!!! Makes you apreciate the good ones more!!!!!

[Penguin]

Sorry to hear of your quete day on the Bay,

It was better than my quete day at home though.

penguin