arpie Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 (edited) Hi guys Went to the breakwall this afternoon for the last of the runout - water was fairly clear - saw a small school moving thru, so cast to it. Got a 'just legal' that 'self released' as I lifted it from the water. Was happy with that. Just before the actual turn, hooked a better one & released it. Then got busted off by a better one! After 3.30pm, with the water the colour of chocolate, the tide turned & I hooked this one. Put up a great fight! Shortly after, I hooked onto a real stomper, which I had on for a good couple of minutes, before it pulled the hook. It would have been at least 40cm, comparing the fight with the one above! He was pulling line from a fairly heavy set drag & I was doing my best to steer him away from under the rocks! One guy was watching & disappointed when it got off! Spoke with another guy who had fished there for bream this morning (like 6am!!!) with mullet (he got 3 bream - the biggest was 2kg ) Perhaps, with mind over mattress, I may make it by 7 - 7.30am! Had a go flicking on the floating pontoon this morning whilst Keith had his eyes checked, tossing Raw Prawn Smiling Jacks around - had a couple of great 'follows' by big bream - they 'mock charged' but wouldn't take it in fully! Darn it! Very exciting watching them come out from under the pontoon. Finally got a pike after a lone prawn skipped across the surface & I had a Nuclear Chicken gulp on & mimicked the prawn! Cheers for now Roberta Edited June 14, 2007 by Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmoshe Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Nice fish Roberta...Pity that fella didn't want to play during the social weekend eh? Is that the airport control tower behind?? Are you targeting flying fish now too?? Cheers, Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jill7779 Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 (edited) Pete, that's the Coastal Rescue building on the breakwall at Forster. Great time you had Roberta, wish they had been on the bite during the Blackfish Social, never mind, always next year! Which spot was the fella fishing for the Bream? Jill Edited June 14, 2007 by jill7779 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 Hi guys Also forgot to say that I saw about 5 big schools of very large fish go past (out to sea) on the start of the 'in' tide. That was when I hooked the biggest one that spat the hook! So exciting to see the large schools (100+ big fish) go past & cast ahead of them so that the fish catches up with your float. Usually at least one will have a go! Looks like a flight control tower, doesn't it? CFD & Jill are right - the relatively 'new' Coastal Patrol Building. Yes - they check out anyone going out to make sure they have pfds on. The bream guy was further down the wall, past the tower, Jill. He actually caught up with me this morning when I was flicking the pontoon, then again on the breakwall this pm when I was blackying! Good to see I am not the only keen fisherperson around!! He didn't actually fish this pm tho. Bet he is there again tomorrow, tho! He said that there were huge numbers of blackies going thru, too, so will check it out on the am!! Cheers for now Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Rock Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Roberta - you truly are the Blackfish Queen! Do you ever chase them off the rocks or are you primarily an estuary dweller? In any event, sounds like you've got access to a pretty good blackie population. Keep those great reports coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 (edited) Hi Mondo I am mainly an Estuary Blackie fisher - fishing the wall - have tried my luck on the rocks behind The SHark at Jaynies Corner, but the swell is pretty big there & if another bloke had not turned up & convinced me to turn around & give it a go, would have gone home, purely on safety issues! He got 6, I got 3 (all big!) Also lost gear when a wave came right over the top of the rocks from behind us catching us totally unawares! We were safe, just our backup gear got washed in - fluro carbon, hooks etc! So, I am not that keen to do 'the rocks' when I know that virtually every blackie that enters the Wallis Lake system, has to go past either the Tuncurry or Forster Breakwall! You can almost time them to within 1-2hr either side of the top & bottom of both tides. From here on in, they should be there, 4 times a day! Some of the 'grumps' only give them like 1/2hr & go home if they don't get one! I give them at least 2hr, if not longer & assume it is my fault if I don't get one! It is the only way to learn! Good way to pass some time! Ya gotta stick it out! Ya gotta be tough! Don't give in!! I was also still using my old Byron Bay weed!! Amazing how it has lasted! Cheers Roberta Edited June 14, 2007 by Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR4EVA Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 love a feed of blacky - suprising to some but I reckon they are A1 !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 Ditto to that!!! Cheers Roberta If you haven't enjoyed it, it hasn't been prepared correctlyl! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Dan Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 (edited) Congrats on a nice fish Roberta cheers Kiwi Dan Edited June 14, 2007 by Kiwi Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 Hey, Kiwi Dan Can't wait for my next trip to NZ - will seriously target the massive Parore over there!! Only the Maoris eat them, apparantly, usually smoked. If they are caught in nets, they are used as crayfish baits! Someone spread the rumour that they are unhealthy to eat! Suits me! All the more for us!!!! THey grow huge over there! Cheers Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 Nice Blacky Roberta, keep up the good work. penguin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gretsch Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 Roberta, Did you see the big one that busted you off? It may have been a Surgeon !! C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted June 15, 2007 Author Share Posted June 15, 2007 (edited) Never seen a big surgeon here yet - we've got plenty of little ones - not even sure if what I have caught before is a surgeon ..... grey with a white band around the tail?? Skin like leather jackets? I thought the one that got off may be a drummer even! Boy, did it pull & fight dirty! Saw it as it went up then down stream, just like a bullet - couldn't identify it from that small vision .... but it was big! Cheers Roberta PS Raining as we speak, so no chance of going this pm! Darn it! Went out this morning for just under 2hrs - water was too clear, saw the mongrels but only caught a baby & put him back. The last of the run out will be in the morning in a couple of days ... Looking better then .... my favourite time for Forster & Spot X on Tuncurry side ..... Stewy knows where! The dolphins came in with the Amaroo this morning, then chased the blackies along the wall! They were right on top of the weed line & scared about 500 blackies that just took off down towards the sea! Just non-stop blackies. I'd packed up about 5 mins before! Edited June 15, 2007 by Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robeebee Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 well done good fish there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flattieman Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 Lovely blackie, Roberta. Hope you have a bit more luck with the lures soon - sounds like you've got a few good ones there. Have you had a crack at those bream (2kg!) yet? Flattieman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted June 15, 2007 Author Share Posted June 15, 2007 Hi Flattieman Haven't tried for those bream yet - may wait till I am in my yak & around the leases again! They are a bit wary on the wall, methinks! Having too much fun with the blackies, too. Amazing watching threm go thru - sometimes, I am too busy watching the fish instead of my float & miss the hit! Cheers Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roosterman Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 (edited) Never seen a big surgeon here yet - we've got plenty of little ones - not even sure if what I have caught before is a surgeon ..... grey with a white band around the tail?? Skin like leather jackets? you did have one of those pesky tiny forster sergeons by the sounds of it roberta... just be careful of those razor sharp flutes near tail.. when i tried near the big tree around that nav pole when up forster you could see swarms of em attacking my bait... they do fight good so if you do hook a big one he will test you all right,very erratic fighters similar to trevally... Edited June 15, 2007 by roosterman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachwormer Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 Roberta, what kind of reel do you use for blackfish? I thought being a blackfish specialist you'd be using a centrepin like an Avon or Steelite, but you mentioned you had drag on when you lost that big fish. Just curious. Also, how do you cook them? I used to fish for them all the time (almost always of the Sydney Eastern Suburbs rocks). I agree if you kill, fillet, skin and remove the blood line they are fine to eat, but I could never get them to taste like bream and whiting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted June 16, 2007 Author Share Posted June 16, 2007 Hi Steve When I've seen 'surgeon fish' on screen, they have been different to what I got up here! My Grant's have some very pretty ones (some can grow up to 16"!) Next one I catch, I will try & get a photo! Didn't know about the sharp bits either, thanks for that! The ones they catch in the harbour can be quite large, apparantly. Hi Beachwormer I honestly can't profess to be a 'blackfish specialist' but will admit to being addicted!! I have heaps yet to learn ..... especially mastering the art of the centrepin reel!!! I had an old Steelite one that I tried for a while, but gave up in disgust (almost tossed in blackfishing altogether, too!) Gave the whole rig to my brother, Sails! He tried it too & then, like me, went to a spinning reel! I leave the bail open & use the tip of my little finger on the lip of the spool to control the line as it goes out. It works quite well. I did, however, win the Alvey blackfish reel from the Blackfish SOcial the other week - and now have it loaded up with 30lb braid & will be giving it a try very soon!! It does have a casting spool (turn it to cast, rather than letting line out then casting with the other type!) It will take a bit of mastering, but i will persevere! Re: cooking them - check out my post on 'the Kitchen' http://fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=17392 I actually prefer them to bream now! My most preferred fish,even above flatties! When I catch them, I usually kill & bleed them immediately & put them in a bucket full of fresh, clean sea water. If the water gets too bloody, replace it with fresh. As soon as I get home, I fillet them & treat them as described above. Yum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachwormer Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 Well thanks for that Roberta, that sure looks like it would work with those fillets. Don't feel like you have to use a centrepin to be a real blackfisher. One of the best blackfishermen I've met was using an overhead baitcaster when I first met him (although he later switched to centrepin). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted June 16, 2007 Author Share Posted June 16, 2007 (edited) Just got back from fishing the wall this afternoon (just before it looked like a big storm was about to hit!) It was a bit quiet to start off with, but one local GUN BLACKIE FISHO (a real specialist!) was getting them regularly - some decent ones, most just legal or over - 12 all up. Another elderly local (right next to him) couldn't catch a cold! As the flow got slower, I had 3 on that all got off (one of which was really nice!) then I got 2 - one at least 35cm & the other 28cm. I gave them both to Noel - he is 77 & has parkinson & it takes him 1/2hr just to get down to the water, but he is a gun fisher when they are on. He caught a 50cm blackie last year! Would loved to have seen that one being landed! I took my prize reel down & tried it today - it has been blooded!!! Dropped 2 fish & hooked & kept one! It really does take a bit of getting used to! I used the brake every time I had to re-bait or it took off on it's own! Nice Reel, tho! Runs so smoothly. I will have to persevere & really get used to it!! Most prefer centrepins to spinning reels. Now, using an overhead - that is most unusual! Cheers Roberta Edited June 16, 2007 by Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now