Iron Cove Flatties

[pmak]

Could not resist the warm weather yesterday and managed to make time for a quick fish at IC with #1 son. #2 was at home ill

It has been a while since I had taken the kids SP fishing. At our last few sessions before winter, #2 son had 3 flathead on SP to his name at the same area while #1 son still hadn't cracked his first yet.

We started to the west of the Leichhardt Rowing Club at 10.00am nearing the top of the tide. I opened accounts with a close to 40cm flattie on my first cast. #1 son was getting disheartended quickly! I was pretty sure he would score today - just a matter of making the casts and being persistent.

After 10 minutes, he gives a yell and winds furiously. 'I got one!!' Before I could tell him to ease up, he had hoisted the fish to the concrete. After de hooking, he proceeded to lay out his 'arsenal' for a pose with the fish! (must have been looking at too many fishing magazines). For the record, his gear consisted of a 2-5kg IM8 6'6" rod from Wattos and the reel was an Abu Garcia Cardinal 1000 which I had fished out from a beach in Kurnell, stripped, cleaned, oiled and recommissioned! The lure that did the damage was a 2" Gulp shrimp in New Penny colour on a 3gm #2 jighead. He was also using 15lb dyneema braid (easier to untangle birds nests if they occur) with 8lb fluorocarbon leader. I will probably get lighter line for him as he gets better in 'managing' braided line

What followed after that was a pretty productive session for the both of us with a total of 6 flathead (3 each) and 1 small bream for me caught and released in a 1 1/2 hour session. The biggest of the day was 43cm to #1 son - his new PB.

Next target - bream!!

[james7]

It looks like #1 son is living up to his number!

Sounds like you both had a great session. Congratulations on his pb.

Cheers

Peter

[dazzassj6]

soooo goood! How come when i work that area i never get a flattie. Did you go at low tide or something? Cause usually when i got i go around run out and its quite high. I use the 2" grub pumpkin seed and bloodworm.

[Penguin]

Nice sesh, and your son looks pleased in them pics

penguin

[pmak]

soooo goood! How come when i work that area i never get a flattie. Did you go at low tide or something? Cause usually when i got i go around run out and its quite high. I use the 2" grub pumpkin seed and bloodworm.

dazzassj6 - generally an hour before and after the top of the tide works well from the bank. When targeting flathead, we are not afraid to impart a lot of action on the lure, usually a slow lift followed by a couple of twitches when using Gulp prawns, grubs and minnows. When using the worm, we lift and 'jiggle' (continuous twitching) for a few seconds before letting the worm drop again. We also use #4 or #2 size hooks. I will use either 1 or 1.5gm jigheads in the area as the current is not very strong and water not too deep. I go heavier for the kids (3-5gm) so that they can cast further and to minimise braid tangles.

Let me know how you go next time - no excuse not to catch one now ...

[dazzassj6]

will do pmak, thanks for the advice! maybe if you go out next time gimme a yell, im free all week next week.