Sussex Inlet Blackfish

[mpreston55]

Finally got my fishing trip to Sussex Inlet with the father in Law. Had three great days of fishing for blackfish.

Fished the inlet up towards the entrance to St George's Basin where there are extensive ribbon weed beds on both sides of the inlet.

Found enough weed to keep us going for 3 days in Lake Illawarra (not great quality but it worked). Some other fishermen who couldn,t find any weed were using squirt worms with great success. There were a lot of undersize blackies caught between 24 and 27cm which, of course, all went back. One was injured while landing and floated away when released and a huge sea eagle swooped on him only about 30 metres from the boat (felt bad about the fish but it was a great sight).

Kept about 25 fish over 30cm (our size limit) for our own meals and to give to my cousins for the use of their house.

Sorry I haven't got a digital camera as yet but am planning to buy one soon. Hopefully before my next visit to the Inlet so that I can put up some photos.

Other people were catching quite a few flathead and whiting in the Basin.

Thanks to Roberta on the tips found on this site especially the one about keeping the weed to about the thickness of a matchstick. On past trips I had been putting on a whole pile of weed which tended to bunch up. This new trick worked much better - thanks.

Regards and good fishing

Howard.

[bart]

G'day Howard,

We learn something every time we go out after the Blackfish. Bait presentation is very important when chasing them. That is only one of the many tricks of the trade.

A great sport is our Blackfishing.

CHEERS BART

[arpie]

Well done Howard!!! Great fun, eh?? I reckon we have another blackie addict in the making! So glad to hear you got into some good fishing down there. It has been a bit quiet here just now - will try Spot X again soon & see if I can increase my pb of 45cm! It was Nov last year when I caught him!

Glad the 'matchstick' thickness did the trick - I cannot tell a lie ...... it was Dick Lewers that wrote that in a fishing mag about 15 years ago!!! I never forgot it (and I wasn't into blackies back then!) Matter of fact, I still have it somewhere in my fishing notes. Most folk put way too much weed on & it looks like a fat olive instead of a thin, streamlined bit of weed wafting past their nose!

Don't be afraid to use 2 hooks, too! I have a short trace on the top swivel (above the sinker/weight) and the other longer trace on the bottom swivel, below the sinker/weight. Having the 2 swivels separating the weights from the float assists in casting & it is not often that you get a tangle with the 2 hooks. It also allows you to use 2 different tyoes of weed (if you are lucky enought to have 2 types ) or you can have weed on one & cabbage on the other. It also allows you to fish 2 depths ...... more chance of finding at what level they are feeding.

Cheerio for now

Roberta