Hairtail

[sniper]

Fished Warrahtah bay saterday night ALL NIGHT 3 boats. Only 1 hairtail was caught (between 5 fishos) .It was 1.1 long. Its SAD once Cowan creek was alive with the creatures .

I can remember when ....................yak yak yak ya ya ya I wont go on but it breaks my heart.

[Steve07]

I know how you feel,had a couple of nights out on the hawkesbury without a hairtail in sight & even

between a few more boats than the 3 that where there on saturday.Been like that for a few years

now,way to hit & miss for me to sit out in the cold most of the night for no bite's.dont bother going

anymore,it is sad but as they are top fun & a great fish to catch when they are on,especially when

they are good size fish.

Well done on giving it a go anyway in this weather!!

cheers

Steve

[tan the fisherman]

Hawkesbury Trawlers to blame!!

[donjuarez]

Could be a bit early yet too though...

Last time I was out, water temps were unusually warm for this time of year..

Even offshore, the YFT aren't off Sydney in numbers yet, but are further south with the colder currents..

AJ

[sniper]

Dont blame the Hawesbury trawlers they are only after prawns and squid (our bait) and have fish excluders on their trawl nets now. However I see Aust. haries in the fish shops all year now and for the last 4 years, when prior to this you saw them only seasonal.!!!! Therefore my personal opinon is that some profesionals have found were they hang out AT SEA and are targeting them. As haries come into the Hawesbury to sporn and they are not here again what is the logical conclusion!!!! extinction ????? If I know this surely fisheries knows this so......WHAT ARE THEY DOING ABOUT IT.....

[slinkymalinky]

Don't complain Sniper... I still don't even believe they exist

I'm yet to even see one in the flesh and I'll take some convincing that they're not an invention of the manufacturers of glow sticks.

Well done on catching one of these near mythical fish.

Cheers, Slinky

[tan the fisherman]

Sniper & Slinky,

Trawlers in the Hawkesbury disturb everything - bycatches of fish are common even with the fish excluders.

I pulled out a 1.2m hairtail from the Hawkesbury (near Brooklyn) around 5 yrs ago. Havent seen them since and I have done several all-nighters targeting them.

They are not extinct just spawning in a different area I reckon, maybe out to sea as they are getting caught.

PS: Hawkesbury squid and prawns are the worst bait in my opinion.

[humkyle]

did u one caught on sat night get released??

[sw1fty]

bad luck mate

ur keen staying all night for a hairtail tho

[tan the fisherman]

really ??? mate then you obviously are doing something wrong with them when fresh hawky prawns and squid are F*%$#@$ dynamite!

Fresh are good bait agreed - frozen is what I was talking about mate.

Anyway hairtail are great to catch & eat wherever they may be.

They'll be back a little later in the year.

[Trapper Tom]

Hey Fishraiders

Just out of interest I used to catch these evil looking prehistoric creatures in Botany Bay years ago.

Same go as the Hawkesbury, winter and night time adventure only. And yes they were only caught in the deeper areas, those areas would be obvious to those who fish the Bay.

Gave up when they disapeared about 15 years ago and have not tried again.

Just wondering if anybody has given it a go in BB over the last few years or has any reports? That would be interesting.

I think I agree with "Tan the Fisherman" ( Hey great name by the way) the trawlers have figured out where they are out at sea before they come into the estuarys as you do see them in the fish shops year round, sort of.

Same for any migratory animal bird or whatever, if they don't make it to where they are supposed to be at a particular point in time in a seasonal cycle then there has been a intervention whether natural or by man. Natural interventions do not generally affect any given species of animal or bird for such a long time, the same indicates a man intervention. ie Trawlers whether targeting directly our for there food/bait source (Even that call is unknown but I suspect not far off the mark.)

And on this don't get me wrong they are entitled to earn a living, without question, otherwise you would not be able to go to the fish markets and select and enjoy all our wonderful seafoods.

The question is these buggers were here and the are NOT now.

Dammit and Jeez I can't help myself on these issues but I do care about our fishery resources, environments etc etc and NO I am defintely not a tree hugger, prefer to hug wifey

Mods please don't kill me for being passionate about these sorts of matters, I just quite simple care. Would love to see if anybody has knocked off a Hairy in BB lately.

Cheers

Trapper Tom

[sniper]

Nice one Trapper Tom

[tan the fisherman]

Hey Fishraiders

Just out of interest I used to catch these evil looking prehistoric creatures in Botany Bay years ago.

Same go as the Hawkesbury, winter and night time adventure only. And yes they were only caught in the deeper areas, those areas would be obvious to those who fish the Bay.

Gave up when they disapeared about 15 years ago and have not tried again.

Just wondering if anybody has given it a go in BB over the last few years or has any reports? That would be interesting.

I think I agree with "Tan the Fisherman" ( Hey great name by the way) the trawlers have figured out where they are out at sea before they come into the estuarys as you do see them in the fish shops year round, sort of.

Same for any migratory animal bird or whatever, if they don't make it to where they are supposed to be at a particular point in time in a seasonal cycle then there has been a intervention whether natural or by man. Natural interventions do not generally affect any given species of animal or bird for such a long time, the same indicates a man intervention. ie Trawlers whether targeting directly our for there food/bait source (Even that call is unknown but I suspect not far off the mark.)

And on this don't get me wrong they are entitled to earn a living, without question, otherwise you would not be able to go to the fish markets and select and enjoy all our wonderful seafoods.

The question is these buggers were here and the are NOT now.

Dammit and Jeez I can't help myself on these issues but I do care about our fishery resources, environments etc etc and NO I am defintely not a tree hugger, prefer to hug wifey

Mods please don't kill me for being passionate about these sorts of matters, I just quite simple care. Would love to see if anybody has knocked off a Hairy in BB lately.

Cheers

Trapper Tom

Thats what I was trying to say!!

[Mondo Rock]

And on this don't get me wrong they are entitled to earn a living, without question, otherwise you would not be able to go to the fish markets and select and enjoy all our wonderful seafoods.

I wouldn't be entirely disappointed if sale of "all our wonderful seafood" was significantly cut back and people were expected to catch whatever wild fish they wanted to eat. Farmed fish could become the commercial norm for those who just want a bit of fish with dinner.

Same as it is for cows and sheep.

I actually hope that this will be the way of the future.

Edited June 23, 2009 by Mondo

[deano2233]

I wouldn't be entirely disappointed if sale of "all our wonderful seafood" was significantly cut back and people were expected to catch whatever wild fish they wanted to eat. Farmed fish could become the commercial norm for those who just want a bit of fish with dinner.

Same as it is for cows and sheep.

I actually hope that this will be the way of the future.

agreed.

[hooklineandsinker]

I wouldn't be entirely disappointed if sale of "all our wonderful seafood" was significantly cut back and people were expected to catch whatever wild fish they wanted to eat. Farmed fish could become the commercial norm for those who just want a bit of fish with dinner.

Same as it is for cows and sheep.

I actually hope that this will be the way of the future.

agreed.

+1

i used to love catching hairtail with my dad

now im lucky to see a whole one

Edited June 23, 2009 by hooklineandsinker