Chappo Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Hi Raiders, Went in a work fishing comp at Lake Macquarie on the weekend. It started Sunday afternoon and finished lunchtime Tuesday. Belmont Pines Caravan Park was where most stayed. It provided easy boat access to the lake. Apart from the howling Noreaster on Sunday afternoon and a howling Southerly on Monday afternoon........the lake fished well. In 4 sessions with my son Scott (9 years old and his first comp) we managed about 35 keeper fish ranging from bream, flathead, flounder, whiting, leatherjackets and even a legal snapper. No, we didnt keep them all, but enough for a few dinners this week. For this comp, you measure and record the fish and can then return them if you wish. Also as a bonus, our two crab traps loaded with Bonito frames, provided 13 legal males over two days. We put another 12 females with roe back into the lake. I think it fair to say the crabs are ON in Swansea. We wern't sure where to drop the traps, but decided on about 20 feet of water out in the middle of the lake. To be honest I think it dosent really matter where you put them at the moment. Thanks mum for the awesome Chilli crab that feed the whole extended family on Wednesday night! Back to the fishing. We fished two rods each. Each rod was loaded with 6lb braid. A small running ball sinker onto a swivel and then about 50cm of 8lb flurocarbon leader onto a size 2 long shank Gamakatsu hook (Basic drifting rig). The bait of choice was salted white bait which we found at Tackle World, Belmont for $14 a kilo (Good value!). Live worms also got hit quickly. Spent the whole time drifting accross the the edge of sand flats into deeper tidal moving water and this did the trick. Scott won the junior section and scored himself a rod and reel plus a bunch of mags, medals and lures. I now have one very keen 9 year old fisherman who can't wait for his next comp! Thanks to all who competed. For the record, some of the better catches were Gary LOWE who scored the biggest Flattie at 75cm and a nice young bloke from Coffs (sorry can't remember your name) who scored a 41cm sand Whiting. They probably come bigger, but I havent heard of or seen one that size before, although we landed one at 36cm. Chappo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewNR Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Got to be happy with that. Won't be long and you will be struggling to keep up with your son on the catches! That's what it's all about. Good times to remember for the future. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinman_zx10r Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 (edited) Sound like you guys had a lot of fun. Looks like someone going have a good feed for a week You would happen to work for EA do you chap?? Thien Edited March 18, 2011 by Tinman_zx10r Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayerOne Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Cool report. Good to see there are a few fish about... We're fishing the Lake for the first time this weekend... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Look at you blokes! Like the cats that swallowed the canaries, the pair of you. Well done to the new fising king in the Chappo household Scotty . Mate, I'm/we are in, that's me and Sam for the next comp where ever it is. I can't let Team Chappo get the drum on Team Hood'lum. Well done on a great effort. Geez that young fella is looking like you every time I see him. Cheers BP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chappo Posted March 18, 2011 Author Share Posted March 18, 2011 Hi Brian, The next comp is definately fresh water and will be Glenbawn Dam. The dates are yet tobe confirmed. Enjoy Foster. We want some photos and post of team Hoodlum in action! Look at you blokes! Like the cats that swallowed the canaries, the pair of you. Well done to the new fising king in the Chappo household Scotty . Mate, I'm/we are in, that's me and Sam for the next comp where ever it is. I can't let Team Chappo get the drum on Team Hood'lum. Well done on a great effort. Geez that young fella is looking like you every time I see him. Cheers BP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chappo Posted March 18, 2011 Author Share Posted March 18, 2011 G'day Tinman, No, not EA. Sound like you guys had a lot of fun. Looks like someone going have a good feed for a week You would happen to work for EA do you chap?? Thien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Good work there. The lake is fishing well presently for flatties and bream and there are plenty of crabs. My son and I've managed 38 male swimmers including some really big ones over in a couple of sessions with witches hats at the mouth of Dora Creek over the last 2 weekends. I named one of them Methuselah as he was so big and old he had marine scunge and barnicles growing all over him. I nearly had to buy a bigger boiler. There has only been about 5 or 6 females. There was a "paid" volunteer (??? I know) doing surveys for Fisheries at the boat ramp last weekend and I had a chat with him for a while. He was recording crab numbers and sizes and he said there were plenty coming in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chappo Posted March 18, 2011 Author Share Posted March 18, 2011 Well done mate, Its a great waterway and we'll be back next year. Have to say, it was great to score enough fresh feed of crabs to make a full meal for a large hungry family! The most recent report is a bit spooky that there might be illegal commercial fishing occurring in the middle of the night in the lake. Chappo Good work there. The lake is fishing well presently for flatties and bream and there are plenty of crabs. My son and I've managed 38 male swimmers including some really big ones over in a couple of sessions with witches hats at the mouth of Dora Creek over the last 2 weekends. I named one of them Methuselah as he was so big and old he had marine scunge and barnicles growing all over him. I nearly had to buy a bigger boiler. There has only been about 5 or 6 females. There was a "paid" volunteer (??? I know) doing surveys for Fisheries at the boat ramp last weekend and I had a chat with him for a while. He was recording crab numbers and sizes and he said there were plenty coming in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray R Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Good onya Murray, mate you and Scott had a great time, you've got yourself a new fishing buddy now. Top fishing and did you flick a few plastics around as well??.. Congrats mate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutcho1 Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Nice one Chappo, Congrats cuz Scotty you guys were on fire. Going out with Ray tomorrow weather permitting let you know the result. We will be chasing whiting, bream and Jew. Regards, Hutchoooooo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chappo Posted March 19, 2011 Author Share Posted March 19, 2011 Hi Ray, Had a go at whiting on surface poppers over the sandflats on the top of the tide when the wind was up. Have to say, I lost a bit of confidence without Hutch there as my guide. I Also started to doubt the type of lure, but did manage a few hits (but no fish). I also found out 9 year olds don't quite have the patience for this type of fishing. Good luck tomorrow with hutch! Chappo Good onya Murray, mate you and Scott had a great time, you've got yourself a new fishing buddy now. Top fishing and did you flick a few plastics around as well??.. Congrats mate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chappo Posted March 19, 2011 Author Share Posted March 19, 2011 About time you got the band back together. Wonder if Ray will let you use his custom brag mat? Good luck. Chappo Nice one Chappo, Congrats cuz Scotty you guys were on fire. Going out with Ray tomorrow weather permitting let you know the result. We will be chasing whiting, bream and Jew. Regards, Hutchoooooo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShaneHulands Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Congrats on the effort. Not sure if you are aware but crab traps are illegal in Lake Macquarie. Can only use witches hats. I only found this out by reading the signs at the Pelican Boat Ramp. Not a well known fact and poorly sign posted. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catchin Jack Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Congrats on the effort. Not sure if you are aware but crab traps are illegal in Lake Macquarie. Can only use witches hats. I only found this out by reading the signs at the Pelican Boat Ramp. Not a well known fact and poorly sign posted. Cheers. True, only witches hats are allowed in Lake Macquarie and i'm sure Chappo was referring to them when he said crab traps. I don't know about it being "poorly sign posted", as with most things, it's up to you to make sure you know the rules and regulations, it's on the DPI website and in 2011 Saltwater Fishing Guide also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul.kenny Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Great report.....how do I get a job with a company that arranges fishing competitions during the week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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