Monday, Monday.

[stormy]

Had an early start this morning, leaving home by 7.15am. Took my mate Bob with me, as he had just had a skin cancer removed from his cheek and 30 stitches later, seems o.k.

Hiked in to the coast and chose one of dozens of platforms to fish for blackfish or drummer. The swell was less than a foot or so, so the possies were safe. Not long after we got there, a NW breeze started up and got progressively stronger over the next hour. The fish were a bit tentative in taking baits and I put it down to the changing conditions and the fact that it was 2 hours before high. This place seems to fish better on the run out. I got fish pretty consistently, but Bob only landed two in the time we were there. He fished beside me and used the same rig etc, so the difference was most likely bait selection, recognising what his float was indicating and his strike. I discussed it with him after we finished, due to the heavy wind chop and uncomfortable conditions. See if he remembers next time.

I favour a particular 'type' of cabbage leaf when fishing ocean rocks and showed Bob what to pick, what size of leaf to use and how to attach it to the hook and leader. Next, I noticed how he struck at a down and explained that because we are using braid as a mainline, striking hard will only rip the bait out of the fishes mouth. He noted how I lift the rod firmly and smoothly to set the hook. Braid has no stretch and it sits on top of the water or off the water, if there is a breeze. Move the braid and the hook also moves almost at the same moment. We will see how he goes next week. The 2 hour session ended with 13 for me and 2 for Bob. Gave him one of mine, released a few and came home with a feed for the week. Another guy came along as we were cleaning fish and said he mostly fished Marley and Wattomolla. Thought it was our own Marley, but it wasn't.

The Rock platform we fished today. No swell as such and loads of feed growing.

10 of my catch. Released some more of these to catch another day.

[luvbigfish]

top read there stormy and a great result in the end , im sure bob will be chucking them back like you after a few more lessons with technique and presentation , well done boys nice feed of blackies there

cheers paul

[bennoz]

well done fellas - looks like a top morning out there. sure beats sitting on a train heading into work !

[luderick -angler]

Oh if only I could get on the rocks at the moment! It will be soon! Oh and Stormy great catch there mate! PS re the braid thats why I p#$$$% it off and startedusing dango wax float line! Awesome stuff

[stormy]

Yeah, I have often been tempted to try Dango wax, but am doing very well with the braid and haven't struck a single issue, apart from the colour fading severely. If I see a spool on special someplace, I will buy it and try it.