Broken Bay and Terrigal FADS on Saturday

[saltrix]

Got the offer of a trip to the Broken Bay and Terrigal FADS with a mate which I took up with memories of some catches I made off the Sydney FAD, and reports of the more distant FADS being better.

Coming out of Broken Bay the weather looked to be improving and we picked up some yakkas on the way out.

It is a long way out to the Terrigal FAD and we found 3 other boats there, but no action or fish showing on the sounder, so after 1/2 hour trying we set out to the Broken Bay FAD in the hope that would be better. The wind had got up a bit and it was a bit lumpy.

On the way I trolled a small feather Xmas tree and hooked a stripey, it came along to the boat very easily and I thought my fishbait problems would be solved for a while but when it saw the boat it took off like a rocket and I was a bit slow getting the rod away from the boat and the line hit the gunwhale and broke. I then rigged another smaller Xmas tree on a 60lb trace and we set off again. The reel screamed again and even with the 30lb braid and a heavy drag I watched the 200m line disappear to the backing before I could slow it down. I played it for about 10 minutes out wide gaining and losing line and then it went deep and forward of the boat. Then the line went limp and I retrieved it to find about the last 3 metres of line frayed.

I reckon I had a marlin on which frayed the line when it went forward. I did not have enough drag on to break the 30lb braid and it is a clear bottom out there at 100m.

The Broken Bay FAD again had a 3 or 4 boats but little action. One boat I saw hit a school and got a couple of U/S and 1 good fish but after an hour all gave up and left. We were fishing both live baits and pilchards, but I think the fish I saw caught were taken on something smaller.

We then gave up and headed in, running into a school of dolphins which came over to the boat to investigate as they usually do. We stopped the boat and I snapped some pics although I missed the best jumps.

By the time we got to the 45m mark the day had improved with the sun out and calm seas, so as we were fishless we decided to spened a few minutes bottom bashing, and my mate caught 3 flathead in quick succession. The eastern blue spot were 47 cm each and the tiger a bit smaller. Not the good catch of mahi mahi we would have liked but at least fish for tea.

[Bryce Neyland]

Got the offer of a trip to the Broken Bay and Terrigal FADS with a mate which I took up with memories of some catches I made off the Sydney FAD, and reports of the more distant FADS being better.

Coming out of Broken Bay the weather looked to be improving and we picked up some yakkas on the way out.

It is a long way out to the Terrigal FAD and we found 3 other boats there, but no action or fish showing on the sounder, so after 1/2 hour trying we set out to the Broken Bay FAD in the hope that would be better. The wind had got up a bit and it was a bit lumpy.

On the way I trolled a small feather Xmas tree and hooked a stripey, it came along to the boat very easily and I thought my fishbait problems would be solved for a while but when it saw the boat it took off like a rocket and I was a bit slow getting the rod away from the boat and the line hit the gunwhale and broke. I then rigged another smaller Xmas tree on a 60lb trace and we set off again. The reel screamed again and even with the 30lb braid and a heavy drag I watched the 200m line disappear to the backing before I could slow it down. I played it for about 10 minutes out wide gaining and losing line and then it went deep and forward of the boat. Then the line went limp and I retrieved it to find about the last 3 metres of line frayed.

I reckon I had a marlin on which frayed the line when it went forward. I did not have enough drag on to break the 30lb braid and it is a clear bottom out there at 100m.

The Broken Bay FAD again had a 3 or 4 boats but little action. One boat I saw hit a school and got a couple of U/S and 1 good fish but after an hour all gave up and left. We were fishing both live baits and pilchards, but I think the fish I saw caught were taken on something smaller.

We then gave up and headed in, running into a school of dolphins which came over to the boat to investigate as they usually do. We stopped the boat and I snapped some pics although I missed the best jumps.

By the time we got to the 45m mark the day had improved with the sun out and calm seas, so as we were fishless we decided to spened a few minutes bottom bashing, and my mate caught 3 flathead in quick succession. The eastern blue spot were 47 cm each and the tiger a bit smaller. Not the good catch of mahi mahi we would have liked but at least fish for tea.

good looking photos there mate. sounds like you had a chance

[Salami]

was at broken bay FAD sunday morning - the water was 20.5c most of the way (green) untill about 4 miles from the fad it jumped to 23.5c and glorious blue. could explain the marlin you hooked!

managed 3 x dollies undersized. there were heaps there jumping around but shy. nice marlin bait ! all were caught on pilchards and 1st 1/2 hour of light. looking forward to them growing up.

got a few nanniguy at 60metres on the way back. nothing else.