craigbutcher Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Hi Guys, I fish the harbour a lot, and it's interesting to note that my captures of legal snapper are increasing in both frequency and size from 2009 - 2012. Hit the harbour weekend before last at 1:45am till 7am and berleyed just off shark island in the 25m mark which marks bait. Caught a few tailor and plenty of pannies from 32cm to 40cm. Heaps of them, we left them biting. Here they are snapped with a 2Litre bottle to show the size Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
user1829 Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Hi Guys, I fish the harbour a lot, and it's interesting to note that my captures of legal snapper are increasing in both frequency and size from 2009 - 2012. Hit the harbour weekend before last at 1:45am till 7am and berleyed just off shark island in the 25m mark which marks bait. Caught a few tailor and plenty of pannies from 32cm to 40cm. Heaps of them, we left them biting. Here they are snapped with a 2Litre bottle to show the size good stuff mate, nice to know they are firing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayoox Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 That's a very decent feed you got there. Well done. Sydney Harbour still holds some great fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishythings Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Hi Guys, I fish the harbour a lot, and it's interesting to note that my captures of legal snapper are increasing in both frequency and size from 2009 - 2012. Hit the harbour weekend before last at 1:45am till 7am and berleyed just off shark island in the 25m mark which marks bait. Caught a few tailor and plenty of pannies from 32cm to 40cm. Heaps of them, we left them biting. Here they are snapped with a 2Litre bottle to show the size Not only in the Harbour but also in Coogee many people got snappers at that sizes on white bread while targeting Blackfish atm. Cheers, Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigbutcher Posted June 15, 2012 Author Share Posted June 15, 2012 (edited) Using Anecdotal evidence (no real basis for my claims except for personal observation), it seems the removal of commercial fishing in the harbour is bringing it back to what it may have been like 30 years ago! A world class snapper fishery! Would love to see 5-8 KG snapper a regular occurance in Sydney Harbour, like PORT PHILLIP BAY. Who says it cannot acheive this? When long reef which is only 4 km away does... Butch Edited June 15, 2012 by THE BUTCH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen801 Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 They are definately around. A few years ago i caught one about 70cm in MH. mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trapper Tom Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Hey Butch Here's another snippit of info on the harbour for you. It did indeed have a snapper fishery that was nearly as good as Port P Bay many many long years ago. The reason was it had extensive mussel beds to support them. Fishing practises and pollution took their toll and it was goodbye snapper. With massively improved water quality,and the ceassation of commercial fishing now the beds are no longer being destroyed. Expect bigger and better catches in the future. I used to fish the harbour, reakon I will have to start again. Cheers Trapper Tom. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongy Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Hi Guys, I fish the harbour a lot, and it's interesting to note that my captures of legal snapper are increasing in both frequency and size from 2009 - 2012. Hit the harbour weekend before last at 1:45am till 7am and berleyed just off shark island in the 25m mark which marks bait. Caught a few tailor and plenty of pannies from 32cm to 40cm. Heaps of them, we left them biting. Here they are snapped with a 2Litre bottle to show the size Thats a decent haul! What bait did the damage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slink Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Very nice Butch , got any spares for a feed ? Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigbutcher Posted June 15, 2012 Author Share Posted June 15, 2012 Hey Butch Here's another snippit of info on the harbour for you. It did indeed have a snapper fishery that was nearly as good as Port P Bay many many long years ago. The reason was it had extensive mussel beds to support them. Fishing practises and pollution took their toll and it was goodbye snapper. With massively improved water quality,and the ceassation of commercial fishing now the beds are no longer being destroyed. Expect bigger and better catches in the future. I used to fish the harbour, reakon I will have to start again. Cheers Trapper Tom. . Hi Tom Amazing mate! I really hope to see the day the harbour is back to full health! I always dream of going back in time say 100 YEARS to 1911, to see what the fishing in the harbour was once like. Can you image, 10kg snapper, 25kg Kings in plague proportion, Big sharks, amazing thought! Hope me and my kids can see a repairing of a once great fishery! Thanks for the replies all. Butch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trapper Tom Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Butch The original Doyle family (Watsons Bay)were the fishermen of the harbour.!!!!!! They have some amazing photo,s and great historical records. They have a few books out, I got one can't tell you the others though. FYI Cheers Trapper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigbutcher Posted June 15, 2012 Author Share Posted June 15, 2012 Butch The original Doyle family (Watsons Bay)were the fishermen of the harbour.!!!!!! They have some amazing photo,s and great historical records. They have a few books out, I got one can't tell you the others though. FYI Cheers Trapper HI Tom Awesome mate, do you know the book? Would love to find out more about the harbour in it's former days, hopefully, latter days... haha Thanks Butch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captnstabbn Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Hi guys, I have one here on my shelf "Doyle's Fish Cookbook" by Alice Doyle. First published 1979 by Angus & Robertson. Old school recipes with accompanying old stories handed down from the original Doyle family. Many feature Jew, Kings, Mullet(!) Snapper, Gemmies and Blackfish - I guess what was commonly locally available back then. Regarding the reds - I moved to Syd from a 'much better' fishing area about 6 years ago & the harbour & surrounds just continues to surprise. Here's a few recent ones out of a wash in a bit of rough weather - what more could you ask for on your home ground??!! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignev Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Hi Guys, I fish the harbour a lot, and it's interesting to note that my captures of legal snapper are increasing in both frequency and size from 2009 - 2012. Hit the harbour weekend before last at 1:45am till 7am and berleyed just off shark island in the 25m mark which marks bait. Caught a few tailor and plenty of pannies from 32cm to 40cm. Heaps of them, we left them biting. Here they are snapped with a 2Litre bottle to show the size top catch mate and a nice feed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat_souvlaki Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Butch and captnstabbn awsome haul! cant wait to pull my first from the harbour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfishin Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Top catches fellas. This is great to see. I have always wondered why our water ways up here dont hold the snapper like down south around port phillip bay. hope it keeps improving. I think the fishing is definitly getting better since the fishing license has come in and less commercial fishing has been brought in. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Hooked Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Top catch and it's great to hear the population and size are returning. I hope commercial fishing keeps away from both harbour and Botany Bay. Yes we can see great results from Port Phillip Bay since the commercial side stopped there. I remember fishing Old mans Hat in the harbour 30 odd years ago. Some of the old timers I was fishing with remember marlin being caught there (very few that is). Imagine, Marlin land based off Sydney harbour, PRICELESS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erroll Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Mate, that is a cracking haul in the harbour. well done. Cheers erroll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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