Georges River Blackfish are firing everywhere

Ron Howes · July 25, 2012

Over the last 3 weekends I have fished Clark Park, southern side of Captain Cook Bridge-Botany Bay side, the pontoon on San Souci side of Captain Cook Bridge, Bestic Street Inlet near fisho's club(fish last 2hr to top of 1.85M > tide) the Padstow end of the Moons at first pontoon, Illawong(run out tide up river from old ferry crossing) and Como Baths (Fish last 2hrs run up tide) and been rewarded with plenty of fish and a much bigger run of blackfish than previous years.

Last Saturday armed with good Botany weed(channel at Georges River Sailing Club) I took my son down to Illawong on about half run out tide for 7 fish from 32-39 cm. Then on Sunday I arrived about 2pm at Illawong again and alone, ended up with 6 blackfish, all over 34 cm and 1 measured and photographed at 41cm, before being eaten for Sunday dinnner. This spot is good if southerly is blowing. The smaller Chats have not been there. I usually catch and release and only take home one that I want to eat fresh. Another one of my favourite spots I also love to fish is Oatley Point on small tides after rain, when fresh has pushed fish out of upper reaches into deep holes around point. This spot really fires on run out tide and also is less than 1km from my home.

I hope I have given some budding blackfish anglers some inspiration and tips to get out there and become addicted to this noble art.

Best Of Luck Howsy.

macman · July 26, 2012

Great report, very helpful for the local fishos.

sydlb · July 26, 2012

Nice report and great tips there.

Thanks for sharing the info

Will get out there and give it a shot

seacow · July 26, 2012

I got the 39 cm fish on the Satursday. Dad the mongrel had to out do me on the Sunday with the 41cm fish.

Amazing to see how fat they are this year too. Must be plenty of food in the river.

Off to Shoal Bay this weekend. Trying to teach the other half about the dark arts. Might try that breakwall in Nelson Bay.

July 26, 2012

Awesome report! Some excellent catches!

Stillrockn · July 27, 2012

Some excellent catches! Thanks for sharing

Cheers Tom

Time Bandit · July 27, 2012

Great job, thanks for sharing info,

cheers

bream111 · July 27, 2012

I got the 39 cm fish on the Satursday. Dad the mongrel had to out do me on the Sunday with the 41cm fish.

Amazing to see how fat they are this year too. Must be plenty of food in the river.

Off to Shoal Bay this weekend. Trying to teach the other half about the dark arts. Might try that breakwall in Nelson Bay.

By all reports you should brain them on the break wall at Nelson Bay. My info off some of the locals is the place is really firing.

JimT · July 27, 2012

apparently there are heaps in Coffs Creek , Coffs Harbour.............something is setting off a huge Luderick run all along the coast ??

Jim...

Luderick Hunter · July 27, 2012

Nelson bay breakwall has been quiet for a couple of days, I dropped in on my way past on thursday and watched for a couple of hours, the guys there told me they had been bagging up until tuesday and then wednesday and thursday was tough going, best I seen was one guy had 3 fish.

ssantoro · July 28, 2012

Top report mate, quick question...can you target Blackies at night or are they daytime feeders?

Cheers

luderick -angler · July 28, 2012

I would have to say this has been the best run I have seen since the 1995/1996 run and the next best was the 2005/2006 run for sheer numbers and fish in nearly every spot. now just hope the weeds stays about oh and by the way I respect Howsys choie to name where the bait is (not one the old timers would would be wulling to do) but it i one of few places it hbait growing has been for a few weeks so plwasw only take what you need and it will be there for your next session!

Edited July 28, 2012 by luderick -angler

petkovd2006 · August 1, 2012

Hey mate, thanks for sharing.

I was at Maroubra having a late lunch on Sunday and a couple of guys where fishing on the left hand side storm water drain with cabbage and I saw them bag a few stonkers in about half an hour. No floats can be used here, lots of snags on the reef. For every fish was almost a loss of gear.

Nelsons has been good from all reports. If the breakwall is quite you can try over Shoal Bay wharf. I find cabbage is the best up there.

Does anyone know if they have come up as far as East Hill Bridge or the baths on the left hand side of the bridge. Ive caught them here before but it seems to be the luck of the draw and I dont really want to head out for a fruitful excercise. Ive also heard they fire in Chipping Norton Lakes from time to time.

For some reason my usual haunts for weed have been tough, PM me with any suggestions. I live in Moorebank dont want to travel as far as Botany if possible.

Was thinking about going for a fish tomorrow if anyone is interested, and any suggestions on where I should head. I also have a couple of weeks off work so if anyone is keen on a fish during the week for some company PM me.

Cheers,

Dave

marley · August 1, 2012

I use to live near Maroubra and fished that spot frequently...i really miss it... They are a heap of fun off the beach and really give it you.

I am now at Umina. I managed to get out on Tuesday and managed a few from Wagstaffe. I tried Woy Woy baths earlier on but with no luck.

If anyone lives near me and want to catch up for a spot of blackfishing let me know. Weed up our way is a bit light on at the moment though. Not even Umina bait and Tackle had any for sale.....If anyone knows a spot to get it up my way PM me, otherwise it's a long drive to San Souci

all the best

gav

niicholas.nguyen · August 2, 2012

Ive said it before and ill say it again... Awesome report mate!

seacow · August 3, 2012

Hey mate, thanks for sharing.

I was at Maroubra having a late lunch on Sunday and a couple of guys where fishing on the left hand side storm water drain with cabbage and I saw them bag a few stonkers in about half an hour. No floats can be used here, lots of snags on the reef. For every fish was almost a loss of gear.

Nelsons has been good from all reports. If the breakwall is quite you can try over Shoal Bay wharf. I find cabbage is the best up there.

Does anyone know if they have come up as far as East Hill Bridge or the baths on the left hand side of the bridge. Ive caught them here before but it seems to be the luck of the draw and I dont really want to head out for a fruitful excercise. Ive also heard they fire in Chipping Norton Lakes from time to time.

For some reason my usual haunts for weed have been tough, PM me with any suggestions. I live in Moorebank dont want to travel as far as Botany if possible.

Was thinking about going for a fish tomorrow if anyone is interested, and any suggestions on where I should head. I also have a couple of weeks off work so if anyone is keen on a fish during the week for some company PM me.

Cheers,

Dave

Fished on Saturday and Sunday on the Nelson Bay breakwall. I have two tips for you.

1. constant berley is a must. The old timers are there with 3-4 (25litre) buckets of burley and throwing out a handful everytime that they would throw out.

2. Fish the spot half way along the breakwall. We were fishing 25 metres away from these guys and they got 6-7 fish to everyone one that we got. Now I'm not a master in terms of blackfishing by any means but I think that using bigger floats is the way to go. Interesting to see that on Saturday the only fish I caught (causing I wasn't fishing the spot) were two sawtail surgeon fish. A first for me so while the fishing was slow I was pretty damn excited. No size but hey something new and boy don't they go hard. Anyway the tally for the weekend was 5 for the other half (I was very proud) 4 to me so she got her fix and I got a cold that left me low for all this week.

Another interesting point is that the Shoal Bay wharf is closed and boarded up. Disappointing because the spot looked very fishy and cause it was only a walk from the appartments we were staying in. That's the lazy fisherman in me talking.