Kings @ Port Stephens

[med76]

Generally never get to post anything worthwhile due to the catch being under size or not worthy of a mention except for a "caught a bream".

So my father in law rang mid last week to see if we i was still up for a fish to get some practice in before a holiday at the end of the year. I said yep whose boat will we use i soon found out neither of ours and that we would be going with some of his mates from Port Stephens sunday morning.

So we hit the water at 6:00 after a 2:30 start ( for the drive up) and headed to the bait grounds after wasting an hour or so we headed out to Almark with a measly three slimys and three yakkas. After the two hour steam through the most amazing sunday weather i have seen in a while we arrive to a carpark of boats. The swell was slight and the drift was slow so decided to send down the first jigs. Within a second three jigs jacketed and one livey gone as well. This was going to be a long day of nothings. Started the drift again and then the rest is a blur. From that point on there was not a drift were at least two or more of us were on to a 80cm plus king. By 1:30 we were getting to limit and decided we each had enough fish for meals. So decided it was time for fun and the fish just kept getting bigger with each drift. Most drifts consisted of triple hook ups but there was a few drifts when all five were on at one time.

To top the day off we witnessed some whales breaching with dolphins playing around them and at the same time what we thought was a dolphin heading to the boat was a Stripped Marlin diving through the water.

After such an early start and not getting back home until midnight sitting down with the kids eating fresh kingy on rice it was a day to that wont repeat itself in a while.

(i while upload photos once i get them)

[denzor]

Great report Mate, I to cant wait to get up there on my mates new boat!!

[med76]

Finally some photos.

[JET01]

Mate i'm headin up there for the long weekend... how far offshore are you? I've only got a Stacer Nomad 469 so can only go out when its really flat. Are there any spots inside the estuary where i can livebait/ jig for kings?

[med76]

We were about20 - 30nm off shore so would be a push for the nomad especially if the whether changed would be a long haul back into port. When talking to the guys they were saying kings come close in. You have to watch were you fish as some areas are marine park but when we were getting bait we were pulling up 15 - 20 cm pinkies with out trying. The whole system is really healthy and fish everywhere.

Was told drifting around shoal bay pulls in great flatties and snapper and bream and even kings back around to finger bay. Good luck with it.

[JET01]

Cheers mate!

[carpet]

sounds good i am up there for a fish in three weeks cant wait

[nbh00d]

Nice report mate!!!

[framedtrash]

Nice work mate

Ill be up there this friday fishing on the same boat did

Have a few spare spots if any one wants to join me

Pm for more info :-)

[med76]

Have a good one was definatly a great day out.