tasksta Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Hey all Still chasing the elusive jew and seem to be getting warmer. I can reliably catch small soapies right up to 44cm but no legals yet. Does this mean im in the right spot? Or do the big ones play by different rules? Can you recommend strategy to upgrade to the big boys? Anyone else in the same boat? I have been fishing light and heavy with peeled prawns and yakkas. Cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day's Fishin Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Live bait or large baits. Usually you won't get a big one if catching soapies, not that there isn't one lurking around but because the little ones are quicker and less shy to take a bait. Big one's like hanging around deep holes and eddies where small ones can be caught just about anywhere. Regards Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.e.p.d Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Live bait or large baits. Usually you won't get a big one if catching soapies, not that there isn't one lurking around but because the little ones are quicker and less shy to take a bait. Big one's like hanging around deep holes and eddies where small ones can be caught just about anywhere. Regards Jeff Where are you fishing . I see your around concord? Kissing point wharf is where I started get good fish there . Throw backs but still Jews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasksta Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 (edited) All the usual parra river haunts, near the cable ferry has been productive and also berowra. Been chipping away thursday arvos after work. Edited February 19, 2013 by tasksta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Williams Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Mate soapie jews that are living in rivers have a diet predominantly made up of prawns. When they get to a certain size, maybe around 50cm or so, they stop being interested in prawns and are after small fish such as mullet, chopper tailor and yakkas. I don't have experience fishing the parra river for them but there's no reason there shouldn't be migratory larger fish cruising through the same spots as you are catching your soapies, just start using baits like live mullet that are more attractive to the bigger fish. The larger migratory fish do most of their feeding around, or just after, slack water. So that's the best time to target them. Cheers, Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irongustavius Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Anybody know if people go after jewies in the Parra river on fly? I know guys catch them on hardbodies and plastics, how about the fur and feather brigade? Sorry to go vaguely off-topic, but this is something I am following with great interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefish Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 your not being honest without a big bait in the water, preferably catch, or buy a big xl mullet tailor even a salmon or bonnie/frigate/mack around 40-60cms and chop its tail out and put it under your boat. one day it will get eaten, it might take a while but your patient. cos your a jewfisherman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasksta Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 I mainly use whole butterflied yakka or yakka fillets. Its tough trying to catch live bait in the afternoon in the river. Any good spots in the river to catch mullet? Should i be using a trap? When i fish for kings i have the bait a few metres off bottom or mid water, is it the same for jews? Thanks all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasksta Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 When you use the tail is it whole or just the fillet from it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SargeRX8 Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Fillets id say. Squid strips are good too but often nothing is left after all the peckers. Every jew ive seen caught has been on bait on the bottom with about 1m leader. The likeliness of a jew on a fly in my opinion is nil. I cant forsee a jew rising to the top to scrap a piece of fluff. Maybe a wet prawn but getting it down into the zone using fly gear is silly. Ive been putting in efforts for a jew on plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjc123 Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Fillets id say. Squid strips are good too but often nothing is left after all the peckers. Every jew ive seen caught has been on bait on the bottom with about 1m leader. The likeliness of a jew on a fly in my opinion is nil. I cant forsee a jew rising to the top to scrap a piece of fluff. Maybe a wet prawn but getting it down into the zone using fly gear is silly. Ive been putting in efforts for a jew on plastic. Steve Starling "Starlo" recently got a school jew on fly down on the south coast. So it IS possible. Cheers, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SargeRX8 Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Steve Starling "Starlo" recently got a school jew on fly down on the south coast. So it IS possible. Cheers, Tom That sounds pretty awesome. That guy has done alot. From all the theories we assume of the jewfish, taking a fly off the surface busts a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bharris Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 It's called a sinking flylines and I will get one on fly this yearHope you do im keen as to try sometime this year Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irongustavius Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 It's called a sinking flylines and I will get one on fly this year Damn straight. I haven't caught a jewfish before and I'm pretty keen to get one on fly as my first. Looking forward to your reports with interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasksta Posted February 21, 2013 Author Share Posted February 21, 2013 Can anyone recommend where to get live yakkas or mullet around the parramatta river? Has been prettty tough but than again the time of day prob hasnt helped either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day's Fishin Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 It's called a sinking flylines and I will get one on fly this yearI didn't see Steve S catching a Jew on fly but as the only way you would get one is as you say Stew is with a sinking fly line. Jews are a bottom to mid water (at best) feeders. Regards, Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydangler Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 When you use the tail is it whole or just the fillet from it? mate he means cutting the tail off as using the rest of the fish. i run big live mullet and tailor as a preferd live bait for jews. i recently read an old artical writen by craige magill in which he spoke about catching a 52lb jew followed by a 60cm king which went into the jews mouth with out touching the sides so that should give you an idea of how big a jews mouth is. with the same idea i have caught 70cm jews on live yakkas over 20cm so dont be afraid of using big baits. if your landbased dont push your gear to much only cast what you can as i have seen rod tips snapped by people trying to throw big baits and sinkers on the wrong rod. i use a wilson FSU5120 which is a 10 foot solid beach rod capable of casting huge amounts of weight a long way. also think or look what bait is around where you fish. it there is small yakkas and choppers you will be less likely to hook one on a big live mullet. by far my favorite bait for jews of any size is live squid, small jews will smash solid squid but big jews will still take a strip of squid. learn to catch fresh squid, i will squid for a couple of nights leading up to a big weekend for fishing for jews but the best squid is the ones on location or just before going. as per your question about catching bigger jews in the same spots as the soapies, as a rule no you wont but it does happen. big fish hang out in deeper water, usually with high tidal flow (but feed on the slack water) so if you want to chase big jews look for promiant points leading into deep water with holes, reefs or other structure to form eddies (some you will see others you wont) but if your after big jews also be prepared to say good by to decent sleep, time with loved ones, and possibly even your sanity it is alot of hard work but the rewardsm are worth it (to some of us). ive been fishing for big jews for 2 years now but only seriously for the past 6 months (more time now im single) i havent landed one yet but lots of decent fish upto 88cm as well as huge flatties, nice kings and small sharks. good luck hope that helps (and makes sence) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasksta Posted February 24, 2013 Author Share Posted February 24, 2013 Thanks mate thats great advice, im taking notes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outdoordan Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 A mate of mine regularly catches jew on fly, his largest going 17kg. but keep in mind that this comes from many years of targeting jew on bait and lures and having an intimate understanding of the fish and thier patterns. He wrote an article on this same subject a few years ago in saltwater fishing. It is very possible but it is a rather difficult goal you have set yourself. As for soapies being found in the same places as mature fish. Juveniles have a very different dietry requirement to mature fish. so it is most likely that they will be feeding in different places and situations. learning these patterns is the real key to success. i do not believe mulloway exclusivley feed in the bottom third of the water column. They are a predator, and when actively hunting can be found anywhere from in amongst tailor schools in mid water to smashing mullet and gar off the surface, or found patroling a hole in 40ft of water.. and the next bloke to pull a 30kg jew out of a 6ft deep beach gutter wont be the first. I dont think mulloway take residence in one particuar part of an estuary, but rather roam using the influence of the tides and weather conditions to exploit particular feeding opportunities, where ever they may present themeselves. I believe most fish that are targeted and caught fishing deep holes ,are not necissarily because the fish are actively hunting these areas but because they are moving through. Like putting a cheese burger out on the road to maccas, some hungry bugger is not going to be able to go past it without having a nibble. Current and respite from that current, along with structure will hold bait, and at certain times predators will try to take advantages of these congrations of bait. So, observe, learn, understand and you will succeed. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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