My "ozzie Angling adventures" - Report 22

[snatcher]

This session had me fishing at Clontarf,Middle Harbour,Sydney with Neil. Neil is originally from Southampton but has now lived in Australia for over 20 years. He knew that I was desperate to add a flathead to my species list so with this in mind we had fresh whitebait to tempt them and also Neil had a small fishtrap.

Clontarf is a lovely part of the harbour with a fine park and protected swimming area there. Check it out on this picture below.

We set up about 100 yds upstream of the swimming pool. I set up a running ledger rig with a 2/0 circle hook on the end. I baited this with a single whitebait and just lobbed it out about 20 yards as the water was deep close in. Neil set up with a small lure,hoping to tempt flathead or bonito.

I only had to wait a matter of seconds when I had a tap on the rod tip. I tightened into the fish and just hoped it was going to be a flathead !!! I was fairly disapointed when I seen it was a small snapper. A quick picture and back it went.

Neil meanwhile had a few hits on his lure but failed to hook up. He had his fish trap out and noticed that the bread had attracted some small mullet.

I put on a mullet livebait and it got bitten off first cast. This happened a few more times and then eventually I managed to hook up to hopefully my first flathead. No it was a yellow fin bream - I think !!!!. I simply shook it off at the water edge. Neil in the meanwhile managed to hook a small tailor on his lure. After about an hour here we decided on a move to below the pool.

On went another livebait and I did not have to wait long for a bite. This was a bigger fish and fought well on light gear. It was no flathead but a snapper.

We persisted for another hour and I picked up two more decent snapper but no flathead. Oh well there is always next time.

Well that flathead eluded me yet again Just 3 more ozzie reports to go now My next report sees me fishing up at Lake St Clair for freshwater bass with a load of ozzie backswoodsmen

John

[Ryder]

Another nice report.

Clontarf is a great spot.

This time of year it can be a madhouse, and I won't start on the parking.

From the pictures it looks like you were a bit late, low tide.

Flatties are best on the high and runout on flats like that.

FYI on 12 March 1868, a fellow Englishman, Prince Alfred, Duke Of Edinburgh was shot down there.

The public out pouring of donations went towards building the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Edited December 18, 2014 by Ryder

[snatcher]

Another nice report.

Clontarf is a great spot.

This time of year it can be a madhouse, and I won't start on the parking.

From the pictures it looks like you were a bit late, low tide.

Flatties are best on the high and runout on flats like that.

FYI on 12 March 1868, a fellow Englishman, Prince Alfred, Duke Of Edinburgh was shot down there.

The public out pouring of donations went towards building the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Ryder I know what you mean about the parking mate !!!! Been to the play park there a few times with the family and I recall that the parking pricing was really stupid Correct me if I am wrong but $8/hour springs to mind.

Lovely spot mind

John

[Ryder]

It is something like that, to around 30 for rhe day.

What gets me is machines require your vehicle rego number.

So if you pay for the day, and leave early you cant pass the ticket on to someone else.

[nutsaboutfishing]

Ryder I know what you mean about the parking mate !!!! Been to the play park there a few times with the family and I recall that the parking pricing was really stupid Correct me if I am wrong but $8/hour springs to mind.

Lovely spot mind

John

To avoid the parking fee, when I go there I usually park outside on the main road and walk in.