nickb111 Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 (edited) Hey guys, A few days ago a mate and I headed out to Pittwater to try and get amongst some winter kings. We left the boat ramp, heading north and hugging the eastern shoreline. We motored up to Clareville, where we saw a tight flock of birds hovering over the surface. Under them was a small school of kings, feeding on eyes. Using my 9 weight, I threw in a squid fly, and on the second cast hooked up. After a 5 minute fight I had a 66 cm king in the boat, my first since december last year! It was a good reward for the freezing weather! The kings went down during the fight, so I couldn't have another go at the school. We motored north, heading for Lion Island, where we hoped to find salmon at the last of the lowering tide. No cigar, but immense amounts of bait and mutton birds. We then headed to Barrenjoey Headland, armed with 6 weights and weed flies to catch my first blackfish on fly. After 20 minutes of casting and on the brink of low tide, I hooked up to a blackfish I'd estimate it to be in the mid to high 30s, buy you guys be the judge. On the run home, we found a school of kings, which looked more akin to the hectare sized schools of salmon off north head. All between approximately 60 cm and perhaps 90 cm long, they were feeding off the smallest of bait and after a few tries with the squid fly that had worked in the morning, I downsized to a much smaller surf candy. Due to the size and weight of the calamari fly, I had a heavy and short leader, with a 20 lb tippet. As I didn't want to spook the kingfish, a lighter 12 lb tippet was tied onto the previous tippet giving a longer, lighter leader. The hook of the surf candy was also very small. We chased the school for 30 minutes, but the kings had a serious case of lockjaw. Eventually, I threw in a cast where the fly was headed to the most intense part of the boil, and I knew, before it even landed that it was the one. I hooked up to a king, and bearing in mind the light tackle, had to keep him off the bottom, yet still keep my light leader intact. After a 10 minute fight, up came a 70 cm king, which was also a new pb. It was a great day out and broke a month long drought for me. Edited August 22, 2015 by nickb111 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 4myson Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Well done Nick ! Awesome job on fly !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil D Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 a month is a long time between drinks and tastes even better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickb111 Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 Mate you're not wrong! And summer is just around the corner so it's only going to get easier from here...... I hope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Mate you're not wrong! And summer is just around the corner so it's only going to get easier from here...... I hope You are talking about kingies. Biting one day, and not the next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 That's a great effort on fly! A very underestimated task to catch a king on fly with light gear. Congrats on your first and PB. Well done Cheers scratchie!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickb111 Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 Mate it was a pretty nerve racking ! Could've dusted me on the reef anytime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydneyfisher12 Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 nice work mate always wanted to catch a king on fly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shak4g63 Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 What a great read i want a salt water fly set up now Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickb111 Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 Sydneyfisher12 - I've had most luck on a fly, lure or bait hasnt really worked for me.. 1 last cast a salt fly set up is great so long as you have a boat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy72 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 nice one nick! that on the crosscurrent and torrent? if so how was the drag going after the decent fish, should had plenty more grunt? bummer about this mornings weather though! did you tie the candy ? see ya when i get back from Europe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shak4g63 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Sydneyfisher12 - I've had most luck on a fly, lure or bait hasnt really worked for me.. 1 last cast a salt fly set up is great so long as you have a boat! I have no space to keep a boat...Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickb111 Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share Posted August 25, 2015 may that serve as inspiration 1 last cast.. I haven't tried off the rocks yet but this summer I may give it a go on Old mans hat or south curly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginko Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 what size hook is on that fly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickb111 Posted August 26, 2015 Author Share Posted August 26, 2015 I think its a gamakatsu SL12s in the smallest size they make, size 2 maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickb111 Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) Got a few other photos from the day, all from the first fish. Excuse the hood, it was bitterly cold! Edited August 27, 2015 by nickb111 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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