Scratchie Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 Good morning raiders, I couldn't sleep much last night so I got up early and checked the weather. With the impending southerlies predicted over the weekend and visiting relos, this morning was probably my only chance for a fish over the weekend. Tried to wake the young fella up to grunts and groans. "Good luck dad". So off I went to get a kilo of pillies from my local "bait and go". Arrived at my favourite spot (usually for snapper) which was my intended target. Started to burley up whilst the pillies unfroze and first light was approaching. First cast, bang.....big take then no weight???? Wind in and find I'm missing my hook and small pea sinker. Rerigg and try again, same thing! Grrrrr. At this point I'm thinking tailor, so I put on a gang hook with no weight and a full pilly. Next cast I came up tight. I danced around the rocks for a while and managed to land a nice bonito on the next incoming swell. For the next hour it was basically just poling them to the stones! Best hours fishing I've had in ages. Bonito, salmon and tailor all came to the party. To be honest, I lost count of how many I actually caught. Most were released with the exception of a tailor and 3 bonito that made it home(and fridge, filleted) within the hour. I arrived home to the boy devastated that he didn't come and a neighbours timely appearance as I was filleting the fish out the front! needless to say I gave him one! Overall, a beautiful solo morning in great conditions, in a magic place, Port Stephens! Thanks for reading, Cheers scratchie!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 looks like a cracking morning scratchie, gotta love it when the fish agree. Sounds like the young bloke might wake up a little easier next time. Cheers Garry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Its a hard life being you all the time nice work Jeffrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JA1990 Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Very good. I wouldnt mind look for more bonito out the front. They certainly are fun to catch. I don't mind eating bonnies on the BBQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 looks like a cracking morning scratchie, gotta love it when the fish agree. Sounds like the young bloke might wake up a little easier next time. Cheers Garry Cheers Gary! Absolutely beautiful morning. I left the fish biting too! Yep, hard to get teenagers to move there arse early morning, oh well his bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 Its a hard life being you all the time nice work Jeffrey Your not wrong stewy! It's very difficult deciding where to fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordy Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Well done great solo session, got my 8yr old out this morning for a bream sesh he got 3 to dads 2 including catch of the day hes tickled pink.Seeing your photos makes me want get back up there quick smart.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 Well done great solo session, got my 8yr old out this morning for a bream sesh he got 3 to dads 2 including catch of the day hes tickled pink.Seeing your photos makes me want get back up there quick smart.... Well done. Yes, very hard place to leave! Amazing how conditions change in a day. It's blowing 25knots now. Good decision to go early! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stunami Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Where is that place it looks good and maybe one I can manage to climb to, always willing to travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 4myson Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Well done mate , I just got back from a week at St Georges Basin & I had the same problem with getting Anthony out of Bed every mourning So I fished a lot of Solo early mourning Sessions .... But I gotta say I LOVED IT !! Nothing but You the Water & FISH !!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 Cheers guys! Stu- I can't give away all my secrets but it's in between fishermans bay and one mile! Sasha- I love fishing solo but off the rocks makes it a bit challenging landing fish! Hope you enjoyed your trip down south! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishy Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Mate, the rock fishing up there at the moment is the best I've seen for about 10 seasons. Done 5 trips in last 10 days, and the weather has been amazing. Once the baits hit the current line, which sometime is really hard work to get there, they go off within 5 mins. Nice haul and nice report as always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 Mate, the rock fishing up there at the moment is the best I've seen for about 10 seasons. Done 5 trips in last 10 days, and the weather has been amazing. Once the baits hit the current line, which sometime is really hard work to get there, they go off within 5 mins. Nice haul and nice report as always. Cheers Scott. Mate I always find this time of year the best to fish this area period! What can I say, Marlin, longtail, kings, snapper, Flatty, whiting, bonito, salmon, tailor and the list goes on! A mate next to me last Saturday dropped a Spanish mac next to the boat. Plenty of trag and jew about too! It's just a matter of what to target with the weather that's in front of you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papafish Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 is it dangerous where you fished at? looks like alot of waves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 is it dangerous where you fished at? looks like alot of waves Rock fishing is the most dangerous sport in the world. If you look, there are no waves, less than 1m of swell, a westerly wind behind me and my platform is 3-4m above the water. So, no not dangerous but never take the ocean for granted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted April 23, 2016 Author Share Posted April 23, 2016 It's amazing what difference a day makes! Now that's dangerous papafish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest123456789 Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 Nice one scratchie. Do you remember you recommended to me to spin for bonito with the cheap, brown outback lures? Did you give them a go today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted April 23, 2016 Author Share Posted April 23, 2016 Nice one scratchie. Do you remember you recommended to me to spin for bonito with the cheap, brown outback lures? Did you give them a go today? No mate I didn't. My intended target was snapper. I normally cube a few to create a burley trail and then drift some down lightly weighted. Well when I was getting good takes and losing gear, you have to adapt to whats in front of you! So a gang hook and unweighted pilly did the trick! Those lures are bonito magnets either trolled or spun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest123456789 Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 For sure mate a lure that looks like a small brown trout or a cicada droves the pelagics wild!! Terminal tackle will for certain hold out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Rock fishing is the most dangerous sport in the world. Agree with that, and a lot of them that go in cannot swim. Sounds like you had a good time there Scratchie, some good sporting species. Just returned from a week and a half away in the van, including a bit of time at Echuca. No fishing though, the Murray is way below normal level, toxic green algae in the water with warnings to keep out, no drinking, swimming, etc. Victoria and southern NSW in drought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 Agree with that, and a lot of them that go in cannot swim. Sounds like you had a good time there Scratchie, some good sporting species. Just returned from a week and a half away in the van, including a bit of time at Echuca. No fishing though, the Murray is way below normal level, toxic green algae in the water with warnings to keep out, no drinking, swimming, etc. Victoria and southern NSW in drought. Cheers yowie! Thought you were MIA. A shame you didn't get to fish along the way. Not good news to hear the rivers so low! Oh well, back to the hacking this week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil D Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Good morning raiders, I couldn't sleep much last night so I got up early and checked the weather. With the impending southerlies predicted over the weekend and visiting relos, this morning was probably my only chance for a fish over the weekend. Tried to wake the young fella up to grunts and groans. "Good luck dad". So off I went to get a kilo of pillies from my local "bait and go". Arrived at my favourite spot (usually for snapper) which was my intended target. Started to burley up whilst the pillies unfroze and first light was approaching. First cast, bang.....big take then no weight???? Wind in and find I'm missing my hook and small pea sinker. Rerigg and try again, same thing! Grrrrr. At this point I'm thinking tailor, so I put on a gang hook with no weight and a full pilly. Next cast I came up tight. I danced around the rocks for a while and managed to land a nice bonito on the next incoming swell. For the next hour it was basically just poling them to the stones! Best hours fishing I've had in ages. Bonito, salmon and tailor all came to the party. image.jpg image.jpg To be honest, I lost count of how many I actually caught. Most were released with the exception of a tailor and 3 bonito that made it home(and fridge, filleted) within the hour. I arrived home to the boy devastated that he didn't come and a neighbours timely appearance as I was filleting the fish out the front! needless to say I gave him one! Overall, a beautiful solo morning in great conditions, in a magic place, Port Stephens! image.jpg Thanks for reading, Cheers scratchie!!! I Rate Bonito sushimi, good report Scratchie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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