ebenos Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Fellow Raiders, Headed out with a good mate on Sydney harbour early Monday morning in search of some Metre+ Kingies.. Feeling a bit ambitious we tackled a few squid spots in the east however found it quite tough. We moved around from Rose Bay to Manly and after 3 hours we had 2 cuttlefish and 3 decent sized Squid. Armed with limited supply, we kicked off our session with a live cuttlefish at the buoy just off Clifton Gardens. After 3 minutes all was left to show was the cuttlebone once the pickers got to it. Plopped a second one in, this time a bit higher in the water column but yet again smashed by pickers. Next stop was Milk Beach where we picked up another squid and off to the wreck just off Clark Island. Fed down a squid head on 100lb leader and a strip on an 80lb. Lots of markings and after about 10 minutes the rod with the squid head buckles over. I could barely get the rod out of the holder and when I finally did I felt like I had no control but to hold on. What must of been a 1.2 mtre Kingy, took a turn and cut my line on the engine prop. Fuming at myself for not having better control, the rod with the strip buckles over and just as my mate got to it, line whizzes and silence. Kingy found refuge under the reef! Feeling determined, rigged up another squid head and on the second rod hung out the gut with ink sac still in tact. Within 5 minutes rod bends and I'm on again, this time well away from the engine! After about a 6 minute wrestle I bring up this beauty just hitting the 1 metre mark. Most of my previous trips lately in the harbour have been unsuccessful.. why? Because i was using yakkas and not Squid. It didn't even matter than the Squid wasn't live, as long as it's fresh those kings are hungry for it. Hope they stick around a bit longer! benos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REELCRAZY Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Nice fish mate good to see they are still around. Makes you cry when u get smashed on your heavy gear running 100lb!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebenos Posted May 9, 2017 Author Share Posted May 9, 2017 @REELCRAZY was absolutely spewing! especially when its due to poor handlin. Least I had something to show at the end of the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike89 Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 That's an excellent fish and I must say a great photo. Glad you managed to bring one on board. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellzy94 Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Beautiful fish mate, good thinking to switch to a different bait after not having success with yakkas. Cheers, Wellzy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fragmeister Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Hi Ebenos, That's a great report and you certainly have the right locations and the best baits now so I can see you coming up with a few more big Kings. It can be hard to find squid in the Harbour at times and 3 hours of work is hard slog when you want to get a bait out! In the harbour they are the gun bait and you certainly wont see any of the fishing guides bothering with any other bait. Don't write the humble yakka or slimey off outside the heads or at the close in reefs though... this is where I have found them more productive. Cheers and good luck on the next trip. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebenos Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 @fragmeister Thanks champ. I've spent the whole summer learning to use my downrigger with yakkas and been disappointed over and over again. I guess its all part of the learning experience. My trolling motor is being fitted this week which should help with the squidding. I've found i'm most successful in shallow areas and when i come up quiet. My attention has been fully switched to squidding and i am really hoping the kings stay around the harbour through winter :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samjames95 Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Well done mate great to see kings still about, wouldve been an awesome fight to have won!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordoRetired Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 We are blessed on Sydney being able to catch such great fish in sight of the harbour bridge. That is a great fish that you got there. Would be good on the barbi.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginko Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 beware squidding near manly: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/content/fisheries/marine-protected-areas/aquatic-reserves/north-harbour-aquatic-reserve apparently fisheries have been occasionally enforcing the (somewhat mysterious) ban on squiding within this area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebenos Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 @ginko thanks for the heads up. I generally stick to the east side for my squid but its good to know where the limits are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoingFishing Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 2 hours ago, ginko said: beware squidding near manly: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/content/fisheries/marine-protected-areas/aquatic-reserves/north-harbour-aquatic-reserve apparently fisheries have been occasionally enforcing the (somewhat mysterious) ban on squiding within this area. Pretty soon all of Sydney harbour will become a no fishing/ aquatic reserve if certain people get their way........ Im all for conservation but cant help but feel that those doing the real damage are the ones with the least restrictions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolongeramember Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 2 hours ago, GoingFishing said: Pretty soon all of Sydney harbour will become a no fishing/ aquatic reserve if certain people get their way........ Im all for conservation but cant help but feel that those doing the real damage are the ones with the least restrictions. Slowly, it will eventually happen one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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