JB weekend of fail

[Smasher]

G'day raiders. I normally don't brag about my successful days out so figured I'd start a report on a not-so-successful weekend. 

It was our anniversary so the missus and I booked ourselves some nice waterfront accommodation (with a jetty) at Huskisson for 3 nights. I was excited to fish the bay as I'd been going there since I was a a kid and into adulthood but it's the first time I've had a boat there. Well, the location as you know is stunning but I had the worst luck with fishing.  

Friday morning: Set out before dawn, trolled a Rapala CD + a pink skirt + a deep diver + Halco Laser Pro Qantas from Target Beach along the cliffs all the way to Drum & Drumsticks and back - twice - nothing but a couple of rat kings that were caught around D&D.  Not only that, but the lures tangled up and I ended up with a birdsnest of a tangle. Had to cut it off. So I got the shits and went back.  Then a trip to the tackle shop in Husky to replace some braid. Hmmm. On the plus side a whale breached right in front of me, and I saw a heap of seals, which was cool.

Friday arvo on high tide:  Set off for Bowen island, flicked around for squid: Nothing. Fished around the moorings, got a few undersized snapper. Then moved to middle ground. Same again, lots of small bycatch. Moved to honeymoon bay and drifted over the grass beds for about an hour flicking for squid - nothing. 

Saturday morning I was too knackered for another pre-dawn session so left it until high tide in the evening. We tried for yakkas around the moorings near Callala bay boatramp. No yakkas but got a decent sized grass whiting, which I assumed at the time was a wrasse so threw it back (only to discover what it was later that day and kicked myself).  Other than that, small bycatch. Moved onto Honeymoon bay, flicked for squid for a couple of hours - nothing again. Moved to the cliffs near the Tubes and trolled those cliffs all the way around Point Perpendicular for several hours using my favourite lures- nothing. 

Sunday morning: Up before dawn, tried for yakkas and squid behind Bowen island, nothing but small bream. There were 3 or 4 other boats around, I didnt see them catching anything either. So moved onto middle ground, lots of bites and a few small ones, had one decent hookup but lost it so eventually I ran out of pillies and returned home with nothing yet again. 

Now, normally I rarely ever come home from a days out fishing in Sydney without at least one fish to eat. Trolling for that long would almost always land me at least a Bonnie or two. I'm a bit puzzled why using the same techniques landed me zilch in a bay that has marine sanctuaries and far less anglers? Maybe the seals and dolphins cleanup all the fish?

Anyway a few lessons learnt: 

1. I can't troll more than 2 lines at a time. I need to look into outrigger poles. 
2. Jervis Bay is not a fishing mecca. I need to hit it at different times of year and explore different techniques.
3. The missus doesnt like going out to sea, and fishing on your own is just not the same. next time i'll bring a mate

Hope you had a successful weekend!  The sea is like a lake at the moment. 

Edited November 12, 2017 by Smasher

[Scratchie]

If it makes you feel any better, I had a shocker today too! Perfect conditions for my usual snapper haunts and not a touch! Sometimes fishing can be like that. Lucky I found some kings to save the day and managed 3 legal out of 30 rats! Next time mate!!!

cheers scratchie!!! 

[Smasher]

30 rats? Wow at least they would’ve kept you as busy as a one armed painter. I would have been stoked with 3 legals

[rickmarlin62]

when trolling lures stagger the distances and depths so your lines don't touch when turning..hope you get some next time..rick

[Captain Spanner]

Not all lures like to run at the same speed. Depending on your deep divers they may not handle the speed of the other lures and skip out. This can cause a massive tangle having a deep diver with two trebles dancing around amongst the braid of other lines. Rapala CDs and Xraps can often handle. As Rick says, always stagger the distance from the boat back to the lure so they dont tangle when you turn the boat. I would probably just pick one deep diver to run and the squid skirt. The boat speed will have to be dictated by the speed the deep diver is happiest going. Then check that it is fast enough for the squid skirt to swim properly. If the deep diver keeps skipping out and you don't think it is because you are going too fast try putting that rod on the other side of the boat. My favourite bonito deep diver has to be on a particular side of the boat or it cuts across through the prop wash and flips out. I could bend the tow point on it to "tune"it to run straighter but i haven't because i like it pulling away from the boat into the clean water and it works well at it's preferred speed.

[PaddyT]

A good rule of thumb is Number of rods while trolling =number of crew plus one. Mixed spreads can be a bit tricky to set up , without 'riggers what I would recommend you try is your biggest minnow in close short to the prop wash, your next minnow about 20 meters back and a skirt straight down the guts a long way back, if you can elevate the middle rod (in a rocket launcher or bait board) then you should get minimal tangles.The ability to do sharp turns when you have a full spread in the water is a good one, if I am marlin fishing with crew then I will typically 4 skirts max- i dont see the need for a crap load of lines in the water, If i am solo then 2 lures only. Sometimes if i think there are tuna or wahoo in the area then i will switch out my long corner skirt for a big laser pro or bibless minnow. Simple is usually best . As for J Bay its a good spot but like anywhere it can have quiet days- just be careful not to fish in the sanctuary zones or a bit later in the year near the Tubes when all the LBG guys are there. Murrays Beach area is squid central , downrigging them for big kings at this time of the year around the cliffs usually goes well.