Jump to content

Improving day for Blackfish

Ryder

By Ryder
in Fishing Reports

 Share

Recommended Posts

Ryder JEWFISH

Ryder

Posted
Posted

Hi Raiders,

Haven't had much to report lately, I've had a few outings without success and been having a few issues with the family cat. He's been put on a new low protein diet and he doesn't like it, and he let me know by biting my leg. I'm pretty sure it's a little infected but that wasn't going to stop me this morning.

Loading up the gear and  the cat comes into the garage trying to get into the crawl space under the house. I put him out and locked the door, so he decides he's going across the road to have a go at the neighbors chooks. It took about half an hour to get him, I put him inside and left.

First stop a small beach in Drummoyne to get the sand to mix the berley. Where's the bucket? Where's the bait? GRRRRR!!!!!!! Still in the driveway. Second stop back home, and I'm tossing around the idea of not going at all. Stuff that go!

Got to the spot about an hour later than I wanted but I still had it to myself. I had my regular Butterworth/ Trudex combo along with a rod I had rebuilt matched with the Avon Royal 111 I picked up at Vinnies a little while ago, I hadn't caught a Blackfish on either.

I started with the Butterworth and got a fish on the 2nd drift. When I didn't get another down for a while I started changing the depth. A little deeper, nothing, a little shorter and BANG I'm on again, then again for a 3rd fish. I knew I was onto a school so I berleyed more to keep them busy while I got the other combo sorted.

New things take a bit of getting used to. The Avon Royal spins much more freely than the Trudex and I had problems with over runs and line spilling off on the cast. With running tide I didn't really need to cast distance, so I just dropped it in and let the current take it to the zone. That worked perfectly and I'm on again. The rod is a lot lighter than the Butterworth and a foot and a half shorter at 10 6 but it handled it well, it's more fun because it seems like the fish fight harder.20190203_132432.thumb.jpg.402c662f2371468127b39845f35696a3.jpg

I got five more on the new combo before I had another overrun problem, this time one of the loops that spilled off wrapped around a handle and formed a knot I knew wasn't coming out. The local kids turned up and started jumping off the rock, I didn't care, it was a hot day and I used to do the same thing. I just needed 1 more to bag out, so back on the Butterworth and number 10 was in the bag in short time. So what began very average turned out pretty good.  Most of the fish were in the high 30s, I released 8 and kept 2 for the smoker.

Cheers

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 10
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachwormer FLATHEAD

beachwormer

Posted
Posted
22 minutes ago, lakelad said:

Nice work @Ryder, I can't seem to get them on the line but get a few spearfishing. One day I might get some time to learn the intricate tide/berley/weed bait combos to get success with them, certainly an art. That's a great haul, enjoy!

Hi Lakelad, I used to catch blackfish all the time as a boy and young bloke. The most important tips I could give you are:

1. Fish light - no more than 6 lb trace

2. Balance your float (the smallest possible for the conditions) with lead on your line beneath float so that it is only just floating with only the very top of it visible. This way when the fish takes the bait the float will go down without the fish feeling any resistance.

3. Present your bait simply and naturally, not a big bunch but a small strip of weed or cabbage with a half hitch to keep the hook covered.

4. Vary your float depth if your not getting downs. I vividly recall one occasion arriving at a crowded rock spot beneath Waverley cemetery with about 10 people trying unsuccessfully to get blackfish. I had been there the previous night and knew they were feeding at a depth of only 5 feet or so. Bang I was on first cast and the next 4 casts, before I had to tell them to shorten their rig and then they were all onto the fish!

That's not all there is to it, but I reckon this will help!

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
61 crusher JEWFISH

61 crusher

Posted
Posted
31 minutes ago, Yowie said:

Nice bag of fish.

The cat can be taught to swim. :lol: We had a mongrel cat when I was young, and it always bit my youngest brother, no-one else was ever bitten.

I reckon after the first lesson you’d need more than a first aid kit😀, same thing happened to my brother with one of our cats, we had two from the same litter and being so young back then he never knew until it was to late😀

Link to comment
Share on other sites
papafish SNAPPER

papafish

Posted
Posted
On 2/3/2019 at 4:59 PM, Ryder said:

Hi Raiders,

Haven't had much to report lately, I've had a few outings without success and been having a few issues with the family cat. He's been put on a new low protein diet and he doesn't like it, and he let me know by biting my leg. I'm pretty sure it's a little infected but that wasn't going to stop me this morning.

Loading up the gear and  the cat comes into the garage trying to get into the crawl space under the house. I put him out and locked the door, so he decides he's going across the road to have a go at the neighbors chooks. It took about half an hour to get him, I put him inside and left.

First stop a small beach in Drummoyne to get the sand to mix the berley. Where's the bucket? Where's the bait? GRRRRR!!!!!!! Still in the driveway. Second stop back home, and I'm tossing around the idea of not going at all. Stuff that go!

Got to the spot about an hour later than I wanted but I still had it to myself. I had my regular Butterworth/ Trudex combo along with a rod I had rebuilt matched with the Avon Royal 111 I picked up at Vinnies a little while ago, I hadn't caught a Blackfish on either.

I started with the Butterworth and got a fish on the 2nd drift. When I didn't get another down for a while I started changing the depth. A little deeper, nothing, a little shorter and BANG I'm on again, then again for a 3rd fish. I knew I was onto a school so I berleyed more to keep them busy while I got the other combo sorted.

New things take a bit of getting used to. The Avon Royal spins much more freely than the Trudex and I had problems with over runs and line spilling off on the cast. With running tide I didn't really need to cast distance, so I just dropped it in and let the current take it to the zone. That worked perfectly and I'm on again. The rod is a lot lighter than the Butterworth and a foot and a half shorter at 10 6 but it handled it well, it's more fun because it seems like the fish fight harder.20190203_132432.thumb.jpg.402c662f2371468127b39845f35696a3.jpg

I got five more on the new combo before I had another overrun problem, this time one of the loops that spilled off wrapped around a handle and formed a knot I knew wasn't coming out. The local kids turned up and started jumping off the rock, I didn't care, it was a hot day and I used to do the same thing. I just needed 1 more to bag out, so back on the Butterworth and number 10 was in the bag in short time. So what began very average turned out pretty good.  Most of the fish were in the high 30s, I released 8 and kept 2 for the smoker.

Cheers

 

 

 

 

 

Nice one there champ. I always find your post. Very productive. Just wondering maybe we could catch up for a session. I'm at Balmain and I usually get a few around Birchgrove. :)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...