Sans Souci

[Johnny Dory]

Hi everyone, been getting back into some fishing lately after a 20-odd year hiatus.
Used to fish with my father and grandfather nearly every weekend back in the day.
Lilli Pilli, Gymea Bay, Gunnamatta Bay, Budgewoi, The Entrance, Lake Munmorah, Mannering Park to name a few...

I've hit a few spots on the Georges and Hacking over the last few months with varying degrees of luck.

Here is a wrap of the Sans Souci outings so far:

23 June - Tried the pontoon at night (right hand side), got there about an hour and a half after high tide. A few small bites but caught nothing. Prawns, pilchards and squid as bait.

24 June - Same spot but tried the left had side. Got there about an hour before high tide. Started raining about 30 mins in. A few bites again but couldn't reel anything in. We did see either a dolphin or seal swimming between the bridge and the pontoon. Same bait as yesterday.

1 July - Tried the sandstone wall next to the park at night again. Got there about 2 hours past high tide. Picked up a Blue Swimmer pretty quickly which got the blood racing. Next up was a 26cm bream, followed by some baby snappers and finally a clump of muddy mussels. Prawns, pilchards, squid and chicken breast as bait.

7 July - Hit the sandstone wall again just a little after high tide. a few small bites before one of the rods bent over at right angles. Reeled it in to find a dinner plate sized sting ray, much to my dismay. Lots more bites and a couple of small snappers but it was getting way too cold to hang around once my prawns and pilchards finished. Also had some chicken hearts (no bites) and chicken liver.

Might try under Captain Cook bridge next time or off the sand on the other side of the bridge. If anyone knows these spots and has any tips, would greatly appreciate your input.

Cheers everyone, stay warm and safe!

[kingie chaser]

Hi JD, there is a big resource of info in here if your willing to pit in some time in searching subjects via the search tab.

Land based locations, articles, different ways of fishing(lures & SP's) etc

 

Also the DPI put out some good locality guides as well.

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/info/fishing-locations/go-fishing-sydney-harbours-wharves,-piers-and-parks

 

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/info

 

Good luck 👍

 

[noelm]

My thoughts on heavily fished locations (take this as you will) leave the Prawns and Squid in the freezer, buy a Nipper pump and pump some for bait, use as light a line as you're comfortable with, and little or no sinker, try various tides until it starts to make sense (it will) fish structure, whether that's a few rocks, a jetty or a gutter in the sand.

[Rebel]

Welcome aboard.

[Johnny Dory]

Thank you all for your replies.

Tried some yabbies last weekend in Oatley (i'll post a report on it soon).

Here are some pics

[noelm]

Just looking at your rig, you appear to be using very heavy line and sinker, most fish will be in close around structure, don't throw your bait out over the horizon, for that location, 6lb mainline and even lighter leader will get better results, with no sinker and a live Nipper or Beachworm.

[Johnny Dory]

1 hour ago, noelm said:

Just looking at your rig, you appear to be using very heavy line and sinker, most fish will be in close around structure, don't throw your bait out over the horizon, for that location, 6lb mainline and even lighter leader will get better results, with no sinker and a live Nipper or Beachworm.

Thank you.

That rod was my heaviest set up, paternoster rig (20lb) with 12lb droppers.
My other 2 rods had a running sinker with size 1 bean and size 2 ball on 6lb leader.

Will try again with worms/nippers and no sinker and let you know.

Appreciate the feedback.

[corro]

Just drop the live nippers straight down right next to the pylons of the jetty.