Hawkesbury jewfish and more flatties

[Pickles]

Had a window to get out today before a weeks predicted crook weather. Launched the Quinny at 6.30am at Lower Portland with buddy Steve (not a ‘Raider - yet) and headed towards Wisemans Ferry, stopping at several spots along the way. Weather was perfect until 11 am when a storm hit and we got wet, but landed a good bag of Flatties, keeping 5 over 40cm. Also caught 9 Jewies- several in the 60’s, but none over 68.

if anyone is planning on using the Lower Portland ramp be careful, there has been a “ski boat” submerged right next to the ramp for 2 weeks and hard to see at high tide.

 

Edited October 19, 2021 by Pickles

[Scratchie]

Nice work Bob! Always good a get out before a bad weather window. Makes you feel that you haven’t wasted any time. Lol. 
Happy to have flathead on the menu any day! Well done 👍 

cheers scratchie!!! 

[Yowie]

Nice work with another good bag of fish.

Live prawns again? and what size are the prawns at present?

[masterfisho7]

Well done nice fish love the photos 

[Pickles]

Yowie - prawns are variable sizes. Two days ago, they were quite large but today quite small and “bait size”, interestingly the larger Flatties and Jewies, seem just as interested in small as well as larger prawns.

[Isaac Ct]

Nice feed of flatties there @Pickles. Nice soapies as well. Well done

[Rebel]

Great haul. Super photos.

[jenno64]

Well done Bob

 

You're getting amongst them and sounds like the live prawns are to go, how do you rig them?

[Pickles]

Jenno’ I use circle hooks, as Jewies are so delicate and having such a big mouth, if they are gut hooked, their survival rate is significantly reduced.

Ocassionally I use shinner (banana) hooks if I’m targeting Flatties, but the circle hooks work well for them also and the shinner hooks are not suitable for LIVE prawns as it kills them quickly.

My rig is a 50cm - 1m leader-  fluro (usually 20lb - even for big Jewies, provided no obstructions to bust off on). I use 2 circle hooks. A no 6 “floater” which is not fixed, but free to slip up and down the leader line. This is a pretty tiny hook, but this hooks into the tail of the prawn. The main hook is a 2/0 circle (I use a uni knot for attaching terminal tackle), this is pretty small also and is threaded through the tail with barb coming out where the legs are and just behind the head. The reason I use a second hook (no6), is to keep the prawn tail out straight. The number of big Jewies I’ve caught with this little hook (always in the jaw or lip) is quite astounding. 
the no 6 hook is a “Mustad demon” and the 2/0 is a BKK Teflon (white).

Hope this helps.

[James Clain]

Awesome stuff. Weather reports have been quite off and odd the last few days. Some creaking fish, such a long way up the river as well!