Pickles Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 (edited) I’ve been trying to get up to see my buddy Mick at Port Stevens in @Scratchieterritory for several weeks, but the weather has been crook, but there was a window yesterday and so buddy Steve and I left at 2am to be fishing at first light (6.30) as we were going 20ks off shore to chase Snapper and Jewies / Trag. The pressure was high (1024hp) moon phase was good, tidal coefficient was 33% (meaning tidal flow on sea bed was low and thus current and “drift” SHOULD be slow - important that far off shore as a fast drift means a heavy sinker, making bites hard to feel, even with braid), swell was low, wind was gentle, water was warm (25.5) clear and cobalt blue AND I had a new hat (and remembered 🍌) There was a predicted low pressure front coming late on Thursday and early on Friday (replacing the high of 1024 hectopascals for Thursday). Some of my best fishing has been on a high with approaching low / storm to follow. Conditions could not have been more perfect and Mick had a job cancellation and Steve was happy to drive - The Blessings we’re about to abound and abound they did. I had been out on Wednesday to Broken Bay on a bait collecting expedition and had 40-50 fresh Yakkas and slimies (and one Bonito), but no squid (not one of my favourite off shore baits, but dynamite inside, especially for kings). Just as well we had so much bait as we had a cracker of a day. Total “keep” (we let anything under 45, including Trag whose legal size is 38) was. 19 snapper (biggest 78), 1 Jewie (88), 1 Trag (78- biggest Trag I’ve caught), 9 Nannigai, 1 blue Morwong. On the way back I spotted a Marlin and several game boats were pulling skirts, so we dropped the Bonito behind and slow trolled back towards Broughton Is - It went off, but no hookup, probably just as well,, as we only had spinning gear. It was a great day with mates in Gods great outdoors. Edited February 10, 2022 by Pickles Pics 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessell1955 Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Wow, you caught more quality fish then they have at the Fish Markets! Well done a truly great result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Ct Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Verry nice bag of fish there pickles and plenty of feeds. Fresh bait always works and you always prove it. Maybe if I wasn't lazy enough to get some maybe I could catch some fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Looks like a fantastic day out Bob, the sea conditions in the photos are what you need. A great feed of reds, better eating than the other fish you caught. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little_Flatty Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 What a catch @Pickles! And nice hat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankS Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Well done Bob, I need to get up there myself some time soon. Is that Steve ( Tunaking ) from my old site " Fishnet " ? If so say hello from me " Nimrod " . Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larkin Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 What a feed👍 well done pickles and great report. You strip bait the yellowtails? Butterfly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big Neil Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 Great day on the water Bob and Steve. Lots of good eating in that lot. Not often you get perfect conditions, but when you do, you're always ready to take advantage. Same in Murray Cod fishing re the storm being imminent...always brings them on the bite. Nice hat by the way. bn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 Super day and Super photos. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 That’s a great haul. Plenty of places to target in Port Stephens. Glad you had a good trip up here! Can’t say I venture that far out to chase snapper. Prefer the 6-15m of water myself. A lot easier on the arms! Lol 😝 Well done 👍 cheers scratchie!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 8 hours ago, Larkin said: What a feed👍 well done pickles and great report. You strip bait the yellowtails? Butterfly? Yep, Whole, strips, Butterfly and halves (head or tails) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 2 hours ago, Scratchie said: That’s a great haul. Plenty of places to target in Port Stephens. Glad you had a good trip up here! Can’t say I venture that far out to chase snapper. Prefer the 6-15m of water myself. A lot easier on the arms! Lol 😝 Well done 👍 cheers scratchie!!! I’d love to catch up for a “Scratchie Master class” with plastics Jeff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 6 hours ago, big Neil said: Great day on the water Bob and Steve. Lots of good eating in that lot. Not often you get perfect conditions, but when you do, you're always ready to take advantage. Same in Murray Cod fishing re the storm being imminent...always brings them on the bite. Nice hat by the way. bn Cheers Neil, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 11 hours ago, Yowie said: Looks like a fantastic day out Bob, the sea conditions in the photos are what you need. A great feed of reds, better eating than the other fish you caught. Agree Dave, although I don’t mind the jewfish, rate it above Snapper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 11 hours ago, Isaac Ct said: Verry nice bag of fish there pickles and plenty of feeds. Fresh bait always works and you always prove it. Maybe if I wasn't lazy enough to get some maybe I could catch some fish. Live bait make all the difference @Isaac Ct, it’s worth the effort and almost as much fun as catching target species. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 9 hours ago, frankS said: Well done Bob, I need to get up there myself some time soon. Is that Steve ( Tunaking ) from my old site " Fishnet " ? If so say hello from me " Nimrod " . Frank No. Different Steve, a pity the “Fishnet” folded😞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 11 hours ago, bessell1955 said: Wow, you caught more quality fish then they have at the Fish Markets! Well done a truly great result. Cheers @bessell1955 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 11 minutes ago, Pickles said: I’d love to catch up for a “Scratchie Master class” with plastics Jeff. Any time Bob! Just book it in 🤙 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenno64 Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 Super effort Bob! you certainly picked the right conditions and bagged plenty of delicious fillets! great pics too👌 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 5 hours ago, jenno64 said: Super effort Bob! you certainly picked the right conditions and bagged plenty of delicious fillets! great pics too👌 Cheers mate - it was a fun day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordoRetired Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 That looks like a Great days fishing. Well done Bob 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutz Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Wow, Nice haul of snapper there, @Pickles. A question, if I may, regarding fishing for snapper? What sort of bottom features are you looking for on the sounder? I’ve read the articles on the forum and also looked online, but never had much luck sounding up (or catching) the fish. There is so much information out there, and much of it is conflicting. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmk1962 Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 As I said in my text message…That’s a sensational catch mate. You are a true master. We’ll definitely have to organize a PS session in the new rig when it arrives. Tight lines buddy. cheers Zoran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corro Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Wow few great meals there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelm Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 1 hour ago, Nutz said: Wow, Nice haul of snapper there, @Pickles. A question, if I may, regarding fishing for snapper? What sort of bottom features are you looking for on the sounder? I’ve read the articles on the forum and also looked online, but never had much luck sounding up (or catching) the fish. There is so much information out there, and much of it is conflicting. Cheers. I always look for structure, especially a drop off onto sand/gravel, I don't look for Snapper to appear on the screen as such, just where they might be. Nice catch by the way, but a bag of ice might have been prudent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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 accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now