Bit of success the past few days - new p.b

[Berrero]

Hey Raiders,

Has been quite a while since I've been fishing properly, work to blame for that one, but with 2 weeks off I was happy to get back into the swing of things and try get back on my usual fishing schedule (every day if I can manage :p)

Started out Saturday morning at shag bay (around the corner of shag point, near Tom Ugly's) fishing live worms on a float rig and unweighted prawns. Had a good session landing probably 20 fish - mixed bag of the usual suspects - nothing of size but was good fun on the ultralight gear & finally getting some practice using my new alvey.

The tide was getting up pretty high and lapping over the top of the jetty so decided to call it a day and head back in. Bit of a tangent here but my great uncle passed away a few years back and my great aunt has been slowly finding his fishing gear stashed around the house. Occasionally she'll offer me some stuff - s/s yabbie pump, old tackle boxes filled with stuff, etc., but last time it was his old lure box filled with some pretty cool things. Ended up taking half a dozen hard body lures (including a really old squid jig that has the mounting point tied on with string) and a packet of some old grubs that were 4-5 inches long and some old painted jigheads. Gave myself a bit of a challenge to try and catch something on his old gear to show my great aunt.

Anyway, back to the story, before walking back the 100mtrs or so decided to try and tie on one of the 4-5 inch grubs on a (guessing) 1/2oz 4/0 jig head and hopped it along the jetty as I walked back in. Bit of a gamble on a 1-3 rod 1k reel and 6lb line, but thought what the hell. About half way to the shore I had a decent hit so decided to dump my stuff at the start of the jetty and head back out for one last pass before heading home. Sure enough, same spot got hit again and was on to something heavy. 

After an awkward fight trying to keep it away from the poles and the one handed net attempt after the decent walk back in finally had her landed. She spat the hook as soon as she got in the net and the leader was so thrashed it looked like it was about to snap.

A really healthy and chunky 58cm - decided to keep her for a feed to make it even more special.

(lure was placed back in the mouth for the photo)

Headed back out on Monday with @JamoDamo to the same spot, was a bit quiet the first few hours throwing blades and small plastics, nothing to really write home about but managed one decent tailor and a handful of other fish. Once the tide emptied out a bit more the flatties started coming on and we landed 3 of them around the 50-55cm mark, we made the decision to keep these as well and have a bit of a feast that night.

Finally tried the famous salt and vinegar chip crumb - and coming from someone who doesn't usually eat fish, they were amazing. Comfortably fed the four of us and still have about half a kg of fillets left over.

Then along to Tuesday and back out with @JamoDamo, this time we decided to try and hit my old stomping grounds around the bay run parra river. The wind was belting like mad and the tide was a little too high to get to my usual wading spots so we sought shelter and tried fishing one of the smaller drainage canals out of the wind. Pulled up a few smaller fish then worked our way right out to the mouth and kept flicking. Managed to pull up a good flatty - was only using 6lb leader again so was a tense fight - didn't have the landing net on us and we were fishing on a 45 degree concrete bank.. Luckily Jamo was able to get down with the lip grips and pull her up safely. Finally broke my p.b flatty on lures, she came in at 61cm and swam off very healthy. I have hit 60cm on the dot 6 or 7 times now on lures and thought it may never happen 😅.

We are about to head out today again to the waders lagoon down at woolooware, will hopefully have something to write about tomorrow :-)

 

Tight lines to all 

Edited November 30, 2022 by Berrero

[Little_Flatty]

Nice report @Berrero! Some great fish there and isn’t it fun to find some old lures and check if they still work 😎 I’m sure your great uncle was smiling down on you as you landed that fish.

Enjoy your two weeks off work! Looking forward to some other reports!

[zmk1962]

Excellent report and fishing! 
I bet you treasure the gifted gear … it worked back then and I’m sure it will still deliver… and your great uncle is still fishing with you. 
cheers Zoran 

[Bluebenbomb]

I'm jealous of all the opportunities you get to fish... Well done!

It's interesting to hear how old tackle can still work and result in a fish.

Well done on the flattie PB.

[bessell1955]

It appears these lures have turned you into a Flattie King.

[GordoRetired]

Great report and some nice pic's. As Zoran said, the gear worked back then so no reason that it should not work now, as you have proved. Well done.👍

[Isaac Ct]

Great report mate, well done. Lovely quality of fish there.

 

[Squidless]

nice few sessions there and congrats on the PB. some photos of the old gear would be awesome - love seeing what they look like.

[Restyle]

good few trips there mate with good fish to show aswell! good luck over at woolooware, great area to fish from

[Rebel]

Top teport.

Great photos.

Well done.

[Pickles]

Top report @Berrero, some healthy looking Flatties, well done.

[big Neil]

An enjoyable recount of your (several) days fishing. Top reporting of the escapades of you and Jamo Damo. Good luck with your next adventures. Bonus having a nice feed after a few good days of fishing. bn

[Yowie]

Some nice fish, worth the effort.

On one of the jetties nearby to the one in the photo, I saw a bloke pull up a flatty, probably nearing the 70cm mark. The fish took him under the jetty a few times before he beached it. This was 2 years ago. I walked over and had a short chat with him, and he told me he pulled out a big flattie that hit the 10 pound mark (that would be around the 88 - 90 mark) the week before. It is fairly shallow water over that bank, hence the long jetties to reach the deeper water.

[jenno64]

Yep I always thought that flat would hold some good fish👌

great read and well done on the fishin missions, some very nice flatties there. 
 

Were you using an Alvey off the jetty? I sometimes get my ludeick reel out on my light surf rod and hit the flats or rocks off Cronulla. Good fun on the light gear!