Time To Hand In My Fishing Licence

[Breeze]

I purchased a brand new boat in August 2003 and have kept it at the marina in Akuna Bay.

The cost and hassle of maintaining the boat (not to mention tackle and bait) now far out way the enjoyment gained fishing Pittwater and the area encompassing West Head, Lion Island, Box Head, Barrenjoey, across to Whale Beach, and sometimes a little further south.

You don’t need to be marine biologist to confirm that fish aren’t there in the numbers anymore. Unfortunately it’s all over and the environment will never improve. To be able to catch reasonable fish you now need to travel to more exotic locations which are not over fished and polluted.

Referencing this site regularly during this time I noted many postings promoting recent catches. Understandably people generally don’t want to advertise the not so good days.

It is my opinion that less than 1% of people catch 90% of the 5% of fish that are left. Most of the people on this site (which is fantastic) fall into the 1%.

It’s a sad sad day.

Breeze

[Guest]

I purchased a brand new boat in August 2003 and have kept it at the marina in Akuna Bay.

The cost and hassle of maintaining the boat (not to mention tackle and bait) now far out way the enjoyment gained fishing Pittwater and the area encompassing West Head, Lion Island, Box Head, Barrenjoey, across to Whale Beach, and sometimes a little further south.

You don’t need to be marine biologist to confirm that fish aren’t there in the numbers anymore. Unfortunately it’s all over and the environment will never improve. To be able to catch reasonable fish you now need to travel to more exotic locations which are not over fished and polluted.

Referencing this site regularly during this time I noted many postings promoting recent catches. Understandably people generally don’t want to advertise the not so good days.

It is my opinion that less than 1% of people catch 90% of the 5% of fish that are left. Most of the people on this site (which is fantastic) fall into the 1%.

It’s a sad sad day.

Breeze

Hi YA Breeze and to the site ,we all have bad days out and I am no exception at all .We here at FISHRAIDER tend to fish a lot more than the average angler hence we seem to get more fish . The fact you are here now with us will definately improve you fishing and there is a myriad of fellow members to help you out with posts or private messages !!! Hang in there mate your big day will come soon

Cheers Swordfisherman

[neilm]

Mate,

Keep at it mate there will still be the good days, and as people have already said in this thread, it's about being 'out there' and winessing the joys of nature, mateship and all.

Even with Pittwater currently in the doldrums, this place is a dream to fish compared to where I come from.

Imagine this:

size 20 hooks, 0.5 kg line, one hempseed, 1.5kg berley, 13 foot fishing rod, 10 degrees out. A 0.5kg roach (a type of UK fish) if you're really lucky.

I still never, ever gave up fishing, it's in our blood.

Cheers,

Neil

[Talechaser]

breeza

i would not give it away just yet it might be worth while moving up river for a few goes,change the target species to jews flatties and bream.there are heaps of spots to try and still some reasonable fish about.

[JHousten]

Wow. So negative!

Honestly, this may seem harsh but maybe its your attitude?

Pittwater is alive and well, the fish in that region are just a little harder to catch. Its also very seasonal.

Sure, its no bonanza with fish jumping into the boat but stick at it and increase your fishing skills and knowledge and it may all come good.

And someting else to ponder..

Georges and Botany was once a rotton egg.

Parra river was once a rotton egg.

And do you know what? Fish can still thrive in some very unpleasant conditions.

[kikila]

The old adage “the early bird catches the worm” is never truer then it is in fishing, I’m usually on the water before first light generally on the bait grounds catching livies because as far as I’m concerned change of light is the prime time to target predators next best is the change of tide & if they coincide all the better, fish structures like navigation markers, jetties, moorings, fallen trees, rocks/ rock walls, drop offs, the edge of weed beds & eddies all can hold bait which in turn attract predators, never take only kind of bait’ take several kinds of bait also take an assortment of lures such as soft plastics, chrome lures & some bibbed minnows. Always have a plan of attack, pick a species & hunt it!!!! Don’t go out with the idea of fishing for anything because then you’re more likely to catch nothing, you also need to be adaptable if your fishing for bream & tailor start working, have a crack at the choppers because they can come & go quickly, besides you can always go back to the bream. Don’t bleat over your lack of success have a look a what your doing because it obviously it’s not working & try something else if you have had success in the past think about what you did & try it again.

[boccman]

I purchased a brand new boat in August 2003 and have kept it at the marina in Akuna Bay.

The cost and hassle of maintaining the boat (not to mention tackle and bait) now far out way the enjoyment gained fishing Pittwater and the area encompassing West Head, Lion Island, Box Head, Barrenjoey, across to Whale Beach, and sometimes a little further south.

You don’t need to be marine biologist to confirm that fish aren’t there in the numbers anymore. Unfortunately it’s all over and the environment will never improve. To be able to catch reasonable fish you now need to travel to more exotic locations which are not over fished and polluted.

Referencing this site regularly during this time I noted many postings promoting recent catches. Understandably people generally don’t want to advertise the not so good days.

It is my opinion that less than 1% of people catch 90% of the 5% of fish that are left. Most of the people on this site (which is fantastic) fall into the 1%.

It’s a sad sad day.

Breeze

Breeze,

I dig your frustration, Dan was one the money. We need to get more proactive and remind useless authorities of the changes we experience and the current status of our fishing grounds.

I was only talking to fisheries management peolpe on the phone the other day about a similar topic. I'm tired of seeing commercial fishermen pillage and plunder everything that moves in my local estuary. Throwing away dead fish that I would get fined for. They are taking everything they can get their hands on from the breeding grounds of future fish stocks.

Man, my advice, write to these dickheads and let them know, I do and encourage fellow raiders to do the same. Buy out more commercial licences, (afterall our licences have to pay for something) stop commercial fishing in our estuaries.

Here's the address dude:

Director of Fisheries Management

Anthony Hurst (Sydney metro area guy)

PO Box 21 Cronulla 2250

[robthefisherman]

Whoa cheer up Breeze.

You can always buy a smaller trailer boat dude that way you won't have to pay for moorings and you can fish a variety of waterways.

Mate I haven't caught a decent fish since November but so what?

I fish because I love to be outside, I like the feel of the cool salty air in the early mornings, I like to hang out with mates be it on a boat or on a rock share a few beers and a few stories and hey if I catch a fish in the process BONUS .

[phild]

Breeze succsess breeds succsess, find someone who knows what their doing and learn from them. Listen and look dont opinonate about the lack of sucsess. A lot of guys here have been fishing their whole lives to achieve some of the succsess you see. It took me years as a kid/teen of getting down to a rock ledges at 3.30 in the morning, only to find I could not get a spot. then finally getting a spot for 1 of my rods (the others had three or four), to finally being shown by the old italian guys what I should be doing, to finally landing a decent haul of bream. This is accumulated knowledge and I now see that its too valubule to hand over to all and sundry. You need to earn the right to be shown the sutble diffrences between succsess and failure in fishing. But, if you perservere, show a good sense of humour and are just a decent bloke to be around people will give up that knowledge to you. Dont give up cracking it is the best..

[harold]

Breeze, i also have a fishing boat down at Akuna (signature 702L) and i have certainly had more than my fair share of fishless days in the Hawkesbury, but, every now and then, it all goes together and you go home with a big smile on the face. There is nothing like it and the cost is far outweighed by the release you get from all the stress and strains of normal life. I am more than happy to go out with you one day and see what mayhem we can knock up together. My boat is on D arm spot number 5 and if you see an old, worn out guy fiddling down there, come and make yourself known.

We have pulled out good sized Salmon, Flathead, Bream and Taylor from those waters as well as every sort of rubbish fish God put on earth and it is all worth it. Consider how nuts this is, even though i know there are no Hairtail in the Hawkesbury, i go after them, in the freezing temperatures of a winters night year after year and whilst i have never had a sniff of a bite, i will be back there this year for sure. Its the thrill of the hunt i guess that keeps me going back.

I reckon Nike should change its motto to "Just Fish"

CU

[Guest maraudingmado]

Like you Harold I chase hairtail and have spent well over $2000 and still haven't caught one but will be there again this year freezing what's left of my family jewels trying again

[insolent]

Hi Breeze

I have to agree with the general concensus that the enviroment can come back. The Parramatta river was almost considered a dead river in the 80's but has come back in a big way.

I mostly fish at Glebe and have seen the area change from catching a couple of bream and leatherjacket to oysters coming back on the rocks and catching bream, flathead, whiting, flounder, trevally, tailor and some guys say mulloway night fishing. There are also many small snapper in Blackwattle Bay and hopefully these will provide larger versions in the harbour and offshore in the future.

[sjmart]

Breeze,

I would have to agree with eastcoastin, I personally can't catch a cold let alone a fish but the time you spend out there trying, spending time with your mates, the good weather and the rotten and yes the sights and sounds that only we can experience.

Surely that alone is enough to keep you going, ok so you're not catching fish (for now) times will change and when they do you'll be there in the thick of it.

Don't give up!!

Steve.

[fliesentom]

marine biologist...

no, we are not,but fishing and enjoy a nice day out is what we want as raiders,

to get a fish is a benefit to your enjoyment!

ok painted black, dont like your attitude at all, mabe you should stay clear of fishing and dont make us

responsibile for your misfortune.

overfishing is a global problem! mabe you should release some big ones to sporn again.i can see ,that after recent years, the kingfish as such has come back in good numbers and good sizes. i catch bonitos , kings,blackfish,bream,flathead,salmon,the odd snapper of barrenjoey and whale, i cant complain even if i go home without a catch i certainly had a nice day out....

think about it and try again

and take a chill pill.......................

Breeze succsess breeds succsess, find someone who knows what their doing and learn from them. Listen and look dont opinonate about the lack of sucsess. A lot of guys here have been fishing their whole lives to achieve some of the succsess you see. It took me years as a kid/teen of getting down to a rock ledges at 3.30 in the morning, only to find I could not get a spot. then finally getting a spot for 1 of my rods (the others had three or four), to finally being shown by the old italian guys what I should be doing, to finally landing a decent haul of bream. This is accumulated knowledge and I now see that its too valubule to hand over to all and sundry. You need to earn the right to be shown the sutble diffrences between succsess and failure in fishing. But, if you perservere, show a good sense of humour and are just a decent bloke to be around people will give up that knowledge to you. Dont give up cracking it is the best..

exactly your opinnion

[expat]

Hi

I did the fishing clinic of Colin Buckley at Narrabeen Bait and Tackle a few years ago and would suggest you do the same. Its HEAPS of fun, you learn tons and since then I have caught more fish than I could ever imagine. Have since bought a boat as well and I agree with the opinions on the board that fishing and boating is NOT about catching tons of fish. Leave that to the commercial blokes cleaning it out fast enough as it is!

Even just doing a sightsee cruise is sometimes nice with a rod or two if you find a spot that looks promising.

Cheers

Francois

Central Coast

[robthefisherman]

Bit of a waste of time to sign up to a fishing site, make one negative post and never be seen or heard of again

Might seem harsh breeze but I reckon no great loss if ya give it up mate

[BUSTER 1]

I purchased a brand new boat in August 2003 and have kept it at the marina in Akuna Bay.

The cost and hassle of maintaining the boat (not to mention tackle and bait) now far out way the enjoyment gained fishing Pittwater and the area encompassing West Head, Lion Island, Box Head, Barrenjoey, across to Whale Beach, and sometimes a little further south.

You don’t need to be marine biologist to confirm that fish aren’t there in the numbers anymore. Unfortunately it’s all over and the environment will never improve. To be able to catch reasonable fish you now need to travel to more exotic locations which are not over fished and polluted.

Referencing this site regularly during this time I noted many postings promoting recent catches. Understandably people generally don’t want to advertise the not so good days.

It is my opinion that less than 1% of people catch 90% of the 5% of fish that are left. Most of the people on this site (which is fantastic) fall into the 1%.

It’s a sad sad day.

Breeze You sound pretty depressed Breeze ,but if it all relates back to dollars and cents

then mabe you should give it away,Or try and enjoy you time on water, relax the fish

will come .P/s try dessperate and boatless ,some smart deckies there

[Muddy4x4]

Breeze succsess breeds succsess, find someone who knows what their doing and learn from them.

Well said. Maybe it's just a matter of getting a deckie that knows what they're doing that might be able to show you a thing or two. Maybe there's something you're doing that's close, but not quite there. You could also try coming out on the social day coming up to see what others are up to.

Hang in there. Not many people are great at something without a lot of sweat and time.

Cheers,

Mark.

[barrykrocker]

Hi Breeze

I have to agree with the general concensus that the enviroment can come back. The Parramatta river was almost considered a dead river in the 80's but has come back in a big way.

I mostly fish at Glebe and have seen the area change from catching a couple of bream and leatherjacket to oysters coming back on the rocks and catching bream, flathead, whiting, flounder, trevally, tailor and some guys say mulloway night fishing. There are also many small snapper in Blackwattle Bay and hopefully these will provide larger versions in the harbour and offshore in the future.

I live in Glebe and mostly fish pyrmont. several months ago I hooked what I'm sure was a Jewie there at night. (picture an ameteur fisherman half asleep at night, alone in an abandoned yard when he had his first experience off line screaming of the reel as the fish ran directly away.) I lost it but anyway....

Edited January 29, 2006 by barrykrocker