Are there any good spots for livebaiting on the northern beaches?

[Dumpling Democratic]

Hi. Ive been fishing for a while now and im starting to use live bait (yakkas). I usually throw out a livie at balmoral but havent caught anything yet but i have hooked onto some big fish that have smoked me off tho (at that time i was really bad at tying knots but im better now 😆). Anyway, i would like to know if there are any goods spots where i can catch salmon or maybe kings (some bonito would be nice too) pls give any advice u have. Cheers

 

[PaddyT]

Barranjoey, Nth Whale, Sth Whale , Nth Curlie , North Head

[Dumpling Democratic]

Ok thanks. Whereabouts on northhead? Ive fished there before and its mostly rocks. Too dangerous for me 😱😵

[PaddyT]

They are all rockfishing spots

[Pickles]

Hey @Dumpling Democratic, keep fishing Balmoral, but upgrade your gear, I’ve hooked some Bull sharks there at night (scares me a bit seeing all the early morning swimmers crossing the headland over the bait grounds there). Also tailor and salmon there at the moment (Dec 2023). Have you tried filets of fresh yellowtail and slimies. I’ve found the Yakkas around Balmoral pretty small, so maybe butterfly one. I also like circle hooks - rarely miss with these, but DONT STRIKE, let the fish take and swim off with the bait and hook themselves. Fishing with circle hooks is very different to other styles of fishing.

[Dumpling Democratic]

On 12/16/2023 at 6:04 PM, PaddyT said:

They are all rockfishing spots

Ok. Thanks for the info 😀. I dont like rockfishing tho.😣 too scary

 

[Dumpling Democratic]

On 12/17/2023 at 5:19 AM, Pickles said:

Hey @Dumpling Democratic, keep fishing Balmoral, but upgrade your gear, I’ve hooked some Bull sharks there at night (scares me a bit seeing all the early morning swimmers crossing the headland over the bait grounds there). Also tailor and salmon there at the moment (Dec 2023). Have you tried filets of fresh yellowtail and slimies. I’ve found the Yakkas around Balmoral pretty small, so maybe butterfly one. I also like circle hooks - rarely miss with these, but DONT STRIKE, let the fish take and swim off with the bait and hook themselves. Fishing with circle hooks is very different to other styles of fishing.

Wow thanks!!! Im heading out today to balmoral. Ill write a reprt about it soon. Ive tried using yakka fillets before and caught big trevally. I do have some cricle hooks. What size should i use? 

[Dumpling Democratic]

the live bait hooks im using now are just bigger than my thumb. Do i use circle hooks around the same size?

[faker]

On 12/17/2023 at 5:19 AM, Pickles said:

Hey @Dumpling Democratic, keep fishing Balmoral, but upgrade your gear, I’ve hooked some Bull sharks there at night (scares me a bit seeing all the early morning swimmers crossing the headland over the bait grounds there). Also tailor and salmon there at the moment (Dec 2023). Have you tried filets of fresh yellowtail and slimies. I’ve found the Yakkas around Balmoral pretty small, so maybe butterfly one. I also like circle hooks - rarely miss with these, but DONT STRIKE, let the fish take and swim off with the bait and hook themselves. Fishing with circle hooks is very different to other styles of fishing.

I never catch anything in balmoral these days. Wharf is too packed and swimmers out there too early in morning to make it worth it

[Dumpling Democratic]

Oh. I still carch some bream trevs and takkas there tho. Fun on light gear

 

[faker]

22 hours ago, Dumpling Democratic said:

Oh. I still carch some bream trevs and takkas there tho. Fun on light gear

 

Yea but legal fish are far and few in-between.