Deeban Spit LB

[Matthew_Calamari]

Yesterday afternoon I drove to Maianbar for a few hours of fishing the end of low then incoming tide. I've been plagued with more donuts recently than I ever have, and was just looking forward to getting some sun and a potential battle with a big ray or two. 

I decided to nix the 40lb paternoster rigs I had been using as well as the heavier star sinker. I scrapped the arrow squid baits i had been using, and brought some whole gars for this outing.Walking up to the tip of the spit, I passed another fisherman whom hadnt had a bite all day, which seemed consistent with my own experiences lately. As I popped in my rod holder and set up (10' ft daiwa sensor sandstorm, shimano thunnus 8k baitrunner, 40lb j braid, running sinker rig (size 4 bead sinker to swivel, 600cm 20lb fc rock to 4/0 occy hook, 2/0 stinger, using whole garfish)), I noticed a few dolphins jumping in the channel. Is always a welcome sign of life and one I havent seen since the warmer months.

I cast out to the buoy, threw  on the runner, sat down and readied myself for an uneventful couple hours. In a couple minutes, I had landed a sleepy shovelnose on the hook and a toadfish on the stinger. 10 minutes after my next cast, I had an angry eagle ray hooked.  After a prolonged battle with some aerial moves, my 20lb leader had snapped. Happy with the fight, I re-rigged and threw out another gar. Cast after cast i was getting bites nearly instantly and consistent runs. I pulled in 2 rays, 1 salmon, 3 shovelnose and 3 duskies (80cm+, 60cm, 40ishcm) in the course of two and a half hours.

Ended up with a sore arm, a feed (60cm flatty), some bait (40ish cm salmon) and a drive to get back out and see if I'm onto something in changing up my style or it was just a lucky day.

 

Edited August 19 by Matthew_Calamari
photo fixed

[kantong]

now that's how you break a dry spell, well done mate. Big flattie there

[Matthew_Calamari]

Thanks. Was the best day on the Hacking I've had in a couple months. Nice to get some LB winter estuary action without having to go out to the rocks/beach.

[james Cutler]

Nice Flattie. Well done.

[Yowie]

Very nice work, 3 flatties and some rubbish critters. Worth the drive around.

You are not really fishing until you hook an angry eagle ray on a handline, and then see what the fun is. 🤣

[Matthew_Calamari]

1 hour ago, Yowie said:

Very nice work, 3 flatties and some rubbish critters. Worth the drive around.

You are not really fishing until you hook an angry eagle ray on a handline, and then see what the fun is. 🤣

🤣 i can't imagine an eagle ray on a handline. please tell me you had gloves on. 

[Yowie]

10 hours ago, Matthew_Calamari said:

🤣 i can't imagine an eagle ray on a handline. please tell me you had gloves on. 

No gloves, usually a 15 pound handline. Just let the critter run until it stops. If the fingers get too hot, use the other hand and dip the burnt fingers in the water and continue. 🤣

Mate and I have pulled up many over the years. The biggest hooked by my mate, it was sitting under my old boat for a little while, just taking a rest after a long struggle. The boat was 5 and a half foot wide, and we could see the tips of the rays wings out either side of the boat, so it was 6 foot across. Cut the line to let it go.

[Little_Flatty]

1 hour ago, Yowie said:

No gloves, usually a 15 pound handline. Just let the critter run until it stops. If the fingers get too hot, use the other hand and dip the burnt fingers in the water and continue. 🤣

Mate and I have pulled up many over the years. The biggest hooked by my mate, it was sitting under my old boat for a little while, just taking a rest after a long struggle. The boat was 5 and a half foot wide, and we could see the tips of the rays wings out either side of the boat, so it was 6 foot across. Cut the line to let it go.

Now THAT is sport fishing!😎🤣

[Larkin]

Nice spot over there on the spit!
Can usually get a few whiting around there on live nippers too.

Well done 🤙 enjoy the feed!

[Matthew_Calamari]

It is beautiful. One of my favourite landbased spots in the shire. Lots of big whiting in the warmer months for sure.  How is the winter whiting bite? might have to bring my pump next time. 

[Yowie]

5 hours ago, Matthew_Calamari said:

It is beautiful. One of my favourite landbased spots in the shire. Lots of big whiting in the warmer months for sure.  How is the winter whiting bite? might have to bring my pump next time. 

Whiting can be a bit hit-and-miss during winter, however, they should be more prominent over the next few weeks, as spring is starting up early, the ocean temp is warming a bit already (had a swim at Wanda yesterday, warmer than a few weeks ago) and more summer time north-easters are kicking about.

[Steve0]

36 minutes ago, Yowie said:

Spring is starting up early, the ocean temp is warming a bit already (had a swim at Wanda yesterday, warmer than a few weeks ago) and more summer time north-easters are kicking about.

We may get a setback in the air temperature, but confirming your opinion, the BOM ocean temperature chart shows a narrow band of very warm water heading down. The forecast indicates it will be off Sydney next week, spreading warmer water towards the coast. Things may start firing earlier.

I'm not sure whether the Deckee app show it. If so, and you are familiar with the app, look there. Otherwise, animate this chart http://www.bom.gov.au/oceanography/forecasts/idyoc300.shtml?region=NSW&forecast=SST The same chart is useful to predict the mature Tailor migration but my knowledge is restricted to just North of the border. Judging by reports, the run around Sydney follows later.

 

[Yowie]

1 hour ago, Steve0 said:

We may get a setback in the air temperature, but confirming your opinion, the BOM ocean temperature chart shows a narrow band of very warm water heading down. The forecast indicates it will be off Sydney next week, spreading warmer water towards the coast. Things may start firing earlier.

I'm not sure whether the Deckee app show it. If so, and you are familiar with the app, look there. Otherwise, animate this chart http://www.bom.gov.au/oceanography/forecasts/idyoc300.shtml?region=NSW&forecast=SST The same chart is useful to predict the mature Tailor migration but my knowledge is restricted to just North of the border. Judging by reports, the run around Sydney follows later.

 

I watch that chart most days to see what is happening.  I sometimes look at the Sea Level Anomaly and Currents chart, which shows there is a difference in water levels out in the ocean (apart from various wave heights) regarding current movement, high pressure/low pressure systems overhead, also including wind directions and speed. 

High pressure - water level drops a little. Low pressure - water level rises a little. 

[Steve0]

1 hour ago, Yowie said:

I watch that chart most days to see what is happening.  I sometimes look at the Sea Level Anomaly and Currents chart, which shows there is a difference in water levels out in the ocean (apart from various wave heights) regarding current movement, high pressure/low pressure systems overhead, also including wind directions and speed. 

High pressure - water level drops a little. Low pressure - water level rises a little. 

I used to do similar, but never got into how water pressure affected sea level. I was more interested in intense lows delivering storms to reshape beach structure. A big storm was always welcome after a long period of low swell.

As you would know, it's better to look at the MSLP in combination with the forecast than rely only on a forecast.