Apple Tree Bay

[sashkello]

Reporting back.

Unfortunately got stuck at work, so arrived too late to explore the surroundings as it was already dark, and the tide started to run out fast. So went over to the pontoon and tried for squid for ~20 minutes. Got a tiny one immediately and then nothing. The pontoon was all covered in ink, so they must be there, just probably not the right time. I think they aren't too keen about outgoing tide as it brings fresh water and there was also lots of leaves and other debris floating from the creek. So switched to bait: I had some squid tentacles left over from last time and again on first cast got a decent bream, about 33cm. There were no takes in the next 1.5 hours, including some time which I spent switching between squid jig and vibes.

There were LOTS of splashes around me. From what I was able to see in the dark, bream was jumping out for the insects which were swarming in big clouds all over the area. They showed no interest in squid strips/tentacles or small vibes, I didn't even get any nibbles barring that one bream. I understand that when they are focused on surface feeding they tend to ignore anything else. However, due to the debris in the water I wasn't able to fish with my surface lures as they simply got bogged down in leaves pretty much immediately. Not sure if there was some other technique I might have tried, because I'd be glad to know how to deal with such conditions - some of those bream were well into legal size and the splashes were spectacular, they jumped over half a meter up for sure.

Will be back to explore the area further when can get out before dark for sure. Loved the place - no wind, very peaceful. Would try surface lures on incoming tide when there is no leaves on the surface, and would surely add it to my squidding spots as well.

[juicy233]

3 hours ago, sashkello said:

Reporting back.

Unfortunately got stuck at work, so arrived too late to explore the surroundings as it was already dark, and the tide started to run out fast. So went over to the pontoon and tried for squid for ~20 minutes. Got a tiny one immediately and then nothing. The pontoon was all covered in ink, so they must be there, just probably not the right time. I think they aren't too keen about outgoing tide as it brings fresh water and there was also lots of leaves and other debris floating from the creek. So switched to bait: I had some squid tentacles left over from last time and again on first cast got a decent bream, about 33cm. There were no takes in the next 1.5 hours, including some time which I spent switching between squid jig and vibes.

There were LOTS of splashes around me. From what I was able to see in the dark, bream was jumping out for the insects which were swarming in big clouds all over the area. They showed no interest in squid strips/tentacles or small vibes, I didn't even get any nibbles barring that one bream. I understand that when they are focused on surface feeding they tend to ignore anything else. However, due to the debris in the water I wasn't able to fish with my surface lures as they simply got bogged down in leaves pretty much immediately. Not sure if there was some other technique I might have tried, because I'd be glad to know how to deal with such conditions - some of those bream were well into legal size and the splashes were spectacular, they jumped over half a meter up for sure.

Will be back to explore the area further when can get out before dark for sure. Loved the place - no wind, very peaceful. Would try surface lures on incoming tide when there is no leaves on the surface, and would surely add it to my squidding spots as well.

Good job on the bream, I've noticed that everywhere I've fished in the last week or so, bream and tailor have been going ballistic on the surface eating dead moths and flies that the warm weather has brought in.

I've found when they are going ballistic and jumping half a meter in the air feeding on those dead bugs, a tiny bit of unweighted bait on a tiny hook will work as the bream seem to be only feeding on those little insects. Id imagine know how to fly fish for bream on topwater would be a pretty good skill to have for this time of the year.

[odysea_yt]

5 hours ago, sashkello said:

Reporting back.

Unfortunately got stuck at work, so arrived too late to explore the surroundings as it was already dark, and the tide started to run out fast. So went over to the pontoon and tried for squid for ~20 minutes. Got a tiny one immediately and then nothing. The pontoon was all covered in ink, so they must be there, just probably not the right time. I think they aren't too keen about outgoing tide as it brings fresh water and there was also lots of leaves and other debris floating from the creek. So switched to bait: I had some squid tentacles left over from last time and again on first cast got a decent bream, about 33cm. There were no takes in the next 1.5 hours, including some time which I spent switching between squid jig and vibes.

There were LOTS of splashes around me. From what I was able to see in the dark, bream was jumping out for the insects which were swarming in big clouds all over the area. They showed no interest in squid strips/tentacles or small vibes, I didn't even get any nibbles barring that one bream. I understand that when they are focused on surface feeding they tend to ignore anything else. However, due to the debris in the water I wasn't able to fish with my surface lures as they simply got bogged down in leaves pretty much immediately. Not sure if there was some other technique I might have tried, because I'd be glad to know how to deal with such conditions - some of those bream were well into legal size and the splashes were spectacular, they jumped over half a meter up for sure.

Will be back to explore the area further when can get out before dark for sure. Loved the place - no wind, very peaceful. Would try surface lures on incoming tide when there is no leaves on the surface, and would surely add it to my squidding spots as well.

it seems i was wrong about there being a lot of squid sry

The bream are very picky in cowan creek, sometimes you see them on shore just swimming and when you plonk a bait down they don't flinch. I'm not sure why 

[sashkello]

13 hours ago, odysea_yt said:

it seems i was wrong about there being a lot of squid sry

The bream are very picky in cowan creek, sometimes you see them on shore just swimming and when you plonk a bait down they don't flinch. I'm not sure why 

Yeah, squid just don't like dirty water - when I saw how much debris was coming my way, I knew it won't work. I'm sure in other conditions it's a good spot for squid. 

[HawkesburyParadise]

Good to know Apple Tree Bay is productive. I tend to avoid Bobbin Head, it's been bad luck for me. I might try Apple Tree bay.