Bate Bay

[Yowie]

Headed out to Bate Bay early this morning, first drop before sunrise. A couple of spikies, so moved a little further out, about 150 feet deep. No wind, very little drift, but dropped onto a patch of blue spots. Pulled up 8, then decided to try out in 200 feet. Not a bite at all. Quite a strong current heading north even though I was drifting to the east slowly, but it appeared to be on the surface, and there was a definite tide line visible on the surface.

I moved back in and pulled another 2 blue spots to give me the bag limit, so headed for the ramp before 7am. A couple of dolphins cruising around for a while. The flatties from 35 to 47cm.

The swell was from the east, or thereabouts, a few sharp waves so it was a slow bouncy trip heading out, easier heading back with the waves. I launched from the ramp the same time as another fisho, and he returned when I did. He had one of the swell waves hit him side on while he was trolling, for a few bonnies, and thought he was tipping over such was the angle of the boat on the wave, and having a swim. That's why he returned early, the stress from the wave cracked the boat windscreen. Might have scared him a bit.

[Gus-to]

Nice to get out before the weather turns bad for sweet tasting flathead fillets.

Fellow from the other boat was surely scared. Happed to me once in kayak when wave crashed over me in a launching from Wattamolla. Next thing shark fin shows up...

[slowjigger]

1 hour ago, Yowie said:

 

The swell was from the east, or thereabouts, a few sharp waves so it was a slow bouncy trip heading out, easier heading back with the waves. I launched from the ramp the same time as another fisho, and he returned when I did. He had one of the swell waves hit him side on while he was trolling, for a few bonnies, and thought he was tipping over such was the angle of the boat on the wave, and having a swim. That's why he returned early, the stress from the wave cracked the boat windscreen. Might have scared him a bit.

 

That interesting - what size/ type of boat was it?

[Little_Flatty]

Nice work Dave. Always a good feed in your reports.

[Larkin]

Top effort for a quick session - good sized ones! Nice catch as always 👍

Wave period was a little short - got to be careful out there in small boats especially along the cliffs trolling for Bonnie’s. You get those swells bouncing back off the cliffs too which can hit you from both sides.
Or he may have gone too close to the bommie or some of those shallow spots along the cliffs if he doest’t know the area well.  Poor fella!

Looks like some warm water starting to come down and swirling offshore which should be pushing in close next week. See what it brings.

[Yowie]

3 hours ago, slowjigger said:

That interesting - what size/ type of boat was it?

Maybe 5 metres long, did not look at the brand or motor. Cabin on the front. Front and side windows.

[Yowie]

3 hours ago, Gus-to said:

Nice to get out before the weather turns bad for sweet tasting flathead fillets.

Fellow from the other boat was surely scared. Happed to me once in kayak when wave crashed over me in a launching from Wattamolla. Next thing shark fin shows up...

Wanted to pull up a few flatties before the rain.

He was a bit quiet after returning.

[Yowie]

2 hours ago, Little_Flatty said:

Nice work Dave. Always a good feed in your reports.

Thanks Mike. A couple of feeds there.

[Yowie]

23 minutes ago, Larkin said:

Top effort for a quick session - good sized ones! Nice catch as always 👍

Wave period was a little short - got to be careful out there in small boats especially along the cliffs trolling for Bonnie’s. You get those swells bouncing back off the cliffs too which can hit you from both sides.
Or he may have gone too close to the bommie or some of those shallow spots along the cliffs if he doest’t know the area well.  Poor fella!

Looks like some warm water starting to come down and swirling offshore which should be pushing in close next week. See what it brings.

Just happened to drop over a patch of blue spots, very little drift. Might have been a breeding group.

I was out from the bombie, no swell bounceback, however, I could see it further south of me.

Warm water heading south, though last week I was up at Nelson Bay, a few swims and the water was a little bit cooler than I expected. Constant north-easters probably caused an inversion of the coastal water - pushing onto the coast and causing the water to flow back down deep and therefore pushing up the lower and cooler water.

[jenno64]

Cracking bag Dave and you have your fillets sorted for the wet weather 👌

[Yowie]

10 minutes ago, jenno64 said:

Cracking bag Dave and you have your fillets sorted for the wet weather 👌

Thanks Rob, a couple of feeds, plus a few fillets for one brother.

[kantong]

great bag of fish, always know where to find them.

[Yowie]

5 hours ago, kantong said:

 always know where to find them.

Most days 😂, some days they take time.

[M1100S]

Yowie

i see you brain spike the flathead... do you also bleed them?

i always bleed my flatties but my mate said there is no need, wondering if it makes a difference or not?

[Yowie]

31 minutes ago, M1100S said:

Yowie

i see you brain spike the flathead... do you also bleed them?

i always bleed my flatties but my mate said there is no need, wondering if it makes a difference or not?

Usually do not bleed flatties, no need to. Bleed them if they swallow the hook and I need to remove it.

[Pickles]

Perfect session Dave - out early, back early and a bag limit feed 👍👍

[Yowie]

2 hours ago, Pickles said:

Perfect session Dave - out early, back early and a bag limit feed 👍👍

Thanks Bob. Just happened to drop onto a patch of flatties. Home early to wash the boat, but it was warm and humid by that time.

[Ryder]

Another great bag. It’s nice when you have enough to share around. Well done.

[Yowie]

3 hours ago, Ryder said:

Another great bag. It’s nice when you have enough to share around. Well done.

Thank you. Brother was happy with some fillets.