Weekend Report – 5th July, 2008
Not too many fishos are venturing out.
Offshore – Albacore to 14kgs have been schooling Southeast of Browns Mountain.
Steve Cameilleri & party from Botany Bay game fishing club bagged 7 on stick baits along with yellowfin taken on the cube.
The southern canyons, are holding better class fins with specimens to 37kgs taken cubing.
There are snapper everywhere south. The charter boats have been fishing the close grounds North of Bellambi for stacks of pinky’s averaging around the kilo mark. The ever present jackets are also there making their presence felt.
Jamie Nelson & party from Smithfield RSL fishing club bagged ½ box of snapper wide off the block of cheese North of Jervis Bay, then bagged mowies & assorted reef species closer on pillies & slab baits.
The Campbelltown catholic club fishos had an outing at Culburra and did well on the reddies & mowies around penguin head & Burketts before bagging out on flatties from the sand corridors.
Hawkesbury
Hairtail to 1.6 metres have been taken on the point up river past Akuna Bay with as many as 40 or 50 fishos trying their luck. The most commonly used technique here is to fish a pilchard on a set of 4 size 3/0 gangedd hooks and suspend the rig under a running float with a light stick at the top, I have fished here before and it is not uncommon to hook up a school jew, bream or whiting if using bloodworm baits.
The slaughter house shoreline just down stream from little Jerusalem Bay has been the pick of the spots for luderick to 400gms and bream around the ½ kilo mark. This possie fishes well on either tide and always best using plenty of burley.
Not a lot to report from the main system as the wind has been up on most days.
The southern corner of Pearl Beach has been providing a few bream to 36cms and is one of the few possies sheltered from the wind. Garfish chunks have been getting the fish.
Coolongolook Point, on the southern side of Dangar Island has winter whiting available, and you should have no trouble getting a feed of these tasty critters, I am told that duskies have been boated just upstream of the submarine sign cable on the Northern side of the Island along with the odd good size bream. Local pprawns & live nippers getting those fish.
In Brisbane Waters, Phegans Bay & Horsfield Bay are the pick of the spots, with class whiting to 41cms being boated amongst the weeds on the edge of the main channel. There is a small but very good boat ramp nearby, so it is only a close stroll to get the spots and get a good feed.
Good size blackfish have also been taken near the bridge over Erina Creek just past east Gosford either tide.
And from Morisset, the cold water entrance to Eraring power station in Bonnells Bay is the hot spot during the late afternoons into the night. Producing bream around the 700gms mark and tailor in excess of 2 kilos. Whole Hawkesbury Prawns & pillies best in this possie. Tides make no difference.
Weekend Report – 27 June, 2008
Georges River
The system is still fishing particularly well, John Whittaker has been fishing just upstream of the East Hills Railway Bridge daily and bagging 6 to 8 bream around the 35 to 40 cms mark. Small black crabs have been doing the damage, with the outgoing tide the best option.
Norm Winnacott & his mate which regularly fish around the “S bends” have been drifting from the mouth of Salt Pan Creek to soily bottom during the outgoing tide and have been getting their share of bream, flatties & soapy jews to around 60cms. Peeled Hawkesbury Prawns have been best here.
Lambeth Park has quality Luderick on offer. The concrete wharf giving fish around the 400grams during the run-up tide on local weed. Once the tide turns it is a waste of time.
Cranrook has whiting & luderick on offer during the outgoing tide with bigger fish available. The fish are very finicky here and are hard to land. It may pay to drop the line weight down.
Nice whiting to 38cms were boated down stream of the Captain Cook bridge during the day. The star board marker dropover being the focal point. You will need bloodworms if you want good results.
The deeper holes at the entrance to Woolooware Bay have been productive for school flatties around the 45 – 50 cms mark and they are showing a preference for large whitebait.
Botany Bay
In the Bay, Trevally are all the rage with bag limits common, they are averaging between 35 and 40 cms and taking peeled prawn bait.
Molineaux Point, the Artificial Reefs in Yarra Bay have been the pick spots, with better class fish biting at night on the 1st of the incoming tide.
Bream have been spasmodic, but “Sam Prestia” bagged 5 fish to 37cms during the incoming tide wide off the last Westerly Groyne at Kurnell. Live Nippers doing the job.
The hit water outlet at Kurnell has been fishing well for tailor to 42cms, but you have got to be prepared to brave the conditions as they are only biting at night near the full tide. You will get the on pencil garfish or pillies.
Port Hacking
The narrow channel leading eastward from Lilli Pilli baths is the hot spot. Sam from Woodbine, bagged 6 bream, whiting & flounder during the last couple of hours of the outgoing tide on peeled Hawkesbury Prawns.
Elsewhere in the Port, Luderick and Fan bellied leatherjackets appear to be hanging around the deep rocky shores of Willarong Point & Grahams Point in South West arm, whilst the Luderick have been boated close to the structures of the old pool & sailing concept of the church camp. Weed is at a premium but limited quantities are available from both shops.
Shoalhaven
Big Jewies have been taken land base from the Northern break wall at the entrance to the Crookhaven River on Tomerong Island. 2 off 13kgs each were weighed at the shop. Both fish were taken on Mullet slabs at night.
School flatties around the 40 – 45 cm are still being boated on the Berry’s Bay drify on while whitebait either ttide.
Rock & Beach
Coniston Beach has well formed gutters Salmon & Tailor to 2.5kgs have been taken at first light from nearby the coal loader.
Good size whiting are biting during the afternoon in front of seals club in South Maroubra Beach.
Pittwater has been fishing particularly well. Big bream have been taken in good quantities amongst the boat moorings between the Royal Motor Yacht club at Newport & Taylors Point. Lightly weighted nipper baits aided by a steady boiled wheat burley is the best method.
Flathead & Flounder have been taken on the drift across Towlers Bay with Pillie Tails working a treat, and Watsons leaping Bonito’s have been showing up in schools during the afternoons around Soldiers Point.
The Valiant wreck has tailor to 55cms on offer and they are taking ½ x ¼ lures & Rapala CD11 red head slowly trolled down deep.
Box Head has salmon a plenty with fish in the 2-3 kgs class and it pays to follow birds in order to located the schools.
Doctors reef on the Northern side of Lion Island has been fishing well for Blurters to 40cms, tailor & bream with the last two hours prior to the low the preferred option. Live Nippers, peeled local prawns & pencil garries working a treat.
The weed areas around West Head, Resolute Beach, Palm Beach Wharf & Walker Point Rocky shorelines have been providing good catches of Green eye squid on 2.5cm green coloured squid jigs.
In the main system, flint & steel is a good bet, with Blurtes, Lizards chopper tailor and a few legal size reds on the menu, the last couple of hours of the outgoing tide been your best bet. Peeled local prawns & squid strips the go.
They’re catching plenty on big Yakkas & Slimy Mackarel at Patonga Wharf, so if you want to replenish your bait supply this possie is worth a try.
In the upper reaches, we have had reports of good bream & flatties taken from the deep holes at the Entrance to the Macdonald River at Wisemans Ferry and a couple of Jewies around the 3kgs were taken at night on local prawns next to the main ferry.
From Brisbane waters, the old veterans wharf at Saratoga has been yielding plenty of luderick around 300 – 350grams and should have no trouble bagging out if you can raise some decent weed. Spray a little Aniseed essence on the weed and that will enhance your prospects. Wot Woy wharf, Davistown are also likely possies to try.
Weekend Reports (North & Deep Sea) – 20 June, 2008
The weather is really playing havoc and once again plan B maybe on the cards.
As customary for the time of year Brisbane water is probably the top estuary spot within an hour drive from Sydney.
Ian Mclean & George Papadopolous fished the public wharfs & surround’s in Woy Woy channel for 8 big whiting to 43cms and 6 bream all around the 35cms and a swag of chopper tailor in the 35 – 40 cms class. All fish were taken during the rising tide on bloodworm, nippers & mullet strip baits.
Talking to the local guru from Davistown fishing club he says if you are prepared to brave the cold conditions at night most of the wharfs along the lintern channel are a good bet for a feed of class bream & good chance to snare a soapy Jew or two. So make sure you take a long handle net with you & live bloodworms & cockles. Don’t bother with the nippers because they don’t like them in this area.
Big whiting have also been taken at night between the Oyster Leases at the top end of Paddy’s channel with fish over the 40cms not uncommon, last couple of hours prior to the full tide is the prime period & squirt worms the top bait, but blood worms will also produce.
The Hawkesbury seems to be holding it’s own under adverse conditions.
Fishos have been making their way to Waratah Bay from the Apple tree goat track and picking up a few bream & duskies on their way. But the hairtail have not showed up to date. The 1st week in July should be a good one to try for them.
The sand flats at the top end of Jerusalem Bay have been fishing quite well at night for bream & whiting and there is no phosphorus I am told. The fish have been around the 30 – 35cms mark and they seem to be favouring the shallow side of the flats. Peeled local prawns & bloodworms are a must.
In the main system, Barry Taylor and his mate tried the Milson Island passage opposite the 3rd last house on the upstream side amongst the weeds & Boulders for 5 bream to 1.5 kgs on bonito fillets & 2 nice schoolies around 4-5 kgs mark which took whole local prawns. 2 hours either side of the high tide mark the when the fish bite most.
Also right up in the gut section between the Brooklyn Marinas & long island, big bream have been biting well on the Oyster Pudding with fish in excess of the kilo mark taken in only just under 2 meters of water. Once again no lead is required, but at least 6kg fluro carbon leader is necessary to avoid backoffs on the rocks.
Below Marlow, the no wash zone sign has been a good mark for quality bream around the 800 gms mark. You won’t get too many but they are good fish. The last few hours of the outgoing tide will get results. Pillie tails & nippers the top two enticers.
Earlier in the week good reports were received from the wide marks “Thursday”.
Terrigal Charters fished the trap reef straight out of the haven for 14 kings to 110 cms all taken on 280 gms knife jigs and 3 bonitos around the 4kg mark and the same method – 100 metre deep.
Boat ‘Don’t Know’ from the Botany Game Fishing club fished Browns Mountain on Thursday arvo and cubing bagged 7 yellow fin to 35kgs & 2 Albacore estimated to 8kgs. They stayed out till late and didn’t get back until 8.30pm.