This
Report 27 October Sydney
Harbour The Harbour is fishing quite well, and though we are
still early in the season the water is quite warm already.Quite a few
Flathead have moved in, and they are chomping into dark brown and black
patterned soft plastics all over the harbour. Fort Denison has been a
favourite. There are also a few small Trevally schooling up, and some
mid sized Squire, particularly in the deeper bays east of town.
Salmon schools
have made an occasional reappearance around the outside of
North Head in the last few days, giving us hope that they may stay around
in numbers into summer. There are already patches of fish through out
the harbour - from Middle Harbour to Kirribilli, where they are being
accompanied by a few rat sized kings. Try throwing small metal slices
of around 10-20gms at any surface action you find, and remember to always
sneak up on these oft spooky fish.
Pittwater
A few good Bream are marauding Pittwater at present, and the bigger ones
have been taken on all sorts of baits including Squid. A massive fish
of 1.6kg was landed on the weekend after it tore into a live Squid on
the downrigger, just off the eastern side of Scotland Island.
Sydney
It¹s
good to see some real summer action this week off Sydney. Once again we
have a had a lick blue water on North Head, bringing a few small Kingfish,
some thumper Salmon and even a couple of much bigger Kings, into the Harbour.
Close offshore there are also schools of striped tuna, with birds working
all over them, and even a few big flying fish just off North Head! Inside
the heads, Rose Bay and a few of other bays around town have been producing
Kingfish from 50 80cm, as has Clifton Gardens. There are a few nice
Tailor holding around these schools as well, often above the Kings.
This
Report 21 August Sydney
Harbour Salmon have been moving in around and
outside the heads for the last few weeks, and now they are here in pretty
good numbers. Though finicky they have still been taking a few different
lures and flies. It can be hard to ‘match the hatch’ at times
but in general flies such as epoxy minnows, and metal slices of up to
10gms especially in reflective white, have been performing. Be sure not
to troll through any surface schools, as this will just send the Salmon
down and off the bite for you and everyone else. More Salmon should arrive
in the next few weeks to really get things going.
Offshore For the offshore reef bashers, a good
week is being had close in. The last few days have seen decent numbers
of platey Snapper, with some good Morwong and smallish Flathead also being
landed. There are even a few big Silver Drummer around the 5kg mark. The
drummer are often found within reach of shore while dropping fresh squid
strips down for Snapper. Be geared up if you are chasing them, the small
mouthed 'silvers' are brutes of fish, capable of straightening hooks and
will certainly test your tackle.
Northern Beaches Some fat Drummer are currently being taken
from the rocky washes off most of Sydney’s northern beaches. Extra
strong and very sharp hooks around size 1 or 1/0, and strong line and
trace, are the elements required if you wish to stop this fish from busting
you off on the rocks that may be as close as 40 or 50 cm away. Abalone
gut set under a float or placed unweighted into the wash areas is the
key.
This
Report 17 August Sydney
Harbour Some high flying Australian Salmon around
2kg have been taken just off North and South Head recently, as they school
up and down along the bluff of each headland. Some smaller fish are finding
their way into the harbour and can be found around Middle and Dobroyd
Heads. They are predominantly being taken spinning or deep jigging with
small chrome slices around 15gms, as well as on fly, using especially
surf candies or epoxies. The Salmon are living on a diet of krill and
other micro matter at the moment, so small lures are the key.
Offshore Offshore fishing has been a little up
and down of late, especially out wide, but a little closer in there have
still been quite a few decent size Snapper coming in. Gravel beds off
Long Reef have been the epicentre of a lot of action. The freshest Squid,
as lightly weighted as possible, floated down a well set berley trail
toward the gravel, will get you bites.
Northern Beaches The Northern Beaches are fishing quite
well at present, with a few fat tailor and some good sized Salmon starting
to investigate beach gutters of an evening. Open beaches have been the
best producers, including Dee Why, Curl Curl and Collaroy. Fresh fish
baits including whitebait, anchovy and pilchard set on a paternoster should
yield results. Spinning metals around 40gms off the rocks has also yeilded
good results.
This
Report 08 August
Sydney Harbour Trevally have been firing up all over
Sydney in the slightly warmer weather this week, and the headlands off
our northern beaches have been no exception. Quite large fish around the
2 kg mark have been taken from Bluefish Pt, Curl Curl, Whale beach among
others. Spinning with small metal lures around 40gms is producing bagfuls
at times, and for baitfishers peeled prawns on light line are a sure tempter
when floated with as little weight as possible into a well established
berley trail.
Botany Bay Botany Bay is still fishing well for Trevally
and Bream this far into the winter, with the Container wall proving one
of the better spots at the moment. Light line and little weight is the
key to good catches. Peeled prawns are especially effective on the Trevally,
and live nippers are working well on the Bream. Trolling with diving minnows
in Yarra Bay is producing a few reasonable size Tailor and the odd Salmon
at times, though fishing this way over the last week has fired in the
early morning and then become very slow for the rest of the day.
This
Report 01 August
Sydney Harbour The water from the upper Parramatta River
down as far as the city is pretty much the best place in Sydney for Bream
at the moment, though the whole harbour is holding reasonable quantities
of them. Those trying their luck from Clarkes Point have picked up some
very nice fish, especially on very lightly weighted pilchards or pudding
baits. Around Balmain soft plastics have been fishing well, with pumpkinseed
drop shot minnows and red fleck rattle grubs, both in 2 inch varieties,
equally effective.
Sydney Harbour There have been no shortage of very nice
sized tailor, some up to 60cm, right up the back end of Middle Harbour.
Trolling gold and green lures (plastic or hard body) around deep holes
and muddy water, is the best way to find yourself a few of these energetic
sports fish. The salmon that were schooling around the heads recently
have left the surface, and are proving near impossible to troll up, but
should be back soon with gusto.
This
Report 25 July
Sydney Offshore Conditions out wide have been up and down
lately, though the fishing is still ok if patchy, with the odd Yellowfin
Tuna and equivalent numbers of Albacore between the continental shelf
and Browns Mountain. Quantities of bait are also holding them in the area.
The Yellowfin have been in the fifteen to twenty kilogram range in the
majority of cases, but there are a few schools holding much bigger fish
from twentyfive to fourty kilograms. Albacore are a smaller fish in general,
however those at present are still up there around 10 – 15kg. Small
bibless trembler and vib style lures are wreaking plenty of havoc, and
surface lures including lumo trolling skirts have accounted for a few
fish.
Northern Beaches The Beaches and rocks have felt the brunt
of some wild winter weather of late, but this extra stir has helped expose
prey buried in the sand, and washed small crustaceans from there rocky
homes, providing a smorgasbord to stimulate lethargic winter species.
Most of the northern beaches are fishing consistently when conditions
allow. Curl Curl and Dee Why have both continued to throw up decent hauls
of Bream off the beach. Strips of fresh pilchard are a top bait, which
will give you a chance of picking a nice Tailor at the same time. Accessible
headlands from North Head to Barrenjoey also have a few Tailor, as well
as a couple of fat Salmon, showing interest in metal slices spun of a
morning and evening.
This
Report 17 July
Sydney Harbour Harbour fishing in winter can be a bit
up and down, but a good variety of species still abound. When they can
get up the appetite for a feed, a couple of Tailor are about, smashing
into various lures including 7 and 9cm bibbed minnows, trolled around
the inside of middle head amongst other places. Trevally are also making
a show, particularly on the edge of bait schools where a bit of berley
can put you onto some of these nice light tackle brawlers.
Botany Bay Big Bream are providing Bay anglers great
light tackle sport fishing at the moment, as well as nice tasty fish for
the dinner table. Fresh peeled prawns or fresh fish strip baits will give
you the most success. Try the hole a couple of hundred metres off the
end of the old runway, or other areas of good structure for best results.
Sydney Harbour Flathead have been a pretty common catch
in Sydney of late, and the rain doesn’t look to have put them off
at all. If anything the extra food being washed down river with all this
flow has piqued the interest of the flatties, and they are readily wolfing
down soft plastics, as well as fresh baits, when drifted downstream with
the current. Sandy areas with good water movement and a steep drop off
are the places to start.
Sydney Harbour The Parramatta River is pretty much the
best place in Sydney for Bream at the moment. Those able to get through
the poor weather to the water have been picking up some very nice fish,
especially on very lightly weighted soft plastics. Pumpkinseed drop shot
minnows and red fleck rattle grubs, both in 2 inch varieties, are equally
effective. Bait fishers have been successful using thinly sliced pilchard
pieces.
This
Report 03 July
Offshore The last few weeks have seen plenty of
rough weather, and water temperatures are also considerably on the wane
as cooler southern waters bring their influence. Thankfully though, far
from retarding the fishing, this is providing ideal conditions for Snapper.
Danny Ardilly fought off the distraction of some spectacularly breaching
Humpback Whales as he made his way through the wind and swell yesterday
and was rewarded with a solid morning bite of mid sized Reds. Pilchards
accounted for most of his fish, which ranged from 35 to 50cm.
Offshore Chinamen Leatherjacket are still on the
prowl, as they have been for the last month or two. While they are the
scourge of some anglers for infesting areas where more favoured species
usually reside, especially structure and deep reef, they are a most palatable
fish in their own right and worth targeting for a feed. Peeled prawns
fed into a berley trail have been the top temptation for these white fleshed
pan fryers.
Sydney Harbour Salmon are yet to make a real showing around
The Heads this year, with a few fish about so far but but no real consistency,
so it is up to Tailor to show itself as the preeminent sports fish at
present. Luckily there are a few more of them, around Reef Beach and between
Washaway Beach and Middle Head. Live Yellowtail and ganged pilllies are
both proving successful, as is trolling 7-9cm bibbed minnows or similar
sized metal slices around Middle Head. The Salmon that are around in the
same areas will fall to smaller metal slices less than 5cm long.
This
Report 29 June
Sydney Harbour Dirty water seems to be the key to the
Tailor in Sydney Harbour, so much so that they can be seen following the
muck around with the tides, and avoiding like the plague any of the clear
almost sterile water found in most of the Harbour. Troll bibbed minnows
about 7cm long, or slightly smaller metal slices, through the patches
of dirty water until you find the fish. Then anchor and bait fish with
Pilchards or other fresh fish, or simply spin the fish up with a metal
slice.
Sydney Rock Fishing Now that the seas have calmed down a bit
after our long run of storm swell its a good time to explore the headlands
around sydney. Bream blackfish and drummer have all moved in to the close
washes, exploiting the extra food thats been stirred up. Fresh bread has
accounted for a few good hauls this week.
Offshore Offshore
fishing has been up and down of late with conditions at times making venturing
offshore impossible, but with things on the improve this weekend is looking
good for an offshore reef bash. Snapper fishing, particularly around long
reef, had started to hot up before the storms and there should be plenty
of action still. Marble and Sand Flathead have also been about in mixed
numbers, just beware the schools of leatherjacket.
Hawkesbury River
Luderick have been taken in the last few days quite a way up the Hawkesbury
River around Wisemans Ferry. Look for a rocky bank or inter-tidal area
with plenty of weed growth. They are taking both green and cabbage weeds,
and in some situations can even be tempted into taking brown weed. Light
trace line and exceptionally well presented baits are they keys to a good
haul.
Sydney
Harbour
After a long and very fishable Autumn, its little surprise that the storms,
cold, wind and rain are keeping some less persistent anglers indoors at
present. For the more persistent however, these conditions are exactly
what we’ve been waiting for. Rain in particular has been in such
short supply for so long now, and this has been adversely affecting fishing
conditions. For a year the harbours and estuaries have been salty, the
lakes and lagoons have remained closed, and there has been little if any
stir to fire the systems up. The last weeks rain has fixed that, and fishing
is on the improve, especially for winter species such as whiting, bream,
trevally and tailor.
This Report
18 June
Sydney Harbour Tailor are schooling all around the Harbour
at present with a variety of other species, and can often be found on
the surface where they are balling up bait schools. Middle Head and Clifton
gardens have been particular hotspots. If you fail to find surface action,
look to work areas around open rocky structure, especially when chasing
them with lures. A variety of trolled lures from bibbed minnows to simple
metal slices will do the trick. The baitfish the tailor are feeding on
are around 5 – 8cm long, so imitate them by using lures of similar
length. Most fresh or live fish baits will also produce the goods when
chasing these sharp toothed, aggressive fish around the same structure
Sydney Harbour
Leatherjacket are a prolific winter species, and though a scourge to many
fisherman, they are also a great tasting white fleshed fish. The harbour
is currently throwing up plenty of them, especially in upstream around
cabarita and gladesville. Peeled prawns are the best bait.
Offshore
The chill in the air is keeping fishermen off the water at present, but
conditions have improved substantially since early in the week and the
fishing - though not spectacular - is holding its own. Offshore drifting
is probably the best choice this week, with flatties and snapper loving
fresh pilchards.
Sydney
Harbour
The wild weather in sydney over the last few days has put a downer on
our fishing. The harbour has turned a deep shade of brown and debris is
floating everywhere. Bream however often enjoy these conditions, turned
on by all the extra feed in the system. Clarkes point and around balmain
are both good areas to try this week.
This Report
08 June
Sydney Harbour Tailor are the predominant winter sports fish of the Harbour,
and decent size schools are still roaming, especially around Dobroyd Pt,
Middle Head, and into Clifton Gardens. Unfortunately the current conditions
look like putting pay to any long weekend harbour expeditions, however
when the weather clears these mid sized sportfish are well worth targeting,
providing a good fight on light line, and they can be tasty smoked as
long as they are bled and cleaned upon capture.
Rock Fishing Rock hoppers are still experiencing Black Drummer, or
‘Pigs’, a plenty. They range in size from under a kilo to
over three, but regardless of size these fish fight incredibly hard. Abalone
Gut has been the pick of the baits lately, and should be dangled on line
of 20lb or more into deeper cracks and rocky crevices where there is a
good amount of wash. Be aware as these fish fight hard in their small
sharp environment.
Offshore Offshore fishing has been a little up
and down of late, especially out wide, but a little closer in there have
still been quite a few decent size Snapper coming in. Gravel beds off
Long Reef have been the epicentre of a lot of action. The freshest Squid,
as lightly weighted as possible, floated down a well set berley trail
toward the gravel, will get you bites.
Northern Beaches If there is one place that doesn¹t
suffer a huge reduction in sports fishing over the winter months, it is
the beaches. Black Drummer may only provide a short fight, but it is a
dramatic one. Tales of 3 plus kilogram 'pigs' have been surfacing for
a while, but now things are really beginning to heat up. Local ledges
and from rock washes from Queenscliff and Curl Curl to Long Reef and further
are producing, with the bigger specimens mostly preferring bread or Abalone
gut.
Offshore Offshore conditions have been good, and
most of the close reefs are fishing fairly well. Unfortunately Chinamen
Leatherjacket have plagued in several areas, often interfering with Snapper
baits and biting through lines - though they are particularly nice pan
fried. The proliferation of these Leatheries can make it hard to fish
for anything else, but thankfully they are moving around quite a bit.
Sydney Harbour The Parramatta River is pretty much the
best place in Sydney for Bream at the moment. Those able to get through
the wind to the water have been picking up some very nice fish, especially
on very lightly weighted soft plastics. Pumpkinseed drop shot minnows
and red fleck rattle grubs, both in 2 inch varieties, are equally effective.
Bait fishers have been successful using thinly sliced pilchard pieces.
Sydney Harbour Salmon are yet to make a real showing around The Heads
this year, with a few fish about so far but but no real consistency, so
it is up to Tailor to show itself as the preeminent sports fish at present.
Luckily there are a few more of them, around The Spit and Middle Head,
as well as around the Harbour Bridge. Live Yellowtail and ganged pilllies
are both proving successful, as is trolling 7-9cm bibbed minnows or similar
sized metal slices. The Salmon that are around in the same areas will
also fall to live baits.
Hawkesbury Estuary Perch and the odd Bass have still been hitting
soft plastics despite the colder waters around Portland and the mouth
of the Colo River. Try around ferry wharves as the ferries arrive and
depart, as they stir up little shrimp and other sea life, encouraging
the fish to feed. Darker coloured plastics have been the most productive.
Some good Flathead have also been feeding in the area.
Sydney Harbour Tailor are schooling in the more open
areas of the Harbour, and are often being taken whilst fishing for other
species. Look to work areas around open rocky structure, especially when
chasing them with lures. A variety of trolled lures from bibbed minnows
to silver slices will do the trick. Most fresh or live fish baits will
also produce the goods when chasing these sharp toothed, aggressive fish.
Strong trace is essential.
Offshore This week the offshore bottom fishing
is shaping up for nicely. Offshore reefs are producing good catches of
morwong, flathead and snapper. Difting with a paternoster rig is a sure
way to target any flatties or mowong. Berley trails of squid and pilchard
and baits of tenderized squid sweetened with a small piece of pilchard
are a sure way to get a good catch of snapper.
Sydney Harbour With the change of season upon us and colder winter waters
arriving, fishing has returned to some semblance of normality, and winter
fish are being caught from the Harbour in better numbers. John Dory are
the most noteworthy, with plenty of these weird looking fish taking live
Yellowtail fished just off the bottom. Clifton Gardens has been a bit
of a hot spot, as have areas inside North Harbour including Dobroyd Point
and around Reef Beach.
Sydney Harbour Old man 'blue nose’ Bream are being taken at present
from the more open parts of the harbour west of the harbour bridge. Rocky
washes from Kirribilli to Middle Head all hold fish, especially those
with a bit of deep water. Moorings and floating wharves with good weed
growth are also offering up their share of beauties. Fresh bread or small
pilchard pieces are proving their worth for the bait fisher, especially
when fished into a good berley. Best results are being had by those using
as little weight as possible.
Sydney Harbour Plenty of good sized blackfish are roaming about cleaning
weed of structures in the harbour, particularly around the heavily built
up areas in the bays close to town. From either side of the harbour Bridge
to the rock walls around Balmain there are fish to be found. In some places
the schools are thick enough to berley up a freeding frenzy at the moment,
and as Luderick go they are big fish. Green weed is proving effective
as is cabbage. Berley up using some of your bait weed ground with sand.
Sydney Harbour With the weather cooling and the water
slowly following suit, fishing is starting to get a little harder. Plenty
of fish are still about, it's just that in the cooler months they eat
less, and feeding times are therefore much shorter and less intense. Trevally
and Tailor are probably the most active species at the moment, and good
numbers are working the mouth of the harbour. Quarrantine Pt, Dobroyd
Reef and Sow and Pigs are all holding Trevally, which will respond well
to lightly weighted baits including peeled prawns and a strong berley
trail. Tailor can be found around Middle Head, especially by those fishing
deep live baits. Failing the live bait option, pilchards fished on paternoster
rigs will suffice.
This Report
17 May
Sydney Harbour Bonito have made several appearances around Sydney in
the last few days, especially in Middle Harbour, where schools of both
Watsons Leaping and regular Bonito have popped up. The protected bays
of this area are a favoured haunt of these fish, offering shelter and
food, and they can be found morning and evening balling up baitfish on
the surface. Small silver and blue metal slices, either trolled or cast
and retrieved, are a great method of attack.
Pittwater Fishing in pittwater has been a little
stop start of late, with fish turning on and off the bite at will. The
last few days particularly have been hard work, though the fish are still
about for those willing to put the work in. Small Amberjack are schooling
around baitfish in patches around pittwaters many bays, interspersed with
schools of larger Kingfish from 60 to 80cm. Live yellowtail have been
accounting for the majority of the Amberjack, with live or fresh squid
the preferred choice of the Kings.
Sydney Harbour John Dory are starting to move in to the
Harbour once again as the water cools. Deep areas of water with both structure
and as much shade as possible are best, and still water is also pretty
crucial. Clifton Gardens, Reef Beach, Quarrantine pt, and many other areas
that fit this bill are holding fish at the moment. Live small baitfish
especially Yellowtail fished just off the bottom will yield best results. This Report
13 May
Botany Bay Bream are moving about in the Bay in good numbers. Good
sized fish are being taken, both from the deeper holes as well as most
of the rocky washes with deeper water ledges. Soft plastics can be especially
devastating when the bream are as aggressive as they are at present, as
they will often hit the lure when they are not that hungry, just to keep
it out of their territory. Most plastics in the 2 and 3 inch range will
do the trick nicely. Good small live baits such as nippers are also quite
effective.
Sydney Harbour There have been some nice eating size Flathead
found in the upper reaches of most Harbour tributaries this week. Drifting
small live baits like poddy mullet, or fresh fish strip baits, slowly
around areas such as just upstream of Roseville Bridge, will yield good
results. Soft plastics have also accounted for a large percentage of the
flathead haul lately, especially for those using heavily scented insect
replicas. Good colour patterns include black and gold, pumpkinseed and
green. This Report
09 May
Offshore Some good offshore drift fishing can be had at the moment,
with plenty of nice size Mowong being taken over the gravel grounds in
50 to 75 metres. Fresh squid or pilchards are the favoured baits. Flathead
are also about in the same areas. Trace of 15 – 20 lb mono is preferred.
Sydney Harbour The
Harbour has not been lighting things on fire lately, but can at least
hold its head up. A smattering of Kings are still hanging about, from
inside North Harbour and around Dobroyd Reef to The Spit and into Middle
Harbour, as well as over at the Wedding Cakes. There are now a few really
big Kingfish about amongst the more prevalent rat size fish, and this
trend
should continue for a little while as the water cools. Squid strips and
live Yellowtail are the two best baits at present. Some travelling Samson
fish are holding in patches around the heads, and can be found on the
yellow marker buoy inside north head as well as at Sow and Pigs reef.
They love Squid guts and heads, fished on the bottom right at the reef
edge.
Sydney Harbour Plenty of
good sized blackfish are roaming about cleaning weed of structures in
the harbour, particularly around the heavily built up areas in the bays
close to town. From either side of the harbour Bridge to the rock walls
around Balmain there are fish to be found. In some places the schools
are thick enough to berley up a freeding frenzy at the moment, and as
Luderick go they are big fish. Green weed is proving effective as is cabbage.
Berley up using some of your bait weed ground with sand
Botany Bay Kingfish between 65 and 80cm are being taken in Botany
Bay at present, however they are behaving a bit erraticly and cab be hard
to find. Live baits are still proving the best bet if you can track a
school down, with squid and yellowtail the two most effective tempters.
Soft plastic fishers are also getting into the action using four to six
inch stickbaits in clear and white.
This Report 05 May
Broken Bay Jewfish seem
to have appreciated the recent small fresh flush, with just enough fresh
water to reduce the salinity within Broken Bay area. Fish are being caught
further downstream than in recent weeks, particularly at the Rail Bridge
and ‘Flint and Steel’ reef. Fresh Slimy Mackerel fillets have
been proving a great bait lately, and white fresh Goulds Squid, whole
or in strips, is also outstanding. Fish are mostly school size fish around
6kg, with the occasional 10-15kg fish being taken from amongst them. Some
patience can be required Jewfish fishing at this time of the year as the
schools of fish move up and down the river and there is little to be caught
between them.
Sydney Harbour Tailor are schooling in the more open
areas of the Harbour, and are often being taken whilst fishing for other
species. Look to work areas around open rocky structure, especially when
chasing them with lures. A variety of trolled lures from bibbed minnows
to simple metal slices will do the trick. Look to imitate baitfish around
7 - 10cm long by using lures of similar length. Most fresh or live fish
baits will also produce the goods when chasing these sharp toothed, aggressive
fish around the same structure. Berley and a strong trace are essential.
Sydney Harbour After the last week, during which the downpour that stirred
things up in the harbour simultaneously put a knife into its fishing opportunities,
things are returning back to normal. Kingfish are still on the prowl,
though a little on the wane as we approach colder climes, Tailor are still
feeding strongly, and a few mid sized Jewfish are also doing the rounds.
Broken Bay Large Calamari are beginning to move in
throughout Broken Bay for the winter and can be taken on 1.5 to 2.5 size
squid jigs. Look for areas of weed interspersed with sand especially near
a drop off. Cowan Creek has a few likely spots, including around Cottage
pt. West Head is also holding some of decent size.
Sydney Harbour After the last week, during which the
downpour that stirred things up in the harbour simultaneously put a knife
into its fishing opportunities, things are returning back to normal. Kingfish
are still on the prowl, though a little on the wane as we approach colder
climes, Tailor are still feeding strongly, and a few mid sized Jewfish
are also doing the rounds.
Broken Bay Flathead up to 70cm are still chomping down on little
live Yellowtail where ever they spy one drifting past, from Lion Island
to Spencer and even higher. Likely drift spots include Refuge and Americas
bays, around Dangar Island, the Pittwater drift, and the entrance to Brisbane
Waters. Soft plastics are also having their fair share of success.
Pittwater The last week has seen some quieter than usual days for
Kingfish in Pittwater though there are still fish around. Smaller fish
are the more common catch at present, around 65cm, and due to this, smaller
baits are required. Fresh local calamari squid are doing the trick, though
live yellowtail are also a good choice, especially if you find that leatherjackets
and other small baitfish are mauling the squid. Drifting or downrigging
over the top of wrecks late in the day is the best way to pick up these
just keeper kingfish, while the odd larger fish is still marauding over
the same structure ready to nonchalantly bust you off.
This Report
25 April
Broken Bay Solid rain on already wet ground is what Jewfish fisho’s
dream of, especially after such a prolonged dry. Though in the first few
days after a wet it is mostly about hunting the varied types of food disturbed
by the flushing fresh, large quantities of fresh water also wash plenty
of organic matter into the estuaries, starting algal and other growth
which in provide bountiful food for creatures at the bottom of the food
chain. When this happens and they prey is fat and abundant, the larger
predators will hang around for much longer in the system, and this of
course includes the big Jewies.
Sydney Harbour Conditions haven't been ideal for fishing all over Sydney
this week, with consistent southerlies and big swell, and the harbour
is no different, but if you must throw a line there are fish to be caught.
Bream are one of the species you can target in these conditions, where
you are forced to fish close to shore or amongst protective structure.
Thankfully there's no shortage of good size Bream about right now, especially
deep around structure. Most deep wharves around town are holding fish.
A small berley trail of crushed pilchards mixed with a little bread is
all you'll need to bring the fish to you.
Northern Beaches The rocks and beaches are still fishing pretty well as
we move toward winter. Nice Black Drummer are firing up for the ledge
fishers, getting stuck into Abalone Gut and occasionally also fresh bread.
Salmon are off the front of most headlands, as well as investigating beach
gutters, including at Curl Curl and Dee Why. They can be spun up with
small metals or just bait fished with pilchards. Tailor have also shown
their faces in the same areas, and are falling in similar ways.
This Report
19 April
Offshore Recent times have seen many of the Dolphinfish
that still hold on the FAD’s and trap markers have become finnicky.
They are still about in decent numbers but shy off the bite very quickly.
At the Dee Why Fisheries FAD, reports have come in of the odd fish fish
in the 4kg range, but most of them are around 1kg-3kg. The Broken Bay
FAD had also been producing good fish but fisheries confirmed that it
seems to have gone missing some time this week.
Northern Beaches The action off the stones has been pretty hot lately,
and it's not just the late season pelagics keeping people interested.
The short though intense smash and grab attempts of big black drummer
are beginning to dominate. A few increasingly large ‘pigs’
are being taken out of the washes and holes from most headlands North
and South, mostly on bread or Abalone gut. Bread baits have also accounted
for a few prime Bream.
Botany Bay Flathead are still biting in the Bay as
we move through Autumn. There are plenty of spots worth a go that the
land based angler has easy access to. Spots like Deeban spit and the mouth
of Gunnamatta bay in Port Hacking. Or try the beach along Brighton le
Sands or Silver beach at Kurnell. Soft plastics have been working well,
especially those with silver and black patterns. Fresh fish baits such
as anchovies, as well as live poddy mullet, have proved top baits this
week.
Hawkesbury Plenty of Bass are being taken at from
the mouth of the Colo river at present. Surface lures are giving great
results, as well as beetle pattern spinner baits. Fish the drop offs.
Some brackish water Bream and Flathead have been taken in the same way
from the same areas.
Northern Beaches Night time off the beaches has been a
frenzy of late, with plenty of Sharks terrorizing fishers on most of the
northern beaches. Collaroy and Dee Why have been hot sports. Bronze Whalers
have been the most common capture, with fresh fish strips the best baits.
A most welcome bycatch have been a sprinkling of resonable sized Jewfish
around 8kg, taken on fresh squid.
This Report
12 April
Offshore Some good offshore drift fishing can be
had at the moment, with plenty of nice size Mowong being taken over the
gravel grounds in 50 to 75 metres. Fresh squid or pilchards are the favoured
baits. Flathead are also about in the same areas. Trace of 15 –
20 lb mono is preferred.
Botany Bay Good hauls of Bream are being taken from
the shallows between the third runway and the old runway in Botany Bay
at present. Nippers, fresh prawns, or pudding baits are the best bet,
and lightly weighted light line will always increase your catch. Other
places worth a try include wide off Towra Pt. and up into the Georges
river. Structure of any sort, especially man made, is a good place to
start your search.
Offshore Dolphin Fish are firing up on the offshore
FADs and trap markers. Days of 20 fish are not completely uncommon, with
the average fish being in the two to four kilo range, and the occasional
up to 10kg. Most methods known to catch Dolphin Fish including saltwater
fly are effective, however live Slimy Mackerel are the bait of choice,
and thankfully there are plenty around. Try around 9nm out in about 65
fathoms. Jig the Slimies up using a six hook bait rig.
Offshore Good numbers of Stripey Tuna are around
offshore at present, being taken on the troll over the current lines out
near the shelf off Broken Bay. Fish around 5-8kg have been taken in the
last couple of days. Small blue and green trolling skirts around the 5”
mark are the most productive.
Sydney Harbour Plenty of large calamari squid are being
caught in the Harbour, possibly the finest live or fresh bait on the menu,
especially for Kingfish. The first or last two hours of the day is always
the best time to find calamri. Good spots include the rocks and structure
and moorings in North Harbour, South Head, around Shark Island, and into
Middle Harbour around Balmoral. A kelp bottom in conjunction with this
structure often provides the best indicator to where squid may hide. This Report
05 April
Offshore Targeting Dolphin Fish has been one of
the fishing highlights of late, having taken so long to arrive, and with
many other pelagic species on the wane for the season. Most of the FADs
and marker buoys are holding fish, though some of these bouys hold fish
that just won’t seem to bite, so don’t be scared to move on
and search out a new one where the fish may bite more readily than others.
Live Yakkas are doing the trick, but if you can get hold of some Slimy
Mackerel all the better. Some smaller lures and flies are also having
a little bit of success. Most of the fish are around 1-3kg range.
Northern Beaches The beaches have been fishing well of
late for the most prized of all beach fishes, the Mulloway or Jewfish.
Manly, Narrabeen and Curl Curl have all been fishing well during the evening
and night, for fish around the 8 - 10kg mark. While squid has been a productive
bait, live yellowtail are by far the best, with most of the bigger fish
taking a liking to them. A few big salmon are also still around, and are
enjoying munching on smaller live yellowtail.
Upper Hawkesbury Some big late season Bass are still biting
voraciously between Sackville and Mud Island. Try lures such as surface
walkers, small bibbed minnows in beetle patterns, or soft plastics in
a variety of golds and reds, for best results. Estuary Perch are being
taken using the same methods in the same areas. The Colo River is also
performing with large catches of Bass being taken on spinner baits.
Northern Beaches Night time off the beaches has been a
frenzy of late, with plenty of Sharks terrorizing fishers on most of the
northern beaches. Collaroy and Dee Why have been hot sports. Bronze Whalers
have been the most common capture, with fresh fish strips the best baits.
A most welcome bycatch have been a sprinkling of resonable sized Jewfish
around 8kg, taken on fresh squid.
Sydney Harbour There is the odd Jewfish roaming around inside the harbour
at present, there for the persistent and hardy angler, and the build up
to the next full moon should see a few more turn on the bite. A couple
of the harbours major deepwater structures are producing, especially at
night. A good bet is to throw fresh mullet strips or fresh squid into
one of the deeper holes around Gladesville Bridge, or around the eddies
caused by Bradleys Head on outgoing tides.
This Report
28 March
Offshore Dolphin fish are still holding around
the FADs and trap markers between 5 and 10nm out, from Broken Bay wide
all the way down to South of Sydney. Good sized fish have been tempted
into swallowing live Yellowtail and Slimy Mackerel quite regularly, with
the average being about 3kg if you can get out wider of the usual marks.
Feed the livey back toward the marker bouy with either an open bail arm,
or as little drag resistance as possible if using a baitrunner. If the
Dolphin Fish feel any pressure when they take the bait to run, they will
drop the bait before they swallow it properly.
Sydney Harbour Big ‘blue nose’ Bream are
being taken from the more open parts of the harbour. Rocky washes from
Kirribilli to Middle Head all hold fish, especially those with a bit of
deep water. Moorings and floating wharves with good weed growth are also
offering up their share of beauties. Fresh pilchard pieces are top of
the line for the bait fisher, and best results are being had by those
using as little weight as possible. For those using soft plastics, watermelon
or blue colours have been quite devastating.
Sydney Although we are heading into autumn and the ambient temperatures
have dropped, much of the water around Sydney is still quite warm, allowing
the hot fishing to push on unabated. Kingfish are still on the mind of
plenty of anglers from Pittwater to Port Hacking. Smaller 'rat' sized
fish make up the majority of the action, especially in Sydney Harbour
and Botany Bay, but bigger fish are about. Pittwater in particular has
produced a couple just under a metre recently, on big squid baits.
Offshore Recent warm currents of about 24 degrees
running strongly south have ensured another good week of Dolphin Fish
fishing on the FAD’s Traps and Marker buoys off Sydney. Quite decent
numbers of fish are about, both large and small, with the closer FADs
generally holding the smaller fish. To come across larger fish you must
get out into at least 60 fathoms, if not further. All of the Dolphin fish,
big and small alike, are taking well presented mid-sized livies, such
as slimy mackerel or yellowtail scad. If the fish are being a little picky
or not taking your live baits, try using soft plastic lures, such as a
4” minnow or a 6” plastic slug. Pink and white are the pick
of the colours at present. Metal slices are also working but have had
limited success in comparison.
Botany Bay Trevally are about in decent numbers at
the moment in Botany bay, and most spots around Structure are fishing
well. Berley is needed to bring the fish on the bite, and to bring them
round the boat. The best method is then to fish with as light a set up
as possible, down into the berley trail created. Peeled Prawns or live
Nippers the best baits.
Offshore Some good offshore drift fishing can be had at the moment,
with plenty of nice size Mowong being taken over the gravel grounds in
50 to 75 metres. Fresh squid or pilchards are the favoured baits. Flathead
are also about in the same areas. Trace of 15 – 20 lb mono is preferred.
Sydney Harbour Decent schools of bait are still about in the harbour.
Most bait grounds including just off the weed beds around Balmoral are
holding quantities of Yellowtail, which are easily berleyed up. Nice Pike
are an occasional bonus. Squid can be patchy but are also about in the
same areas.
This Report 21 March
Offshore Offshore conditions have been up and down
of late, but most of the close reefs are fishing fairly well. Unfortunately
Chinamen Leatherjacket have plagued in several areas, often interfering
with Kingfish jigs and Snapper baits and biting through lines. Though
they are particularly nice pan fried, the proliferation of these Leatheries
can make it hard to fish for anything else, but thankfully they are moving
around quite a bit. The 12 mile seems to be the area to steer clear of
for now.
Sydney Harbour Good sized Flathead are being taken around
Sydney Harbour at the moment, with some of the fish 80 to 90 cm long.
The best bait is almost always going to be a whole pilchard set on ganged
hooks, though smaller live yellowtail are also great tempters. Strong
trace is a necessity if you wish to land one of the big ones. The drift
between Middle Head and the Spit Bridge is a productive place to start.
This week has seen some real monsters landed, including one of 96cm. Please
remember that all Dusky Flathead over 60cm are female, and the larger
ones most likely spawning.
Offshore The massive coldwater eddy calling the
seas off sydney home this summer has definately had an impact on our fish
stocks. Warm water species that usually migrate down the coast with the
hot waters of the Eastern Australian Current have either not arrived or
are arriving late and in smaller than usual numbers. Dolphin Fish in particular
are normally abundant off our waters in summer, however this year have
struggled to make it down with any consistency. Thankfully a good number
of blue marlin have made an impressive late season showing, with fish
around 200kg being taken off the shelf at present.
Sydney Harbour Flathead fishing is coming on in the slowly
cooling weather. Solid fish up to 75cm are hunting for a feed all throughout
Sydney Harbour, particularly into Middle Harbour. High tide, sand flats
and fresh fish baits provide the perfect combination. Fishing the edge
of sandy drop offs is working to a lesser degree on lower tides. Soft
plastics have also proved devastating recently, and are working in all
conditions. Try big 4 and 5 inch shads and stickbaits, especially in white.
Sydney Harbour Jewfish are being taken in the harbour
at present, and good sized fish from 6 to 10 kg have emerged from the
holes around Cockatoo Island, Shark Island, and Clifton Gardens. Live
baits such as Yellowtail, or live or fresh Squid are the most tempting
baits for a Sydney Harbour Jewy, however fish fillets or butterflied Mullet
can be equally as good at times.
This Report
15 March
Sydney Harbour The harbour has been a Pitt st of anglers
this summer, with every channel marker chock a block full of boats, but
despite all the pressure it is still holding plenty of fish. Big slimy
mackerel and a few legal kingfish are on the prowl around middle harbour,
repsonding to live yellowtail, squid strips, and even fresh pilchards,
while the more open stretches of the harbour are home to some mid sized
bonito, a couple of frigate mackerel, and more kings. The Bonnies and
occasionally the Frigates are responding to trolled lures, while live
baits have enticed Kings, as well as plenty of big sharks just inside
the heads.
Botany Bay Kingfish between 65 and 75cm are being
taken in Botany Bay at present, however they are still schooling and are
often hard to keep near the bait. The most effective method of catching
them when they are acting like this is to troll around areas of structure
until you get a hit, and then berley the area immediately to try and keep
the school nearby. If successful then soft plastic stick baits can be
cast into the school and jerk retrieved. If you are lucky enough to have
a downrigger, try slow trolling live baits such as bridle-rigged yakkas
or slimies on it, in about half water depth, around the same areas!
Broken Bay
Some good Jewfish are being taken from the Hawkesbury River and Broken
Bay at present, including numerous school Jew, which have been particularly
prolific around the Road and Rail Bridges. Some big fish have also been
taken, including a few around and over the 20 kilo mark, though the average
of the larger fish is closer to 12 kilos. Plenty of baits will do the
job, Goulds Squid in particular, but thinking outside the circle will
often bring in the bigger fish. Mullet, in fillets or butterflied, sometimes
works better when a bit less fresh or smelly, and slow and big live baits
can often do the trick as well now that the plagues of sharks are starting
to slowly leave the river.
This Report 10 March
Sydney Offshore Offshore jigging
has thrown up a few surprises this week, with the regular first choice
of Kingfish being a little thin on the ground. Areas of good deepwater
structure, including the Peak and the Twelve Mile, have delivered all
sorts of interesting by catch on blue 230 – 300 gram jigs. Barracouta
have been around in decent numbers in both places, 10 – 20 metres
off the bottom, where another most unusual fish, the Flutemouth is also
showing its head. Narada Taranto can vouch for this after landing two
metre long versions this week. Those persisting will find their way through
these fish however to a few of the 10 – 15kg kings still about.
Offshore After a couple of days of thumping swell
and plenty of spray, conditions offshore have settled down somewhat, allowing
better access
to the drifting grounds off sydney. Marble and eastern blue spotted flathead
are both around in reasonable numbers off the heads, in around
40 metres of water over sandy ground. Fresh pilchards are as usual making
the play baitwise. Blue Morwong are have also made a good show recently,
also falling for pilchards over reefy grounds in around 60 metres off
Long Reef.
Northern Beaches It has been a big fish spoolathon on the
beaches this week, with Kingfish in particular having a ball smashing
up live baits all over the place from the deeper beach gutters to the
rocky headlands. Almost every accessible headland has had action from
Kingies 10kg plus, though not too many have been landed! Live yellowtail
will put you in with a good shot, and also offers options, as a few other
predators including Salmon, Frigate Mackerel, Bonito and Tailor patrol
the same areas. Failing the live bait option, Squid, Pilchards or Tuna
chunks are the obvious choice. Try throwing a few metal slices in the
25 – 60gm range while you’re there. Botany
Bay
Plenty of Bream around throughout Botany Bay, from the mouth of the Georges
River right into the middle of the bay. Light line and a size two hook
will help you bag your share, especially when used in conjunction with
a strong berley. Best baits include live nippers, fresh or live worms
and chicken gut.
Botany Bay
A few good sized Jewfish have been taken in recent days from underneath
the bridges in the georges river. A dedicated night fish into the current
eddies around the bridge pylons should provide positive results. Live
baits such as Yellowtail and Squid, or fresh Mullet strips, are the best
baits to start on. Remember not to use only one bait type and be prepared
to be flexible if you see one working better than the others.
This Report 01 March
Offshore Dolphin Fish are around the offshore FADs
once again, having arrived with recent warm water currents, however they
can be incredibly picky depending on water temperatures as well as the
amount of current running on any particular day. If you can find a school
in water over 23 degrees your rewards will be greater. Smaller live bait
will entice out a couple, especially if you can find some nice size Slimy
Mackerel, but lots of different methods will need to be tried at every
fishing session to get a bite from these currently rather small fish,
most around one kilogram or less. Pilchard cubes have also been incredibly
successful.
Broken Bay Big Flathead seem to be relishing the
dirtier water in Broken Bay, and can be found in number especially around
Lion Island, as well as West Head and Box Head. Fresh Pilchards, rigged
on ganged hooks and/or wire traces, seem the most tempting bait for these
big female Flatties. Drifting across shallow grounds near these areas
allows you to present the bait in as many places as possible.
This
Report 26 February Port Hacking Port Hacking is fishing despite all the
rain, with a good mix of Bream, Whiting and Flathead. The shallow waters
along the south west arm are proving to be the best grounds, especially
for some of the bigger bream. Live nippers and fresh beach or blood worms
fished into shallow water on very light line and as little sinker as possible
will find you a few Whiting and Bream. The flatties are partial to a fresh
pilchard drifted around drop offs near bundeena.
Southern Beaches The southern beaches are fishing quite
well at present, with decent hauls of Salmon on many beach gutters of
a morning and evening. Open beaches have been the best producers, partiularly
Cronulla. Wanda is also firing. Fresh fish baits including bigger anchovies,
slimy mackerel fillets and pilchards set on a paternoster should yield
results. Smaller fish baits such as whitebait are also producing for those
after a feed of Bream, and whiting are on the prowl responding to fresh
or live beach and blood worms.
Offshore
Offshore fishing is still experiencing a bit of a dull patch, with the
licks of cold water hanging around inside the shelf enough to ensure very
patchy dolphin fishing on the FADs. Those lucky enough to find the odd
day of warm water have managed a few of these light tackle sportsfish,
but the real action appears to be warming up off the shelf south of Browns
Mountain. 25 degree water, unthinkable to those making their way out around
Terrigal Canyons, has been banking up south of Botany Bay, and though
the action is not unstoppable, a few good sized Blue Marlin over 120kg
have been pulled from its midst during the last few days. Try trolling
9” cut face skirts in dark colours.
Broken Bay There are
plenty of Bream still to be found in Broken Bay, if you can find them
through the murky water. They are starting to aggregate for spawning,
which will happen soon, and are preferring deep well protected holes in
the more open parts of the Bay. They are also extremely aggressive and
far more likely than usual to strike at a well presented lure or soft
plastic. Live baits such as Nippers and worms are proving very successful
at the moment.
Hawkesbury With the recent rains that stirred up plenty
of activity in the upper reaches of the hawkesbury being followed by hot
sunny days to warm the water again, the big hawkesbury Bass and Estuary
Perch are on the hunt and on the chew. Good catches of both species are
being reported all the way up river, around Sackville, Windsor and all
the way up into the nepean. Lure fishers are having a
bit of success at present using soft plastic insect and worm imitations,
but hardbody lures have now come into their own. Poppers and fizzers are
claiming plenty of Bass from off the edges and around shallower snags,
with EP's often being found around bridge pylons in deeper water by those
using bibbed minnows.
This
Report 17 February Sydney Harbour Sharks have been terrorising anglers recently
in the harbour, especially around the heads. Larger fresh and live baits
ostensibly placed for Kingfish or Jewfish have enticed some unstoppable
monsters from around Neilsen Park, as well as at the yellow marker off
Quarrantine point. Hammerheads up to 2 metres long and a good smattering
of similar size Whalers have compounded the problems posed by a few wandering
Tiger sharks. Hefty gear capable of holding 300 or more metres of 50 -
80lb line with a similarly strong wire trace is your only choice if you
choose to target them.
Northern Beaches The Beaches and rocks have felt the brunt
of some wild winter weather this week, but this extra stir has helped
expose prey buried in the sand, and washed small crustaceans from there
rocky homes, providing a smorgasbord to stimulate lethargic winter species.
Most of the northern beaches are fishing consistently when conditions
allow. Curl Curl and Dee Why have both continued to throw up decent hauls
of Bream off the beach. Strips of fresh pilchard are a top bait, which
will give you a chance of picking a nice Tailor at the same time. Accessible
headlands from North Head to Barrenjoey also have a few Tailor, as well
as a couple of fat Salmon, showing interest in metal slices spun of a
morning and evening.
Botany Bay Some decent size Flathead have shown their
head all around the bay recently, with good fish around the 60-70cm mark
being caught and released around Towra amongst other places. Drifting
fresh fish baits, whole or in fillets, over the sand and grit shallows
off Towra point will produce fish. Pilchards have been the stand out.
Trace of 15lb or over will help you land the larger ones.
Sydney Offshore Warm waters have finally made it down
in to the Sydney region, bringing with it a few warmer water species.
Dolphin fish or ‘mahi mahi’ have now finally arrived on a
couple of the offshore FADs. Though the Dee why Waverider is not currently
in place, there are many new fisheries FADs holding fish, from Broken
Bay to Port Hacking. The dollys holding on the surface around the FADs
and other markers are generally in the one to five kilo range. The best
ways to target them are with unweighted live yakkas or slimey mackerel
cast next to the FADs. Skirted lures trolled past any FADs are also providing
moderate success.
Broken Bay Plenty
of Tailor have been schooling on the surface around the mouth of Broken
Bay, especially off the front of Lion Island. Even though the water quality
is not the best at present, lures are proving an incredibly successful
method of attack, with metal slices from 20 – 50gms doing the trick.
Baits such as pilchards, lightly weighted and rigged on ganged hooks,
can also be cast into these schools successfully.
Sydney
Harbour
Inside the harbour, schools of Frigate Mackerel and Bonito have joined
up with the resident Tailor for some summer surface feeding action. Though
the fish are not massive they are giving the seasons light sports fishing
a new dimension, with raw speed and power. Small metal slices from 7gm
- 30gm, cast into the melee, have been the most productive method of attack.
It’s good to see some real summer action again this week off Sydney.
Small Kingfish, some thumper Salmon, and even a couple of much bigger
Kings, have been on adventure around the Harbour. Close offshore there
are also some schooling rat Kings, with birds working around them. Inside
the heads, Rose Bay and a few of other bays around town have been producing
Kingfish from 50 – 80cm, as has Clifton Gardens. There are a few
nice Tailor holding around these schools as well, often above the Kings.
Broken Bay
Kingfish are being taken in decent numbers from around the mouth of Broken
Bay. Trolling small plastic skirts around 5” long, or bibbed minnows
such as a Rapala CD 7, around Barrenjoey, West Head and occasionally also
Box Head, has tossed up a few of the smaller variety. Bait fishing is
producing some larger specimens up to almost 90cm, when fished around
these same areas. Live Yakkas are taking their fair share, as are Slimy
Mackerel, but the real bait choice of the biggest Kingies is large live
squid.
Sydney Harbour
Inside the harbour, Salmon and Tailor are still around on the surface,
from around Middle Head down towards rushcutters bay. The schools are
holding around bait on the surface, with birds the best sign post.. They
are pretty boat shy, but early mornings still see them feeding actively.
Stick baits and small metals have been the most successful lures, with
the occasional fish hitting live squid baits.
Botany Bay Squid can be found in numbers throughout
the bay at the moment, and if you can catch yourself some they make the
finest live bait of all. Especially for some of those larger Kingfish
that are roaming. Best place to find squid in general are over areas where
sand and sea grass beds meet. Smaller squid jigs are giving the best results
Pittwater Mornings have seen Frigate Mackerel busting
up inside the moorings of several of the bays in Pittwater, such as The
Basin and Careel Bay. These smaller pelagics tend to follow the smaller
baitfish so if you can berley the bait around your chance of seeing Frigates
increases exponentially. Plenty of Bream are being taken on unweighted
whitebait in the same manner, having followed the berley trail in. On
the drift the odd Flounder and Flatty will also succumb to whitebait or
Slimy strips.
Sydney Rocks There are good numbers of fish about off
the rocks at the moment as the summer spinning season gears up in earnest.
Bonito, Salmon and Kings are all schooling about. The Salmon and Bonito
are taking metal slices of about 60gms, with the Salmon occasionally chowing
into soft plastics like 6” stick baits, a favourite of the Kings.
Live yellowtail, fresh squid strips, spun garfish and poppers are also
all pulling a few kingies
Port Hacking Quite a few nice sized Calamari are around
on the reefy areas outside Port Hacking. Small to medium sized brightly
coloured squid jigs are accounting for the majority of them. Let your
jig sink right to the bottom before lifting and twitching, then let it
drop once more. Most of the squid have a hood size around the 10cm mark,
which are a perfect size for a feed. They are also the perfect size for
a live bait, so dont forget to put one out under a balloon while your
are jigging and you may come home with a Kingfish too!
Sydney Harbour Kingfish are becoming a harbour mainstay
at the moment, giving many a first time angler the thrill of a lifetime,
usually on gear far too light for the task at hand. Strong line and an
outfit to match is a key to fishing for these fish. Good baits are fresh
squid or live yellowtail, with live squid a delicacy. Try your luck around
the Quarrantine Pt yellow marker, inside North Harbour, or head over to
the eastern wedding cake marker.
Sydney Rocks Bonito so far this summer have been a rock
spinners best friend, and the party is continuing. If you can get out
a good long cast, past the ever present Salmon to near the 100 metre mark,
you will be rewarded with one of Sydneys better fighting small sportsfish.
60 gram metal slices are the pick of the lures, and are well and truly
big enough to entice these mostly 40-50cm bonito.
Sydney Harbour The Middle Harbour Kingfish are still about,
and still schooling around balling up bait. When you cant find evidence
of them on the surface, downrigging is proving the most effective method
of finding a few. The best news recently is the main Harbour is now holding
plenty of Kings as well, and these fish seem more oriented to structure
allowing bait fishers and lure spinners to catch their share. Fresh squid
strips fished down around the channel markers in the harbour, especially
the only remaining Wedding Cake marker, are proving devastating. 4 to
6 inch Soft plastic stick baits in whites, clears and blues are also working
a treat.
Sydney Rocks There has been an influx of cold water
off the rocks in the last week, and though it is affecting the fishing,
it hasn’t put the good numbers of Australian Salmon off the bite.
Almost every headland in Sydney is offering up their fair share of these
hard fighting light line sports fish, many of which are pushing two kilograms.
Fresh pilchards are the pick of the baits, fished under a float on gang
hooks. Plenty of them have been spun up as well, with 50 – 60gm
metal slices proving the most productive.
Sydney Beaches The unseasonably cold water on Sydneys
beaches at present has slowed fishing down somewhat in recent days, with
water temps down as low as 18 degrees. In conditions like these, only
the best presented and freshest of baits will be successful. Fresh or
live beach worms are proving their worth most particularly, with a few
big whiting falling prey off many northern beaches, including Collaroy
and Dee Why. The occasional Yellowfin Bream has also turned up, taking
a liking to the same bait.
Sydney Offshore The water off Sydney has been cold and
green over the last few days, a suprising change from the promising blue
waters running off the shelf not so long ago, and word has it that this
cold water continues up as high as Port Stephens. In step with this, the
game fishing off sydney has been slow, and though there are plenty of
Flying Fish being chased around the edges of current lines, Marlin in
particular hard to raise or entice into striking. For those willing to
put in the effort, the occasional Yellowfin around 20kg is still on the
chew, responding to a long and consistent cube trail.
Happy Fishing 
