Report
Posted 15 June 2005 Sydney
Harbour Good hauls of Bream are being taken both day and night
around the Spit Bridge, especially around the moorings, and into the upper
reaches of Middle Harbour. Fresh fish baits or even small live baits less
than 5cm long have been most productive. Luderick fisho¹s have been
having a ball this week down at Balmain. Find a nice area that includes
weed, rock ledges and sand, and berley up with a mix of green weed and
sand. Plenty of fresh green weed and fresh cabbage weed can be found on
the rocks at present and these are two of the Ludericks favourite foods.
Be careful not to just wind the weed onto the hook. Presentation of the
bait is crucial.
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.
Pittwater
The Bonito that moved in to the Basin last week are still mixing it up
in the same area, busting up on the surface morning and evening, often
joined by schools of nearby Tailor. Though their numbers are a little
thinner, probably due to less bait, a keen eye will still spot some action,
and using small metal slices will get you in on some action there.
Bream flickers will be some of the happier Pittwater anglers this week,
as they are holding on structure around the mouth, as well as into Broken
Bay. Presently there is real size, including one caught early this week
that went 47cm. Minnows and grubs have both had successes. Berley is a
bit of a cheat but it does bring the fish to you rather than you searching
out the fish. Bread is the best.
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.
Sydney
Harbour
Some very good size Australian Salmon up to 4kg have been taken just off
North and South Head recently, as they school up and down along the bluff
of our headlands. Some smaller fish are also 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 small baitfish at the moment, so small lures are the key.
John Dory have come on in the Harbour proper this season as well or better
than any season for quite a while. Good fish have been taken on a quite
regular basis by those dropping live Yellowtail on light line, down around
wharves and other structure in deep water. These fish are notoriously
lazy so any area with the slightest current is out. They also seem to
possess a dislike to bright sunlight, and are usually taken from shady
areas or in the low light conditions of early morning or late evening.
Botany
Bay
Flathead are still biting as the water cools in the Bay. 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.
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.
Broken
Bay
Jewfish are back on the bite in the Broken Bay area with most of the better
catches taken up into the Hawkesbury River, from the road and rail bridges
up to Spencer and even as far as Wisemans Ferry. The use of very fresh
baits is crucial, with squid being the best. Berleying or pilchard cubing
will do much to improve the bite. Fish taken this week have been from
about 6 kg with a least one nearing 20kg.
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.
Last
weeks reports 2 June 2005
Pittwater Pittwater has just hit the cold waters
this week, dropping from 20 degrees to near 17, and the fish seem to be
in some state of shock. The Kingfish that have kept most Northern Sydney
fisherman in a mental state close to sanity all summer have slowed right
down. They will still hit a well presented live squid, with vigour, but
are far less interested in live yellowtail or fresh baits than they were
earlier in the season. If you can¹t get any live squid it may be
worth rethinking your options, and trying to
target other species.
Sydney
Harbour, Fishing the harbour is starting to provide
plenty of action now winter species are into their stride. There is still
a few good size baitfish schooling around the inside of the heads, including
some big Slimies and massive Yellowtail, but there seem to be no predators
on them, bar the odd Tailor. There are a couple of Tailor about the Harbour,
particularly around Middle Head. They are holding deep at the moment and
often being hooked on live baits designed for other fish. Yellowtail seem
to be their baitfish of choice at present, so it would be well worth slow
trolling one on the downrigger.
Blue Mountains It is the time of year to rug up and to
head to our nearby lakes in the blue mountains. Lake Lyell in particular
is a popular lake for the avid trout fisherman. The fishing over the past
few weeks has been spectacular with many anglers bagging out on fat rainbow
and brown trout, up to and over the magical 10 lb mark. The vast majority
of these trout have been taken on tassie devils and power bait. The fish
are feeding on gudgeon which are in almost plauge proportions in the lake.
Fly fishermen are also having a field day with smelt patterned flies,
fished in the early mornings and evenings in the upper reaches of the
lake. Soft plastic fishermen are also making their mark on the trout population,
plastics in Lyell are best fished deep and slow.
Sydney
Harbour
The Harbour has not been really firing for a few weeks now, but as we
slowly move into winter, fishing is improving. Recent weeks have already
seen good
numbers of John Dory, but now they are just getting bigger and bigger.
Last week there was at least two Dory caught that went over 5lb. Drifting
with live yellowtail suspended a couple of metres off the bottom is a
top method of attack. Try Clifton Gardens, Dobroyd Pt, or inside Quarrantine
Point.
Last
weeks report 25 May 2005
Offshore
Yellowfin Tuna are one of the most prized fish in the sea. For most people
it's the delectability of the yellowfins firm rich flesh, but for anglers,
its the blistering speed they exert once hooked up. Well now is the time,
and Browns Mountain is the place. In an area stretching about 10nm around
Browns, schools of 30 kilo plus fish have been moving around, herding
baitfish up toward the surface before feeding with vigour. It is possible
to keep these schools around by cubing if the swell co-operates, and while
you drift with the fish you can explore your options, which could include
everything from live baiting to tossing lures or flies. Slimy mackerel
are a great live bait, but if you cant get hold of any, un-weighted fish
pieces floated down the cube trail can be just as effective. Fly fishing
has also proved successful recently, with blue and silver offshore deceivers
making their mark, though beware, these fish can and do destroy expensive
gear.
Sydney Harbour
Salmon have been schooling in small numbers around and just inside the
Heads lately, which bodes well for another winter Salmon run. Good spots
to look for a school include off North Head, to a lesser extent inside
Quarrantine Pt, and on the south side in around Neilsen Park. Early morning,
from just after dawn to as late as eleven o'clock, has seen these fish
on the surface feeding on small baitfish. Remember these fish are easily
spooked so if you close up on a school cut your engine from as far away
as possible and drift in, where 7-15gm metal slices can be cast around
the school.
John
Dory are still about in the Harbour in pretty decent numbers. 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 producing fish at the
moment. Live small baitfish especially Yellowtail fished just off the
bottom will yield best results.
There
is the odd Jewfish roaming around inside the harbour at present, there
for the persistent and hardy angler. A couple of the major deepwater structures
and even some of the upper reaches have seen fish lately. 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. Night time has been the more productive time with the
particularly clear harbour water, but some fish are being taken into the
morning, especially in deep water.
Broken
Bay
Jewfish are back on the bite in the Broken Bay area with most of the better
catches taken up into the Hawkesbury River, from the road and rail bridges
up to Spencer and even as far as Wisemans Ferry. The use of very fresh
baits is crucial, with squid being the best. Berleying or pilchard cubing
will do much to improve the bite. Fish taken this week have been from
about 3 to 6kg.
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.
Pittwater Bonito have made several appearances around
Sydney in the last few days, especially in Pittwater, where schools of
both Watsons Leaping and regular Bonito have popped up. The protected
bays of Pittwater are a favoured haunt of these fish, offering protection
and food, and here they can be found morning and evening, balling up baitfish
on the surface. The Basin and Towlers Bay have been active areas in the
last couple of days. Small silver and blue metal slices, either trolled
or cast and retrieved, are the best method of attack.
Hawkesbury With the cooler weather upon us the bass
and the estuary perch are moving down river in readiness to spawn. They
are feeding primarily on prawns, so plastics fished deep and very slow
are accounting for catches of 15 or more bass and perch in the 30 to 45
cm range. Bait fishing with live or frozen Hawkesbury prawns fished on
a 1/0 hook with a small running ball sinker, are acounting for good hauls
of bass, estuary perch, bream, flathead and juvenile mulloway. Good berley
trails will draw the fish to your area and keep them there for hours provided
the trail is consistent. Larger Flathead are also being taken on strip
baits of mullet or tailor.
Sydney
Harbour Sydney Harbour has come on quite a bit
now that the cooler currents have arrived and winter species predominate.
Tasty plate sized John Dory are haunting many of the deeper holes and
reefs, particularly where there is little or no current and a bit of structure.
The Dory love to pounce on small baitfish using their hyper-extendable
jaws, and are therefore best fished for with a live fish bait such as
yellowtail, set on a light line and fished a small way off the bottom.
Many places in the harbour provide ideal sanctuary for these fish, and
at the moment they can be found at Dobroyd Reef, inside Quarrantine Point,
over toward Clifton Gardens and around the Weddding Cake markers.
With the majority of the harbour Kingfish
populations either moving on or well and truly off the bite in the cooler
conditions, it is time to start targeting other fish. Though it is hard
to replicate the fight of a good kingfish during the winter months, at
least we have species such as the large Tailor that have moved in to fill
some of the gap. Middle Head has been particularly active, and a troll
of the deepwater on each side of it, with metal slices around 40 - 60gms
or bibbed lures around 7cm, should put you in touch with a few whopper
choppers. If you can locate a school it may be worth stopping and spinning
around the school with metal slices.
Trevally
are one of the harbours more prolific winter species, and can be found
around most of it's open water structure. Reefs such as Sow and Pigs,
as well as many of the channel markers and other man made structure in
sight of the heads, are all holding numbers of this great light line sports
fish. Berley is quite essential in bringing these fish around you, but
once fish are about all you need to do is feed an un-weighted bait back
into the berley trail to get results. Light line will not just increase
your fun, but also catch you more fish.
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. Once the berley is well established feed an
un-weighted bait down the trail. Pilchard slices are working well.
Offshore
The last week or so has seen some Yellowfin Tuna taken out about 30-40nm
off Sydney, east of Browns Mountain. Schools of fish from 3kg 'jellybeans'
to
serious 50 and 60kg fin, were encountered prior to the last days big swell,
and a few big ones were landed after nailing 6-8" pushers and other
surface skirts. With the swell now abating and conditions becoming slightly
more accessible, the race will soon on to land a few more.
Last
weeks report 10 May
Sydney
Beaches The Beaches have been the centre of some
action this week with a mixed bag of species, including Jewfish to around
6kg that have been taken from a couple of the deeper gutters. Live baits
such as Yellowtail have been particularly successful for these Jewies,
especially at night, though if you have a hard time getting live bait
a range of baits including fresh mullet and slimy mackerel strips are
effective. Line of around 20lb and thick gauge 4/0 hooks are recommended.
Whiting
are slowly disappearing as the cold weather approaches, but a reasonable
haul is still available on many of Sydney’s northern beaches. These
tasty white fleshed fish are suckers for live blood and beach worms, as
well as live nippers, fished into shallow washes and gutters close to
the beach. An hour or two each side of high tide should see the best results.
Tailor have made an appearance around many of the beaches of Sydney in
the last little while, and can be found presently morning and night terrorising
some of the deeper gutters as well as schooling with some enormous Salmon
around the more exposed headlands. Some of these Salmon are over 70cm
long and almost 10lb. South Curl Curl is seeing its share of Tailor and
Salmon, both of which are taking ganged pilchards and small metals around
30g or less.
Pittwater
Pittwater has fished well this week, and due to it being warmer than the
rest of Sydney’s waters it has probably the most active Kingfish
population around. Many of the fish are only just over legal around the
65cm mark, but fish this size are often less picky than their larger relatives
and it has not been rare to see up to 12 Kings in a session. They will
take not just live squid, but also fresh squid heads and strips, live
yellowtail, small live slimy mackerel, and a fair range of soft plastics.
White slug and minnow imitations around 4 to 6 inches have proved themselves
this week.
Offshore
Offshore action has been a little disappointing, with no real billfish
action this late in the season, but at least there are the last of the
dolphin fish still about. Most of these remaining dollies are small around
2kg, but the odd few get up to 4 and 5kg, especially on the further FADs.
Unfortunately many of the closer FADs are no longer holding fish. Live
baits are the pick for these predatory fish, especially 4-8cm long Yellowtail
or similar size Slimy Mackerel. Use an open spool or baitrunner meachanism
to feed them back toward the FAD for best results.
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. The occasional small and very late season Amberjack is also
holding just off the reef, close to markers. Bream have taken a back seat
in the Harbour in recent weeks but are back on with a vengeance, particularly
around Rose Bay where some massive 40cm plus fish are being landed around
Marinas. Pilchards and whitebait are the pick of the baits, and for lure
fishers soft plastic 3” minnows are producing well. Trevally are
also about the harbour and can be berleyed up from near structure all
over the harbour. They cannot resist an unweighted piece of whitebait
floated back into the berley trail.
Last weeks report 4 May 2005
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
from between the Rail Bridge and ‘Flint and Steel’. 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.
Northern
Beaches
Good
catches of Tailor are still being taken off most beaches in the north
of Sydney. Bait fishing is proving the most effective, with pilchards
and slimy mackerel fillets the pick of the temptations. Use a paternoster
rig, with a star sinker, and some foam just below the hooks to lift the
bait off the sand. There are also a few very good sized Australian Salmon
being taken from the same areas, though more usually on floating rigs
with ganged pilchards
Last
weeks report 29 April
Sydney
Harbour
The
fishing in Sydney Harbour is definitely starting to cool off in line with
the weather, with some parts particularly patchy. The late season schools
of pelagics that were roaming the harbour and terrorising baitfish have
moved on, though there are still smaller bands of Kingfish, Bonito, Samson
Fish and Amberjack joining forces with schools of Salmon and Tailor that
will soon dominate the water. Live squid are the gun for bait pelagic
fisho’s in these cooler conditions, and there are a few large late
season ones about. The odd very big King has also been around, smashing
into slow trolled live Squid and making short work of 80lb braid. It may
be slightly impossible to land one of these monsters inside the harbour,
but will be probably the most fun you can have fishing without landing
a fish.
Pittwater
Pittwater
has been producing good size Kings for ages now, with nice five plus kilo
fish mixed in amongst some ‘rats’ around the 62cm mark, and
in recent days it as if summer has come back on. The fish are hungry and
quite active and it has not been uncommon to see 10 and more fish hooked
up in a session. Trolling live squid around the moorings on the Eastern
foreshores is one of the most productive methods. The squid are not the
easiest to catch though, even when you can find a few, but over the next
week or so we should see more of them about as they move inshore to breed.
Keep an eye out for a couple of pretty decent size bull sharks when you’re
out there!
Beaches
As
winter starts to turn the screws and many of the summer pelagic species
become scarce, it is time for the rock fisho’s. Luderick and Black
Drummer are both coming on, especially in the rocky washes and gutters
of our many headlands. Drummer up to 5kg are being landed in number. All
you need is the right bait and some strong line of around 20lb. Abalone
Gut is the usual bait choice, but Crabs have also been a favourite lately,
and fresh bread will take Drummer as well as other species including Bream.
Luderick are a mostly vegetarian species of fish, and are taking fresh
green cabbage weed set under a float close to the rocks. Use much lighter
line than you would for Drummer. Berleying with some weed will always
increase your chances of a good bag.
Sydney
Harbour
It
is a nice surprise to see that the Samson Fish that had been around prior
to the rains are still here, especially around North Head, Quarantine
Pt and Dobroyd Reef. Most of the fish are around 55cm or less but still
provide a good fight as they bump and run toward the bottom. There have
also been quite a few Kingfish around in the same area, varying in size
from your 55cm rats to fish of a metre and more. The Samsons, especially
those around the yellow marker buoy inside North Head, have been holding
lower in the water table than the Kingies have of late, so fish just above
the bottom with fresh Squid heads or guts and you will put yourself in
a good position for them. Kingies are taking squid live or fresh and live
yakkas, fished about half way through the water table.
Offshore
Offshore conditions are a dream at present, with
very little swell, and no wind forecast for the rest of the week. If only
the fishing could match. The strong northerly summer currents have slowed
and any hot water that does make it here is quickly dispersing amongst
in the cooler stuff. At least there are still a few fast growing Dolphin
Fish around, though the majority are very young weighing only about a
kilogram. Most of the FAD’s, offshore markers and trap buoys are
holding fish, with smaller fish most frequent on the closer buoys and
a sprinkling of larger ones as you get out toward 90 fathoms. All sorts
of baits and lures will work on these ravenous predators, including pilchards
and metal slices, though they do occasionally get spooky and in these
situations it is almost essential to fish a small live bait of either
slimy mackerel or yellowtail.
Last
weeks REPORT 19 04 05 Offshore
Game fishing over the last week has been pretty heavily shark based, due
to the comparatively small numbers of Marlin and other game fish interested
in a feed, and there have been some real monsters landed. The biggest
catch over the weekend was a 494 kilo Tiger shark, and some smaller Tigers
and several Makos were also accounted for. It’s not all that surprising
with so many sharks around that the odd surfer is getting a scare. Dolphin
fish have at least been about, though they are mostly small and can be
patchy. The FADs and markers quite close to shore are the main areas to
target with wider buoys not proving so productive. The Dee Why wave rider
is an example of a closer buoy which has been holding fish intermittently.
Sydney
Harbour
Massive schools of Yellowtail and Cownyoung are hovering about inside
North Head, as well as around South Head, with big Kings and Salmon to
8lb under them. Trolling has been the most productive method of fishing
for them but large deep diving lures are required, around 11 and 12 cm
long, to get you down to the predators. South Head has also seen a couple
of schools of Bonito working baitfish in the shallow wash.
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.
Last
weeks report(17April 2005)
Sydney
Harbour
With
the hint of a late summer upon us and water conditions around the harbour
good, the ingredients are ripe for an autumn pelagic revival. Kingfish
in particular have reactivated in this warm weather, with fish from 60cm
to a metre being taken from many of the channel markers, buoys and moorings
around the mouth of the Harbour. The Wedding Cakes are also fishing well.
Live Squid is unusually proving less enticing than fresh Squid heads,
though both of these baits are being out fished by live Yellowtail. Harbour
fish stocks have also been bolstered by the arrival of a couple of schools
of Samson Fish, of around 55 – 60cm. These fish inhabit many of
the same regions as Kingfish, and are partial to the same baits, though
in their case Squid heads are the more preferred.
Broken
Bay
Jewfish
are starting to come back on in Broken Bay at the moment, with multiple
catches of fish in the 5-8 kilo range, and some bigger ones slowly coming
on. The usual haunts such as Flint and Steel and Juno Pt are producing
as always, as are a few of the deeper holes around the Rail Bridge. Pittwater
has not been immune either, with a fish of 17kg landed off Church Pt.
The best bait has been fresh Goulds Squid, fished whole or in strips.
Slimy Mackerel, whole butterfly cut Mullet and Tailor fillets have also
produced recently. Soft plastics have had mixed success on the Jewies
lately, but with good technique, timing and a fair bit of patience you
should be able to put yourself in the money. 10cm – 15cm imitation
fish in black gold and green patterns are enjoying the lion’s share
of hookups.
Sydney
Harbour
A
few Tailor are schooling inside Middle Harbour at the moment, especially
at dawn, dusk and at times during the night. Patches of fish have appeared
on the surface around Middle Head, and off Clontarf. Though most are just
undersize, they are still giving anglers lots of fun on light line. Metal
slices imitate their prey the best, and small is the overriding principal,
with the best size lure about 2-3 cm long, and very shiny. The way these
fish aggressively attack a lure often bigger than themselves is really
something to behold. Soft plastics are also accounting for their fair
share of fish, but only for those who have thousands of plastics and an
inverse amount of sense. Most of the plastics are torn to ribbons by the
razor sharp teeth of these small predators.
This
weeks report(9 April 2005)
Hawkesbury
River
Finally some warm weather and a high barometer reading to brighten things
up after an indifferent weeks fishing. The Upper Hawkesbury around Webbs
Creek and Wisemans Ferry is fishing well on surface lures, such as fizzers,
walkers or poppers, for bass in particular. Working lures close to the
bank, under any overhanging vegetation or around snags, is essential as
the Bass are a bit gun shy and will only come out a metre or so from cover.
Slow twitches, with just enough movement to disturb the surface, are the
ideal form of retrieve. Un-weighted soft plastics in insect patterns,
rigged on weedless hooks, are also accounting for their fair share of
fish from the same areas.
Sydney
Harbour/ Offshore
The
marker buoy that was placed off Ben Buckler earlier this season has proved
to be an enormous boon to Sydney anglers. It is hardly what you would
call established yet, with very little kelp or weed growth, though it
is already holding fish usually associated with much greater distances
offshore. Dolphin fish especially have moved in, giving those who have
never even seen one before a chance to hook one. Unfortunately most of
them are quite tiny fish, only about the .5 to 1 kg mark, but they are
great fun on light line. There are also a few rat Kingfish hanging around
with the Dollies.
Last
weeks report(7 April 2005)
Broken
Bay
Jewfish
have been running in Broken Bay lately but the bite is at best intermittent.
Some reasonable numbers of school size fish have been taken, mostly on
the freshest squid, but be prepared to go through up to 20 or 30 hours
of almost no bite before the school arrives. This is also the time of
year to be hunting for that huge Jewfish, and one taken this week from
just downstream of the rail bridge has topped the scales at 30kg. Best
baits for the bigger fish include live slimy mackerel and fresh mullet
strips. The odd decent size Australian Salmon has been taken on the troll
around a few of the rocky open headland areas, especially by those using
deep running bibbed minnows. Good colour patterns include blues and silvers,
with the best luck being had on lures around 7cm long. Some Tailor have
also been taken in a similar manner, and the occasional Bonito is also
still about and will strike hard at larger lures.
Sydney
Harbour
Flathead fishing is coming on in the cooling weather. Solid fish are hunting
for a feed all throughout Sydney Harbour, as well as up and down the Northern
Beaches. High tide, sand flats and fresh fish baits provide the perfect
combination. Fishing the edge of sandy and rocky drop offs works to a
lesser degree on lower tides. Soft plastics have proved devastating recently,
and will work in all conditions. Try wrigglers in 2 and 3inch, patterned
black and gold or red, with a lift and drop retrieve.
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. Fly
fishers are braining fish with pink clousers and offshore deceivers, as
well as with a variety of smaller epoxy flies. The are a few large Dollys,
some nearing 20kg, still finding their way onto trolled pushers, jet heads,
christmas trees and large bibbed minnows, often under debris around the
edge of a current line. These are usually solitary Bull males in search
of new territory.
Botany Bay
Botany Bay is showing signs of a kick start late into the season. There
is no shortage of bait schooling around, and there are Tailor and the
odd large Australian Salmon busting into the schools. Port Botany seems
to be the place. On occasions there have also been good schools of large
Tailor working around Yarra Bay. Most of the baitfish are pretty tiny,
so targeting the predators chasing them requires a tiny lure, best set
to match the hatch. Colour and size are crucial, especially for the Salmon
so look to silver metals from 5 to 15 grams. Casting into any surface
feeding schools will bring the greatest returns, but failing any surface
action you can still isolate the schools in deeper water, by trolling
likely areas with the same lures. Once you’ve found them you can
still cast at the deeper schools, by counting the seconds as the lure
sinks and varying the count until it is in the strike zone.
Bream
are a most consistent species to target in Botany Bay at the moment, and
they are everywhere, from The Sticks all the way back to the Captain Cook
Bridge. Good size fish of over a kilo are falling to both bait and lure
anglers. Bait fishers are having great success on the smaller live baits,
with Nippers just claiming the top spot over bloodworms. Soft plastic
aficionados are having particular success on 3-4' minnow and worm imitations,
with pumpkinseed the pattern of choice. Light jig heads are crucial. Just
enough to cast is the premium if possible though this will depend on the
current. Fish areas of structure and shade while there is some good flow
in the tide. This run is essential as Bream in particular only seem to
feed in moving water, taking advantage of any eddies created.
Broken Bay
Another
week of fickle weather has seen some inconsistent reports around Pittwater,
though sunshine is on the horizon. Tailor and Salmon are in small schools
just outside the mouth of Broken Bay, predominantly around Barrenjoey,
hitting schools of small bait about 3cm long. Birds on the water are usually
the most positive lead to any schools around the surface, but wariness
is the key if you find one, as the fish are very boat shy. The birds inside
Pittwater are also on fish, generally around dawn, though more usually
these have been schools of Frigate Mackerel. All of these fish are fixated
on the aforementioned small baitfish and on metal lures 10gm or less,
with anything bigger often being ignored, however large blue soft plastic
slugs have accounted for their fair share. If you can’t find any
schools, try trolling the ‘Joey headland with blue and silver hard
bodied lures, or even a slowly troll a live Yellowtail on a downrigger.
Some good Kingfish and even the odd Amberjack are a most welcome bycatch
for those fishing in this manner.
Sydney Harbour
The Middle Harbour Kingfish are still with us, having persevered through
the recent bad weather, and can be found up as high as Bantry Bay. They’re
moving in schools, running throughout the bays with the tide, so can be
sometimes hard to find or pin down. Patience and good fresh or live baits
are mandatory. Good berley is also essential once you have found the fish
if you want them to hang around for more than two minutes. The western
side of the Spit Bridge one of the hottest spots for land and boat based
fishos at present. The main Harbour is still holding a few Kings as well,
but these more sporadic fish seem oriented to structure, allowing bait
fishers to catch their share. Fresh squid strips fished down around the
channel markers in the harbour, especially the eastern Wedding Cake marker,
are proving devastating. The occasional Samson Fish has been around as
a bonus, taken in the same means.
Broken Bay
Hairtail
are one of the Sydney basin most unique species as they are only found
in the deep estuarine systems, notably in the Hawkesbury. The Hairtail
have arrived extremely early in the season this year and are being taken
from the depths of the upper Hawkesbury at night. Try deep holes from
around the road and rail bridge as well as similar areas including Bar
Point right up the river toward Spencer. Strong wire trace is essential
when chasing these toothy silver flashes. Ganged hooks with fresh fish
baits such as pilchards often yield the best results. Fish differing depths
or check your sounder until you find a school. Live Yakkas are also prime
bait as are fresh goulds squid.
Previous
report (21 - Mar - 05)
Sydney Harbour Flathead
can be found all throughout the Harbour at this time of year. As well
as some of the larger (70cm+) breeders that have moved in, there are numbers
of smaller Flatties shadowing clouds of bait fry around Grotto Pt and
into Middle Harbour. Throwing soft plastic lures around this bait is a
good way to pick up any flatties sitting under them. Similar activity
is taking place around the entrance to Lane Cove River and mornings are
currently the hot bite at Clarke’s Point. Fresh pilchards working
a treat here for bait fishers, but only if fresh, otherwise Whitebait
or salted Tuna chunks are preferred. Small live poddy mullet are proving
no more than sporadically successful other than when fished on the drift.
Soft plastic aficionados are fishing minnow imitations in a black gold
and green fleck pattern, principally in the clearer waters, and pumpkinseed
or bloodworm patterns in the dirtier patches, and getting great results.
Jewfish
have been a reasonably common catch in the Harbour for the last month
or so, and the bite seems to be picking up. There do not appear to be
too many large fish over the 8kg mark, but good numbers of schoolies are
being taken from around Gladesville Bridge, Balls Head, off Shark Island,
as well as well as over the other side of the harbour at Neilsen Park
and inside Quarrantine Pt. There are also a few bigger fish coming from
around the Spit Bridge. Somewhat surprisingly the huge majority of fish
seem to have been taken during the daylight hours. As usual, fresh Squid
is numero uno in the bait stakes, though live Yellowtail run a close second
if you can find some small enough.
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 arrow squid just 5 –
8cm long are doing the trick, though fresh squid heads are the best choice
if you find that leatherjackets and small cockney bream are mauling the
squid. Drifting 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.
Drifting is the best approach when fishing the areas as it not only allows
other anglers to fish the same spot, but can also give you the upper hand
by dragging the fish away from the reef.
This
weeks report (16 - Mar - 05)
Offshore The
greeny blue and semi static 22 degree waters at the coast at present give
way to 24 - 26 degrees of beautiful cobalt blue off the shelf where the
main current is running. There are plenty of fish coming down with it
as well, including decent schools of Mack and Stripey Tuna, Watsons Leaping
Bonito, Spotted and Frigate mackerel, Dolphin Fish on the FADs, and even
some less common species such as Rainbow Runners mixed up with them!
Sydney
Harbour
The
action at present is not restricted to outside the shelf where the warmer
waters are, with a few fish braving the cooler waters and finding their
way in to the coast. The best of these less likely catches would have
to be the landing of a 5kg Yellowfin just off North Head on a trolled
Rapala CD-9. Some BIG kings are about the mouth of the Harbour Harbouralso,
hanging off North Head proper in the depths and loving deep slow trolled
live baits.
Inside
the harbour are schools of Frigate Mackerel and Tuna that have joined
up with the resident Tailor for some 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, especially
7gm Sea Rocks, have been the pick of the lures, as the fish are fixated
on tiny one to two inch baitfish and don’t even notice the bigger
flashes go by.
Pittwater
Pittwater is still the warmest of Sydney’s Estuary waters, where
temps hit 24 degrees regularly and some of the biggest Kingfish around
laze away their days. 15 to 20 kilogram fish have the absolute advantage
in such closed waterways, and are laughing at all and sundry as they strip
reels bare of 30+ lb line while running for their favourite piece of sharp
reef. Most of the biggest Kingfish at present are being taken on live
baits such as large live Squid or Yellowtail. The success rate on these
fish is somewhere nearing 0%.
There
are also plenty of Bonito and some Mackerel Tuna that are busting up all
over the bay in the mornings. They’re great fun and don’t
leave you feeling like you’ve had your arms wrenched out of their
sockets. If you are lucky you may find one of the 8kg plus Amberjack around
Jacks. The Amberjack have a preference for fresh squid slow trolled on
the downrigger.
Northern
Beaches Beach
fishing on the north side hasn’t missed a beat as we head into Autumn,
with Kingies around the 12 kilogram mark coming in off Long Reef and other
deepwater headlands. Jewfish are being landed off the beach, most of which
are decent size, round the 6-10kg mark. A few mobile Bonito have also
been schooling up off the more open headlands, especially around Long
Reef and Curl Curl in the morning. If you are in need of a feed, there
a still good runs of mid sized Whiting in the close gutters of most beaches.
This
weeks report (10 - Mar - 05) Broken Bay Broken Bay has been providing action aplenty
all summer, and even though we’re moving toward the cooler months
the water in Pittwater is still over 23 degrees and fishing incredibly.
Some absolutely massive Kingfish are making blistering runs and peeling
copious metres of 24 kilo line off screaming reels that try to keep up.
In the last few days fish over a metre long and some near two have been
hooked up at the mouth of Careel Bay, as well as around Soldiers Point
on the Western side of the bay. Most of these fish won their freedom in
the shortest of orders, despite the fact that the heaviest of gear was
used to target them. Live Squid, Yakkas or Sweep are the baits of choice
for these fish. The Kings are on the roam almost constantly back and forth
around the headlands, so if it is quiet inside Pittwater proper, both
Barrenjoey Head and West Head are producing fish and worth a scout. Berley
is a good way to encourage the Kings toward your live bait.
Hawkesbury
As we move into autumn, Bass fishing starts to intensify. Spawning is
on the mind of these dual habitat fish, and they are currently making
their way upstream into fresh water to accomplish their goal. Good catches
of Bass are being taken from all over the upper Hawkesbury from The Colo
River up into the Nepean. Flies such as dharlbergs are having great success,
or for the spin fisher a combination of small soft plastic minnows and
surface lures such as poppers will cover most bases. Estuary Perch are
also prowling the river, especially from Richmond down, taking it easy
schooling in eddies in the main current. They are particularly fond of
any eddies provided by the deep water walls and pylons around bridges.
Sydney
Harbour
Tailor have been a harbour staple for some time now, with large schools
marauding throughout the more open areas of the Harbour. The exposed waters
outside Rose Bay and around Shark Island have been privy to some aggressive
surface action for quite a while now, but an explosion of activity has
occurred with summer pelagics including Frigate Mackerel, Watsons Leaping
Bonito, and a sprinkling of smaller Tuna species arriving to join the
fray. Mornings are the best time to find these egalitarian schools, when
they are co-operating to ball up bait on the surface. Once you’re
onto a school the best attack is to spin with silver slices tiny enough
to imitate the current crop of baitfish. Between one and two inches is
the optimum. Surf Candies and other small epoxy flies are keeping fly
fishers in the game. When surface action is scarce, a variety of trolled
lures have picked up a fish off the headlands, from bibbed minnows around
7cm long to similar size metal slices. Occasional catches of Tuna particularly
have also been made on fresh pilchards, but not enough to make it a worthwhile
practice.
Schools of Slimy Mackerel have popped up in North Harbour. Plenty of this
fantastic bait can be found in pockets of that part of the harbour and
they are relatively easily berleyed up. Most of the fish are in the 20
– 30cm range. These fish are the best live bait available for Dolphin
Fish, Kingies, Bonito and other larger predators.
Bonito of some substantial size are still being taken on large diving
lures, round the 10-12cm range, Long Reef has thrown up some hard fighting
fish from 50-60cm long, as have many of Sydney’s headlands in recent
days. Close to the harbour the South Head troll is producing. Troll from
South Head lighthouse round as far as The Gap to give yourself the best
chance. Bonito love shiny metallic lures, especially in silver and blue,
trolled as fast as the lure you are using will allow.
Kingfish are enjoying a bit of a late season renaissance to the considerable
joy of anglers, mostly due to warmer water and its accompanying increase
in bait supplies. The 22 degree water that is currently kissing our coast
runs out as far as the continental shelf, where it’s supported by
a strong 26 degree current that runs south toward the cooler waters of
the Tasman Sea. Big Kings are looting and pillaging in the deeper waters
of North Head proper, to the detriment of almost everything in their vicinity
including many an anglers lure. There has even been a Yellowfin Tuna caught
and promptly released in good health just metres from North Head, on a
squid bait designed for one of the Kings. It was only a baby at 5kg, but
an impressive catch none the less.
This
weeks report (03 - Mar - 05)
Sydney Harbour Bonito
have made some small appearances this summer, and are now showing their
faces in larger numbers, in areas around South and North Head. Fish can
be found schooling back and forth along the seaward ledges, especially
around South Head. Lures have taken the occasional fish, both bibbed minnows
and skirted lures, but most successful have been live Yakkas. Fish the
livies near rocky ledges or slow troll around South Head toward the Gap.
The occasional enormous Australian Salmon of over 10lb has also been taken
in the same manner. Some smaller Bonito are balling up baitfish inside
the harbour, and are falling predominantly to small metal slices under
10gms, imitating the baitfish they are fixated on.
Offshore Dolphin
Fish are still about offshore, hanging around the FADs, markers and traps,
however they can be wildly varied in their behavior. Often the fish can
be seen, but enticing a bite can be another story altogether. One day
lures such as metal slices will be devastating, the next only live baits
will do the trick, though recent days have seen huge numbers of good size
fish biting voraciously. The best option, if you can find them, is to
have a good supply of live Slimy Mackerel. These are the favoured food
of the Dolphin Fish at present and will usually account for the most and
largest fish caught. It is always worth taking a good selection of lures
in different sizes as back up.
This
weeks report (28 - Feb - 05) Sydney
Harbour
Frigate mackerel have made an appearance into Sydney
waters now the hot currents are on our doorstep. Large schools of these
relatively small but lightning fast fish can be found busting up baitfish,
both in Sydney Harbour, where the schools are holding just inside the
heads, as well as up north inside the mouth of Broken Bay. Tiny baitfish
imitation lures such as metal slices less than ten grams are the key.
Try various colours as there seems no rhyme nor reason to the colour that
interests them at any particular time. .Tiny 'eyes' and similar small
epoxy flies are also enjoying their fair share of success. In some cases
the lions share.
Broken
Bay Some decent Jewfish continue to be taken
from around the Road and Rail Bridges and in the deeper holes of the Hawkesbury
upstream of Brooklyn. The bite is a little up and down, but those dedicated
enough have returned fish of around 10kg, with at least one lucky angler
besting the 20kg mark. Many differing baits are proving successful for
Jewfish at the moment, especially fresh mullet, whether it is in strips
or butterflied. Mullet is also, along with Yellowtail, a good live bait.
Squid and Slimy Mackerel both seem to be preferred fresh. Remember Jewies
are a lazy fish and will find any opportunity to sit out of the current
and ambush their prey as it travels with the tide. Therefore try to fish
into any eddies that are created by structures or holes interfering in
the main current.
Offshore
Dolphin fish are holding again around the FADs and trap markers off Sydney.
Decent numbers have been regularly found between 5 and 20nm out, from
Broken Bay wide to the recently replaced Dee Why waverider, and down off
Botany Bay. Good sized Dollies averaging about 5kg are being tempted into
swallowing live baitfish, such as Yellowtail and Slimy Mackerel. Feed
the live Yakka or Slimy back toward the marker bouy with either an open
bail arm, or, if using a baitrunner type reel, with as little drag resistance
as possible. If the Dolphin Fish feel any pressure when they take the
bait to run, they will drop the bait before they swallow it properly,
leaving you to strike at nothing. Lures are also tempting out a few fish.
White or pink soft plastics such as stick baits or plastic slugs that
can be cast and retrieved are the ideal.
Broken
Bay
Bream are in the Bay in good numbers, ready for spawning. Some really
massive fish around the 55cm mark are being taken, some so big they are
falling prey to live yellowtail. Fish are being taken all over Broken
Bay proper, as well as upstream, and into Pittwater, where a 1.9kg Bream
was landed over the weekend. This fish is probably in the order of twenty
years old, and was therefore released, hopefully to live a few more. During
lower tides they can be found hiding under deep rocky ledges, or in the
shadows of boats moored in deeper water. As the tide rises they will explore
the flats and mangroves through shallow water. 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 will do the trick nicely, including
blue or green minnows in the 50-100mm range. Good small live baits such
as nippers are also quite effective.
Sydney
Harbour The Middle Harbour Kingfish are still
about, up as high as Bantry Bay, but they are schooling and sometimes
hard to find. Good berley is essential once you have found them if you
want them to hang around for more than two minutes. The main Harbour is
still holding Kings as well, and these fish seem more oriented to structure
allowing bait fishers to catch their share. Fresh squid strips fished
down around the channel markers in the harbour, especially the eastern
Wedding Cake marker, are proving devastating. The occasional Amberjack
is also around as a bonus and can be taken in the same methods. Cobia
are also about though in very small numbersabout and are a great fighting
fish if you are lucky enough to hook one.
Blue
water currents are finally arriving dumping some warm water close to the
coast of Sydney. Though there are only a few fish in it as yet, there
is hope on the horizon. Even warmer water still will push down once the
current is freely flowing, and that’s when things will hot up. Bonito
have been the most noticeable species to arrive, with plenty of good size
fish both off the rocks and inside the harbour. Metal slices about 40-60gms
either trolled or cast and fast retrieved will do the trick. Between South
Head and The Gap is a good place to start the hunt, where there are solid
fish up to 65cm. Fish are also on Dobroyd reef and around Middle Head.
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, as Flathead are an ambush fish and do not
often search far for their food, preferring to wait for it to come to
them.
There
are plenty of Bream still to be found in Broken Bay. They are starting
to aggregate for spawning, which will happen soon, and therefore are preferring
the deeper more protected holes of the Bay proper. 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, or even poddy Mullet,
are also very successful at the moment.
This
report (20 - Feb - 05) Sydney Harbour
Plenty of squid are being caught in the Harbour, making possibly the finest
live bait on the menu, especially for Kingfish. The first or last two
hours of the day is always the best time to go squidding. Good spots include
the structure and moorings in North Harbour, around Shark Island, and
into Middle Harbour around Balmoral. A weedy bottom in conjunction with
this structure often provides the best indicator to where a school of
squid may hide. Berley comprising of pilchards and breadcrumbs will often
encourage them toward you as long as you can get it to the bottom.
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, with strong metal trace
also 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. Please
remember that all Dusky Flathead over 60cm are female, and the larger
ones most likely spawning. For this reason a strict bag limit of one fish
over 60cm per person is enforced by NSW Fisheries.
The
Kingfish are still out and about in the Harbour, but are hard to track
down at times and often the only way to find any trace of them at the
present is to berley heavily around structure in the harbour and try to
encourage Yellowtail schools up around the boat. The Kingfish are usually
not far behind as long as the berley trail is kept strong. A live Yellowtail,
caught from the bait school you first attracted and fed back down under
the school, is your best chance of hooking one of these mostly rat sized
Kings. Failing that, a plastic stick bait or metal jig will also produce
results.
Upper
Hawkesbury
Bass are still biting voraciously throughout the Upper Hawkesbury, especially
between Sackville and Mud Island. Try lures such as small bibbed minnows
in beetle patterns while the sun is high, and turn to surface walkers
or poppers once the shadows hit the water. Soft plastics fishos are not
left out either, with plenty of fish being taken on green minnows, and
grub imitations in a variety of golds, browns and reds. Estuary Perch
are being taken using the similar methods in the less protected open parts
of the river. Darker colours are preferred. The Colo River is also performing
with large catches of Bass being taken on spinner baits.
Offshore
Marlin fishing has been a little slow over the past days out of Sydney,
however big fish are being taken just to the north of Sydney, and given
good quantities of baitfish schooling in the cobalt blue waters offshore,
it can only be a matter of time before some North to South current brings
some of these fish down. Kingfish are also being taken from the closer
FADs at the moment, and good sized fish can also be found at West Reef.
Live squid are the best bait, but failing that live small Yakkas, or the
freshest squid used as a strip bait, will also give good results.
This
report (15 - Feb - 05) Sydney Harbour
Waters have warmed in the Harbour, up to as high as 24 degrees on some
days, and fishing is improving with it. Bonito have arrived in the area
in increasing numbers over the last week or two and are now schooling
in small patches from Rose Bay to North Head and Dobroyd Pt. They are
acting against type at present though, taking to balling up baitfish against
the shoreline at low tide, often in less that half a metre of water. Small
whitebait are what they are looking for, and they are most easily matched
lure wise by five to fifteen gram metal slices, with a white coat if you
can find one. The Tailor that are holding in the same schools are far
less finicky, taking just about anything with some good reflective flash.
Offshore
Dolphin Fish are around the offshore FADs at the moment, having arrived
with recent warm water currents, but are incredibly picky once that warmer
water has gone. They are holding below the surface, a little unhappy with
the temperatures offshore, and can be at times near impossible to entice
into a bite. 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 seemingly
quite intelligent fish. Recent catches include fish of around the 6kg
mark, but they are the exception with most fish being less than 3 kilos.
Northern FAD’s are holding the greater concentration of fish.
Broken
Bay
Large schools of salmon tailor and bonito are present in the outer reaches
of the bay. In the early hours of the day they are breaking the surface
in massive boils as they chase the schools of bait fish. Best methods
to catch these fish at this time of the year are with metal slices and
larger stickbaits. Many of the salmon are very large up to 10 kilos and
the bigger tailor in the schools are not too far from the salmon. Other
approaches to these schools is to troll minnows or skirts around the edges,
do not troll directly over the school as this will push the fish down,
unlikely to come up again for several minutes if at all. For those who
want more try deep jigging for the monster kingfish that hang deep beneath
the feeding schools.
Huge numbers of small sharks have taken summer residence in Broken Bay,
particularly up into Cowan Creek. Bull and Bronze Whalers, and numerous
two foot long Hammerheads are chasing baitfish in deepwater bays around
Cottage Point. Many of these sharks are schooling in areas usually fished
for Jewfish, and hence are causing expensive headaches for anglers, stealing
premium squid baits and plenty of gear. If you do get one to the boat
it is wisest to simply cut the trace, well away from the razor sharp if
tiny teeth. Jewfish are about, including some big ‘uns, but the
more successful are working areas downstream around the mouth of Broken
Bay, and away from the shark menace.
Sydney
Offshore
Warm currents have finally made it down to the Sydney region, bringing
with it many of the warmer water species. Dolphin fish or ‘mahi
mahi’ have now settled on many of the offshore fads. Many of these
F.A.D.s can be located on the fisheries website or accesed through sydneyfishfinder.com.au.
The dollys on the surface of the fads are generally in the on to five
kilo range, with the bigger fish up to 20kilos deeper down. The best ways
to target them are with skirted lures trolled past the fad. Once the fish
are located then throwing unweighted live yakkas or slimey mackerel near
the fads will ensure good catches. Stick baits are another good option
if live baits are hard to come by. Keep an eye out this week for the ABT
BREAM competitors on the water in the harbour, with many of Australias
best bream anglers competing .
This
report (08 - Feb - 05) 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 or Box Head, should toss 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. Remember to fish with heavy gear, as Pittwater Kings over a metre
long have busted lines up to and over 50lb in the last week. A good berley
is essential when bait fishing for Kings at anchor.
The
smaller Jewfish that were in the Broken Bay area over the last couple
of weeks are not as plentiful at the moment, but this is made up for by
the smaller number of really big Jewfish that are currently being taken.
Fish up to 30kg have been boated in the last couple of days, coming back
on the bite big time in the warm water. Known haunts such as Flint and
Steel reef and Juno point are real hot spots for these bigger fish, but
good catches are being made from deep holes as high as Little Settlement,
and even Wisemans Ferry. Whole butterflied Mullet, live Yakkas or Slimy
Mackerel, and fresh Squid whole or in strips are proving the most productive
baits.
Sydney
Harbour Blue
water currents are finally arriving dumping some warm water close to the
coast of Sydney. Though there are only a few fish in it as yet, there
is hope on the horizon. Even warmer water still will push down once the
current is freely flowing, and that’s when things will hot up. Bonito
have been the most noticeable species to arrive, with plenty of good size
fish both off the rocks and inside the harbour. Metal slices about 40-60gms
either trolled or cast and fast retrieved will do the trick. Between South
Head and The Gap is a good place to start the hunt, where there are solid
fish up to 65cm. Fish are also on Dobroyd reef and around Middle Head.
Kingies
are unfortunately not quite the reaching the heights of last years harbour
schooling bonanza, and the fish that are here can be skittish, as they
are fished religiously. Mornings are really the only time they will bite
freely, before every man and his dog have a go and the bigger fish especially
go off the bite. At present a live Yellowtail seems to be the best bait,
or failing that, a strip of squid. Toss your bait in around any of the
harbour channel markers. The new fisheries FAD off Bondi is also worth
a shot, as it has been holding a few smaller Kings on it.
Pittwater
Pittwater is right into the summer species, with northern blue water,
and the associated summer pelagics, having poked their heads into Sydney’s
north for a day or two this week. Amberjack and Kingfish have arrived,
along with some small bait schools including new season Slimy Mackerel.
Live squid is the defining factor when fishing for these predatory species,
and they will often hold in the same schools. Look for bird activity as
the best guide to where the fish schools are, or, failing any sign of
the birds, try a slow troll of your squid along the moorings.
This report (23 - Jan - 05) Sydney Harbour
The northern blue water has been slow to arrive in Sydney this year. So
much so that now even Batemans Bay could claim a higher offshore water
temperature. Thankfully, although this has meant a dearth of pelagic fish,
it has done nothing to harm the Jewfish. Jewies are quite active at the
mouth of the harbour, especially inside Quarrantine Head and off the front
of Middle Head. The average fish is between 3 and 6 kilograms, and almost
exclusively fall to fresh, locally caught squid. A two hook rig tied using
a common snell will improve your catch rates, while still ensuring good
bait presentation. Larger but often less numerous Jewies are showing up
off Clifton Gardens and Nielsen Park.
Beaches
Sydney’s beaches are starting to pick up as summer arrives, albeit
quite late. Beautifully white fleshed Whiting are schooling in the close
gutters on most Sydney Beaches. Morning and evening are the best times
to try fishing some live Nippers, or very fresh worms, in the first gutter
on the edge of the wash. Light line is essential, as are small hooks around
size 8 or 10. Some good Yellowfin Bream have also moved in to our waters,
and they are partial to a live nipper or two as well. The deeper gutters
on more open Beaches, such as Narrabeen in the North, are producing some
steam train like Jewies up to 20kg. If you want to get your hands on one
of these fish be prepared for all night fishing with live Mullet or Yellowtail.
Sydney
Harbour
Fishing in the harbour has been up and down of late, with conditions not
always the most comfortable for a fish, but there are still good fish
around, including good size Bream to 30cm off wharves and other structures
around the bays east of the city. The fish seem to be biting in all circumstances,
even in the midst of recent biting southerlies. Soft plastic grubs in
browns, jigged just off the bottom, are getting positively belted. Some
good sized and pretty tasty Flounder have also taken to the harbour at
the moment, and catches have come from a few of the harbours sandy drifts,
including off Neilsen Park. A couple of monsters around 50cm were taken
off the shell grit bottoms high up into Middle Harbour as far as the Roseville
Bridge, on fresh pilchard and whitebait.
Offshore
Offshore fishing is not of yet fulfilling the promise of early in the
season, when by now some of the better boats were tagging six and seven
striped marlin an outing. Lack of warm water is the major problem, with
temperatures still holding around the 22 degree mark, but that hasn’t
stopped a few fish from being taken from around and under schools of bait.
Most of the action is centered just north of Sydney Harbour off the continental
shelf where the edge of some warmer water has shown a little influence.
Trolling skirts from six to eight inches, with pusher or kona heads, through
the middle of the bait is providing the most hook ups. Dark blues greens
and blacks are the most effective patterns. The occasional larger Blue
Marlin has also shown it’s head in the last week, though the majority
of hook ups have been on trolled live baits. Dolphin Fish are yet to arrive
in any number though breaths are held.
Pittwater
The fishing over the last week has been excellent providing you can find
the elusive squid. Larger kingfish to 8kg have been smashing live squid
while the rats seem to pounce on the dead ones. The Kingies are quite
big, often over 70cm, with the average fish around the 65cm mark. These
‘rat’ kingfish are hitting smaller yellowtail as well as a
variety of soft plastics and poppers. Be prepared for the odd larger fish
following the smaller fish. Most of the fish have come from the bays on
the western side and are only interested in the freshest bait as they
are well fed. The bait schools when found are enormous and different patches
of bait are holding different predators. The kingfish are still following
these bait schools, and therefore the fish are often caught in different
sections of Pittwater from day to day.
This
weeks report (15 - Jan - 05) Sydney Harbour
Fish populations in the harbour are the very definition of fickle at the
moment, in line with fluctuating water temperatures. Patches of hotter
water are naturally more comfortable for summer species such as Kingfish
and Amberjack, but these patches vary both from day to day and from area
to area. The pelagic fish are therefore pretty mobile, following the heat,
and an area that produced yesterday can be pretty vacant today. Resident
species such as Bream are less mobile, but are noticeably less aggressive
in the cooler water. Soft plastic fishers are having a ball at the moment,
as the 35+ degree days produce hot afternoon waters, mostly in the shallower
wind protected bays. Bream are hunting out the edges of these bays on
the high tide, and some nice size flathead coming in off the flats. Green/watermelon
is the most productive colour in the quite green harbour water, with pumpkinseed
working well in the dirtier waters.
Offshore
Offshore surface water temperatures are the dominant indictor of fishing
during and just after a change in season, allowing pathways for migratory
fish to pass comfortably from winter habitats to summer feeding and breeding
grounds and vice versa. This year we are experiencing a late summer, and
warm northern currents keep being blown way out to sea before they can
reach Sydney. As a result any traveling baitfish schools, and the predators
hounding them, have failed to materialize within striking range of the
coast. Dolphin Fish for one really don’t enjoy water temperatures
below a pretty constant 23 degrees, especially the smaller fish, and in
keeping with this there are none on the FADs off Sydney at the moment.
Bigger, more aggressive, and still single male Dolphin Fish are the rather
Spartan representation of their kind in the cooler waters on the edge
of the currents, and if you are willing to put in the time there are fish
of 10 plus kilos hitting 6” - 8” trolled skirts. They are
often on current lines, under patches of debris, but a few have come in
recently from the middle of nowhere. Luminescent green is the colour of
choice.
Pittwater
Pittwater fish are soaking up water temperatures as high as 24 degrees
at the moment, usually in the afternoons when the sun has had full effect.
Even in the mornings it is averaging around 23, and the warmth has brought
no shortage of activity from the local Kingfish. Although there are not
the massive numbers of fish sometimes seen by this time in summer, the
size more than compensates, with the usual fish in the region of 66cm
to 87cm, and the occasional real hoodlums of near a metre ready to rake
you amongst the moorings. Fat live squid, either locally caught Arrow
Squid or Southern Calamari, will entice a bite out of the larger specimens,
while smaller ‘rats’ are a more common capture on fresh local
whole or strip squid. Plastic slug baits are provoking a bit of interest
when thrown into, under, and around any surface action. It has even been
warm enough to bring on a couple of less common hot water species. Amberjack
in particular have moved in amongst the Kings, with some big fish 5 kilos
plus off Longnose Pt. A school of small Samson Fish have also made a showing
inside Towlers and Careel Bays.
This
report (09 - Jan - 05) Sydney
Harbour Sydney Harbour is having a reasonably slow
start to the season in comparison to last year, which admittedly was spectacular.
This time last year Sydney Harbour was veritable smorgasbord of fish,
with Kingfish schools aplenty spread through out, as well as Salmon and
Tailor boiling on the surface. There were fairly good numbers of Bonito,
and a sprinkling of less common species such as Amberjack, Samsonfish,
and even a few Cobia. There are however, a few decent size Kingfish around
at the moment. Around Rose Bay and Shark Island they are shadowing schools
of surface Tailor just on dawn. Small metal slices spun deep around the
frenzy will snare a few tailor, and the excitement should bring around
the Kingies. The Kings will also hit metals, but are showing a real liking
to 6” and 10” plastic slugs, in pink, white or red.
New
season Southern Calamari are around on the kelp beds of Sydney Harbour
in decent numbers at the moment, possibly due to the comparative lack
of predators. Inside North Harbour, around Grotto Pt, and from Shark Island
to Nielsen Park, small brightly coloured squid jigs are accounting for
a few of these tasty cephalopods. Let your jig sink right to the kelp
before lifting and twitching, then let it drop once more. If you can restrain
your own taste buds they are one of the best Kingfish baits available
live, whole, or in strips, and a few other harbour fish can’t resist
including some two kilo plus Snapper that are holding around ‘Sow
and Pigs’ reef.
The
most significant influence on fish populations in the harbour during the
summer is undoubtedly the water temperature, which by this time last year
had reached 24.5 degrees, up almost 2.5 degrees on this year. In fact
it was so warm that there were fears the massive schools of Kingfish busting
up the harbour would leave for cooler climes. This year things are a little
more subdued, but there a still a couple of big kings around and not an
inconsequential number of ‘rats’. Lightly weighted live or
fresh squid, and surprisingly, pilchards on gang hooks, are both accounting
for fish from 55 to over 90 centimetres. Establish a strong berley trail,
that runs back toward one of the structures in the more open areas of
the harbour, during times of some tidal flow. Channel markers, The Wedding
Cakes, and Sow and Pigs reef, are all likely starters.
New
Year report (30 - December - 04) Sydney Sharks With
the holiday period upon us and plenty warm water around to swim in, it
seems timely to warn bathers of just what they are swimming with in the
bays and harbours around Sydney. While sharks are around most of the year,
they are not often around in such number, nor will they act as aggressively,
as they will over the next couple of months. Bronze Whalers, and the related
Bull Whalers, are two of our most common species, and they are now actively
shadowing schools of baitfish far into estuary waters. Anglers from Pittwater
to Sydney Harbour are taking Bronzies of 5 feet plus, and sightings of
Bull Sharks two metres long are becoming more common. Both of these fish,
regardless of size, can do serious damage to a human even if they don’t
mean to, as they use their mouth to “feel” the environment
around them. This often occurs in dirty waters upstream, as evidenced
by the Bull Whalers thought responsible for “feeling” out
a few canoes in the Parramatta River last year. Most clear water encounters
happen while a school of sharks are attempting to feed on summer bait
schools. These downstream waters, though not failsafe, are in comparison
much safer to swim in, and as long as you check to ensure you are not
swimming near or amongst baitfish schools you should avoid accidentally
brushing up against a feeding Whalers mouth.
Botany
Bay
Kings are just starting to filter into to Botany Bay. Small numbers of
rat sized fish have been in the Bay for the last month or so, and by now
the odd larger fish should be making a show. It’s great to see them
big in size and number again after the removal of the Kingfish traps quite
a few years ago. Be ready with some strong gear for these hard fighting
speed machines. Eight to ten kilo line is pretty much a must. Live Bait
or fresh Squid will put you in with a top chance of catching a Kingie
so a little effort in catching bait usually pays of. Slimy Mackerel are
also great bait for the kings, as long as they’re not too big, and
they’re also top fun to catch on light gear. Around the drums in
the middle of the Bay is a good spot to start, as a large school is currently
holding in this area. Burley will help to find the fish and pilchard for
bait is all you will need.
Pittwater
The Kingfish in Pittwater at the moment are spread out, but fish can still
be found, and trolling live squid on a downrigger around moorings or schools
of baitfish will produce good fish most times. Some of these fish are
up to 73 cm but most around the 67cm mark. Smaller fish are being taken
on poppers and five inch trolling skirts. Encouragingly they are finally
starting to hit live yellowtail properly. The Basin, in the deeper water,
has had some kingfish cruising, as has Longnose Point, Avalon Sailing
Club moorings and Salt Pan Bay. The morning has seen the most surface
action but the same areas should produce in the afternoon as well, as
long as you present your baits as naturally as possible. Low tides are
proving a little better than the highs.
Towlers
Bay drop off is a top spot for large flathead at present, with fish to
70 cm taken both at anchor and on the drift. Fresh pilchard is proving
great bait as always, with fresh whitebait and fresh anchovy not too far
behind. Remember a strong trace as flatties this size have an incredibly
raspy mouth. The drift at Careel Bay is also working well, with a few
surprises including the occasional rat King as a bycatch. Both these areas
are also producing some Whiting, with most around the edge of the ribbon
weed, though unfortunately most of these fish have been a lot smaller
than last years run. Bloodworms are by far the best bait.
The
sandy grounds just off the outside of Barrenjoey Head are producing Flounder
and Flathead at the moment, as well as a few decent size Trevally especially
on the incoming tide. The Flathead are rather partial to whitebait and
pilchards, fished close to the bottom while on the drift, while the Trevally
have taken a particular liking for small squid bits, floated down a strong
well set berley trail. Usually fussy Flounder are not really being too
fussy, eating prawns, whitebait and pilchards, as well as just about anything
that moves past their noses. Sydney Harbour
A large and quite friendly Seal has moved in to Sydney Harbour for the
summer, and for the last week or so has taken to sunbaking on the green
channel marker just off middle head. Be aware if you are fishing around
that area as it is known to approach, and a seal and a couple of people
in the same boat don’t often mix! The same thing happened last year,
testimony to the cleanliness of our increasingly busy harbour. There are
plenty of bait fish around to keep the seal well fed, including large
Slimy Mackerel, Yellowtail, Garfish, and a few chopper tailor. Big Slimies
are occasionally popping up on the Quarrantine marker buoy, while the
smaller ones are holding with other baitfish around the harbour, such
as with Yakkas on the Wedding Cakes and at Balmoral. There is also the
odd small Slimy on the bait grounds just inside North Head, if you can
deal with the multitudes of Mado and Sweep. Many of these schools are
on the move at the moment, and infuriatingly never seem to be in the same
spot for more than a day.
Pittwater It
is getting close to the time when two of the more common sharks residing
in Sydney waterways start to enter into the rivers and upper harbour reaches.
During the next month they will start the mating game, and they are at
their incredibly territorial best during this season, which peaks in early
February. This is when they’re often reported head-butting or biting
anything that comes too close, especially in waters where there is a lot
of sediment, and visibility is therefore poor. It is well worth trying
to avoid swimming or standing in any of these murkier often upstream waters,
at least for the next few months. Estuaries around Sydney do have a pretty
good recent record when it comes to shark attack, which will hopefully
continue unabated, but the only way you can really put yourself out of
harms way is to swim inside a well maintained shark net.
Happy Fishing 