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Previous
Reports July
- September 2006
Upper Hawkesbury
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.
Hawkesbury
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. Some school
Jewfish are also about in the same areas, but the more successful anglers
are working areas downstream around the mouth of Broken Bay, and away
from the shark menace.
Sydney Harbour
The occasional Flathead has taken a liking
to the Harbour of late, sunning themselves in shallow warm waters. Most
of the current influx are at their most delicious eating size, namely
between 55 - 60cm. Drifting a few strong smelling oily baits such as Pilchards,
Anchovies or thin Tuna strips over any of the shallower sandy regions
in the harbour will give you a great chance of a feed. The drift from
North head to Clontarf via Grotto Pt is working well, as are the flats
around and behind Fort Denison. The two hook Paternoster rig is the most
useful way to rig for a Flathead drift, and allows you to experiment with
a greater variety of baits.
Offshore
Yellowfin Tuna are one of the most prized
fish in the sea. For some people it's the delectability of the yellowfins
firm rich red flesh, but for anglers, its the blistering speed they exert
once hooked up. Though we are well into summer, there are still plenty
of fish about to 30kg, and Browns Mountain is the place. In an area stretching
about 10nm around Browns, schools of these decent size fish have been
on the move. Cubing seems to be the most successful method of bringing
fish to the boat at the moment, and though it may mean several hours of
waiting, once the action starts it is unforgettable.
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.
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.
Hawkesbury
Jewfish are plentiful in the Hawkesbury
at the moment with specimens ranging from smaller soapies to 20kg plus
monsters. Best baits are the Hawkesbury 'goulds' squid , Hawkesbury prawns
(live or dead), or live yellowtail. Around Wisemans Ferry multiple catches
of jewfish averaging between 2 an 5kg are common, especially on live prawns.
Juno Point and Flint and Steel are the places to target the larger fish,
with bigger baits doing the damage.
Offshore
Dolphin fish are turning up further south
than Broken Bay Wide once more, however the smaller fish are not consistently
holding on the FADs with warm water threatening to flow further inshore
but so far not quite. The most common Dolphin Fish at present seem to
be the larger fish, the majority of which are being trolled up off the
shelf. Fish out there are in the region of 12-20 kilos.
Sydney Harbour
New season Southern Calamari are around
on the kelp beds of Sydney Harbour in decent numbers at the moment, with
the bigger breeders having recently vacated. 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.
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.
Offshore
Close offshore fishing has been frustrating
so far this season, with more than the average number of days of wild
weather and big swells putting a dampener on small boat fishing. Making
things worse are the unseasonably low water temperatures around the FADs.
Though off the shelf water as warm as 24.5 degrees flows freely, closer
in the Dee Why wave rider buoy is registering temperatures of only 18
degrees, a far cry from the 22 degrees we need to herald the arrival of
the currently non-existant school dolphin fish.
Sydney Harbour
Rat kingfish are the talk of sydney town at the
moment, with numerous schools feeding from Rose Bay to Middle Harbour.
Much of the activity is concentrated on the surface, where the Kings are
blaaing up baitfish accompanied by tailor, so look for any birds and follow
them to find the fish. Fresh squid, live squid and live yellowtail are
accounting for most of the fish.
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
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.
Berley and a strong trace are essential.
Sydney Offshore
Getting out wide hasn’t been easy
lately with the wind, rain, and swell all hindering, but there has been
the occasional day of comparative bliss. The edge of some 24 plus degree
northern waters have managed to find their way inside the shelf, and there
is some good fishing in company. Early season Striped and the odd Blue
and Black Marlin have been tagged and released after they harassed blue,
black and gold skirted lures. Troll around the larger bait schools west
from the continental shelf to about 8-10 miles in from Browns Mountain.
The temperature breaks around the edges of the warmer water are holding
the most fish.
Broken Bay
Fishing in Broken Bay is heating up in
line with the water temperature at present. The flatties are on the chew
between Flint & Steel and Lion Island taking live baits such as small
yellowtail, as well as mackerel strips and pilchards. Flounder are being
caught closer towards Patonga, where they can be tempted by fresh anchovies,
whitebait and prawns. Bream also abound, most coming from areas of structure
including wharves and marinas. Pittwater has turned on a few specimens,
particularly around Refuge Bay. They are responding well to a solid berley
trail.
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
Schools of Salmon, while
not the size they were, are still giving anglers hours of joy when they
surface. Try around middle head on the Clifton Garden side. The fish have
become extremely skittish with all the boats and other activity on the
Harbour at the moment so for best results turn the motor off at about
30m away and drift up to them. Small metal slices of about 10-20gms are
accounting for most of the Salmon caught.
Offshore
Yellowfin Tuna have been a most welcome,
if not a little suprising, bonus for anglers in the last couple of days.
Though the majority of fish are incredibly small, catches include several
'jellybeans' around the 5kg mark, taken whilst trolling small 5 and 6
inch lures for Marlin in around 100m fathoms. Pushers in blue and green
have been the lures of choice.
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.
This
Report 26 December
Offshore
Masses of extremely hot water spilling
down the shelf has led to some extrodinary fishing off Sydney in the last
few days. When conditions allow, trolling around the edge of the continental
shelf is proving particularly fruitful for a huge range of species, many
of which are not often seen this far south. Wahoo are one of these at
present rather abundant species, with unusual numbers being taken on 6-8
inch skirts wide of Broken Bay. Of other uncommon captures reported there
has been at least one Shortbilled spearfish taken around the 25kg mark,
also trolling, around Browns Mountain. A few more common but still good
size Striped Marlin are also about in the same area.
Sydney Headlands
There are quite a few Bonito are hanging
around at the moment, from the mouth of Sydney Harbour along the headlands
toward Broken Bay. These great fighters are predominantly being taken
on lures, such as bibbed minnows from 7 - 10cm. Decent size fish around
50 - 60cm can be found around many of the aforementioned headlands, especially
those with close rocky undercrops.
Sydney Beaches
A quick fish off the beaches will show
any who might care to know just how many sharks are about right now. Plenty
of small to medium size sharks, mostly whalers from a couple of feet to
a couple of metres, are cruising in the deeper gutters close to beaches,
stealing baits and generally causing trouble. A few small makos have also
been marauding the rock platforms at Long Reef, Bluefish Pt, South Head
and even inside the harbour.
Offshore
The greeny blue 20 degree waters at the
coast at present are not proving overly fishy, but they give way to 25
degrees of beautiful cobalt blue off the shelf where the main current
is running, and there are plenty of fish coming down with it as well.
Reasonably large Dolphin Fish over 15kg are on the prowl, as well as wahoo,
and of course the now warm and reinvigorated resident Striped Marlin from
50 - 90kg have also made their presence felt. Lure trolling with 6 to
8 inch skirts is proving an effective method od attack for all these species.
Sydney Harbour
Surface fishing has been firing in Sydney
Harbour over the last couple of weeks, especially in the early mornings.
When the wind is not proving to be a hinderance, Kingfish, Bonito, Tailor
and Salmon are chasing baitfish schools to the surface all over the place.
North Head is firing, as is Middle Head - both on the northern side from
the Naval Jetty to Clontarf, as well as on the south side around Clifton
Gardens. Even around town bays such as Rushcutters are not immune. The
best method of attack is to motor up toward the schools once you have
sighted them, cutting your engine at about 30metres and drifting to within
casting distance. From here you will be able to cast at an undisturbed
school of feeding pelagics. Metal slices and plastic stick baits are both
proving effective.
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 or spinnerbaits
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.
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.
Pittwater
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.
Flounder are not really being too fussy, eating prawns, whitebait, pilchards
and even squid.
Sydney Harbour
It can’t be said that they’re
prolific, but a few Cobia of about 4kg have made an appearance in the
harbour. These 70 – 75cm fish are real warm water fish and incredibly
strong, providing exhilarating sports fishing action on light to medium
strength gear. As with Kingfish, live squid is often the greatest tempter,
but mid sized Yellowtail have also accounted for their share of fish.
Look for Cobia around structure in warmer blue water, of which there has
been quite a bit around the mouth of the harbour of late.
Port Hacking
Port Hacking is a hotbed of Whiting at
present, and although many of them are on the smaller side, there are
still enough over legal size to make targeting them worth the effort.
The shallow waters along the south west arm are proving to be the best
grounds. Live Nippers or fresh Beach or Blood Worms fished on very light
line will provide the best results. Use as light a sinker as possible.
Some anglers are getting pleasantly surprised by a few stud Bream that
are providing variety to the mix.
Sydney Harbour
Escaping the wind over the next few days
isn't going to be easy, but for those who can get out during a lull, there
are plenty of fish to be found. The harbour has been fishing superbly,
and a good mix of trevally, tailor and bream are on the hunt. Though the
demise of the western wedding cake on Tuesday has put pay to a great harbour
fishing spot, plenty of others abound, and the somewhat less destructible
Sow and Pigs reef is still proving a fish magnet. Berley well.
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. 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.
Offshore
A few Striped Marlin are being landed at
the moment as the marlin season warms up nicely. There has been a bit
of action at The Peak around bait schools, with Stripes from 50 - 90kg
landed. The most consistent results
were from skirts 7 to 9 inches long, with pink and blue patterns enjoying
the most success. There have also been a few Blue Marlin around a little
wider, with some much larger up to 150kg.
Hawkesbury River
Good sized Bass are delighting fisherman
around Sackville. Soft plastics, or cicada style surface lures are the
best shot. Fly fisherman are also doing well on the Bass in the Colo River.
Dharlberg flies seem to be the favourite. For those of you who are going
for a fish in the Hawkesbury this week, have a good think about getting
a crab trap. Both muddies upstream and Blue Swimmers downstream are being
taken in quite good numbers from the system at present. Use a fish head
or frame as bait.
Offshore
Dolphin fish are starting to move in around
the FADs and trap markers off Sydney, bringing a happy start to the summer.
Fish have been found in small numbers between 5 and 20nm out, from Broken
Bay wide to the 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 bait back toward
the marker or trap 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.
Sydney Harbour
The Salmon schools that have been with
us over the winter are still with us out the front of North Head. The
salmon are feeding on a variety of baits, but most often on small ‘eyes’,
that is juvenile fish of several species that are floating in the upper
regions of the water column. Most of which these fish are under 3 cm in
length with a clear body and large eyes. Small white metal lures under
10 grams, as well as 4 to 6 inch stick baits cast un-weighted and just
twitched through the school, are proving the best methods of attack. Fly
fishing for these mighty sport fish is another sure way hook a salmon.
Sydney Offshore
Summer hot currents bring plenty of baitfish
down to the waters off Sydney, with slimy mackerel usually the predominant.
The last week or two has again seen plenty of them arriving off sydney
once more, and where there is bait and hot water together, there are always
plenty of predators, testified to by the good numbers of black marlin
found this week. Trolling five and six inch skirts off the edge of bait
schools from 5-15kms offshore are producing the goods.
Sydney Harbour
The Kingfish reports over the last week
or so, both inside the harbour and just off the heads, have been steadily
increasing. The majority of the fish are around 55cm to about 65cm, but
are great sport regardless, especially on light gear. The yellow marker
buoy off Quarrantine Pt, as well as the Wedding Cake markers and Sow and
Pigs reef, are all producing. Larger fish are also about, sprinkled through
the harbour. Live yellowtail are becoming a more effective bait of late,
though there has been a small famine in their stocks.
Pittwater
Pittwater has been throwing up some decent
Kingfish for a little while now, and things are just going to get better.
This week has already seen days of sizeable fish, including a couple of
over 10kg. It can however still a little slow on the odd day, especially
when the baitfish vanish from the wrecks. When the baitfish go, there
is nothing holding the predators in any given area, so though the Kingfish
are still there, it can be a mission to find them. Thankfully those days
have been rare of late, probably helped by the water temperatures. It
is already 22 degrees in Pittwater first thing in the morning, sometimes
hitting 23 by the end of the day.
Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbour has been turning on some
fat well fed Bream of late, ranging up to and over the 1kg mark. In the
relatively open waters from the Spit Bridge to Middle Head and around
toward the Harbour Bridge, wharves and piers are holding the biggest populations,
especially those with well established kelp and crustacean growths. Float
un-weighted baits, on light line, into a scarce bread berley trail for
the best results. Trevally have been a welcome bycatch at the mouth of
north harbour. The Parramatta River is also firing around most structures,
including marinas wharves and rock walls. Soft plastics have accounted
for the bulk of the good size fish, with watermelon, pumpkinseed and bloodworm
the more effective colours.
Pittwater
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.
Offshore
Offshore bottom fishing has been a little
up and down of late, especially out wide, but a little closer in there
have been quite a few decent size Snapper on the move, particularly in
the last few days. Gravel beds and rough ground off Long Reef have been
the epicentre of some hot action, where fish around 4kg have been found.
Fresh baits including pilchards and squid, as lightly weighted as possible
and floated down a well set berley trail, will get you into the mix. A
smattering of Blue Morwong, Marble Flathead and even the odd black spot
pig fish are also about for times when the Snapper go quiet.
Pittwater
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.
Offshore
With the warm currents reaching the Sydney
offshore waters, bait schools have turned up in number. Small baitfish
have been surrounded by big schools of larger bait fish including slimy
mackerel. These in turn are fed upon by the larger predators, such as
kingfish, tuna and marlin. Large schools of 'rat' kingfish can be found
off our northern shores around this bait at present, and Yellowfin Tuna
to around 20kg continue to be landed off the shelf.
Broken Bay
Over the past couple of weeks several
jewfish over the magic 25 kilo mark have been taken in Broken bay, with
Juno Pt, Gunyah Pt and Flint and Steel the producers. Along with these
monsters large numbers of school jew in the 2 to 7 kilo range are haunting
the Road and Rail Bridges, and are available to those anglers who are
prepared to collect the right fresh baits that are required to attract
this often elusive species. Prime jewfish baits that are available at
this time of the year in the bay are firstly, the local esturine squid,
the Goulds squid. The Goulds squid spends its entire life cycle in the
esturine habitat of Broken Bay and therefore is a natural food source
for the mulloway in the system. Other prime baits at this time are fresh
mullet, fresh or live tailor, slimy mackeral, live yellowtail and live
pike.
This
Report 26 November
Offshore
Offshore bottom bashing has been mixed
of late. Reasonable numbers of marble flathead are still around on the
offshore reefs. Drifting across gravel grounds with fresh pilchard or
other fish baits will produce best results. There is also the occasional
morwong being taken off reefy structure, as well as a few snapper, but
masses of chinamen leatherjacket often make it hard to get your bait down
to them.
Pittwater
Some good Flathead have been taken this
week by those drift fishing around the mouth of Pittwater. The shallow
grounds around the sea plane taxi way have been productive as has the
drift from Barrenjoey to West Head. Pilchards are the bait of choice,
but any good fresh fish baits, especially oily fish such as Anchovies
or Slimy Mackerel, will do the job nicely. Reasonably strong trace line
of around 15 - 20lb will ensure you don’t drop too many fish. If
you are fishing lighter than that, be sure not to lift the flatties head
out of the water, as their raspy jaws can make short work of thin line.
Sydney Harbour
The salmon that have spend the last few
months around the mouth of sydney harbour are still about, though seem
to have moved out the front of the heads for now. Their skittish behaviour
is continuing, with the regular fare of small metals slices doing the
trick at times, while at other times large plastic stick baits have had
more effect. At present however, whilst the Salmon now seem to be feeding
on baitfish rather than micro organisms and the two formentioned methods
are still landing fish, it seems that fly fishers are proving the most
successful of the bunch. The ability to deliver tiny and slow sinking
baitfish imitations is their key.
Sydney Harbour
Soft plastic fishos have been enjoying
a fair bit of success in the warming almost 20 degree water, with Flathead
and Bream starting to turn it on West of the Harbour Bridge. Soft plastic
shads in silver or brown patterns have been the go for flatties, over
the sand and mud respectively. The Bream are smashing small minnows, grubs
and insect replicas around structure as well as over the flats on high
tide.
Sydney Harbour
Kingfish are on in numbers at the moment,
and a little bit of time spent looking for a school can pay off with a
great days fishing. Most of the fish are Rat sized or just legal, but
still give the great fight they are renowned for. The South and North
Head runs are firing for those trolling, both with bibbed minnows and
various surface lures. Good numbers of kings are also being taken from
inside the harbour, particularly around the Spit Bridge, where the average
size of the fish are bigger. Bait fishers are having more success here,
particularly on live squid and live yellowtail. Fresh squid is also having
the odd success.
Offshore
Offshore reefs have been all the rage
lately, with some seriously big Kingfish doing the rounds of structure
quite close to shore. From Long Reef to The Peak, fish in the range of
6 to 15kg have been found. With jigging all the rage of late, it is no
suprise that most of the fish have been taken this way. 200 - 300 gram
horizontally weighted jigs have been the most devastating.
Sydney Harbour
The Middle Harbour Kingfish are still
about, up as high as Bantry Bay, but as usual they are in schools chasing
bait and sometimes hard to find. Downrigging has been a particularly effective
method of targeting them of late, as you can cover lots of ground. The
main Harbour is starting to hold Kings as well, and these fish are starting
to hold on structure allowing bait fishers to catch their share. Fresh
squid strips fished down around the channel markers in the harbour are
proving devastating.
Sydney Harbour
Inside the harbour, Salmon and Tailor are still around on the surface,
not really having moved from around Middle Head. The schools are holding
from Clifton Gardens to the mouth of north harbour, as well as occasionally
sticking their heads in around Balmoral. They are pretty boat shy, but
early mornings still see them feeding actively. Stick baits and small
metals have not been particularly effective lately, as the fish are feeding
on microscopic foodstuffs. The best bet is to get out the fly gear and
present as small a fly as possible.
Hawkesbury River
Berowra Bream have started to turn it on
in the past few days, now the murky waters have all but filtered out.
Most of the structure including wharves, pylons and mooring markers are
holding fish, most around the just legal mark. On the last of the rising
tide there are also a few fish to be found feeding high up into the intertidal
zone, principally where there are good populations of oysters. Most fresh
fish and pudding baits are working well. In the dirtier water it will
pay to use smellier baits like chicken gut, mullet gut, or Slimy Mackerel.
Fish as light as the current and or wind will allow for best results.
Upper Hawkesbury River
Finally some warm weather and a high barometer
reading to brighten things up after an indifferent last weeks fishing.
Insects have taken their cue and are emerging for the new season, providing
plenty of food for Australian Bass and Estuary Perch. The Upper Hawkesbury
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 still 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 Aberdeen style
hooks, are also accounting for their fair share of fish from the same
areas.
Sydney Harbour
Enough water has fallen so far this month
to really stir up the system, which gives a nice kick start summer food
cycle. Jewfish are enjoying the rains particularly and are out on the
munch in Sydney. Those willing to face the weather have found fish up
to 8kg in the deeper holes on both sides of the Harbour Bridge, as well
as a few schoolies up toward Gladesville. Spend time sounding out a few
likely areas as the fish can still be a little patchy. Oily fish fillets
are putting runs on the board in the discoloured water. Live baits are
also having a fair bit of success.
Sydney Harbour
There has been plenty of Salmon action
in the last week inside the harbour, with substantial schools on the move
around middle head and north head. The morning high tides see surface
action around middle head at present, with fish moving out toward Quarrantine
Pt and North head later in the day. Most of the fish seem to be supping
spawn and other microscopic materials off the surface, and can be therefore
somewhat frustrating to target with the regular fare of small metals or
plastics. The best bet is to pull out the fly gear, with small flies such
as surf candies and other similar clear epoxy flies proving by far the
most effective method of attack.
Pittwater
Changing weather conditions has lead to
some stop start fishing in Pittwater of late. Squid in particular had
been hard to find for a week or so, but they are back on the bite now
as big breeders infiltrate the bays. Small squid jigs, size two or less,
are proving exceptionally deceptive, and have accounted for some massive
squid, including some with up to and over 34cm long hoods. The kelp beds
around West Head are firing, but for land lubbers many of the wharves
in Pittwater are also worth a shot, especially those with sea-grass beds
in the vicinity.
Hawkesbury
Jewfish are plentiful in the Hawkesbury at the moment, with specimens
ranging from smaller soapies to 20kg plus monsters. Best baits are the
Hawkesbury squid and live presentations of mullet and yellowtail. Live
Hawkesbury prawns have also been fruitful on the smaller soapy Jewies
around Wisemans Ferry. Catches of several fish between 1-2kg are common
in this area. Juno point and The Brooklyn road and rail bridges are the
places to target medium to monster fish at present. The average fish is
around the 5 - 7kg mark though fish over the 20kg mark have also shown
their head recently.
This
Report 12 November
Northern
Beaches
Rock fishers have been rejoicing in the
last few days, as finally targetable numbers of Kingfish have turned up
off the rocks, especially around North Head. While there have been plenty
of good sized and well fed tailor milling around the ledges of most Sydney
headlands for the last month or so, they dont quite compare with the pound
for pound pugalistic abilities of their yellow tailed compadres. Even
the current crop of small Kings, around the 60 - 70cm mark, pack a fair
punch, so it is no suprise that the larger 1m plus variety that are also
about at present are known as hoodlums. Landing one of these ill mannered
individuals off the rocks is as big a challenge as exists in fishing.
Sydney Harbour
As the water in the harbour warms, many
of the resident fish are becoming more active, and Sydney Harbour jewfish
are no exception. Over the cooler months these ambush predators feed very
little and are incredibly lethargic, but slowly they are regaining their
urge to feed. Middle harbour has proven productive of late, with fish
from 3 to 8 kilograms on the prowl around the Spit Bridge, as well as
further upstream from Bantry Bay to Roseville Bridge. Night fishing has
been the most productive.
Northern Beaches
The last few weeks have seen the start
of what promises to be a great season for Jewfish fishing off the northern
beaches. Many beaches, including Newport, Narrabeen, and Queenscliff,
have all produced nice sized Jewfish lately, ranging from school sized
5kg fish to 25 kilogram thumpers, and the trend is set to continue. All
sorts of baits have done the trick, from mullet and mackerel fillets to
squid and live yellowtail, with the latter the prime late night bait and
the others seemingly better during twilight hours.
Beaches
Whiting are the talk off the beaches,
especially south of sydney, with some big fish seen coming on in the warming
Sydney waters. Some of the fish have topped 800gms and are over 35cm long,
and there is no shortage of them either with up to 15 fish being caught
in one session. Most of these are thankfully returned, with anglers usually
taking only what they need for a feed. Beach worms, Bloodworms or tube
worms have been the key ingredient to a good session, especially when
fished in the very close gutters. Occasionally peeled prawns will also
tempt a fish or two.
Pittwater
Some good Flathead have been taken this
week by those drift fishing around the mouth of Pittwater. The shallow
grounds around the sea plane taxi way have been productive as has the
drift from Barrenjoey to West Head. Pilchards are the bait of choice,
but any good fresh fish baits, especially oily fish such as Anchovies
or Slimy Mackerel, will do the job nicely. Reasonably strong trace line
of around 30lb will ensure you don’t drop too many fish. Flathead
have a very raspy jaw which can make short work of lighter lines.
Sydney
Harbour
Middle Harbour Kingfish are about and on fire, sometimes as high as Bantry
Bay, but they are schooling and can be hard to find. The main Harbour
is now starting to hold 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 worthwhile.
Northern Beaches
The Beaches are a bit up and down at present, with fish around, and often
in good numbers, but conditions not always conducive. A few sharks in
particular continue to poke their heads around the more open beach gutters,
taking slabs of Slimy Mackerel and occasionally Pilchards. Mostly they
are Whalers of one variety or another, with an occasional smattering of
other species.
Sydney
Harbour
Flathead are being taken from the upper reaches of the harbour at present,
mostly from bays with some shallow ground and good tidal flow where these
ambush fish can sneak a feed. Whitebait is a great bait for the Flatties,
and that is especially so at the moment, with the average fish somewhere
around the 50cm mark. A single long shanked hook with a strong trace is
the best rig. Try a bait thread to keep the bait solidly on the hook.
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 and last two hours
of the day is always the best time to go squiding, and now is no different.
Good spots at present include the structure and moorings in North Harbour,
Middle Head, around Shark Island, and into Middle Harbour around Balmoral.
Areas of kelp bottom in conjunction with this structure often provide
the best indicator of where squid may be hiding.
Sydney Harbour
Mixed
weather and mixed water temperatures equal mixed bags in the harbour at
the moment. Bream are on the chew in most areas, and in fact are so prevalent
that they can actually be somewhat of a pest, particularly if you are
fishing large baits such as whole fresh squid for larger fish like Kingfish.
The wharves close to town are a great place to start. Salmon are cruising
the deeper areas of the harbour in small broken schools, and can be found
feeding on the surface inside North Harbour, as well as on the south side
of Middle Head, where tailor are also active. Small metal slices around
15 - 20 gms will stand you in good stead when these schools are found.
Pittwater
The sharp fluctuations in water temperature throughout
Pittwater during the last week or two have led to some pretty inconsistent
fishing. 19 degrees is the magic mark, with fishing exponentially better
in waters of or above that. Kingfish are particularly influenced, and
though at times a small number of them have been busting up on the surface,
at other times they are nowhere to be seen. A few Salmon and Tailor are
also about on the surface, and they will still feed happily in the cooler
water. Small metals are the best bet when they can be found.
Sydney Harbour
After a few weeks of remission, with little sight of the
surface Salmon schools that had been so energetic early in the spring,
we have somewhat of a return. Recent days have seen a few fish feeding
both inside and at the mouth of the harbour. North Harbour has been somewhat
of a hotspot, with birds as always the great signposts. Tailor are also
feeding in this area in the same manner. Though mornings and evenings
have been the pick, the schools can be up and down during the day, and
it pays to keep a few small metal slices, around 7 – 10gms on hand.
Silver and White are the best performing colours.
This Report 23 October
Sydney Harbour
Spring often brings wildy divergent air temperatures,
testified to by recent days, but our water temperatures are much more
stable, steadily increacing with the influence of the eastern australian
current. Resident fish that have been in near hibernation over the winter
months have come to life in a big way, and schools of summer fish are
also starting to arrive. Sydney Harbour has been a huge benificiary on
both of these, with Kingfish just one of the many species now on the hunt.
From the heads to both the spit and harbour bridges, numbers of rat to
mid sized Kings are holding on channel markers and other structure. Live
and fresh Squid is the bait of choice this early in the season.
Hawkesbury
After the recent rains, the water temperature
is now rising at a fast rate throughout the Hawkesbury, and this is stimulating
fish into feeding and searching out their summer territories. Good catches
of bass and estuary perch are being reported all the way up river, most
noteably around Sackville and Windsor. Lure fishers are having a bit of
success at present using soft plastic insect and worm imitations, and
hardbody lures will also come into their own as the insect activity increases.
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
Wind, rain and freezing conditions haven't made for ideal fishing conditions,
but for those who made the effort, the fishing continues to improve. Flathead
have been around in varying numbers offshore since late winter, and now
the numbers are on the increase in the Harbour, giving everyone a chance
to pick up a feed of succulent fish. Dusky Flathead in particular are
one of Australia’s most underrated eating fish, particularly delicious
when barbequed whole. Baits, including fresh oily fish such as Stripey
Tuna and surprisingly also fresh Squid, are working well drift fished
between South and Middle Heads as well as toward Balmoral.
Botany Bay
A few Trevally, some up to the 1kg mark, are being taken currently from
around the Bay. The best place to find them at the moment are areas like
Sutherland Pt. Fresh peeled prawns are great bait for these strong fighters,
as are small fish baits such as whitebait and anchovy. Light line of around
6lb is the key.
Offshore
Dolphin fish are starting to move south toward Sydney again, quite early
this year, and the odd specimen can already be found around the wider
FADs and trap markers. The majority of sightings are coming from the warmer
waters off Broken Bay wide, where fish between 15 and 20 kilos are lurking.
The majority of these larger fish are being trolled up at this stage,
but it shouldn't be long before some smaller fish arrive to populate the
FADS closer to shore.
This Report 13 October
Sydney Harbour
Jewfish have not been an overly common catch in the Harbour during winter,
but the bite seems to be picking up. While there do not appear to be too
many large fish over the 8kg mark, good numbers of schoolies are being
taken from around Gladesville Bridge, Balls Head, and off Shark Island,
as well as well as over the other side of the harbour around Neilsen Park.
Somewhat surprisingly the majority of the 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.
Middle Harbour Kingfish are about and on fire, sometimes as high as Bantry
Bay, but they are schooling and sometimes hard to find. The main Harbour
is now starting to hold 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 worthwhile.
Northern Beaches
The Beaches are a bit up and down at present, with fish around, and often
in good numbers, but conditions not always conducive. A few sharks in
particular continue to poke their heads around the more open beach gutters,
taking slabs of Slimy Mackerel and occasionally Pilchards. Mostly they
are Whalers of one variety or another, with an occasional smattering of
other species. For those after something more easily managed, there are
also a few nice bream moving through as the waters start to warm.
Sydney Harbour
Large Calamari are moving about in the Harbour and if you are willing
to put in some time around dusk it is possible to take home a feast. Look
for areas of sea grass growing over a sandy bottom, especially near good
protective structure or close to a rocky shore. When breeding is on thier
mind, two Calamari will move into a small area and control it as their
territory so it is often a good indicator that plenty of them are around
when the same area produces over consecutive days, as is happening at
the moment in quite a few spots in the harbour.
The harbour is fishing incredibly well of late, with a good run of summer
species arriving on the warmer northern currents combining well with zero
commercial fishing pressure. This mix has lead to larger sustainable fish
populations, particularly in pelagic species such as tailor and kingfish
but also many others. Jewfish have also returned to areas in numbers that
have been unheard of for many years, particularly around middle head and
clifton gardens. Fresh squid fished on the bottom around these areas will
put you in with a good shot at one of these beautiful silver steam trains.
Soft plastic fishos have been enjoying a fair bit of success in the warming
water, with Flathead and Bream starting to turn it on just West of the
Harbour Bridge. Soft plastic shads in brown and green have been the go
for flatties, particularly over shallow areas of sand and shell grit,
while silvers tend to be more effective closer to the heads. Bream are
smashing soft plastic insect replicas, small grubs, and nipper imitations.
This
Report 06 October
Offshore
With the warm northerly current arriving this early
off sydney this year one could be forgiven for getting overly excited
about the prospects of the summer to come, while forgetting about the
great fishing that we still have off the continental shelf right now.
Though the stocks have thinned somewhat, there are still a few fighting
fit yellowfin tuna to be found making their way back down south, and many
of these late season fish are quite a bit larger than the regulation 25-30
kilo fish we have seen through winter. There are even a couple over 60
kilos to really test your tackle. Cubing with pilchards is by far the
most successful method for that kind of result.
Bottom bashers have had a hard time of it over the
last week. Fishers south of sydney heads are the worst off, dealing with
the scourge of hoardes of Chinamen Leatherjacket, everywhere from fourty
to eighty metres deep, which are putting pay to any other species. Thankfully
those north of the heads are having somewhat of a better run, with a few
flathead, both eastern blue spotted and marbled, in waters around 40 metres
deep. Drifting a paternoster rig with strips of fresh fish flesh will
provide reasonable return.
Broken Bay
Warmer waters have improved the fishing generally
around Sydney, and although Broken Bay is taking a little longer to heat
up, the fishing is still on the up. Smaller “soapy” Jewfish,
mostly in the 3-6kg range, are showing up in upper reaches, particularly
around Cowan Creek. Fresh squid strip baits or tailor fillets have been
working well, fished with the current on the waning tide. Use enough weight
to guarantee your bait is on the bottom.
This Report 03 October
Northern Beaches
This week has seen some great fishing
weather, allowing anglers to take full toll off Sydneys beaches. The warmer
water is starting to arrive and good numbers of staple summer species,
particularly Bream and to a lesser extent whiting, are now on the chew.
Fresh beach worms fished into close gutters on the lightest possible line
will stand you in good stead to take home a bag.
Sydney Harbour
Flathead are being taken from the
upper reaches of the harbour at present, mostly from bays with some shallow
ground and good tidal flow where these ambush fish can sneak a feed. Whitebait
is a great bait for these Flatties, and that is especially so at the moment,
with the average fish between 35 and 50cm. A single long shanked hook
with a strong trace is the best rig. Try a bait thread to keep the bait
solidly on the hook.
Pittwater
Tailor are spread throughout the Bays in Pittwater, with schools patchy
but ever present. The size of the fish varies a fair bit though, with
schools near the Basin harbouring fish of just 25cm, whereas Scotland
Island surroundings are producing over 50cm varieties. There are also
some nice size fish balling up a few of the baitfish schools off Longnose
Pt.
Sydney
Harbour
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, feeding on small baitfish,
and these can be taken trolling deep diving bibbed minnows or bait fishing
with pilchards. The fish around North Head are a little more picky, though
easier to find as they are feeding on the surface. Try throwing small
metal slices of around 10gms at any surface action you find, and remember
to always sneak up on these spooky fish.
Kingfish can be found once more in and around the harbour structure, and
are becoming more and more common. Fleeting appearances lately have been
around the ‘Sow and Pigs’ reef, the Wedding Cake markers,
Dobroyd Pt and the spit bridge. Live Yellowtail and live squid are the
best performing baits at present, both of which can be slow trolled past
channel markers or fished just off the bottom near structure.. When the
Kingies are found it takes lots and lots of berley to keep them in the
area.
This Weeks Report 27 September
Sydney
Warmer weather over the last
few weeks has done plenty to improve bait stocks in and around Sydney.
Pittwater has filled up with small baitfish around 2-3 inches, giving
plenty of reason for predatory fish to turn up. Some very small new season
squid are also keeping the resident Kingfish schools happy. Sydney Harbour
is following suit with schools of Hardyheads around Clifton Gardens and
down toward The Spit enticing the first Kingfish of it’s season.
Small yellowtail, the perfect live bait size, have started schooling inside
North Harbour, as well as Watsons Bay.
Offshore
The giant lick of unseasonably hot water that's arrived off Sydney has
had a huge impact on fishing out wide, at least on the days you can get
out there. Dolphin Fish have turned up, incredibly early in the season,
and though not huge in number the signs certainly point toward a bumper
summer. Marlin have also been raised and hooked, with grounds from the
12 mile to the shelf proving unusually productive for the resident stripes.
This year we will see spotted mackerel in the harbour again for sure.
Sydney
Freshwater
The last few hot days in a row have been just enough to heat up the surface
layers of dams and freshwater rivers of Sydney. Suddenly, it’s as
if a light switch had been thrown. Insect activity increased at the edge
of previously more frigid waters, and Bass and Estuary Perch began to
feed on the unlucky from the surface. They were hitting poppers with venom,
and it felt like summer had arrived. Fear not. The rains that are here
now will if anything only enhance insect numbers, promote weed growth,
and intensify fish activity, as long as we get some hot days consecutively
post.
This
weeks Report 22 September
Hawkesbury
With the warm weather bringing on some early insect hatchings, Bass fishing
has started to fire, with fish being caught in good numbers all the way
up the river. Soft plastics and spinnerbaits with plastic tails bounced
slowly over patches of weed account for the majority of the fish. Bait
fishing is also firing, with good bass and estury perch to 38 cm have
been caught at the bridge in Windsor on baits of live earthworms and on
local prawns. Further downriver large numbers of E.P.s and bass are around
the ferries, they appear to be feeding on the prawns stirred up by the
heavy cables of the ferries.
Sydney Harbour
Tailor have been firing up all over Sydney in the warmer weather this
week, and inside the harbour has been no exception. Quite large fish around
the 3-4 kg mark have been taken throughout it's breadth, from just inside
North Head and around Sow and Pigs reef, to the Spit bridge and the Harbour
bridge. These solid healthy fish are producing great fights on light line,
both for those trolling or casting lures, as well as for others bait fishing.
Gold bibbed minnows and silver metal slices have been doing the trick
for the former, while for the latter pilchards are all the rage.
This weeks Report 18 September
Offshore
Another spectacular weekends weather
saw plenty of boats getting out wide once more, with good results.
The revival of Nor East winds after 2 weeks of Southerlies has lifted
the water temps offshore to 20 degrees again, and the summer currents
are also beginning to make their presence felt. Yellowfin are still about
off the shelf, and though the numbers of fish are not as great as a few
weeks ago, the size is up. Browns Mountain among other places has seen
50 and 60 kilo fish landed recently.
Shark fishing out wide
has been hot all winter, with all sorts of reported sightings and captures,
and things look set to run well into the spring. Makos seem the most prolific,
with well set chum trails often bringing several to the boat to investigate
at one time, but others including Tiger, Whaler and Blue Sharks are also
about. All of these species will tuck readily in to half stripey tuna,
rigged with strong wire and twin shark hooks.
Sydney
Harbour
Tailor are spreading throughout the Bays in the harbour, with schools
patchy but ever present. The size of the fish varies a fair bit though,
with schools around the spit bridge sometimes harbouring fish of just
25cm, whereas the harbour bridge surroundings are producing over 50cm
varieties, often over the flats on high tide. Casting or trolling bibbed
minnows in gold have been most successful.
Salmon schools have made an occasional reappearance on the surface around
the inside of North Head during recent breaks in the weather, 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,
feeding on baitfish, and these can be taken trolling deep diving bibbed
minnows or bait fishing with pilchards. The fish around North Head are
a little more picky, though easier to find as they feed on the surface.
Try throwing small metal slices of around 10gms at any surface action
you find, and remember to always sneak up on these schooling fish.
This
weeks Report 11 September
Broken Bay
Hard rain on wet
ground is what Jewfish fisho’s dream of, especially after such a
prolonged dry. Large quantities of fresh water 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. Once this
has happened the larger predators start to move in and feed, and this
of course includes the Jewies. The next weeks bode well.
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.
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.
Northern Beaches
The big swell of recent days hasn’t deterred a few hardy souls,
and their persistence has been rewarded, with some solid Australian salmon
landed Fishing is particularly good around Manly and Curl Curl in the
south, and Palm Beach to the north, both areas that have had large salmon
schools holding around the headlands. For the best results, fish pilchards
into the deep holes and gutters created by the extra swell.
Sydney
Recent days in Sydney have not been the most fishable, unless you enjoy
kite fishing in new zealand. These current 30 – 50kt winds are making
a mess for fisho’s, and as they calm down we should experience a
few days of monster swell to boot. If you must get out to wet a line this
weekend, find a most protected southerly corner in the harbour.
This
weeks Report 09 August
Pittwater
Leatherjacket are continuing to plague the wreck reef rock and man made
structure from the upper reaches of Pittwater to the front of Broken Bay
and further, including up into Brisbane Waters. They have been at this
for at least the couple of months, shutting down much of the fishery as
they go, but they are a most palatable fish in their own right and worth
targeting for a feed while nothing else is about. Fishing the Valiant
wreck just east of Barrenjoey almost guarantees a feed.
Offshore
Shark fishing has been hotting up in the last few weeks with unusually
warm water still holding off Sydney, and now good numbers of Mako, Tiger
and Whaler Sharks patrol the deeper waters. Large specimens like those
around at the moment, including 200+ kilogram Makos and much larger Tigers,
provide some of the most spectacular sports fishing available, and long
hard fights are the norm. Good berley and chum slicks are a sure fire
way to bring around a few of these terrifying toothies, which can then
often be sight fed half a bonito or similar tuna on a two hook wire rig.
This
weeks Report 01 August
Sydney Harbour
There have been some nice
eating size Flathead found all throughout the Harbour this week. Drifting
small live baits like poddy mullet or small yellowtail slowly around areas
with a good percentage of sand on the bottom, such as inside North Harbour,
will yield good results. Fresh fish strip baits especially pilchards are
an effective second best. 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.
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.
A few rogue individuals
have filtered out of the Salmon schools that are holding off the front
of north head, and are slowly dispersing throughout the harbour. These
generally larger fish are feeding deeper and on larger baitfish than their
seagoing friends, and therefore are less skittish and willing to take
larger lures. Trolling with blue, 9cm, bibbed minnows around kirribilli
and middle head is showing success at present, and also has the advantage
of hooking these great light tackle sportsfish high in the water, from
where they will often take to the air spectacularly in an attempt to find
their freedom.
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.
Pittwater
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 temptation
for these white fleshed pan fryers. Try starting at the Valiant wreck
just east of Barrenjoey, where currently there are good numbers.
Sydney Harbour
Harbour fishing continues to 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 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.
This weeks Report 01 August
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.
A few rogue individuals
have filtered out of the Salmon schools that are holding off the front
of north head, and are slowly dispersing throughout the harbour. These
generally larger fish are feeding deeper and on larger baitfish than their
seagoing friends, and therefore are less skittish and willing to take
larger lures. Trolling with blue, 9cm, bibbed minnows around kirribilli
and middle head is showing success at present, and also has the advantage
of hooking these great light tackle sportsfish high in the water, from
where they will often take to the air spectacularly in an attempt to find
their freedom.
Pittwater
Pittwater is one of the
more protected waterways in Sydney, allowing fishing in most conditions,
and thankfully there are a few fish around. Trevally have been the pick
of the bunch, with schools responding well to berley trails around the
mouth. Peeled unweighted prawns fed back into the trail have accounted
for their share of fish this week. A couple of Tailor and the odd Salmon
are also exploring around Soldiers and Longnose Pts, but the real Salmon
action is just out the front of Broken Bay, where the big migratory schools
still feed.
Broken
Bay
Jewfish have not shut down entirely in the colder water
of Broken Bay, though the bite is far less frequent than it is in the
warmer months, and the average fish size only around 3kg. Patience can
be severely tested when strong winds blow straight from the Snowy Mountains
to your boat. For the hardy types some fresh Slimy Mackerel fillets or
Squid strips send back with the current toward the Brooklyn Rail Bridge
will give you the best chance of picking up a few ‘soapies’
out of any passing schools.
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.
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.
Northern
Beaches
Plenty of 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.
Sydney
Harbour
Tailor are the major
predators of the Harbour at present, and some of them are massive. Around
Kirribilli, as well as a few other areas closer to the mouth there are
schools of these toothy predators terrorising baitfish of a morning, or
hiding deep during the brighter hours. Gulls sitting on the surface are
often a good indicator to what lurks beneath. Metal slices can be worked
deep around these gulls during the day, and in the morning, casting into
the melee will almost always yield results. Trolling around the edge of
any feeding surface schools with size 7 or 9 bibbed minnows, in gold,
blue mackerel or read head, should also put you in with a shot at any
that may be around.
This
weeks report 18 July
Northern Beaches
The beaches are still fishing pretty well,
especially in comparison with our estuaries. Nice Black Drummer are still
firing for the ledge brigade, getting stuck into Abalone Gut and occasionally
also fresh bread. Salmon are off the front of most headlands, including
at Curly and Dee Why, where they can be spun up with small metals or just
bait fished with pilchards. Tailor have also shown their faces in the
same areas as the Salmon, and are falling in similar ways. Jewies have
also been about lately causing plenty of bust offs for those using lighter
gear. They are not feeding consistently, but if you are persistent, they're
there in decent size.
Broken Bay
Jewfish have not shut down entirely in
the colder water of Broken Bay, though the bite is far less frequent than
it is in the warmer months, and the average fish size only around 3kg.
Patience can be severely tested when strong winds blow straight from the
Snowy Mountains to your boat. For the hardy types some fresh Slimy Mackerel
fillets or Squid strips send back with the current toward the Brooklyn
Rail Bridge will give you the best chance of picking up a few ‘soapies’
out of any passing schools.
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.
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.
Sydney Harbour
It's getting colder in the harbour. Sluggish
fish letharge around the place quite uninterested in eating. The deeper
fish must be in water close to 10 degrees. Even the hardy and voracious
trevally can’t bring themselves to get animated. Thankfully the
schools of Salmon that are slowly arriving are starting to feed around
the front of North Head. For now it seems they are feeding on very small
fry, an inch or shorter, best targeted with white 7gm metal slices. While
the schools are still on the point of north head it is best to work them
into the harbour, where they will hang around much longer, though at present
the large numbers of Dolphins and the odd whale in the harbour is occasionally
putting the schools down.
Sydney Offshore
Conditions out wide have
been up and down lately, but that hasn’t put a dampener on the fishing,
with nice sized schools of Yellowfin Tuna with 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.
Offshore
The last few weeks have seen water temperatures wane considerably as cooler
southern waters bring their influence. Thankfully, though some of the
resident species in still in shock, this same water is also bringing Whales;
and where there are whales there must be Tuna. For the second year running,
Killer Whales have even been spotted feeding close to shore, indicating
good quantities of baitfish are also about. In fact there is so much bait
offshore at the moment that it is affecting the fishing.
Pittwater
The water temperature in Pittwater has dropped substantially from the
highs of summer, with 14 degrees now more the norm. This cooler water
has put a stop to any Kingfish bite, and many other summer species have
also shut down, but species more adapted to the chill are still on the
chew. John Dory particularly are filtering in to the river, taking Yakkas
set on light line around the deeper calmer moorings off Newport.
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
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.
Large Calamari are still
about in the Harbour and if you are willing to put in some time after
dark it is possible land some good size Eastern versions. Look for areas
of sea grass growing over a sandy bottom, especially near good protective
structure or close to a rocky shore. One or two of these larger Calamari
squid will move into a small area and control it as their territory so
it is often a good idea to work a wider area once you have caught a couple,
or change spots over consecutive days.
Sydney
Heads
Some very good size Australian Salmon up
to 3 and 4kg have been taken just off North and South Head recently, as
they start to school up and down along the bluff of our headlands. Most
of the fish are still arriving, so though there is good surface activity
the schools are small. 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 trolling with small to mid sized chrome slices
around 15 - 60gms. This early in the season they are still feeding on
larger baitfish, and have not yet been spooked by many boats targeting
them, so they are less finicky than they may be later in the season. There
are however quite a few dolphins harassing them.
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