fooling the flatties

[Lurking Lizard]

lured some nice lizards yesterday from around north harbor off the flats at high tide. Nothing over 60cm but a few hard pullers all the same. Despite the fresh they seem to still be on the bite. :D

[Grantm]

Onya Lizard,

Agreed the flatties are on the chew. I'll be on the hunt on Sunday trying for a few bigguns :D

[Blacky]

Good effort lizard, where abouts is North Harbour, Manly area. Also were you landbased or fishing from a boat. I've noticed at the end of the bay at Balgowlah there are a lot of sand flats which look fishy. i can feel a little session after work coming on.

[Lurking Lizard]

Most of the fish this past week have come from the flats or broken reef areas around one to three meters in depth. I have landed a few from around fourty baskets and also from areas around lavender bay. Im fishing from the shore so my territory is a bit limmited although if you look for the broken bottom small rocks and weedbeds around manly there are plenty to keep you occupied.

Heavy jig heads and long shads doing the trick, anything over 75mm is good although the gulps are doing some dammage.

The big fellas are eating shads over the 100mm length so go big for the mumas.

[armagh6]

re-doing my post after it was wiped yesterday in the forum upgrade. (Lots of other posts appear to have similiarly vanished).
Dave 'Peril', in the attached map where the red arrow is, is this where you are referring to as good spot for the flatties?
Would it be a good strategy to moor up near the arrow on high tide and cast in front toward the park reserve area and retrieve back?
cheers
sean

[Peril]

That's the spot Sean. I slow trolled it on an outgoing tide and got enough for a feed. On the other hand, last time I tried I got nothing. Water is usually gin clear so a light leader is the order of the day. Your suggestion doesn't seem a bad one - I just haven't tried it (didn't have an anchor then)

[armagh6]

thanks Dave for the speedy response. Good to see you're busy at work too :)
I got a small grapnel anchor for the inflatable from Whitworths for $16 and a piece of chain. Best thing I've ever bought! They also have those yellow gear bags at half price ($9.95), which is great to store it in.
I hope to try that spot at the weekend with the SPs. I've 6lb braid and probably use 10lb Daiwa mono leader. 1/16oz jig head size 2/0. You think that'll do the trick?
Also, just a general question on SPs, are they useless in the dark?

[Peril]

Its good to be on leave Sean - too hot for fishing today though.

Personally, I would use 6lb leader in the clear water, or even 4lb. I've lost a couple of flatties sawing through 6lb, but then the lighter leader enabled me to hook them in the first place. I haven't used sps in the dark but hear they work. Something with good vibration would be the go - paddle tail or a good curl tail. Lumo might also be worth a try.

Good luck

[armagh6]

Dave (or others), have just been thinking about your advice on the 4-6lb leader and was wondering how you tie it. i.e. do you use a small swivel or just join the 2 lines with a blood knot or similiar? I read somewhere that a blood knot can reduce line strength by 40% (not sure if tying to swivel affects breaking strain, but I guess it would too), so at 4lb, is this not asking for trouble?
Sean

[JOC00L]

Sean, most of the times whilst using SP's I use a leader with no swivel. I use a double Uni knot to hold it all together.

[JOC00L]

Sean, all of the times whilst using SP's I use a leader with no swivel. I use a double Uni knot to hold it all together.

[armagh6]

Guys I'm now wondering what your thoughts are on fluorocarbon (as a leader). I ended up buying some 10lb Japanese brand in the city for $20. (50m worth). I have this condition whereby I cannot walk into a tackle shop and come out without buying something. Anyway, the stuff feels like wire compared to 10lb Daiwa mono Sealine. Is this stuff a marketing gimmick? I actually checked it under water alongside the Daiwa and I must say, yes, it's pretty much invisible, whereas the mono was plain to see. But is it worth the extra money? Not only that, it seems to contravene the whole argument of using light line (or is there a difference in 'light' and 'rigidity'), particularly on bream. I'm sure even the 4 or 6lb fluoro feels like wire in comparison to decent mono.
Any thoughts/comments?

[JOC00L]

I have this condition whereby I cannot walk into a tackle shop and come out without buying something. ?

Is that a bad thing???

Fluro is defenitely worth the money! As well as being relatively invisible below the water, it also offers a degree of abrasion resistance amongst the rougher stuff! Most fluro's have a hard coating that will give them that rigidity you talk about, yet others are rather limp. You will get used to the various brands with time and make up your own mind on weather or not you like the rigidity of it.

I must say though, if you haven't tried braid, as it seems you are comparing the fluro to some Daiwa mono which is a relatively cheap and low tech line, then your missing out on a lot of bites. The zero stretch of braid allows you to feel a hell of a lot more bites, and know more distinctly what your SP or HB is doing down there. And that is very important when the bites are very timid!

[armagh6]

cheers Joe. I have indeed tried braid. I'm using 6lb Hercules braid with approx 60cm leader. (Have been using Daiwa mono as leader but now going to try fluoro). Are you saying you don't need a leader with braid?

[JOC00L]

Are you saying you don't need a leader with braid?

A leader is highly recommended.