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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/04/2020 in all areas

  1. Hi Raiders Braved the wind and the rain early this morning to meet the boys around Pyrmont for the first get together in months. The first spot looked promising, I put the first fish in the bag on my second drift. Royce added a couple before things went quiet. After long spell I got 2 more in quick succession before it went quiet again. With Trevor looking at a donut the decision was made to move. We found a spot that looked pretty good, I had never fished before, so it was a learning experience. The drift was pretty inconsistent, the wind was a bit of an issue and the fish were finicky. Changing berley pattern and changing depth we finally got on to a good patch of fish. We all added few more to the bag, Trevor dodged a donut with the fish of the day that went close to 40cm. We called it when things went quiet once again with over a dozen in the bag. ( I didn't make a proper count, and some of the fish jumped just as I took the photo, maybe out of shot)
    6 points
  2. Hi all, This is a fly report but there is also a bit of history. Many years ago as a birthday present I was given a beautiful NZ made 4 piece 7 weight 9 foot freshwater fly rod with a gorgeous reel (and floating line) to match. This one in fact. It was from a very good friend who was in NZ and one of my bucket list items is trout on fly rod in New Zealand. When I got back I wanted to learn about fly fishing techniques and how to properly use the rod so I booked a one day lesson with one of the Sydney based trout guides (who has passed away in the last few years). Wasn't cheap but it was a really good introduction. In the morning he went through the background and theory. A short history of fly fishing gear. Older rods to modern rods. Line weights. Knots. Leaders. Very informative. In the afternoon we went through casting basics. The roll cast. Single hauling. Double hauling. Laying the line out. Loops. All in all it was a worthwhile day and shortened the learning process dramatically. I was still pretty uncoordinated (it is very like pat head circle stomach when starting out) but I'd learned enough to practice, practice, practice. My first fish on fly (black woolly bugger) was a bass in Manly dam. I've also had nice carp in the Hunter Valley. As it was a freshwater rod I wasn't keen to use it in saltwater. Even with a good clean I'm afraid of missing a bit of salt and damaging the rod long term. I invested in a 2 piece 9 weight saltwater rod from the same NZ manufacturer - a bit of a broomstick but I like the stiffness of the rod. I found a couple of Scientific Angler reels online and got set up. Over the years I've had salmon, bonito, tailor and a few other species. I'm also looking forward to the day I hook a king on it. This outfit is a bit overgunned for some of the smaller saltwater species we have in Sydney harbour so this year I decided to invest in a 7 weight 4 piece 9 foot saltwater (stainless guides) outfit. Matched it with an excellent value ($170) reel with an insane drag and some intermediate (slow sinking) line. All up probably the most expensive outfit I own but with care it is something I could use for the rest of my life. On the odd occasion I've been chasing Luderick (Blackfish) with @Mike89. He has gone to the dark side and acquired a centrepin reel and super long rod and has also been getting very good at it due to the time he has put in to it and the assistance of other Fishraiders. I'm quite capable of catching luderick but I use a spinning outfit as it is crossover fishing for me. This winter one of my goals has been to start catching luderick on fly rod. There has been a bit of a learning curve to work out how to approach it most effectively. The flies were easy as my local tackle shop ties them and does a mixed pack (light green or dark green - see photo) but it turns out they are either floating or sinking (tied with lead line). I've also included a wet fly in the photo so you can see how well it imitates green weed. Next step was the strike indicator. I am aware of the stick on foam ones but wasn't sure how well you could move them along the line once stuck. I found some waterproof indicator line which you can tie on the line but wasn't happy with the bend it puts in the leader. Online I found some ones with an O-ring attached (green, orange, red and yellow ones in photo below). These worked pretty well but because the O-ring was so fat they had a tendency to kink the line. I then hopped online and found some 5mm I.D. 8mm O.D. O-rings through which I passed the indicator yarn and fastened it with braid. This is what I am currently trialing. I pass a double through the O-ring and loop it over the yarn. When I pull the line tight the O-ring doubles on itself and creates a friction lock - the strike indicator sits where it is when casting but the position of it can be easily moved by sliding it up or down the line. One of the earlier trips out with Mike to one of his secret spots where he has been consistently been catching and releasing good luderick showed me the limitations of the intermediate line as it would drag down the strike indicator after a while. I had a few touches but no conversions. At this stage I was more interested in the learning curve than results. I fortunately had a spare spool with floating line so that problem was easily solved. This weekend I picked up some cabbage weed after work as I was going to introduce another friend to the joys of chasing luderick. @Mike89 was also free to fish the lower north shore with us. So with a goal in mind and company on Saturday we all headed down to the water. I cut up the weed and Mike made up the burley. We couldn't see too many luderick in the water but had seen them in the area on earlier trips. My friend Floris had an early down but was so in the zone he missed reacting to it in time. Mike then put a few on the board. Once I was confident my friend understood the concept I set up the fly rod and started fishing. I had a strike and set the hook. A luderick of about 20cm came up out of the depths. My first luderick on fly. I hand lined it up. The hook had caught near the eye which I carefully removed and then released the fish without worrying about a photo. A little while later the strike indicator disappeared under the surface and once I struck I ended up with a really nice bend in the rod. The fish was darting back to the weeds (6lb fluoro tippet) but I managed to keep it out. I saw the fish and thought it was average but was impressed at the fight it put up. Now in my defence I had acquired some polarised, prescription, sunglasses for my topwater bream fishing with @Niall over the summer and these throw my depth perception out pretty badly although they are as sharp as. Mike and Floris were telling me it was a good fish and it wasn't till Mike netted it that I realised how good it actually was. You judge. For the record it was 43cm on fly and a personal best (bait and lure). Out of curiosity I looked at the lure records on Fishraider and this one would put me in equal second place behind the record 47cm luderick on lure. I'm looking forward to doing more of this style of fishing over the winter. On a side note Mike has seen multiple times how effective it is to fish the weed flies even on the centrepin and spinning outfits. You still burley up but it saves the hassle of rebaiting the hook every time the luderick nibbles away at the weed on your hook. You can combine two flies by having a weighted fly at the bottom and a floating fly a little further up the line. He has also been using very small split shot sinkers to get the weed flies down into the water column. Thanks for reading. Derek
    2 points
  3. Hit the rocks close to home at first light this morning - landed my first ever drummer. On a peeled prawn. Looking forward to dinner tonight. Missed a few more bites, might well try again tomorrow.
    2 points
  4. Sorry for yet another salmon report, its just that I thought was quite comical of my youngest daughter catching them from her boyfriends shoulders. Tilba beach.
    2 points
  5. Had a couple of good hits on Hawkesbury prawns a little up from Little Settlement but only managed to get one on the boat. Been trying to use lighter lines and leaders to increase bites and it seems to be working for me. Got the Flatty Saturday morning on 6lb braid/4lb leader, pretty dicey but had the Mrs on the net which helped! Monday went out for my first night time tinnie session after fitting the boat with new electricals. Copped an hour of rain after anchoring just past the wharf at Estuary restaurant. Bagged a catfish and my PB bream going 43cm to the tip. I've bought a few witches hats and am trying to get into crabbing a bit more, does anyone know what structure/bottom/depths I'm looking for in the lower Hawkesbury? Usually see floats around Railway bridge and around Bar Point. Cheers, -PackedAFlatty
    2 points
  6. Went for a fish yesterday started in rose bay throw spf lures duckz in cola and sunrise shimmer two flathead landed 45 and 57 with a few dropped, moved to pier 8 in Walsh bay and had a nice haul of small trevally 30-37cm all released taken on bread and pilchard cubes then we walked around casting metals and found a lot of bustups of big tailor all caught 45-55cm on metals and spf lures
    1 point
  7. Headed up with a mate from Sydney to my brothers place at Port Stephens to see if we could find some Yellowfin Tuna We tried to work out what days would be best and decided on Sunday Interesting start to the day with torrential showers first thing in the morning while we loaded boat We could have almost cancelled - and as we headed up the bay from soldiers point the rain kept coming Conditions outside the heads were a bit all over the place but we thought we’d push through and see if it improved We got about 10kms out and things did improve- rain was behind us now and we felt the slop was decreasing so we pushed on - water around 17 degrees About 20kms and lots of birds showing up Some were concentrated and diving in so we thought we would put a spread out and work the area With no luck we decided to keep going We saw a marlin free jump for a bit so the lures go in again No luck 30kms more birds concentrated and diving in one area Again, lures out and we picked up a striped tuna about 7kg We push on - water now 18.9 and we are about 50kms offshore Then we see what we didn’t think we would ever see- small schools of YF jumping and chasing bait - we couldn’t believe our eyes! The shotgun rod goes off And screaming run- after only a twenty minute battle the fish is boat side and we see colour We trade the big net for a gaff when it gets closer Approximately 45kg YF into the boat!! A first for all of us!! Big celebrations to say the least We put the lures out again 15 min later another hit on the shot gun lure! Drops the lure after a screaming run 15 mins later same rod goes off And a longer run and what seems a bigger fish After 25 mins we get the fish boat side only to have it look at our ugly heads and take off again before we could get the gaff near it My friend on the rod is now sweating on whether we will boat this one (The first fish we got the hooks were only just in) Now the fish is deeper again and another 15 mins using the current and the wind we work him back up After some nervous pep talks on being patient and making our gaff hits count we manage to boat this fish!! Approximately 60kg fish!! We are so happy!! One more of the crew- the captain- my brother hasn’t fought one yet so we make it our aim to get another Fish are still jumping but not so much bird activity We troll for another 30 mins No takers- it’s now about 2pm and we have about a two hour trip back so the captain calls it time- I say come on give it ten more minutes 5 mins later two rods are hit and lines are screaming- this time it’s the rods closest to the boat! We get the captain on one rod and I grab the other one Line is peeling and the spools are emptying - my bro manages to slow his fish up but mine doesn’t stop He has his fish close to boat sickles showing in about 10 mins!! We check the drag and it’s like it’s been set for pulling big kings off the bottom! Anyway we get the fish boat side and I have now put my rod with fish on in holder as I got to help with leader and gaffing Just as I’m leading the fish up to gaff it takes off thrashing the hook pulls! But my other mate has just sunk the gaff in!! Rescued! But he’s loses his grip as it’s thrashing and his hand slips down the gaff He’s losing the gaff and the fish as it’s thrashing- and yells out help I’m right there so take a grab at the gaff too and now we both heave the fish in More sheer delight for the crew of 3!! Then it dawns on me- the other rod, the other fish is still on!! This fish has all but spooled me- (I think I have 400m of line out)I cant move it - 50lb braid won’t budge it We decide to gain some line and work the boat back toward the fish This feels much bigger than the previous one We gain half the line- then a couple of big runs and the line breaks - this one will haunt me forever unfortunately. But time will heal We caught most fish in the profidgie lures- but two fish at the end hit a heavy 9inch bullethead pink skirt and a large purple Halco maxi hard body Water blue green 18.9 First fish 45kg Second 60kg Third 50kg We are so stoked to have all caught our first Yellowfin together - not sure we will ever see another day like it We’ve so many trips with nothing and now they have been removed with better memories! Golden memories!! Thanks for reading - get amongst it!!!
    1 point
  8. Jarvis Walker Black Queen Deluxe is the first that jumps to mind. Solid glass, cork grips, they have been making them for decades.
    1 point
  9. This is sound advice by Jon and worth tacking into advice Will
    1 point
  10. Hey mate, Have crabbed behind dangar, And out the front too.. I allways go between 2-4 metres of water, and rarely come home with no crabs.. Much prefer muddies over swimmers! I personally believe from the bottom of the low, right up the run in is best.. Check them every hour or so this time of year, Fair few undersize ones getting around. Goodluck!
    1 point
  11. Seems widespread. Hit the Brou beach this afternoon flicking lures for three hours and not a single touch. The offshore tuna scene was also quite today. My daughter had the right idea, she went diving for lobsters and couldn't believe how many nests of very large lobsters were around. She said the fish life was pretty good too, with a cracking 18-20kg king cruising right up to her in 5m of water.
    1 point
  12. Can't think of any reason they won't be there, never been there so I am 100% guessing, but looks like there's lots of structure around.
    1 point
  13. Totally agree, catching any size fish usually puts a smile on my dial Just getting out there is enough, well done Kyle
    1 point
  14. Ya coulda cracked a smile for those beaut fish 😉😁👏
    1 point
  15. Zoran, clearly you have done a tremendous amount of research, have collated the relevant anecdotal data and put the theory to the test. You have proven the theory by all accounts, the proof is in the pudding. There is no argueing or hypothesizing !!! Thanks for being unbiased and fair in your assessment. And your right, not all 4 strokes are the same. Fun fact - the graph you posted above is a comparison between the G1 Etec and the Merc. (duh) As a G2 owner, and having test driven both the G1 & G2 150HP models, i can personally tell you that the G2 is just on another level in terms of performance, the torque on a G2 could perhaps be circa 30% or more than the merc. Anyway - Happy boating mate, you have to be ecstatic with the results, most fishos would have been sold done the garden path and replaced the 200HP 2 stroke with a 200HP 4 stroke or even bigger to "compensate". Your at the front of the herd for sure !!
    1 point
  16. Well there are fewer options left these days for sure. But at the risk of creating a lot of discussion, I also have to say that not all 4strokes are the same and you have to do your homework based on your boating style and requirements. I firmly believe that my 200HP 2st to 150HP 4st worked because of the specific 4stroke motor I chose. I make that conclusion based on my research, where even way back in 2017 I explored repowering a 6m FG hull with a 150HP - regardless of 2st or 4st technology .... and by and large I was shouted down that I won't find examples as no one was doing that - especially with a 150HP 4stroke. Well as it turns out I found many many many examples of 150HP outboards successfully running 6m+ FG hulls all around the world: Australia (WA, Vic, Bris), Germany, USA etc. Going back to 2012. Some were dealer demos (taken with a grain of salt), but some were owner repowers. But all these examples had two things in common, they were either a 150hp G1 G2 or Merc 150hp 4st. Go figure. I could not find examples of other 150HP makes running 6m FG hulls. Begs the question of why were the dealers confident to put their names against the 6m FG Merc 150HP combo, and why were the private owners putting their money on the table for repowers. This took me down the path of understanding the underlying technology of those specific motors. I'll list a few examples below - they do mention business names - if the mentors have to delete or cull the list then just PM me and I'll share via PM. Carribean Reef Runner (6.2m, 1800kg hull, repowered in 2012) https://img.boatdeckcrm.com.au/media/8898ec7ef787d6fe3e4ff16f0cb459a51f1626283a1b246847c6981fd22ebea6/1408-Repower-bulletin-150-fourstroke-caribbean.pdf Revival 640 (6.4m, 1800kg dealers own boat - I spoke to him on the phone as well as the interviewer) Quicksilver Active (6.45m, 1360kg dry hull weight, with 6 pax on board) Germany In Australia you'll find Arvour fits the 150HP to their 675m !!!! And on it goes.... My conclusion was not all 4strokes are the same. Cheers Zoran
    1 point
  17. Thanks Noel... I too like to see real world stuff. I have no axe to grind, I'm not a dealer, I'm just sharing my experiences and if there is an opportunity I'm happy to take Raiders on a ride on Barrycuda. I would make one qualification to your statement "the old more torque with a 2 stroke business is dead and gone, modern 4 strokes have a much smoother torque "band"". In my experience your statement definitely applies to older carburettor and EFI 2 strokes but the data doesn't support that view for motors like the ETEC. Heres an ETEC G1 comparison to the Standard Merc150HP 4st - this is vintage 2013 data. Look at blue G1 curve. It catches up with the Merc at 2200rpm and by 2500 planing RPM delivers a torque curve some 20% higher than the Merc but pretty much flat and even, just like the Merc. In that 2200 - 5000RPM range that's all useable, consistent torque for us boaties. They have definitely ironed out that old 2stroke peaky torque behaviour. So I'd have to exclude the DI tech engines from your comment. Sadly BRP is not playing this game anymore, so we have all lost someone to keep the 4stroke guys honest and innovating. Cheers Zoran PS. I was seriously considering the 150HP G2 and the Merc 150HP 4st. Clearly both of these 150hp motors would have worked on my boat....but the nearest Evinrude dealer to my place is 20km away, and I have 3 Merc dealers within 10km with closes at 4.7km. That was a major decision to focus on the Merc even prior to the BRP announcement.
    1 point
  18. Wow, thats a lot of info! So long story short you getting nearly the same amount output & saving more fuel out of a 50HP less motor than you used to own?
    1 point
  19. Well that's a novel approach to keeping an eye on the school. Nice looking dog too. Looks like he's having just as much fun.
    1 point
  20. And she gets to keep her feet dry too! 😂
    1 point
  21. Hey mate. Great report. With the crabbing, I personally believe the tide is the most important aspect of crabbing in the Hawkesbury. We always do well around high and low tide. Also don't be afraid to go shallow, we often do well in 1-2 m of water. Good luck, D
    1 point
  22. I remember some time ago I arrived at Waratah Bay to fish for Hairtail, I arrived late as I was fishing further up the creek for Bream and having some success. Anyhow I got into the bay and all the usual spots were taken up by anchored boats, I pulled up on the opposite side of the bay to what I normally fish and pulled out a decent sized bream from my keeper tank, hooked it through the mouth and cunningly lowered it over the side of the boat. Waited a few moments and then proceeded to make out like I had just hooked the fish, made an awful racket to insure the other boats would notice my capture and played the Bream back to the boat and netted it. Within minutes 3 of the anchored boats up anchored and proceeded to come over to my side of the bay. I then motored over and anchored in my favorite position for the night's fishing. Frank
    1 point
  23. Hi, I've been fishing nippers for decades and I luv using them since they don't leave a stink on your hand like prawns and secondly the fish love them. Got a fair few 40cm plus whiting on them too. My preferred method is to use a long shank number 4 hook although if I don't have one of them I will also go to a #6. Break the big claw off at the base. They can draw blood. Flip the nipper over and look underneath and almost at the end of the tail. You will see the outlet of the poop tube. Usually indicated by some black waste under the skin. Thread it up through this hole and up to the chest cavity where you will bring it out on the underside of the nipper. You will have to gently bend the nipper around the curve of the hook. The second method I use less often is to feed it in through the mouth and down the body exposing the hook in underneath the nipper. I have heard one fisho who likes to pin two nippers by the tail to the hook. The theory is the extra movement of them kicking against each other attracts the fish.
    1 point
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