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Ash I got my North and South the wrong way around, we were fishing the middle in a 6.05 Grey Bar Crusher, the kids really enjoy the whales and the dolphins don't they. Have fun. Thanks Sean.

Hey Ash, we fished Maroubra on Saturday as well. Got a couple of 40cm+ Flathead as well then went whale watching for a while a couple of miles off Botany heads. Kids had a blast. Were you the boat in close to the Northern heads of Maroubra?

After spending 6 of the past 8 weeks travelling for work I finally managed a day on the water on Monday with a couple of mates. Got to the ramp at Bellambi and launched right at Sunrise. Having never fished from here previously I was happy for the advice of one of my mates (no forum members). Headed out to Bandits Reef to try our luck. First couple of drops saw bites and interest then we lost 4 rigs quickly to what we assume were leather jacket. Gave up there and headed up to towards Stanwell to drift for Flathead in about 25 metres. First couple of drifts saw some undersize flathead then our luck changed. Over the next hour between us we brought up 5 good flathead between 40 and 50 cm. About late morning decided to head south for a bit and drift off the Scarborough Hotel in about 15 to 20 metres. This resulted in 2 good pan sized snapper and another big one that went 1.6 kg clean. Left there just before lunch and tried Bandits again. With no action headed back to the boat ramp and had the boat out by 1:30. All fish were caught on bait using Slimy fillets, pillies and Squid. The slimy's and pillies were the most effective. The added bonus was watching the whales go by throughout the day. The flathead gave 1.2 kg of fillets and roasted the 2 smaller snapper for dinner. All in all a really enjoyable day out with great weather and a great result.

Not sure about the "Best" way but so far I have just filleted them, coated them in olive oil and put them straight on the BBQ. Skin side down, turn them remove skin and serve with fresh garden salad, curly fries and tartare sauce. They are one of the best tasting fish I have eaten and all of the kids 9 (fussy eater), 12, 19 and 21 come back for seconds. Given we have had a few recently I will be looking for other ways to cook them but for now plain and simple is a favourite.

I finally got a day out with my 2 eldest (21 and 19), with the forecast not too good decided not to go too wide and went to the Sydney East FAD. Day started really well with collecting yakkas in the bay. In no time at all we had 15 good size yakkas in the bait tank and out we headed. My kids have only fished inside before this. Got out to the FAD about 6:30 and basically had it to ourselves for the next 4 hours. Lots and lots of small dollies, we must have caught 30 between 50 and 60 cm. The kids had a ball trying to keep the Mutton Birds away from their bait and multiple hookups every drift. The other thing they enjoyed was watching the dollies stalk the live bait out the back. We managed one decent dolly at 74cm for dinner. After checking the DPI website it turns out that we through a heap of legal ones back as I was measuring to the fork in the tail not the end of the tail. Never mind because the bigger one fed 5 for dinner and I don't like taking too many home. Apart from the Yakkas we were using Small frozen local squid and pillies. Headed back in as the wind picked up about 1100, gave up trying to fish in the bay as it was really blowing inside as well and had the boat back on the trailer at a bit after 1200. The kids had a ball and are already at me to take them back out.

Nice, which one and what are they like?

Thanks Stephen. Looking forward to some more water time next week

Barcrusher 615HT, got it just before Xmas, no more Xmas pressies for me for a while. Photos in members boats.

Thanks for the tips guys. Will definitely give it a try. Got home late Saturday so didn't give a lot of thought into prep and cooking. DaveBM Ceviche sounded familiar I know it as Namus from when I've stayed with relos in far North Queensland. Will definitely have a go with this and the sashimi. Thanks again.

This is my first time posting a fishing report. Managed to get out both days of the weekend doing some very different fishing. Saturday got out in the bay with my wife and 3 daughters. Put the boat in at Revesby beach and headed up the Georges into Botany Bay. Was on our way to the heads to troll for some Bonito (the girls have never trolled before) when schools of tailor started busting up on the surface off Towra. Put 2 hardbodies and a skirt out the back and hooked up immediately with 2 tailor between 33 and 35 cm on the hardbodies. Continues trolling through the bay and out of the heads to find that the younger 2 didn't like being outside so headed back in. Anchored up off the 3rd runway and my eldest landed the trevally at around 38cm. Once it went quiet there moved to the mouth of the Woronora off the Port Marker and got the flattie at 44cm. Caught heaps of undersize bream and snapper along with a few tailor and flathead to keep the kids interested through the day. The kids 9, 11 and 21 had a great day out. Sunday managed a trip outside on a mates boat. First stop the Sydney Wide FAD. Went straight out first thing and found another boat with spearfishers working the FAD. Saw a couple of small dollies jumping but didn't get a bite. Headed from there for my first trip to Browns Mtn for some bottom fishing. Current and wind combined for a very fast drift so after 5 drifts for one Blue Eye called it quits and headed back to the FAD with the wind picking up. No real luck there with a couple of rat kings only. Tried a couple of drifts at the Peak for one Sergeant Baker, tried drifting off Maroubra for a couple of undersize flatties before heading home. Although we didn't do so well it was still a great day out on the water. Attached is a photo of Saturday's haul. Cooked all of the fish dusted in flour and spices and put them on the BBQ. No body is in a hurry for more trevally. Looking forward for the next opportunity to get out.

Mark, I have sent you a PM. Sean.

My new toy that arrived just before Christmas. Had a couple of trips in Botany Bay and looking forward to heading outside on Monday. Barcrusher 615HT.

Raymondo thanks for the tip. Thing I love about this forum is the information. I probably would have been that Inconsiderate so and so next week when I head out there. I am heading out from Botany Bay on Monday for my first time fishing near the FAD and was going to troll for fish. After reading your comment and a bit more research and I will change tack and will take some bait and plastics for the day. Thanks again.