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Have waited to get out amongst the recent inshore action in my boat but what with the weather the next best offer came up late last night to join my mate on his more capable vessel. Anyway we saw no bait or action for the whole troll out to the shelf and back except for the mayhem of a black and a striped marlin fighting over our long corner pakula sprocket in lumo colour. The bigger black won out with a spectacular swerve and shouldering on strike - but the striped still shadowed him for enough time to think we must have hooked him on another lure. The striped was jumping and carrying on then gave up and away he went. An hour later we had the black boatside and it didn't look good but he finally kicked and looked okay as he swam away. We got him on the outside of the warm water just over the shelf and didn't see a thing on the way back. Not a bad late call day off work Tuesday and am in a bit of a purple patch after last weeks kingy. Fork to mouth length looked about seven foot and I don't know - maybe eighty or so kilo as he was in real good nick and pretty big around the girth.

Ah... depth was about 60 foot varying up to 40 odd foot around the good structure. We just sounded out baitfish in and around the likely places and got lucky at one with the best bait - live squid. The king didn't really show on the sounder, so he was probably just a loner. Certainly was no school of them, as we didn't get another even with live squid again in the following passes of the same area.

Thanks all for your generous comments. Have been checking out the gamefishing reports. Would love to get a crack at the great inshore action outta my fifteen footer. Keep an eye on the weather eh....

Is about time to put up a report and contribute instead of mooching. Hit it pretty early out of the Hacking for a few squid inside Jibbon and turned one into this king a little outside the heads of Botany. The usual downrigged two hook setup and hung around some sounded bait. Home and hosed by nine with plenty to feed the family, friends and neighbors. Was a healthy 7 kilo fish measuring about 85cm.

That is a great post. Just what this site is really about. Good man Hodgey. Enjoy your holidays Yaulpang.

Hey Byron, Good onya mate for all the help and spirit you have given over the years. For me Fishraider is all about the real deal guys like you giving back to those who don't know it all. Just out of interest - what fish species on your avatar does 4000 posts relate to? Must be the great white whale* I reckon. Well done and thanks to the No.1 contributor. *(all respect intended for those a bit sensitive)

Thanks man.

Yeah thanks all for the encouragement,that king was very healthy. That and the other fed four families last night with more for today. Was smooth out there right into the late arvo and my god the heat hits hard when you get back on land.

Hello All, managed to tee up with a couple mates for a troll wide out of Botany today. Things started out well enough when running up the coast in close looking for bait. Struck a few Bonito (some good bait size) and a beautiful looking Saurie spun up before heading out to the shelf via the Peak and the 12 Miler and their associated FADS. Conditions were smooth and blue with temps. around 23.5 to 24.8. Nothing to report on the trolling but did hear from a fella of his spread being fought over by two striped marlin out towards Browns. Double hookup and all. Our day was saved by a quick jig at the 12 Miler with my mate smashing a real fat 110cm model weighing in at about 14kg. He made a fool of me with a good 5kg backup and that was that. All up a great day with a few mates.

Thanks hamerz and ALPHABET, I still do love an all day affair but the quick fish with good results will always tie me over with limited time.

Hello All, managed to get out for a run in the boat this morning after finally completing some major reno's. Couldn't be sure how the conditions would be but the wind seemed pretty light around five. The sea was up a bit and there was some swell but nothing too bad and with my first hit just outside Jibbon headland the fishy look was confirmed. I fished 15lb on my TLD5 as most of your recent reports mentioned smaller fish, so after a few runs in came an amberjack around 50cm. Not a bad start after only a few minutes and a first for me of this species. A few small bonito on the way to where I usually target kings got my feel back in for the boat and the fish. Down at the headland north of Marley was a three squid, three passes and three kings affair. All downrigged on double hook rigs. The old TLD5 got a good going over and what with one king going 70cm the fights and boat driving really smartened me up. Anyway, back on the trailer and home by 8:30am was a quick and productive session with dinner accounted for.

I guess others would be going to Browns in tinnies to do as you finnin - fishing. Love that reply kingfishaholic - thought it was in some kind of text/sms code. Good days fishing too eh, well done.

Well done mate. That is a great report all round. Being your first after all the time put in and to be able to share it with your dad and on your own boat. That is a special moment. Congratulations.

Alby, thanks mate - whole hand sized squid with the skin stripped and mantle tipped. No need for police tape at private jetties mc fishn, shutting the front gate and a bit of respect for the opportunity goes a long way with my mates old man at his place. Still gotta be a bit cagey on details as anyone has access from the water eh. Don't know what tape could do at your spot to keep it from being overfished for you and your mates in the future. Never knew it to be considered a productive area - will have to give it a go. Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks Mike, already checking the charts and work schedule. Yeah have downgraded the quantity of gear lately to upgrade the quality. Prefer to fish smaller/lighter outfits with reliability and power for good sportfishing. Am finding the overall value of a limited number of outfits makes not only money sense but the wider range of fishing capability makes for less maintenance and easy decisions on what gear to use for many outings. As most regulars have mentioned here, wait and save a little more for your gear and in the long run it will reward you in many ways. Metre plus Kings, YFT and Marlin have been my rewards on good gear that I look after and enjoy fishing with regularly. Someday a good Jew might come along...