tld517

Similar to Sergeant Baker, bony!

Gurnard doesn't have many fine bones as SB. Actually it tastes similar to a flathead but a bit firmer.

Thanks for all the comments. I must stress that the list is a subjective personal ranking by simple comparision of apple to apple with fresh fish just cooked simply with salt as the only condiment. The ranking is generally reflected by the value of the fish at fish shops. Needless to say, one could have prepared the lower ranking fish with fancy methods like smoking, adding chicken powder or beef cubes, deep fried with spices etc. Most important is never to overcook fish.

Fishing in Hawkesbury is very slow from July to Oct. Try again in Nov. Big Bream usually in April and May.

This is my rating for common fish caught around Sydney waters. Any comments; 1. Red Morwong 2. Long Fin Perch 3. Whiting 4. Pig Fish 5. Black Drummer 6. Snapper 7. Flathead 8. Tarwine 9. King Fish 10 Groper 11 Jew Fish 12 Trag 13 Bream 14 Chinaman Leatherjacket, fantail leatherjacket 15 Rock Cord 16 Maori Wrasse 17 Blue Morwong 18 Trevally, yellow tail ( both very good for sashimi) 19 Bonito 20 Mullet 21 Sweep 22 Tailor 23 Ludwick Unpalatable 24 Mac Tuna, Stripe tuna, ( Bland, meaty) 25 Six spine leatherjacket , (bland, tough) 26 Sargeant Baker(Bony) 27 Aus Salmon, ( strange sour taste, meaty) 28 Wirrah, (tough, slimmy) Kelp fish ( Bland) 29 Hawksbury cat fish ( bland, poisonous spine)

Fishing is usually very slow at Hawkesbury during winter months especially the upper reaches. Try Lion Island or West Head.

Fished similar areas on Sunday. The jackets are of better size averaging 3 to a Kg. You chased baits to the surface and you can pull them up non stop using a small sinker and 1/0 to 2/0 hooks preferably with squid or fish baits without losing gear and filled your bag limit in about an hour.

Areas from Manly to Long Reef seem OK if you fish less than 50 fathoms.

I regard where the sea is deeper than 50 fathoms wide.

I have used different colours and types of fishing lines without any successs. It appeared that they bite off everything in their way especially by tiny ones when they swarm up near the surface or under the boat. The condition was worst in years during the last weekend. However, sometime the culprit are green toads.