LuckyFil

I’m definitely no expert in this case but I agree with other posts that the fish look like trout cod from the pics I’ve seen of them. Either way interesting captures and agree with Big Neil good to hear that there were few carp.

Headed down to the Northern Beaches rocks yesterday arvo as the swell had finally dropped enough for a fish. Tried last Tuesday but while the swell wasn't that high it still had a lot of power and was sweeping over the rock I like to fish off so I had to can it that day. There was still a bit of colour in the water but it was definitely clearing up. I started burleying with bread and prawn heads left over from Christmas (kept in the freezer since then). First cast I was onto a big bream of round 37cm. He took a bread bait. Then lots of nothing. A few kelpies and wirrah for an hour or so. When I wasn't concentrating enough I thought I'd got snagged but it turned into a 'moving rock' - a lot of weight and couple of tail beats and he'd wrapped me round a rock and as soon as I put pressure on the leader cut on a barnacle. Almost certainly a drummer. Bugger. As the tide started rising and it got a bit darker around 6:00pm the activity improved with some better bites. I tried a peeled prawn and bang was straight onto a good fish, he had a lot of weight and went straight for the underside of the rock ledge so I'm thinking a good drummer or maybe a groper. I lent heavily on the rod to get him out and up into the wash and up pops a big drummer. Mercifully a small wave provided enough wash for me to get him onto the rock beside me. The fish went 49cm and was very fat , I'd guess around 3kg. A short time later I tried a large bread bait as I'd run out of prawns . A gentle bite then weight had another good pig diving for cover. I didn't give him enough straight away and he had me under a rock and the line chaffed through. Bugger bugger. Anyway two nice fish to go home with after a long time since my last trip to the stones. Fil

Sounds like there's a real mix of pelagic species around . Well done on the kingie too. A good sized fish, especially having to deadlift it up the rocks on relatively light leader. Fil

Hi cogo44 sounds like a good day out despite the conditions. What species made up the catch? I've seen one of those fish in your pic a long time ago when fishing with my Dad, he called it a Ling. Cheers Fil

Thanks to everyone for your feedback on my request. Getting excited now especially after seeing Houdini's pics!😁 Cheers Fil

Sure - understood, but thanks for the reminder

Love those grins!😀

I'm heading out to LHI in March and was wondering if fellow Raiders had any tips on on either land based fishing options or which charters are worth a go? Any help welcome. Cheers Fil

Excellent - you should be writing scripts for comedy! As previous responses have said its funny 'cause we've all done similar stuff, but not always got the lure back!! Might get myself a sugarpen - and find a place with no trees behind me to try it out.

Ditto to Waza's comments. A very detailed and interesting report. A bit like the stories you hear of Barra feeding where run-off drains meet the main rivers following the wet season up north!

They're nice Reddies out of an estuary.

A great read on what sounds like the perfect day!

Thanks Paddy and everyone else for your ideas on how to minimise weed and hopefully increase catches! Cheers Fil

Thanks for those tips - the wire up the line sounds like an interesting trick! Fil

Thanks - yes that makes sense I'll give it a go