Keflapod

Jeez rick I think you should be considered for the next series of deadliest catch. Screw the King crabs when you can get reds like that. Lol you said you were questioning your sanity. There is NO question about it Rick. You ARE mad! Lol just kidding. I'm sure you have salt in your veins (as well as fuel, bait, soft plastics and probably kryptonite). Cracking fish mate and just one of many you have caught. Keep up the insanity if it means results line that😆

Yep. It's like "they're NOT cute! They don't do tricks like that. But they CAN make your fish disappear. So where is the pet great white tank?"😆

Many years ago I did a short stint as a deckie on a pro boat. Drop lining for pinkies trevs reds etc. seal pops up when the line was being pulled up. He takes a fish off the line and takes a bite then throws it away. He gets another fish and does the same. Then another and another. This is not feeding behaviour but more like a territorial display. I'm not a fan of them having lost a couple of good refs to them. Lol I even rubbish them during seal shows😆

Whiting has a very delicate flavour. The way I cook it is fillet it and dry the fillets with a paper towel. In a pan I put some flour, salt and some herbs (master foods lemon/garlic) or similar. Place the fillets in that to lightly coat them. Get a good Teflon frypan and spray some aerosol olive oil onto the pan. When it's hot place the fillets onto the pan skin side down for a couple of minutes until the flesh side up shows signs of cooking through. Serve with lemon juice or (tartare sauce for the kids). I also debone the fillets coz my wife and daughter prefer that. Nice elbow slapper BTW. I love the big sudden runs they do when they see the boat. They are my favourite fish. COOOOME OOON YOOOUU BOOOYS IIIN BLUUUE. Derby mania Saturday. I'll be there!

Hey raiders. Those of us who own a boat will need an outboard mechanic at some point. Some of us have boats that are not so easy to tow to workshops. I had a mobile mechanic with whom I was not so happy and looking for a replacement. I'm in the oatley area and my boat is in an all weather garage/workshop at home with easy access. If you can recommend anyone please PM me.

My understanding is that parachute anchors don't help much if you have no wind and strong current. When the whole column of water is moving (ie the current) the water and the boat are moving together at the same speed. So when you deploy the parachute it will generally sink and not help. If there is wind blowing the boat at a different speed to the water, the parachute slows the boat down against the effect of the wind. See what I mean? But ts never that simple right? Currents are sometimes different strengths and directions at different depths so deploy the parachute and hope for the best.

Mate my son chants in the cove at every game right next to the capo. I can hear him in the shower "ole ole ole...." As well as all those other taunting chants we can't repeat. The arrows are inshore species whereas the Gould's are offshore. Those elderly people must not have had any experience with ocean rocks. Surprising given they have made it this far in life but also surprising if there was no obvious signs around for them to read.

Hi sydneyIsSkyBlue(sydneyFC is it?), the tender calamari you are eating at restaurants is likely the Gould's squid. They are very tender but not as tasty as the Southerns. You did really well both in catching a good feed as well as dodging a fine. Funny that. There's nothing fine about a fine. They should have called them turds or something.

Kings off the beach? Mate buy a lottery ticket! With luck like that you'll win it! Whats next? Blue eye off the rocks? By the way interesting name. "Hat head". Thats where you put a hat , right? On your head. Well I think it's funny. Lol. Well done on the catch.

Where are you getting so many squid? Sydney? Ocean? After dark? Or maybe you own a trawler lol.

Poor dog he didn't even get a bite and you got 2 nice fish. Let him pull one in next time. Lol. Whooooose a goooood boooooy. Yeah. Best company on a boat because they don't complain when there are no bites. That's why I fish alone these days. BTW Nice fish.

you fished for squid and got them. Now you're fishing for some cheeky responses? Lol. I really have to bite my tongue. I may go overboard and say something that crosses lines. Imagine if you did things PROPERLY and took your time? 😆. Well done Crusher. Great result.

I think it's a juvenile diamond trevally. Occurs mainly in QLD. Still it's a very pretty fish.

Hi Mmg, Lol - yes won't cause extinction - I have to admit when I do get a big one, ain't no way I'm gonna let it go either. The toxins I meant are the heavy metals - you know, the good ones, cadmium, lithium, mercury, etc. I do eat fish regularly so if anyone is gonna accumulate it, probably me. 53 for me n not dead yet either, but if the toxins were Tartare sauce then I WOULD target the big ones. The 90% of stuff sold in supermarkets - I agree they have all sorts of excellent additives - especially growth hormones. Only problem they didn't really work on me - I'm too short lol,,,

I believe the older fish are the better breeders so I dont visit spots in the bay that hold bigger fish, Also I believe the older fish would most likely contain the most toxins. For my pallet the bigger fish dont taste as good as the smaller ones but each to their own. I have Also tried plastics and did have some success but I have the bait scene sorted and I do prefer the process of bait'n'wait. It's funny because I have had lure fishos pull good fish from right under me but I have also returned the favour so here is no definitive technique. Do whatever you feel is effective and enjoy the variety of the techniques. Cracker bream BTW.

Hey Jon, I find your reports especially appealing because I have not been to Bermagui/Montague Island for many years. The nostalgia I feel with every photo you post is like a rush of adrenaline. The last time I was down there, the yellowfin boats on the social radar were the Ultimate (I knew the deckie Rick Bedford) and the charterboat I fished from was the Freight train. Soo many great memories of yellowfin and even some reds off the 12 mile. We stopped visiting Bermy after all the ocean trawler boats converted to longliners and the yellowfin thinned out so much that we did 3 trips to bermy for no fish at all so we retired from Tuna. Keep up the great work Jon - your posts are priceless. Tony

Hey Maclon, I have been in similar situations before and nearly lost my life once when I got flung out of my tinny. I now drive a 6m plate alloy boat to fish Botany Bay. Instances like that make us freak out the older we get, hence my over-engineering of the boat. I have to admit that I still push the envelope when I stay out in the bay while 20kn+ winds are blowing. That shark looks like a dogfish to me. Perhaps the tailor could have gone out live instead of a fillet but hey - it's your choice. Forrest Gump could have been a fisherman. He could have said "Fishing's like a box of chocolates - you never know whatcha gonna get." You can tell from that statement that I fish alone...lol... Have a good new year.

My old blackfish fishing mate used to call the big ones Gumboots. Lol thats a size 20 gumboot. Probably cross-bred with a cuttlefish... ,,and the squid rings would be tyres....re-tread those desert duellers !

Guys - Yowie is right. I can't see why someone would call someone else a clown. Years ago I had bought a 300m spool of plastic coated wire and spooled up an alvey deckwinch. I made droppers with crimps and swivels. Caught heaps of jackets and never lost a hook. I fish inshore these days and I sold my big boat and the deckwinch years ago. The buyer was very suprised and greatful for the winch and intel on it's use... No clowns in sight...

Well I was a bit surprised that I got a response like this. I expected people to think Kefla-what ? Is this a report or a ramble ? Very pleased to receive some praise. I'll try to post more regularly and focus on entertainment with a little bit of intel as well. But one thing I would like people to understand about me is that my information is subtle. You must read between the lines. It's not hard statistics. I'll give clues like the following: "Fish are on the bite at this time of year as they fatten up for the winter." "I might follow that up with some direction like: If you're in a spot where there is some current, burley up and fish at least one rod in the trail with an appropriate sized sinker. The trevally and bream will love you." I make a few little inventions as well so I'll put some detail in the direction by saying: "I made a burley tube (90mm pipe with 5mm drilled holes) and screwtop lid. I put in it some crushed pillies and chook pellets. I lower it on a cord to the right depth - then deploy your rod(s) in the trail." I did not state spots, depths of burley, depth of bait, sinker size, etc. You can try that for yourself. It's a lot more fun and gives you that huge sense of achievement when your own input pays off. I hope some people can re-ignite their enthusiasm for fishing if they have not been doing so well by taking some of my ideas on board. For those of you who are doing OK - it never hurts to see what the next fisho is doing - there is ALWAYS something you can learn. You'll be amazed at what ideas spawn other ideas and the new places it takes you is what makes fishing so much fun. A big thanks to everyone who responded with words of encouragement. Finally Donna and Stewy, Thanks for welcoming me back. Tony

I haven’t posted here for a very long time. For those of you who remember my posts, take a few moments to read the story. I hope you find it interesting. I decided that people had begun to think of me as some sort of smarty pants – catching fish and showing off. I felt like I was becoming that which I hated the most so I took a step back and let others enjoy the limelight. But I started to lose touch with fishraider and the amazing culture we have created here. On good Friday, I went fishing as I often do on weekends. I got to the ramp early, waited patiently for another fisherman to get his boat off the trailer that seemed to be stuck. I launched my boat before the sun was up. The bats were returning from their overnight feasting and excited voices crackled over radio in anticipation of a big day ahead. I thought something was different about today – just had that feeling. I fished the mouth of the georges river at a spot where my friend has been braining the bream, trevally and a few legal kingies. Burley plus pillies in the trail is all he uses. Cheap, effective and he is home by midday. He is a machine. I tried switching on that machine in his spot but I only managed 2 nice bream. Then a nice 60cm flattie hit the deck – my daughter’s favourite fish. I was stoked – I finally had caught something she really liked. She is getting bored of bream and whiting I guess. I haven’t caught a flathead for over a year because they seem not to like nippers. Was this what was different about today ? Maybe. The forecast was for cloudy skies. I got drizzle most of the day but I felt good. I felt connected to my environment and my purpose for being there. I moved to another spot and there the fish were plentiful and I soon reached my limit on bream. I must have returned over a dozen legal bream as I tried to find the elusive whiting. For me to release fish is a difficult thing because I fish for the table. Returning all those fish was strangely satisfying. Was this what was different about today ? Maybe. After a while the rod goes off and a sting ray comes up – but wait – the colour is right but there is no tail. Is it a flounder ? No the shape isn’t quite right. What is it? Is it a juvenile numb ray? No the shape isn’t right either. It was some kind of flounder but one I have not seen before. I was sure I have seen them at the fish market but did not know what it was. So keep it, research it then eat it, right ? Into the killbox it goes.... Was this what was different about today ? Maybe. I went home right on the bottom of the tide and felt content that I had a great day. That weird flounder was in the back of my mind...just swimming around there. When I unloaded the fish from the tank at home, the flounder was last to come out of the frigid ice slurry. I went to grab it and nearly fell out of the boat. The damn thing was STILL ALIVE !! How the hell can it do that? It swam around and looked like an eel the way it swam. I used long nose pliers to grab it but when I tried, it kind of went concave and stuck itself to the smooth aluminium bottom of my killbox like a suction cup. I was starting to freak out a bit because I had not seen this behaviour from a fish before. I felt like I had caught an alien ! Now it wanted revenge !!! I eventually built up the balls to grab it with long nose pliers. I grabbed it and it didn’t flip around like other fish do. It just tightened up and stood still. Man this thing was making me feel like a scared kid. I put it straight into the freezer! If it survives that I was gonna call ghostbusters or x-files or something.. I went to my PC and looked around – I think it is a black sole. According to a good fish eating guide, they are amongst the top 24 eating fish in Australia. So what do you guys reckon ? Did I get it wrong? Maybe I should send it to area 51 instead for alien autopsy... So now I see why today was so different. All of the above, as well as posting something back at FR. Just as a foot note I got a PM from a friend on the FR site that remembered me after all these years. He asked me for some intel on fishing the bay. That was really flattering. Good old BreamSnapperJew – Hope your dad gets well soon. Tony

Done. It's a good opportunity to tell the researchers what you get from fishing that other studies so far have not captured. I believe it will represent the intangible benefits gained from fishing, that the policy makers and number crunchers should take into account when they create fisheries policy. Usually surveys want to know where you fish, what you catch, numbers of fish and hard data like that. We are often suspicious of data-gathering like that because fisheries could use it to restrict fishing in these areas... This survey is not like that. It also gave me the chance to air some little grievances (ie the rule about having only 4 pre-rigged rods in your possession). Another good thing to note is that Dr Julian Pepperill is on the panel as a consultant - a highly respected individual involved in fisheries for as long as I can remember. I think this one is time well spent...

You guys crack me up. Shit sandwiches, thong sandwiches, I guess you can put anything in a sandwich (except soup I suppose). My rule of thumb (and I don't know what thumbs have to do with rules) is to fillet, skin and debone the fillet. Then egg'n'breadcrumb the fillet before frying. THEN you can see if it tastes as good as the fine dining described above. I have to admit that my nose doesn't seem to work anymore and my taste-buds could well have died a slow death, but only YOU can decide if you like them or not. If I understood it right, those sergeant bakers have two sets of lateral lines, so when deboning the skinned fillet, run your fingers along the flesh side of the fillet. This will tell you where the lines of bones are. Cut them out then fry the boneless fillet... I bet you'll like the baker and there are stacks of them over the hard reefs.... Tony

Hi Yowie, I'm surprised the hacking has not produced that much for you lately. Botany Bay at this time of year usually has good bream and whiting. I have not fished much lately due to home renos but hope to get out there soon. The dilemma about the jew only exists because of the fact a better solution was not implemented. Fisheries lawmakers are very smart people. Surely they would have thought of the rule of 1 jew per person per day between 45 and 60cm to keep us happy and continue to fish for jew. Those fish are hard to find, hook and land so to spend a lot of time for no fish is heart-breaking - then if you did finally get a smaller fish, letting it go and going home to pizza is humiliating to a fisherman who fished for the table. A more equitable solution was available....but it never happened.... That's why I have changed my fishing for jewies from 'occasionally to get a smaller fish' to 'not any more'. Some would argue that to get the bigger fish, live bait is required. This is true but also has it's logistical issues. Where to get them, infrastructure on the boat to keep them alive, heavier tackle, etc. Then when you do get a fish, it's a big flattie and guess what, can't keep that either... I'll stick to bream and whiting until it's illegal to catch them too...

It doesn't surprise me that our society is becoming closer and closer to totalitarianism. George Orwell was right and he was not even a fisho. He may have got the year wrong of 1984 but otherwise his predictions are unfolding. The thought police will get us if no-one else does. The simple answer is to leave things as they are and employ more fisheries officers to police our waterways and to audit people who buy black market fish. It would create emplyment and manage our fish stocks better this way, rather than creating a 'one size fits all" rule that impacts innocent fishos who catch fish for the table... No amount of disgruntlement will change things. Oh well, another slap to the face but like ever optimistic people, we continue on our merry way. Question is, how much longer will the way be merry...? Time will tell...