Blackfish

I’m with Noelm, I can get enough for bait and it’s a great way to spend a few hour but really all I can add to this topic is BE CAREFUL OF THE SUN, bending over for a few hours time does fly by, the back of your head and neck is so exposed, plus arms and legs. I have been beach worming with people who have had heat stroke and were very sick. Good luck.

Thanks Frank, all the best to you as well.

PS …. Neil did gift more than those two items but they were the Girls favourites.

I had my time in Sydney and saw many a change. Eastwood was going through a massive change but that’s life , you can’t stop that and I don’t begrudge that either. I really enjoy reading your reports Mike because it brings back memories of where I used to lure fish back in the mid 80’s, Tarban Creek, Lane Cove river, Parramatta river plus the little spots tucked in, we used a Gregory’s street directory to find spots. Where you found a street that ran to a park or bush land on the water that’s where would try. Do I miss Eastwood, no I don’t. Do I miss the friends I made over all the years, yes I do. Up here I bet a lot of people have seen a massive change over the years but from where I lived it’s nothing. The vibe is more relaxed, the people are more relaxed and friendlier. We have made new friends and “I’m living the dream” If you come past let us know, we can have a fish or a Cuppa.

So after another lure change I started to hook a fewer smaller Bream and Flattys and dropped a couple of reasonable Flattys. Neil kept getting a few wacks and landed a few smaller fish which kept the interest rate up but nothing of note. We called it a day, a bit disappointing but better than nothing. Back at the ramp after pulling the boat out Neil gifted me some of his great pottery which was well received by the family when I got home. Thanks for the company Neil and till next time all the best mate.

Neil decided to take a break and head up the coast and wanted to see if any one was available for a fish. Being retired I thought I could fit him in to my busy schedule 😄 of relaxing. Unfortunately the dates he decided on it coincided with very strong winds which were to limit our options over a couple of days. Neil turned up late morning with a knock on the door, a big smile over his face and was keen for a fish but after spending a few hours in the car we thought a cuppa was in order first. We headed out for a shore spin hoping for a Flatty or two but all we managed to do was scare a couple in the shallows, then headed down into town and mucked around on the wharfs with no luck. The forecast for the next day was similar, 20-25 knots so the plugged was pulled deciding to head up river the following. Ive never fished this part of the river before so a bit of exploring was in order and fish or no fish a fun day was in order. Overnight the wind dropped out of the North and blew a strong colder southerly. Even though we were a fair way from the coast its presence was still felt and limited the fishing to more protected side of the river. Neil decided to fish a SP and I a Top water. Second cast Neil says he’s on which turned out to be a legal Flatty but was released. Things went quiet so we both changed lures, Neil with a hard body that a friend of his makes and me with a lure that worked back in the day …… but not on this day. Neil scores a legal Bream and me still nothing.

Test

Sounds like one of those days and you question “Why” do some people do what they do.

That’s why the “Nerds” like using the Latin name for fish. In NSW, the museum calls them Eastern Blue Groper because over WA there is a Western Blue Groper and the two are closely related and in both cases the Females are Brown. Also they are not a Groper but a wrasse. So most Blue Groper are a Brownish colour-and they not a Groper but a Wrasse. 😆 BAHAAAAAAAAA. Go figure.

That’s a great photo and that’s what all beachside shacks looked like back in the day …… well that could be my Romantic notion of the era to.

Yes my memory was the smallest were Grass Ticks, then Bush Tick, then a Shell Back which were those really big ones. We saw very few of those.

It seems where the lady was swimming where there was a netted enclosure but decided to swim on the other side at 8 o’clock in the evening at Elizabeth Bay. This is what the media is reporting and eyewitnesses. Certainly a lapse of judgement and I hope she makes a full recovery.

Sorry to hear that but thanks for sending a warning about the danger. Im a bit like @noelm we got plenty of ticks because we lived opposite bush and kids being kids would romp around and getting tick was pretty common. I remember I had so many on me once of what my parents would call grass ticks. They had to use the same method as Noelms folks did and cover me with some chemical they had, metho, turps… I can’t remember it was that long ago. But fortunately I never had a reaction to a tick like yourself BaitDropper, thank goodness because my folks weren’t big on doctors. All the best and keep us updated mate.

A slightly depressed BN ? …… better than work mate, better scenery to.

That’s great, so good to see the nieces so excited about going for a fish and by the look of it they weren’t disappointed. I bet everyone was tired that night. Great catch of Squid and that’s a Stonker of a Blue-Throat Wrasse.

That’s an excellent fish, congratulations.

It’s a Male Crimson Banded Wrasse.

That’s very generous of you @XD351 Mag Bream are a great rod.

Interesting article on how this fellow rates Australian “Painful Creatures” and it seems quite a few live in water. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-26/stings-venoms-bites-ranked/103319874

Bloody Yum 😋

That’s a smick looking car AW.

I think its a Female Blue Swimmer

Excellent report and I could imagine how nervous the situation would have been till you slipped the net under Amy’s fish. Great result 👍

You triggered a memory Noel. I remember back in the “Australian Angler Magazine” days. Joe Gospel (Irons fame) did a bit of a road trip and was down at Port Phillip bay fishing the “Rip” when he encountered very large Kingfish, he found that when hooked he would lead them out of the very bad area where he had been reefed numerous times on a very light drag and then fight them in deep water where they fought differently and showed no sigh of wanting to reef him. Mind you he was fishing out of a boat but Noel said he’s done the same of the rocks.

Always enjoy your reports Neil. The photos always look tranquil.