Razzell

Krause! G'day buddy! We had a cracker of a summer those few years back, hey? You still rocking the reload? Mines still going strong. Went a bit quiet for a while as I changed jobs and couldn't plan trips effectively - they became opportunistic. Got a close mate involved as well, so we started fishing regularly together when the opportunities did arise. I only periodically check in here now as I moved to Melbourne about a year ago. Fishing down here but it's not as good as Sydney. I may well be back in a couple of years (or less), a primary motivator for which will probably be the fishing. The snapper are good, but everything else is smaller! If I come up to Sydney on a road trip with the yak on the roof, I'll be sure to shout! Hope all is good with you bud (and all the other old crew!)

Almost certainly mate. Hopefully they'll learn from their mistakes and grown in to hoodlums!

Thanks FrankS

Hi everyone, I've been scouring the internet and the forums and haven't quite got what I'm after. I want to expand my overnight kayak camping trips. Previously, I've done the basin and Gentlemans halt on the Hawkesbury. Love loading up the swag and essentials on the yak, and setting off for a real rough trip (not the basin, obviously!). The best way for me to pose this question - could I, hypothetically, paddle down from Parsley bay, fish around Gunyah beach, then throw the swag down there for the night? I know it's 'not allowed' but anywhere that I can do this sort of thing is what I'm after. To summarise - can anyone give me some advice for spots (hawksebury or otherwise) of where I can rough it with my kayak and swag, catching Bream/Flatties/Jewies along the way? Cheers, Razz

Hi guys, Hanging around up at Copacabana over Christmas and don't know the area. I'm assuming standard beach fishing tactics apply, but could anybody point me in the direction of half decent bait/tackle that I can purchase around that way? (I'm expecting a drive) I'll hold my hands up - I'm generally far too lazy to catch my own bait! Cheers, Razz

Great setup - hope you have lots of fun with it! I've got two Sedonas and really enjoy them - very smooth and, most importantly, hardy. They get hammered in the kayak and haven't ever seemed to be affected. Two piece is the way forward - nice one

Thanks so much everyone - you've given me some cracking places to check out

Hi all, I have my father coming over for Christmas and I want to take him fishing as much as I can. He taught me to fish and is really excited at the prospect of fishing Sydney and seeing how I live my life. Unfortunately, I can't take him out in the kayaks! I'm not sure of the rules (have dug around), but would like to ask if anyone could PM me or recommend a charter (or charters) that fit (roughly) the following criteria: Looking to fish the harbour systems or inshore reefs - he'll struggle with anything too hectic Early morning start - half day - mid December I think he'd have a blast fishing for the likes of rat kings, salmon, bream, flatties, school jews - if he gets a good fight without pulling a muscle he'll be happy I fish lures almost exclusively so wouldn't mind getting him on them, but the most important thing is to get him on to some fish, so I'm not bait averse He's a bit of an introvert, so I'd be looking to book something for just the two of us. Not worried about spend at this point, but obviously would rather not go bananas My other option is to hire a little run about and take him out myself, but I'd rather give him something a little special if possible Any help or recommendations would be appreciated - flying a little blind Cheers, Razzell

Your man on the pontoon was right - fish hanging around places where they get fed are not shy but are fussy. I can rattle off a few places where that's the case. Of course, big fish are harder to catch as well - big fish have run the gauntlet many times. You're doing the right thing with lures and line though. Try the next bay round - iron cove. It's my favourite bream spot. Fish the bridge, the boat hulls, and the shallows. Just put everything back because it's very mucky. Plenty of jellies at the moment - it's bloom time I think. Like you, never know if it's good or bad, but I suspect the latter. I'd want to steer clear of them if I was a fish, lol.

It's a terrible shame that Carp have established themselves here. Being English though, and growing up fishing for them with my Dad (a die hard Carp man), I quietly enjoy knowing they're still available to me, should I wish. I also find it hugely interesting that they're so easy to catch here. A good fish is notoriously difficult to catch in the UK. Perhaps this is because of the cold weather and also because they tend to live in lakes that are fished frequently, so they've run the gauntlet many times.

Hello mate, I was off there yesterday afternoon on the yak. Only fished it twice, though. There are plenty of pike around at the moment which might make good livebait, but you can also get get squid over the shallow reefs. A sounder is very helpful. A small southerly swell is safest - easterlies make the launch hard (so I've been told). Watch yourself against the current - easy to get dragged out. Soft plastics go well, but be prepared to snag occasionally. Also ran across a large shark yesterday - he was about 20 metres from me mucking about with something on the surface - and a whale passed through me and the boats. Pretty cool, just be aware that you're not in the estuary any more! If it's your first time offshore, I'd recommend going with someone. In terms of where to go - about 1km off the point NNE is where most boats go. Just follow them. Cheers

Yes. As Neil mentioned, getting it to the bottom in and holding in the current/wind is a primary concern, of course. However, if your species has a tendency to 'hit on the drop', you need to get the weight right. Speaking to Bream, in my experience they have two modes - 'that might be food', or 'that thing is in my space'. You can feel it in the hit - they hit relatively lightly for the former, and hard for the latter. With Bream, I fish action SPs when I think they might be territorial, rather than hungry. For example, in summer (when they're feeding a lot) I use the tiny gulp fish SPs, but in winter I use the grubs/crusteaz. Too heavy, they'll scream past their face and go out of the territory zone quickly. Too slow, and they won't trigger a strike. That's why hard bodies are so good for them, also - the action and lateral movement 'in their space' makes them hit. Just my experience with bream on SPs particularly, but weight of jig head is always of paramount interest to me. I very rarely go below 1/24. Cheers, Razz

Can confirm - can get a bit pongy. Snag on some interesting bits and bobs from the bottom, as well. Rags, bags, and once I pulled up food packaging. Still, the fish are there.

Think I might actually aim to get there for 1 - need to do some stuff in the morning. What's the actual fishing plan in case we arrive at separate times? Anybody want to head up to Smiths creek for the high tide?

Cracking report and video mate - reports like this should be the standard everyone aims for. Subscribed to your channel.

High tide is around 3pm - anyone want to be there well in time for that and stab at some jewies? Henry, looking at you in particular because you know the area!

OK - the boss has cleared leave. I'm in.

Uuuuurrrggggh I said I'd never do it, but am thinking this might be OK. Especially if we're fishing for stuff other than slimey, spikey mouthed pseudo-eels during the arvo. Will check with the missus, but tentatively in for now. One question, though - does anyone have a link or something for rigs etc. for hairtail? Have literally no idea how to catch them.

Love that video mate - always such a privilege to see/hang out with the eagles.

NIce to meet you mate, was a good morning on the water. Still spewing about the Jew I lost yakside but that's fishing!

Amazing effort mate, fish of a lifetime. Congrats - wish I'd sacked off work etc. and stuck around!

I'm a maybe... Have just resigned from work so might take the morning off haha. Will let you know

What time you thinking mate?

Hello mate, Mine's probably about 750, so sounds about right. Think you can go with you're own preference on that. One of the ends of mine is a screw on cap, but your sliding hatch idea sounds great. Especially if you taper the ends for streamlining. I've just pumped it full of small holes. As mentioned, if baiting, I just mooch about, so drag isn't too much of an issue. The fish will find the bait if it's screaming. I've seen that some of the stealth boys use the collapsible bucket things - they worry me a bit for the same reasons you flagged. Slightly off topic, but I just watched this video on dead baiting and it's the first good one I've seen. Might give it a go on kings etc. and see how it goes. The less I have to f**k about with livies, the better. (also, this guy is awesome - check out his other vids) Cheers, Razz

Hello mate, I built exactly what you described - was pretty easy. I very rarely use bait, in fact I've only used the tube once, but it worked well for Yakka's. I also put a pool noodle on one side of it (cut in half length ways) to keep it floating. I haven't tried this yet, but another yakker who does/has the same thing recommended it to reduce drag etc. and it makes perfect sense to counter the only problem I found (that it sinks!) You do get drag with it, and it does bang against the boat a bit, but not enough of a problem to warrant me looking in to another solution. When livebaiting, I just sort of drift/paddle about lazily, so drag doesn't really matter. Hope that helps. Razz