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wazatherfisherman

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Everything posted by wazatherfisherman

  1. Hi Frank I don't remember if there was one at Fairy Bower but there were the 2 at Manly I went to as a kid- one was on the eastern side of Manly ferry wharf, with a 'fun pier' next to it- it was just one large pool/tank that had all sorts of fish and plenty of sharks in it. I was probably more interested in the machines at the fun pier. I do remember people throwing coins and trying to land them on the back of the sharks- the largest were all Grey Nurse's. The other one was to the west of the ferry wharf and you walked across the old boardwalk wharf to get there. I think t was called Manly Marineland and was a couple of story's high and circular. They had small tanks around the walls inside and divers would enter the tank and feed the fish and sharks (which was awesome bravery to a kid!) People used to fish off the rocks along that side and our next door neighbours over the back fence used to harvest sea-urchins there. There was also plenty of cunje along there Neither might be the one you're referring to though Regards Waza
  2. The one I stayed in a few times at Burning Palms had 2 full size kero fridges- imagine carrying those about 2km! It was set right out on the headland, high above the rocks at the north end and well away from the track in, only visible from the southern half of the beach. Absolute privacy as it was well away from everything there but a fair walk down to the actual beach and totally secluded. Bob the owner said it was his own private paradise, all the animals (deer, wallabies, roo's, bandicoot, possums, owl and parrots) would just come right to you if you sat outside on the tiny bit of grass outside the window- they were comfortable with humans and each other, haven't ever seen wild animals so relaxed with each other. Found out later Bob fed them whenever he was there. He said he wouldn't sell the place (not that he could have) for any amount of money. You could see a long way down the south coast from his only window- just magic.
  3. Hi Neil bugger about the rod and good reel and you'll probably wonder how big the fish was too. I lost one like that at Yamba years ago on the first night of a 10 day trip, but mine only had a ball bearing Luderick reel not an expensive bc reel. Have seen a few go over out at the 'Peak' when guys left their jig in the water next to the boat while gaffing a mates fish. Hope it turns up for you. Great idea Frank!
  4. More great photo's Donna! The first one is the Murk at Rosa Gully I reckon, you can tell it's a 'murk' by the coloured water- thought it might have been Bondi at first- yes South Head in distance. The second one is 'Lake Northam' in Victoria Park with Sydney Uni in background, we used to fish for Carp in there during school holidays and sell them live to the pet shop in Glebe Point Rd. Most of them were 3 to 4 inches long and really dark and fat. My Mum told me they used to release fish into both there and Manly Dam during the old Waratah Festival. We used size 12 hooks and bread balls about the size of a match head for bait. You had to make a clear space through the weed to fish in. That was in the late 60's. Bobbin Head was where Halvorsen relocated their hire boat business to, didn't know they were in Neutral Bay. First 4 Hairtail houseboat trips we did were in those old cruisers from Bobbin Head, roll down canvas 'window' covers let the cold winter air in, but exciting to stay on the water for a few days! Tabbigai dwellings were only some of many similar constructions on the cliffs/rocks/bush close to the Sydney coast. The ones at Fisherman's Cove next to Dobroyd Head still had occupants until about 20years ago- maybe even later than that. Used to see washing on lines and see smoke from their chimneys from the boat. There were also some in Jerusalem Bay in Cowan Creek and heaps hidden throughout the Royal National Park from Werrong to North Era beach. The Werrong ones were in a spot known as 'The Kitchen' set back from the beach. The spot everyone's fishing at the Quay was known as 'The Tuna Boats'- for many years two or three Japanese shark fin boats used that spot to moor while in port. It was a spot that produced heaps of Slimy Mackerel when they came in around Christmas. Shark fins were hung on wire clothes-line type set ups for drying. At the norther end of the Wharf there was a heritage listed toilet and watchman's building and a great Luderick spot known as 'Bennelong' where many of the Harbour's best Luderick fishers would go, including Russian Joe, Abby(the 'king of Sydney Harbour') and Royce's dad to name a few. Unusual spot as you fished in a square 'hole' and your float barely drifted at all. Floats for that spot often had a tiny 'ball' on the tip as a marker because you looked straight down onto them. Used to be plenty of big Surgeon fish there during spring. These are great old photo's Donna thanks for putting them on!
  5. It's top circle and easy walk from southern end of the beach. A much better spot known as 'The Island' is the furthest out rocky point at the bottom of your picture. Park near the 'Manor' the huge mansion on the corner of Morella and Iluka Rd's and take the track/s going east- south/east, you can get down where you see the track going back on itself in the picture. Alternatively you can take the track going down past the Manor and walk around the rocks, which is probably best for the first trip there. The Island is called so because it's separated from the land at high tide, but you can wade out there (or back!) on tides up to about 1.4m. The spot goes under on tides over about 1.6m due to ferry waves so be mindful of that. Deepest water in the lower harbour and there are all sorts of fish from Luderick to Seasonal pelagics at times. If fishing the bottom cast towards Rose Bay (S/E)
  6. Hi Mike I reckon those gars need 2 hooks as I had same problem- plenty of hits from decent fish (I saw them!) but really poor hook-up ratio. I'll show you a couple of ideas on Friday
  7. Always wondered what happened to the wharf at Lugarno Ave it was a great spot for squid and even a few Mulloway off there at times, only accommodated a couple of fishers though. It was always interesting to see the variety of marine life in the shallows there under the bright light and a great spot to catch bait.
  8. Good stuff Mike! Glad to see you sticking with the bigger lures- you don't want those pesky Bream from up there anyway😄
  9. Wow these photo's have special significance to me- The first one is actually 'Bird Island' at Bondi Murk. The cables out were 'privately owned' and padlocks jammed tight on the cables prevented others going out in their own bosun's chairs. There were 'lockers' built into the wall where the gear was stored. Two of the guys from Eastern Suburbs Anglers who fished with us at the Mattens (1km north) told us how they used to go out there and 'bounce' their simple chairs over 2 padlocks so they could fish the spot. Zane Grey donated much of the gear he used in Australia and it ended up in the now long closed 'Australian Fishing Museum' which was located at Birkenhead Point. I worked there for a year and we'd allow visitors to handle most of the tackle while in the company of a museum staff member. Many of his early reels were like giant 'centrepins' with a leather brake-pad that was applied manually. First Marlin I ever ate was given out by the game fishers after weighing at Watsons Bay. They cut 2 up and handed out steaks to anyone who wanted some- I was about 12 and there on a family picnic. Went to see the fish being weighed and the fisher's just offered it to everyone on the wharf as they had 3 Marlin on board. Can lay claim to one of the last people to fish Nielsen Park wharf, my mate Fraser and I spent a cold Autumn night on there after being dropped off by boat to fish a Sydney Metro Estuary Comp. There was no access to the wharf from the land by that stage, after a huge storm had removed the connection to the shore, leaving about a 10mtr gap over the water. Shame they decided to remove the old structure as it was a 'fish magnet' that attracted heaps of fish and a great spot for many species from Luderick to Kingfish. Gordons Bay Amateur fisho's club were right in the proposed marine park and wouldn't have been able to fish safely close-in if the proposal hadn't been blocked. The bay featured on the news late in 2022 when enormous seas destroyed some of the boat storage area and washed a few boats out. The bay itself is a marine sanctuary and popular with divers. Thanks for posting these pics Donna, they're great!
  10. Fantastic again- the stuff fisher's dreams are made of. Superb photo's. The Arowana looks like a cross between an Arapaima and a Saratoga- cool looking fish
  11. Absolutely fantastic post Dave and Amy- what an awesome experience. Sensational photo's as well. Thanks for sharing it all
  12. The army used to abseil down at Jacobs ladder for training. The swinging ladder at Macquarrie lighthouse was way more scary. There are quite a few more fishing spots along that section, many of which are accessed by rope ladders. Personally I much preferred to climb with ropes and never trusted some of the ladders, using ropes to hang onto always felt better. There was a death at Diamond Bay when one of the 'permanent' ladders broke free from the wall while a young guy was climbing it- he wasn't a fisher, just decided to climb down and a high section of ladder just broke off. From memory the council then removed the top section straight away. The ladders there had been there a long time when we first climbed down in about 1976-77. The spot at the bottom was known as the 'Block' and plenty of people fish from the tops of the cliffs along there, mostly using floats/corks. A guy called 'Ben Buckler Barnacle' has done a few really interesting articles on many of the old fishing spots from South Head to Waverly Cemetery with plenty of pictures, great descriptions and a couple of videos- well worth a look if you want to see some of the rock locations.
  13. Hi Rebel not me I'm not that old! The rungs on that ladder are pretty far apart- wouldn't have been fun for my short legs! Have fished it though
  14. Great and very entertaining video of a top day out! Pity about getting hooked Zoran but at least you got it out!
  15. You've been catching plenty of good fish Chris! Another good and tasty haul!
  16. Thinking about the old boatshed over the last few nights, I think there were actually two boatsheds not one- the larger one had a different type of boat and they were slightly cheaper than the one next door. The one closer to the bridge also had canoes, whereas the one closer to the caravan park had far more boats. From memory we always hired from the one next to the caravan park- it was a LONG time ago! I do remember they sold live worms in lake weed wrapped in newspaper. The Windang end of the lake was alive with fish, prawns and Blue Swimmers in the 60's and catching a feed was really easy.
  17. I was only a small child but remember the boatshed well- it was always exciting hiring a boat from there. We (grandparents) had a permanent van in Oaklands caravan park and my Grandma bought a tinnie from Knock and Kirby's at Warrawong, it was the first aluminium with an 'outboard' motor down the Windang end. Grandma surprised Grandpa with the boat after she won the money on a huge 'daily double' at the TAB. First anyone knew of the boat was when a big truck pulled up and asked where it was to be put, Grandma just smiled and said to leave it on the bank next to the water and Pop (Grandpa) was stunned. The boat was left there for years in the same spot with a small chain to a Casurina tree- the logo on the side was a top hat and cane with the word 'Topper' painted onto the white hull. Motor and all boat accessories were just left in the van's annexe- only clipped up and nothing was ever pinched. Quite often had to hire a couple of boats as well, due to extended family gatherings and friends in three adjacent vans. Very fond memories of early childhood. There were always fishers lined up standing in the water either side of the boatshed fishing for Luderick. The old boats were classic style timber with a kedge-style anchor each end and no chain, just thick rope. You only had to row straight out from the boatshed to find fish in either the main channel or our favourite back channel
  18. Great stuff James! You deserve to get one. Buggers fight hard eh! Now to get one in Sydney. Great vid too!
  19. Fantastic! Beware Kingfish now! For 'inside' use I think you'd get away with just a weight-less hook. Just weighed the lure it's 41gms
  20. Awesome! Great stuff Chris! I actually nicknamed this one 'Kingy Bringy' The idea was to make something heavy enough, attractive and durable enough for 'big stuff'. I was chuffed when I first saw how they swim 'by themselves'- hopefully be great for both other species you suggested but I made them with Kingfish in mind. Better make some more now! Thanks for the great feedback mate
  21. Excellent Chris- looking forward to the footage!
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