noelm

No, not really, it just occurred to me that maybe what was considered rubbish, is now a “normal” catch. Then I got to thinking, do we “need” a bag limit for general mixed fish, not fish already covered by size and bag limits, just general odds and ends in general? Not suggesting anything underhanded or anything like that, it was just a general “mulling” while I was cleaning my own catch. I have nothing at all against anyone keeping what they need, I do it myself, but what about in (say) 15-20 years, species once considered rubbish, were endangered?

Something got me thinking……I was at my local ramp cleaning some Bream and Blackfish, a couple of boat fishos turned up carrying an esky. As is typical I asked them how they went, “great lot of fish” well done I replied, they then tipped their fish out on the table, there was a heap of “Butchers” some small Sweep, Pike, a couple of “Old Boots” and some tiny Red Rock Cod, (very tiny) I then kind of wondered, is this how fishing has gone? Sure they were tourists and from who knows where, but in that considerable pile of fish, there wasn’t one I would have kept. I chatted with them while I continued to fillet my Blackfish, and they asked how far out I went to catch them, I simply replied I caught them from the shore, they looked at me in disbelief and asked where? I told them exactly where and how easy it was to access, and how I pumped some Nippers at low tide, I’m pretty sure they thought I was kidding. Now, before anyone throws stones at me, I was not trying to “big note” myself, or tell them their bag of fish was (in my opinion) not worth bringing home or anything like that, but it got me thinking about bag limits and stuff like that

Geees, a couple of those chainwheels on the bikes hanging up have got cotter pins…….nothing uses them these days. Way back in the ”old days” the cotter only had a small flat on it, and you had to file it to fit the bottom bracket axle/shaft. These days they are just soft cheese and you whack them in with a hammer, but they bugger up in no time. That’s quite a bike workshop, I guess you spoke your own wheels and true them?

Funny this should come up! I have a good mate who “collects” odd things. He has a hard hat from when the Snowy Hydro was built. A 6 pack of unopened Tooheys kegs, anyone who remembers them, they were sort of like a hand grenade with a wide neck to drink out of. He has every glass MacDonalds ever made. A wind up record player. All sorts of strange odds and ends that were in his garage where we would have a drink and play pool. Unfortunately he is moving house and it’s all in storage. Love odd “stuff” it gives me a real kick.

Conjola is a very nice place, my brother lives there and I get down there reasonably often, like most south coast lakes, fishing needs a bit of “sussing out” a kayak/canoe/small boat is an asset, because getting around the shoreline can be challenging at times, even just getting to the other side can mean a decent drive (or swim) that said, holiday fishing is fun and any fish is a bonus when it’s not a “fishing holiday”:

Seems this gets asked every full moon…….if you don’t go, you definately won’t catch anything! Fish don’t starve to death during a full moon.

Don’t know the area, but, best guess it’s pretty popular with “people” so going to be pretty crowded, that said, without trying it, you will have no idea how good or bad it is.

Blue Rings are very common, almost every rock pool and so on will have them, they are normally pretty well hidden and quite “shy”, so you just don’t see them, but they are around, do NOT fool around with them, just let them go as safely as possible, that said, to catch three is pretty unusual, like most dangerous things, they usually do not “attack” you, most bites occur when people mess around with them.

What are the other people using that you have seen catching them? I guess you are fishing from the shore?

You don’t need big distance, you need the right location.

You don’t need too much burley for Snapper off the rocks, (it will attract thousands of pickers) best places are deepish water with scattered rocks in sand/gravel, especially if you can find a similar spot with a gutter that water drains back into the ocean creating some whitewater with bits and pieces washed in. The best Snapper fishing is not over full on snaggy rocks and Kelp, there is a few great places on the south side of Bass Point that produce nice Snapper.

If you see a line inside, best guess it’s not a scratch. Can you take a picture from a bit further back? It’s near impossible to make out what’s what.

Is that a scratch or a crack?

Long Tail what…Tuna?

Most good tackle stores have reel repairers (and rod builders) that are a long way from “back yarders” the price of the reel doesn’t determine how hard it is to fix/maintain. Sending a reel away is easy enough, it just takes a bit of time and if packed well, minimal chance of damage.

Might pay to join a site around that area, there’s quite a few in SE QLD.

Most decent tackle stores do reel repairs (not the chain store types) but real tackle shops. Alternatively, reels are pretty easy to do yourself if you are even slightly mechanically minded and have some basic tools.

First off, you will never “dig” them out……this same question was asked a week ago. Almost all beaches have worms, look for a nice flat beach, not a steep one, with fine sand not grit and shells. Go at low tide with your “stink bag” and drag it back and forth in the receding waves, you will see the worms stick their heads up……then the hard part begins, catching them, no amount of videos can teach you how to get them, it takes practice.

Gear for any of those species doesn’t need to be overly expensive, are you intending to fish shore based or in a boat or kayak?

There is all sorts of theories and stories (and urban myths) about moon phases, but the fact is, if you’re home, you will certainly not catch anything. Best to at least give it a go, the fish don’t starve to death for days. Edit…….Long Tail?

Beach fishing is no different to any other form, you just have to adapt to the seasons and the available species, there’s still plenty of fish, but tactics and species changes as the water gets colder. Westerly winds prevail, so, long pants and heavy jumpers replace shorts and T shirts, long shank hooks and worms get replaced with ganged hooks and Pilchards.

Is it going OK? If so, why replace anything? If not, why do you suspect the brushes?

Lots of things can make life easier, the size of the boat is part of it, but not the biggest factor. First off, moving the car to the boat, or the boat to the car? With a reversing camera, and a gizmo to guide the trailer onto the ball exactly can be a big help. An electric trailer mover can be a big bonus if your driveway is concrete. Launching can be easy, depending on the ramp, if you have a jetty beside the ramp, it’s easy, just turn the bow rope to “something” further down the jetty, and push the boat off (if the rollers work) or skid it off, then tie it up properly while you (or a helper) park the car. Retrieving is a breeze if you have a drive in trailer, and even easier with someone who can reverse the trailer for you. Fishing is simple if you’re a “drifter” if you anchor, then an anchor retriever ball is a great asset, right up to an anchor winch for no effort at all. It all depends on your individual setup and what sort of boating you do.

Unfortunately signs don’t stop anyone, until it gets enforced, then it’s an outrage….Windang Bridge is a classic example, it’s clearly sign posted, as well as being against the road rules, but, all day and night, there is dozens fishing off it, one day the law will be enforced and people will be crying about it. No fishing can be for any number of reason, safety being number one, then there is the rubbish left behind, the unruly behaviour towards others, it all adds up in the end.

Just to kind of add something, the size of the swell doesn’t mean you can’t fish, I have a few great spots that are only good when the big winter storm swells are running, Shellharbour Harbour is great during this time (and safe) the “Boneyard” down towards Kiama is another spot, and the rocks directly in front of my house at Barrack Point are red hot when the swell is big, but, it’s sheltered in a bay and only fishes OK at high tide. So (to me) the clue is to know where to fish in the prevailing conditions, all three of those places you fish with Cunji that has washed off the rocks and collected on site. edit….just remembered another great spot when the swell is up, east of the gravel loader at Bass Point there is a big bay, and during big storms there is a dozen locals fishing there, it’s on the north side, so no swell gets in there.