FishermanSteve

Hey guys, After mixed results at catching live bait at Clifton Gardens. One of which at the weekend resulting in just two yakkas before they seemed to get spooked. Could anyone please suggest any land based spots to catch live bait?

Nice catches. Was it land based or boat?

I wouldn't mind traveling to try out the river. I will message you when I know what's going on over the next couple of weeks

Where to start... Met up with Pompom for a trip out. We set off to Chipping Norton in the hope of catching mullet for bait. A dozen micro Taylor later(all returned) we decided on stopping at a tackle shop to buy the bait. Jumping back in the car we embarked on a journey up towards Palm Beach. After our brief stop at the tackle shop we arrived at the beach and promptly set up. BANG Pompom had his rod bent over. Arrived ashore was an Aussie Salmon. Pompom made the decision to use slices off it as bait. After sometime it wasn't looking up after the great start. Pompom's lovely wife set about retrieving pizza to refuel and have a rethink. Myself, Pompom and my partner gathered up the gear after deciding that once pizza was eaten we would walk over the road cast out in to the river side parralell to Palm beach. It turned out to be a great decision: Wobbegong Shark, Bream, Eel, the Aussie salmon (off the beach side) and for myself my FIRST and obviously now personal best Flathead measuring bang on 62cm. If you wanted to count the Taylor I guess it was six species. Myself I used a patornoster rig with salmon chunks as bait. Pompom used single hook length. One rod with salmon and other with squid. 2/0 hook size. We also had the pleasure of seeing a pod of dolphins at the beach.

Hey Regan, between Lloyd Gully and Olga Bay. More towards the Gully ??

Hey mate I'm no Aussie but I said good bye to old Liz and moved over a few months back. I'm out about fishing mainly land based. Next time I'm out fishing which is often I will let you know you're welcome to hop along. Where are you based?

After setting off at an ungodly hour to meet Pompom and collect his brother, we set off. First stop bait shop that was open at an ungodly hour. It's great how easy it is to be up early for fishing yet no one loves to be up early for work. We then headed to Brooklyn to hire a tinnie for the day. With Captain Pompom at the helm we set off. Our first boat adventure on the Hawkesbury. There was changing tides, we found some nice looking spots and dropped our baits over. We caught Port Jackson's, catfish and rays. We were wondering where all the "real" fish were?? Then BANG!! Pompom's brother into a rod bender. We got it to the boat with net nearly ready to be used but not soon enough! A HUGE(estimate 70-80cm) mulloway proceeded to roll and in turn biting through the hook length. We all immediately upped our fluoro to 12lbs. Not long later my rod bent like I had never seen before!! I was in to my first ever mulloway!! Estimate 50cm. What a fight!! Caught on half a pilchard. Size 2/0 circle hook. A storm started to roll in and with at least a dozen boats heading towards and past us we figured they must know that it wasn't good to stick around. Captain Pompom jumped in to action and took us back to the wharf in the nick of time. Pompom himself had some nice catches including mulloway. All three of us had a great day with all fish returned safely.

That's a great picture of dinner ?? good job mate

Nice work mate I actually caught my first ever Jew today ??. Nice to know what's coming out from there as planning a trip Cronulla beach soon ??

Indeed a very enjoyable day, my first Snapper I wasn't even bothered that it was a baby. It made my day and was added to my list of species I've caught since arriving in Australia. Plus it was great seeing Fisheries out enforcing. The UK should take note. Although there are bag limits it is never enforced and NO licence is required for salt water fishing. Australia should applaud itself on concentrating on the well being of future fish stocks. Also the facilities provided like measure/fish species charts and fish cleaning tables are a great idea.

Nice catch!!!

One of the two Trevally caught! Pompom's leg was given a cameo appearance for this picture!

How better to relax on a Sunday afternoon than a session with rod in hand. After meeting with Pompom we headed to Balmain wharf east. We set up with light gear and paternoster rigs. Squid as bait. No joy at Balmain apart from no jokes, a starfish each. It's becoming apperant to me that the harbour is over run with starfish. After a swift move to Blackwattle Bay, we cast out again with squid. First cast Pompom hooked in to a ripper. Out from the depths, or not so at low tide. Good old Trevally(silver) appeared. He got it to dry land and it measured up at 39cm. Nice work!! Later in the session came another Trevally, again on squid. The sun started setting so we packed up. Great fun!!

Fernando top picture, myself bottom picture

A great trip out with Fishraider's Fernando and NotoriousTash to San Souci. Fernando had a friend join us who had never fished before. He enjoyed the day so much he wants to take up fishing as a past time. This was against all odds as our actual catch report 0. It was a hard day's fishing, there were approximately 20 people fishing at any one time from places around the park/wharf. All that was caught were 2 flatties measuring 51cm and another 32cm. One from the wharf the other from under the bridge. Plus one chap having great luck at getting live bait for his next trip. But what a great day with great company and another person converted to the art of fishing.

Hey Garrybeynon, that was notoriousTash's hand and catch and I honestly can't remember if a leader was used. Myself, I always have main line to a swivel then a rig.

Another great day in the sun! A fishing trip out with notoriousTash and company. We headed off to Pier 2 for some land based fun. Through the day various rigs and baits used. Catch report; flounder, starfish and for myself well... I just caught the sun. But it's not always the catch, it's the people you share the day with. Today I got to share it with two great fun people.

Yeah a paternoster rig, one of my favourite rigs

I moved away from telescopic rods a while ago. Shimano do some nice travel rods that are more than easy to get around with. The Shimano raider travel rods are the ones I use

Fantastic day. Such a lovely area, I could of sat there all day without the rod and still enjoyed it

Flathead location is 3mins walk from mine lol I must get down there. Not caught there yet and been often lol

After meeting with fellow Fishraider Pompom and his wife, myself and my partner headed with them down to Chipping Norton lake. Myself and Pompom rigged up with floats using bread as bait. My partner started on the soft plastic. What entailed was a fun session of Luderick, Bream and Mullet. Pompom had a great catch in amongst the small ones. I caught the smallest (Bream). My partner with her usual luck popped her Aussie fishing Cherry with a reasonable Mullet after she too swapped to bread.

Hey smc2010, I've seen this advertise: http://fishbrain.com. I have never used it so I can't say if it's any good. Posting reports here on Fishraider is always a nice option of course

Indeed Regan, always better than drawing a blank. Plus compared to the UK, the weather makes it a pleasure to be sitting on the beach.

After no success at catching live bait at Clifton Gardens on Saturday, It was decided by fellow Fishraider Pompom and his brother that we shall partake in a wonderful lunch before heading to our next destination. So with only various baits(none of which live) we set off to Dee Why beach. We promptly set up 5 rods between us. All varying baits, distances and rigs. Fishing past sunset we were left wondering why Dee Why??? The first cast had provided what was thought to be the start of a great evening! A legal sized Trevally for my Sunday snack time! Unfortunately what came was two decent fish lost and a Port Jackson. Another massive thank you to Pompom and his brother for an enjoyable trip.