Pickles

Hey @bessell1955, when I was out getting spiked by a catfish, my dutiful wife was hedging (box headgear) with the battery operated hedger I bought her for Christmas and got stung by 3 paper wasps - we both had a mournful evening.

Invite them over and they catch as many as they want (I don’t like catfish anymore)

Fil, they were taking just about anything we threw at them and from the surface to 5m. This time last year after the “wet”, they were pelagic and smashing prawns on the surface - I took a buddy out and he even caught one on a halo twisty(tailor lure). We stopped fishin about 9.30 - 10.00 and could have caught twice that number - a very overcast day with a big low and dropping air pressure. I’ve caught them like this before and stopped fishing after we caught (and released) 66 fish.

Yep, you picked it @R E G I C Y C L E no 3 in 55mm, gold, purple and rainbow trout colour, all painted with red nail polish on the base of the bib. The Feral cats were black, purple, yellow and a light yellow/ gray with body stripes. At the moment that are hitting anything pretty much, we caught fish on every thing we threw at them.

If you give me your number, I’ll ring you and you can come and get all you want @Toadmaster - cause I ain’t getting near one ever again.

Haven’t had a spike by a Fortescue (when I used to do a lot of prawning, we used to call them “Scoobie Do’s” ) and after a catfish spike, I don’t want the experience.

@R E G I C Y C L E, I do both and James and Brady caught some on SP’s flicked under structure whilst I was manoeuvring the boat, but there were ski boats pulling skiers and doughnuts around which tend to push you too close to the trees and rocks. So trolling the drop offs and structure was also the go, but this does result in snags which can be expensive if you lose good quality lures. Some of my favourites are FeralCat signature 5+, stump jumpers, Ogee’s and predator boomerangs.

A great report Ben, thanks for sharing, it was a great read. I don’t compete in fishing comps, but do in hunting trials with my Lab’ and understand what a buzz it is when you achieve your goals and even more so when you have one really good “run on the board”. It’s frustrating that 3rd fish didn’t come in for you

1. Cut the line when handling catfish - don’t try to get hooks out (even with pliers) 2. Always have a thermos when fishing areas with “dangerous” fish. 3. Keep a first aid kit on the boat with Panadol or pain relief. 4. Don’t forget to Pray for a safe day. A last minute invite last night to head out to Brooklyn / Pittwater today was tempting. However I cancelled out of a Sydney Harbour planned trip due to BOM prediction of strong SSW wind and choppy seas, so wasn’t confident of a pleasant day - and how correct I was, but not due to predictions (the wind and swell wasn’t great, but fishable). The event that turned the day sour was getting spiked in the knuckle of my second (rude) finger by a catfish. I’ve had a Red Rock Cod spike in the past and that was extremely painful and knew what was coming & what to expect. (This is the first time in memory I forgot to pray for safety on the boat. People say praying that produces results is purely “co-incidence”, however the more I pray the more coincidences happen). I had my faithful “Thermos” with me and had my finger in HOT water within 15seconds and this helped enormously to deaden the pain. My buddy didn’t have a first aid kit (Panadol), so we headed straight back to the ramp. There is filming going on at Parsley Bay and planned for Australia Day long weekend (weekend fisho’s be warned) where we were able to get the thermos refilled and the “Hawkesbury water Taxi” kindly gave me some Panadol ( legend), for which I was most appreciative. What did I learn - refer to 1. 2. 3. 4. top of post. 15 hours later my finger is still sore and swollen, but far less painful than this morning. Oh Bye the way, we bagged 3 nice 40cm snapper, a 42cm bream and 4 Flatties over 40 cm (as well as 3 shovel-nose )and a catfish 😖).

The weather report was for strong winds and big seas, so offshore session on Kingies was out and Flatties have been quiet offshore, so plan B = Bass on the Derrubbin. I took @James Clain and his buddy Brady out for a morning session. We bagged (& released) 40 by 10 am all on deep diving hardbodies in a variety of colours.

Greatwork Neil, always good fun catching hard fighting fish on light gear.

Good on you for getting out @Powerofwill - hook into a kingie on a yak and hold on for the ride 😊😊

Great work @Crabstar. Nice when you can nail the target species and a great eating fish.

Hey @sammy241, my first boat was a nautiglass (1/2 cab) with red hull and white top. It had a 60hp (Tohatsu) which pushed it along really well. I caught a lot fish and covered a lot of water in that little boat. My mates gave me heaps, telling me that it should have been called a “no glass” due to poor quality - but I had it for 3 years and other than have a 2 stroke engine I was very pleased with it. I sold it and upgraded to a 17’ “Easy Rider” with 80hp. We all have to start somewhere in boating and as long as the fibreglass is free of osmosis, the transom and stringers not rotted or water affected you should have some great times, but I would certainly up grade to a 60 or 70hp - evinrude Etech’s would be very cheap to purchase, but be aware they are not made anymore (but no 2 stroke in the size you want is made now).

Hey @leo, I don’t think you can go past a Shimano Saragossa in 8000-10000 size (spooled with 65lb braid & minimum 50lbleader) as a reel. I only boat fish for Kingies, so rods I use (Daiwa demon blood CJ64, Shimano Terez) are under 7’ so I’ll leave suggestions on rods for rock fishing to others. Hope this helps.

For freshwater fishos in central tablelands region, be warned of closure f some prime fishing areas. FROM January 16 a three-month Section 8 fishing closure under the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994, is in place in the Central Tablelands Region, in sections of the Winburndale Rivulet and its upstream tributaries, including Winburndale Dam. During the closure, fishing by any method is prohibited, in the following waters located to the northeast of Bathurst, specifically: Winburndale Dam, sections of Winburndale Rivulet and its tributaries (the Gulf Stream, Mitchells Creek, Lagoon Creek, McCanns Gully, Kirkconnell Creek, Bull Gully, Scotts Creek, Bobs Creek, Tindales Flat Creek, Roundbody Gully and Black Spring Gully), and the section of the Winburndale Rivulet from the Winburndale Dam wall at 33.38972222°S 149.77694444°E to 800 metres downstream from that dam wall at 33.38916667°S 149.76833333°E. The closure is in place as a precaution to reduce the risk of potential spread of epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV) and to help preserve an important Macquarie perch population.

A nice mixed bag of fish Rob. Were you drifting or anchored for the whiting?

If what you’re doing isn’t working, try something different. If what you’re doing is working - don’t change.

Yep only the shaded area, BUT I was told (politely) by DPI fisheries when I was fishing in the allowed area ( for yellowtail) who warned me that it is an offence to pass through the area with a jig or squid spike attached to a rod and fines apply if rigged to fish for squid if stopped in the shaded area.

Brilliant report and very comprehensive Mike - love reading your accounts. I well know the feeling “I wish I had thought to put in my…..”, but you’ll know for the future. (I keep a fly rod, nipper pump box of assorted flys clousers, surf candy’s , weed flys and 17 rods tucked away in my boat “just in case” - you never know?)

Another great report Dave and a great variety of fish. It’s interesting that you bagged the Bass where I’d expect the bream and visa vera ? Having fished with you, I’m sure your expertise at working the lures is responsible for your (and Amy) success. If I was using the same lures, I reckon it would be Dave 10: Bob 1. The Jack must have been a good fight and a healthy looking fish. Love the pics😊

Way to go @Derny Driver, welcome to the “kingie Club”. Such a great fighting fish that punch above their weight. Now wait till you hook into a metre fish and you’ll think the powers of hell have been released.

A 40+ Bass is a really good fish @LuckyFil, well done mate (love the fight on light gear, so much fun). I’ve never fished Lake St Clair, but there are some quality fish and as you rightly noted “It only takes one good fish…”

Yep, I’ve been so tempted to set my own “personal FAD”, but have erred on the side of what is right and proper and legal. I still get enough fish to keep me interested (the pleasure is about the pursuit, not just the possession).

What a brilliant feed (a lot of cleaning there). Thanks so much for sharing @whiskey299, the fact that you are still fishing with your dad (who probably got you started on the adventure we love so much) is testament to his skill and the quality of your relationship - I trust there are more trips in the future - the time that you invest in family, is repaid many times over.