Maccam

Never targeted them in Pittwater, but we used to get the odd one at Flint ans Steel when jewie fishing.

Excellent work again mate. I hope to get out this weekend and enjoy the westerlies!

I just keep a txt file with the date on Dropbox with the relevant information and append screenshots from AU tides App of the tide/moon phase data and another from BOM weather with meteorological and swell conditions.

Yeah TK, I'm sure I've lost plenty of fish because of the light leader. But I'm also sure I've had many more hook-ups because of it too. In pressured waters you have to go light to fool the better fish. Sure, go 20/30lb when you're at more remote areas (like Edith Breaker her in PS), but you still need to be prepared to lose some even on that. My biggest fish on my usual leader was a 75cm beast, and what would've been my PB I lost on 20lb so...

Yeah, I wouldn't really change it!

Headed out solo to the front islands to fish the washes on what was a glamour day. Got out to Little island about 0545. To be honest I was surprised at how little wash there really was. The few days of westerlies have flattened the swell to almost nothing. In our heavily pressured waters I only fish 10lb braid with a 10 or 14lb leader coupled with 1/4oz TT jighead and 5" Motor Oil jerk shad. Got a few timid hits with no hook-ups, which in my experience is very strange. About 15m after sunrise, changed to a Pearl jerk shad and a jighead with a bright fluoro head and picked up the first (and only) real fish of the day. A cracking snapper in the vicinity of 70cm or so, quickly released. After that, the day turned into a whale watching spectacular. Dozens of them breeching and tail-slapping and generally having fun. Caught a large Bonnie at about 0830 and that was all she wrote. Headed back in. Basically not enough wash to fish the wash! Probably should've headed south to Boulder Bay for more wash but felt lazy... Mat.

I use them up here in Port Stephens when fishing deep (say >35m). They definitely work, and like some other slow jigging methods, you need to do a very slow roll. You'll feel the bites and be tempted to strike - don't - just keep slow rolling. If you're using a spinning reel, you need to slow down even more. I also make my own Kabura plastic skirts (the materials are super cheap from China - end up being a few cents each...) so I can mix/match colours and even use them with a running ball sinker or with a sinker tied into the loop knot. It's a dynamite way to fish when the usual early morning bite has finished in close and you've still got a couple of hours to kill. Lastly, keep them about 5m off the bottom. Undesirable species love them too!

Nice bag TK. I'm the opposite with the TT jig heads, I found the Nitros just don't last and you need to keep sharpening them after every fish. TT's have been bulletproof, especially with the new ones with fluoro eyes. Cheers Mat

Nice report well done!

Proceeds to look at phone the whole time out...

Nice one mate. Good to see the stocking out there working still. Some 30000 odd fish released there last year.

Thanks mate. PM sent

As many have noted, Gulps work but boy do they get picked at. I tried the new Bait Junkies last trip and they work alright, but are also easily eaten away by pickers or toothy critters. Plazos, not enough action. I'll be staying with the Zmans from now on (except for the sand worms Gulps for whiting). Mat.

I pretty much only fish washes. My take is that yes, an outboard does spook snapper if its not a really washy day, so I use an electric. But, you really need to make sure you can rely on your outboard to start first go...

Salamander wharf had a heap of poddies and herring/Hardyheads around the outer pylons this morning. Stacks of bait in the bay atm.

I've sort of made my own, by using a roll-top waterproof Sealine bag with the necessary bits/pieces. I also never go anywhere without wearing a life jacket and I've got a PLB attached to it. Like Berleyguts, I'd struggle to be able to mount the actual Life Cell on my boat. I also carry a Zoleo when fishing inland for those "non life-threatening" emergencies like broken legs etc. Mat

Hi all, new member based out of Port Stephens. I've been fishing pretty much for anything and everything for 50 years, but like the rest, still have heaps to learn every time I head out. Pretty sure this forum will help with that too. I fish mainly for snapper in the winter and trout or bass in the summer, and 99.9% of the time with lure/fly. Look forward to making a contribution here. Cheers Mat