Jiggy

They are looking to ban any activity that causes an animal/fish physical or psychological distress. So hooking a fish, tagging a fish, using a fish as live bait, putting a fish into a livewell for release later and pretty well any other fishing related activity could be banned. Now at the moment there is an allowance that fishing is excluded, but that won't last long. They will also prevent farmers ear tagging their stock, branding them, desexing them, transporting them, sending them to slaughter or anything else really as it can cause the animals psychological harm. Basically we are all supposed to turn vegan is the final aim of the proposed legislation. Act or we will all be in trouble.

I've been reading about this on FB. While there is some merit to some parts of this other aspects of it are worrying. I suspect that it could be a wedge to get more restrictive laws in place further down the road. The one thing about it though is that the National Party is actually sponsoring this proposed legislation in state parliament. I can't figure out why as yet. The Hunters Federation has reviewed the legislation and there analysis of it is here: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sfp2015/pages/766/attachments/original/1630201449/AHI_Animal_Welfare_Discussion_Paper_Response_.pdf?1630201449&fbclid=IwAR2hM1huTwpDLjqIEaSr-733ZhzlFjpeU6j7VwnCDQyBYa2fAUZVnnodE5g I also saw this post by someone who may have a legal background: https://www.facebook.com/groups/531383587069186/posts/1847093148831550 While more focused on hunting he does have this opinion about fishing: RECREATIONAL FISHING WOULD BE LARGELY BANNED • Just fishing for fun would not be allowed, as it is ‘unnecessary’ unless the species is a pest such as redfin or European Carp. • Fishing for Native Species could be permitted if numbers ever became problematic. • Catch and release of any fish would be classed as abuse. • Trout stocking would come under immediate attack, and then there would be a policy conflict between the animal rights movement between ‘animal rights activists and ‘conservationists’ over the fate of any self-sustaining introduced fish stock such as trout, with any fishing focussing upon eradication. Also if you look at Emma Hursts FB page on this it's pretty clear that they are not our friends and would be happy to ban most forms of outdoor sports and animal husbandry. It's something we each need to make our minds up about. For me it's a no as we would suffer for it at some time. Cheers Rob

Guys if processed correctly dragon snapper make excellent table fare. Once caught carefully remove a piece, thread onto a hook and lower it into the depths to catch snapper, pearlies, flathead etc. Then eat these. When processed like this dragon snapper make great eating.

I've recently saw a post on FB about dry aging a dragon snapper and how well it tasted. Now dragon snapper is a new one to me so I had to have a look...oh dear: https://www.facebook.com/groups/640027366912959 So now I guess I have to call myself the greatest dragon snapper fisherman in Sydney. Or will once I can fish again post lockout. Still not sure about eating one though. Cheers Rob

I recall reading about one such incident involving two brothers and one’s wife. The shark bit the bow and took out a chunk. All survived but the three were in the water for hours with the shark circling. But from m memory that involved a tiger shark estimated to be around 6m. Yes that's the one I'm thinking of, it was the early 90's by memory. I was out the day after this boat was sunk near there and guess who came to check us out! I saw it on the sounder first as it came up behind us; the sounder drew it as a perfect shark image. I had a 14ft predator tri hull at the time and the great white was longer and almost wider, it was a big unit. Gave us a once over and kept going. Awesome and scary at the same time.

...including a mate from Wollongong who had their 21ft fibreglass boat sunk by one (true story for another time). Here are the photos from the trips. Was that off Belambi/Wollongong a few years back now?

I suspect that the salmon are feeding on eyes or something similar. Very tiny fish that are almost transparent. Once they start feeding on them they won't take anything unless it's tiny and white or clear. I've given up trying to catch them when they are on those.

I've caught stacks on 100gm slow pitch jigs. Just bring them up as you would for snapper and they jump on them. As there is no bait smell on your tackle I rarely have a bite off. And the schools show up nicely on the sounder, so they are easy to find. Smaller jigs may work better but I do OK offshore with the larger ones. Cheers Rob

Gee I used to fish around there too. More often though we'd climb around the gate and fish further around the cove and around Mrs Macquaries Chair. Just before there, inside the cove, was a real hot spot for most anything when there was a big blow on. Other times a cast straight out from the chair was good and all around the cove was pretty good for jackets. Well that was if we stopped mucking around and actually concentrated on fishing.

Gee that brings back memories too of fishing the harbour in the mid seventies when I was a kid. We fished around Milsons Point mostly. The tactics then were long cast out from directly under the bridge for bream and trevally and some big bags were taken, not so much by us but we had the odd day. It was a great learning curve for me as I came from a non fishing family, I pretty well was self taught up to then. The guys that were fishing there taught me a lot about rigging, knots and bait presentation. Stopped fishing there when one of has bought a car and we didn't need train transport. I do recall that for a few months each year, and I think it was early winter, there was a run of snapper in the harbour. Pan size to maybe a kilo and they were a regular by catch when fishing for bream. Oh to be 14 again.

If you'd like to go offshore with a mate that has limited mobility a charter may be a good option. I know an excellent one at Yamba, drop me a line if you'd like their details. Cheers Rob

Hmmm for me: 1 = Tusk Fish 2 = Pearl Perch 3 = John Dory 4 = Blue Eye 5 = Whiting/Garfish 6 = Pink Ling 7 = Snapper 8 = Flathead Yeah I can't count too well but these are my favourites. I've also heard that teraglin are pretty good but haven't had the pleasure yet. Once the lockdown is over a trip to Yamba may sort that.

I've also read that Diggers Beach is a popular launch spot for kayakers around Coffs Harbour. Should be mackerel and longtail around, plenty being caught around SWR at the moment.

If the more radical elements get their way yes. They are totally opposed to anyone who enjoys outdoor sports. Hunting, fishing, four wheel driving etc. They want us all to be vegan...being vegan is actually OK but forcing people to conform to your belief isn't. Especially when, not only does it do no harm, its a healthy lifestyle that make you appreciate and want to protect what we have.

In the past, when I rock fished, we used to buy bags of stale bread from the local bakers. Not sure if you still can these days. Oh and this is on metro Sydney.

The wharf at Merimbula is one of the local hotspots. I've usually fished it from around 4.00pm to dark; tide doesn't seem to really matter there. The fish are running into the lake to feed and from the wharf you can see schools of them swim past; these are the fish you're targeting. Fish between 8 to 10 foot down and I've found fishing just on the line where you can't see bottom is the better place. Also the left side of the wharf seems to fish better. You're lifting fish up to the wharf so you'll need to use a rod with a bit of spine in it; I use an MT4144. If you want to fish light then fish the point to the left of the wharf, it's usually safe and you're low enough to wash out fish or use a long handled net. You can get cabbage at the end of Short Point. The only downside is that the wharf can get very busy, especially on holidays. But a lot of blackfish get landed here too. The wharf at Tathra can fish well too, but I've only watched people fish there and haven't fished it myself. Lovely part of the world you'll have a great time.

Bream will definitely take pilchards but if you're fishing in an estuary my pick is fresh or live prawns or small crabs. If you want bigger size bream use crabs as the pickers can't take them off the hook. Next best would be worms which also means a good chance of whiting by catch...yum. And if you can catch them fresh slimy, bonito or frigate strips the size of your thumb fished unweighted in a burley trail. But pilchards work too especially off the beach or rocks.

Not always true but it is in my case. Parents were Italian from the northern mountains and the first time they saw the ocean was on the boat to here. Going in the water was just not on. I didn't learn to swim until I was almost 8 and I had to convince them that it was important that I learned. It would have been different if they had lived on a coastal area but being from a mountanous region being able to swim just didn't register.

Yes watching where you want to fish for a minimum of 30 minutes is absolutely critical. Doesn't matter what the forecast is your eyes are a better tool. One of my favourite blackfish spots was the island at Stanwell Park. It actually fished best on a slight southerly swell but anything more than half a meter would kill you. Many a time I've walked back without climbing to it as I just didn't like the looks of it.

Oh good lord this brings back so many memories of the same shows. A few years back they made an adult version of Harvey Birdman, Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law. The Birdman and all the various other super heroes/villians had retired and gone into practicing law. It's absolutley a scream. Especially one episode where Fred Flintstone is a mafia don. You can see a sample of an episode here: Spot the Mole | Harvey Birdman | Adult Swim - YouTube Very much recommend watching the shows they are a great laugh.

I used to do a lot of blackfish fishing off the rocks. C144 rod, alvey blackfish special sidecast, 8 pound mono main line with a 6 pound trace. I've used spin reels and just don't like them for this style of fishing; a centrepin types reel gives you much better line control. If your fishing places with little current spin reels are OK but I found centrepins much better in places where there is run. And try using a fixed float if the depth is less than a rod length, that often can work better too. Fishing for blackfish is terrible, there is a real risk that it's all you'll want to do!

I checked the Minn Kota site for any info; have you tried this?

Yes I've heard the same thing. I believe that if you want to eat fish raw freeze it first; kills any parasites and you can slice it very thin if it's still a little frozen when cutting. Cheers Rob

Can you imagine how many more you would have caught if you didn't have bananas on board? Terrific day and well done!

Hey guys the NSW DPI have a livestream tomorrow night about dusky flathead: https://www.facebook.com/events/369349024125954/ Apart from some fisherman like Starlo being on it one of the DPI research scientists will also be on. Could be a good way to find out what's really happening with duskies. Cheers Rob