hookerbruce

I used to let my sons troll for flatties over the sand flats when they were very young (now they are 40+) and it was productive but mainly smaller fish. Used to slow troll plastic squid skirts in about 3 ft of water.

The flatties do slow down as the water cools down beginning of june, still get some but it is more productive to chase the luderick. I took the fly rod out to the breakwall a couple of times last year and managed luderick on fly, it was harder than using flies on the blackfish gear. I'll be up there chasing luderick in 3 weeks time and again towards the end of july. I'll check if your up there and look for you on the wall. August I'll be in Weipa, Sep I'll maybe be at the rocks for the end of the luderick season beginning of the flattie season Bruce

Yes I normally would chase them in April and May but the floods in March seem to have chased them away. My best dollie on 2 kg tippet was 64cm (2nd place on the Fishraider records).

Last 3 days I've fished the sandflats in the lower Maclaey River. I use the boat to access the flats. About a third of the fish are undersize, they range in size from25-49 cm. I've kept 4 or 5 a day depending on which ones are badly hooked. Monday Caught 28 about half on nippers half on lures. Tuesday only had a 2 hr trip caughr 10 all on lure. Today caught 25. 18 on lure 7 on fly (2kg tippet) these included my first legal size. Normally I would get a couple in the high 50s seem to be a smaller run I'm blaming it on the floods in March. Photo shows 2 of the fly caught flathead and the fly, lure and the whitebait that were leaving the sandflats with the falling tide. Bruce

The reddies make a nice colourful picture and its nice to see them in the river again. I might even give them a try next week. The mullet would cook up up ok but they will make good bait. Bruce

Hi Dave It is an interesting mixed bag. For me the cobia would be the best eating. My trip last week was a poor result 5 mixed just legals not worth doing a report for. Might have to try a morning trip instead of arvo. About 10 yrs since I caught a cobia in the Hacking. Good catch.

Very nice kingfish.

Good report, you traveled the distance and found good fish. The photos are beautiful and show great locations.

Good to hear you are back on the water, and you caught fish. I got back to Sydney yesterday, got car and van washed today. Hope to get out in the next few days. The tailor cook up good when fresh.

I fillet skin debone, cut into smaller pices coat with a bit of flour and morrocon spice and cook quickly on the b b q plate . Cooks up beautiful.

Had friends with us who thought the fish would taste like mud, they came back for seconds and thirds. I don't mind the taste of them at all. Silver perch when you get them in dams cook up well too. Bruce

The water level was rising went up about 30cm from when we arrived in the arvo till we left the next morning. The other thing that was good to see didn't catch a single carp. I would normally expect 4 or 5 fish.

Been out in central NSW for a while caught a few carp here and there but its not a fishing holiday. Spent a night camped next to the Lachlan river near Condobolin fished in the afternoon and the next morning before we moved on. Caught shrimp in a trap and fished from the bank. Caught at least 20 cod between 35 and 53 cm, the most cod I've ever caught in a short time. Also caught 3 silver perch 30 to 40 cm and 4 yellow belly to 45 cm. Kept 3 yellow belly to eat. Also lost a cod in the 60's about 5kg got it to the surface hook pulled as I moved it towards the shore.

Thanks for the trip out . I'm glad your mother doesn't want you going out wide on your own. I have to keep telling her how good it is for father/son bonding, and any other excuse for coming home from the north coast Tuesday nite fishing thurs then heading inland tomorrow looking for freshwater fish. DAD

The weather is always a problem when fishing the FADS. Good weather and so many boats can make it almost unpleasant. Have to try and fish them on days when the weather is just ok, you did well battled the conditions and caught fish. Good feed of fish is a bonus.

Fished sydney south FAD when we got there started our first drift about 200m from FAD son had a big run then solid weight on a large yakka but didn't hook up. He wasn't happy thought he'd blown his chance at a big one. Once we got close to the fad and other boats the small livies provided 1or 2 fish every drift. Most of the boats were fishing large livies and were struggling to get fish. There was a very slight current running to the north and the fish were not there in any quantity.

Caught on live yakka. When trolling we twice had marlin hitting lures with their bills but not taking the lure. Also nearly ran over one when running back in. Could have been a very big day.

Yes a good fish,I have been chasing one like that for quite a few years didn't catch it but I did get to gaff it and will get to eat some.

It's taken me 39 years to teach him and don't know if I'll have another 39 years to teach you

We had 6 in the boat which is what we normally keep and then the big one came aboard about 1100 am. A picture at sea always looks better.

I've taught my son how to fish ,tie hooks bait lines etc etc Took him out yesterday to the FAD he showed his appreciation by catching the fish that should have been mine. I am sure he will add his comments and thank me for teaching him how to fish.

Cooks up very similar to whiting or garfish fillets. Especially when they get bigger as easier to fillet and debone.

Did a quick trip to South West Rocks on the weekend. Fished the river on sunday and I wasn't disappointed. Landed about 20 legal flaties kept 6, realeased a lot of legal bream, kept 4 whiting and some goodsized longtom. Bait was nippers and pieces of longtom unweighted in less than a metre of water on the edge of sandflats.

Nice catch for a short trip especially when you allow for travel time.

Thanks for the replies. I was pleasantly surprised when things did go to plan. Took under 2 hours from leaving the ramp to having the boat back on the trailer. Now to see if the squid cooperate in the hacking tomorrow. I'll have my young crew with me so it will be a full day of fishing. Thanks Bruce