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Hey Krause, I live just a block away from the harbour and fish there often when I have time so I think I might be able to answer some of those question. Wollongong harbour is not really a great spot, but it does produce yakkas consistently for those who persist... During the day, your best bet is inside the harbour, theres usually plenty of small yakkas there, however they tend to go off the bite after dark. Berely lightly with bread only if necessary and use an unweighted or small float rig. During dusk, and into the night, the breakwall is better, and you usually get monsters in winter (but not as many). Paternoster with suitable hook works here. Recently though, there hasnt been any yakkas being caught off the breakwall (2 months now), so its best to get them in the afternoon in the harbour. For hooks I tend to use small suicides and I find they work quite well, but they are very hard to find in the sizes you want for yakkas. Otherwise plenty of guys use long shanks, and swear by them, so I think it comes down to personal choice. Practice your strike with your preferred hook to make sure you hook them lightly, that way you wont kill them as fast. Lastly, yes it is a dirty place, especially after the weekend warriors have been. Its like this at most popular spots near populated places. If you're still having trouble with livies , then I suggest you sp; in up a couple

Hey Guys Anyone out there kind enough to teach me wash fishing the coastal rocks? I normally fish breakwalls for squid, blackfish and pelagics, so I should have suitable gear. I would really like to learn how to wash fish (consistently) for pigs, bream, groper, snapper etc. as well as about safety first hand from an experienced angler. I live in Wollongong, and commute to Sydney everyday for uni, so weekends are probably best. Preference is for fishing in the Illawarra area, and am willing to contribute to the team. Cheers and Thanks Your name: Bowen Your Location: Wollongong and surrounds Fishing technique: wash (rock) fishing Availability: Weekends and limited weekdays Preferred location: Wollongong and surrounds Provide your own gear? Yes Provide your own boat? No

Thanks guys for the info Yes, I have heard of the sand hopper but never seen one. I now know that they are harmless, and they really do add to the "tastiness" of the weed.

Hey guys Finally, after a couple of days searching, found a little patch of weed on the rocks that looked perfect for blackfish, but when I got home, as I layered the weed out ready for storage, I saw some tiny prawn (?) like creatures in it. Then, some started jumping quite high and far for their size, the baby prawns flick but they never jump. I was quite nervous about it at first (thought I brought home a bag of fleas), but then realised that they had not bitten me while I was collecting the bait or layering it out when I got home... My question to all those that are wise out there is what are they? Are they safe, or do I need to throw the weed out ASAP... btw I have the weed wrapped in 3 layers of sorta well sealed plastic, so they don't get all over the place if they turn out to be dangerous. Cheers

Fellow fishraiders I've got another related question. Today whilst driving down the coast, I found some weed that was quite stiff and crunchy, maintaining its shape when dragged out of the water (bit like curly hair out of the water). This is certainly a first for me in my 3 years of blackfishing. Just wondering whether blackies will take it, or will I be wasting my time? Cheers

nah, didn't think so too, found it on the side of the road anyway... Thanks for the feedback though

Hey guys and gals I recently found a rod thrown out with the council cleanup, and when I took it home I found some shallow dents/cracks in it (looks like someone filed the blank?) the blank is most likely damaged. I filled them with superglue and bound them with rod binding. I'm asking whether this will hold, especially when you hook onto a big fish, and if not, how would you go about fixing it? Perhaps some sort of fiberglass putty? thanks for your feedback

Davido: that's a senator wrasse, a real pest around that spot the place you fished doesn't produce fish, only a few blackies and squid in winter, even i, a local, have not seen too many people catch much there. if you're after some bream, try coniston beach to the south at night, usually get a few bream, tailor, salmon, flathead and jewies there.

every year it's different, these recent years, the warmer currents seems to be running harder and for longer, bringing the warmer water fish e.g. bonito with it, the tailor will be more abundant in the southern regions. it does not mean that there are no tailor, but less, as only the resident species will remain. in a few years it may be completely different, it all depends on the currents. the tailor will make a spawning run up to fraser island starting Apr/May, this is the time to target them, for the time being, focus your efforts on bonito/kingfish

just a quick question asking the opinions of fellow raiders i plan to buy a reel for rock fishing (so using 20-25lb mono) and have narrowed down to Daiwa black & gold BG60 or Daiwa Opus Bull 6000 which one would you buy? or are there any other suggestions around the same price range?

time to start fishing for blackfish, drummer and bream with lightly weighed baits in the washes OR fish for bottom species although the results are usually inconsistent

it depends on what species you are drifting for, if for example you are drifting for species like flathead and gunard, use a sinker as they actually like the sinker stirring up the sand (gets their attention). but if you are drifting for fish like snapper (especially slowly), use an unweighted bait with plenty of bereley

although lighter is better, i think that the main thing is still to have technique and skill i have caught small timid bream and snapper on 25lb line and a huge surf rod in the estuaries it is not all up to the "light line", it is more up to the skill and experience of the angler.

you'll have to change your account name

great catch of Jewies and a great bag there mate! wow if only every session could be like that.... how can you sleep during that? great effort