frankie machine

Hi all, When I began fishing seriously I joined the Fishraider site and found the members very helpful with advice and tips. In the past couple of years I have been concentrating on targeting whiting from the beach. I’m by no means an expert (we are always learning!) but I thought some rookie fishers might find what I’ve learnt interesting – and hopefully useful. I spend most of my time fishing beaches between the NSW Central Coast and South Coast with 80 per cent of the time at Sydney beaches. Reels There have been some questions about the future of Alvey Reels, but they are my choice due to the simplicity of use and functionality. They are more expensive than spinning reels, but with a bit of care they will last forever. I use a size 600. If you prefer a spinning reel I would recommend a size 400. Rod With an Alvey you need a low-mount rod. If you’re a beginner I would recommend a 10.5 foot model with soft-tip. A rod this size is easier to control. I now use a 12 foot model, again with a soft tip – it enables me to cast further, keep the line above the waves and handle larger by-catch (Australian salmon, flathead) which you will get. For spinning outfits, again 10.5 and 12 feet in length are the way to go. Line For Alveys you must use monofilament line. Three kilogram breaking strain is enough to handle the whiting and I have landed a number of 65cm plus Aussie salmon and my PB flathead (97cm) on this weight line. I love Platypus Lo-stretch for its feel, however for a beginner I’d just go for a good quality monofilament as the Lo-stretch can be pretty unforgiving if you get it tangled. For spinning reels, if your reel is for all-rounder use then braid of similar breaking strain is probably best. If you are able to have a reel just for whiting, again I would recommend monofilament. Tackle Hooks. Size four long-shanks. The size means you won’t pick up under-size fish and they are also big enough to catch other species. Mustad saltwater baitholder (92647NP-BN model) is my choice. The baitholder style really helps keep soft baits on the hook. Leader A good quality 4.5kg (10lb) breaking strain fluorocarbon. Sinkers I never go bigger than size 2, and if conditions allow I will go down to size 1 – the lighter the better. Swivels Rolling swivels to suit line-breaking strength of 2-3kg. If you use an Alvey you MUST always use a swivel otherwise you’ll end up with a shocking twisted line which will end up in a bird-nest tangle. Rigs I use two rigs. The first is straightforward and I would recommend it to start with. I also go back to it if there is weed around as there are less parts than rig two. Rig 1 Gear: 35-40cm leader, two hooks, swivel, red or orange plastic tubing (you can get this at tackle or craft shops), size 2 ball or bean sinker Step 1. Tie a hook to the leader. Step 2 Slide a 4cm piece of plastic tubing onto the line and down to the hook. Step 3 Thread the second hook onto the leader so it sits on top of the tubing. This hook is not fixed; it can slide up and down the leader. Step 4 Tie the swivel on to the leader. Step 5 Thread the sinker on to the main line. Step 6 Tie the main line to the swivel. Rig 2 This is the rig that fishing guide Alex Bellissimo designed, so I can’t take credit for it. If my instructions are unclear you can find a video of him explaining it on YouTube. Gear: 160cm leader, two hooks, two swivels – one that has a snap attached, bomb style sinker size two. Step 1 Tie the swivel without the snap 40cm along the leader (this is the swivel you will attach to the main line). Step 2 Tie the swivel with the snap attached 40cm along the leader from the opposite end. Step 3 Tie first hook on one end of the line. Step 4 Tie second hook on the other end. Your rig from top to bottom should now have – hook, top swivel 40cm down the line, bottom swivel with snap 80cm further down line and then second hook. Attach the top swivel to main line and attach bomb sinker to the snap on the second swivel. Bait I’ve caught whiting on live pipis, nippers, bloodworms, but my favourite bait is live beach worms. If your beach has them (and you can catch them!) then that is way to go. Catching beach worms is another art and I’m sure there are some “How to” posts on the Fishraider forums. If you can’t get live worms then good quality frozen will work. If you can get some live worms and want to preserve them, the best way is to freeze them for an hour so they die humanely. Then put some metho into a plastic takeaway food container and add a few drops of red food colouring. Drop the worms in for 30-60 seconds. The metho toughens the worms and helps them stay on the hook and food colouring gives them a colour that attracts the whiting. They will keep in the freezer for six months in this condition. To use, thread the worm onto the hook headfirst and push around the bend of the hook and right up to the eye of the hook. Leave about 1cm of worm off the end of point, but ensure the point of the hook protrudes from the worm. Technique Learn how to read the beach – this is something that can only be done through experience. Find the gutters (deep water) and target them. A swell of one to three feet is the best conditions – I rarely fish when the surf is bigger than three feet. I like to fish on a rising tide early in the morning (if you’re keen an hour before sunrise is best time to start. It also makes practical sense fishing Sydney beaches, as they are less crowded at this time.) Cast your line into the water – try and time it so you are not casting into a breaking/broken waves. Give the reel a couple of quick turns so your line is tight (loose lines you won’t feel the bite). Slowly, slowly retrieve the line – you want the sinker on the sand, this is where the whiting feed. If there is a current washing the line along the beach, it’s best to try and ‘walk’ down the shore with it – you want the line to be as perpendicular to the shore as possible. When you feel a bite, don’t snatch the rod tip or start to reel in frantically. Slowly lift the rod tip, or slowly give the reel a couple of winds to set the hook. That’s all the pressure you need, a fast movement of either rod or reel will just pull the bait from the fish. Once the fish is on, again, don’t panic! Let the rod do the work, keep the line taught and smoothly reel the fish into the shore. I hope this helps some rookie fishers – a feed of whiting you have caught yourself is the best! Cheers

Cheers Big Neil. Thanks

Cheers Brett. 4/0 that's a fair size hook - what do you bait up with?

Hey Raiders, Sister has just moved to down to Corowa and the house she's in backs right on to Murray River - and has a tasty looking pontoon off the bank. Heading down to visit in October and wondering if worth throwing in the fishing rod for that time of year? Have never fished freshwater before, so any advice on lures, set-ups etc would be appreciated. Have got various 6 to 7 foot rods set up for flathead, bream, aussie salmon etc. Cheers

Hey Raiders, The planets alinged today, couple of days left of a week off, youngest off to school early (thank you band practice) and wife didn't need the car for work, so put the kayak on top and headed down to Kogarah Bay. Put in at Bonney St Wharf (nice small strip of sand there for easy access) and headed towards the Taren Point Bridge. The sou easter was up early so it was a bit of work. Trolled a SX40 lure and picked up a chopper tailor - good fun to catch but it went back in. Stopped paddling near the St George Motor Boat Club and let the wind push me back across the bay. Because of the breeze tied on a blade and hammered it for an hour without any luck so decided to change to the soft plastics - an Ecogear bug ant on a 3/8 jig head (as heavy as I go). Wouldn't you know it - first cast and 'thunk', pulled in a flathead. 38cm so it wasn't a croc, but a start. Then two casts later and smackerooni!, some nice weight on the end of the line and pulled in one that went 53cm. Stayed out for another hour and got another one just on legal (put it back as already had dinner) and a smaller one of 32cm. Picked up another chopper on the troll on the way back to the wharf. Good day out (but I'm sure the shoulders will feel it tomorrow).

Alfy22, Just land-based mate. Found a flat place on the rocks where the water was deepest.

Hey Raiders, Spring's here so time to move off the rocks chasing drummer and try my luck in the bay. I've never really had a go at chasing squid before but after picking up a few jigs at a sale and reading a few articles decided to give it a shot at La Perouse last Thursday and today (Monday 15/10/12). After checking out some video hints on Youtube went to work with letting the jig drop and then giving it two really hard rips up and letting it drop to the bottom before repeating - well, it worked a treat. Within 90 minutes I had six in the bag. Went back again this morning and even though it was bright sunshine jagged a bag of five including one that went 550 grams. The jig that did the damage was a Shimano Sephia Egixile, 3.0g in 05T colour. Great fun and the kids think I'm a champ after delivering two feeds of fried calamari.

Brilliant fish and report. And good work on the release.

Amazing catch on light gear. Well done.

Jenno, Started on the eastern side, there was a nor easter blowing and tide was going out so drifted across and then paddled back and drifted in a zig zag pattern all the way down to the boat club on the eastern side. Apart from the trevally, most were caught on the middle/western side. Cheers

Thanks lads - work, family, weather etc have kept me on the land, hopefully I might get out one day next week. I was so stiff the morning after I was walking around like Frankenstein's monster.

Hey Raiders, Day off, wife away for work, kids at school - what's a bloke to do but go fishing? Got the kayak down from the side of the house last night where it had been resting for past five months, respooled the reel with some new 6lb Fireline and sorted some SPs and blades. Lovely morning, headed down to Kogarah Bay and put the yak in. Was hoping to jag a couple of flatheads so started with one of my favourite blades for the lizards - a 1/4 oz Switchblade in mango ripple. Got a nice hit after about 10 minutes but was pulling way too strong for flattie and bought in a nice trevally (weight for age I reckon they give a great account of themselves on light gear). After a nice struggle I sent it on its way. Went quiet for the next 15 minutes so changed to my go-to blade, the Ecogear ZX40 in gold. Was using two retrieves - flick/pause/flick and the long draw - and after a draw right near the top of the water the blade got smashed by a bream which exploded out of the water, brilliant. Bought it in and it went in the bag. Finally got a flattie, just legal but looking a bit skinny, so sent him back. Got a couple more bream that went back in before a nice solid 'thunk' of flathead that went 42cm and into the bag, too. While I was sorting the flathead had the rod in rodholder with lure just dangling about 50cm under water, all of a sudden the rod bent, a small bream had hit the blade while it was stationary. Got another undersize flattie and then a small chopper tailor while trolling the blade on the way back to shore. Great way to spend a few hours off - expecting my shoulders to be nice and stiff tomorrow after five months without a paddle!

Good work - a whiting like that on a popper in mid-winter is a great catch.

Thanks lads. And pan fried in some panko breadcrumbs it was a winner on the dinner table!

Welcome to the site, two nice sambos in dirty weather. What softies and jighead size were you using? Cheers

I find it all good - but if you can get the hook point out of the 'nipple' I reckon you've got yourself a good-looking bait.

Hey Raiders, Swell had dropped enough from the weekend to get out on the rocks near Clovelly today with a mate - a couple of sets during a 2 1/2 hour session had us moving back, but we found a protected corner. Had some salted cunjevoi from Maroubra from a couple of weeks ago as bait, and had some luck - seven drummer (five keepers), silver drummer, trevally and a green eel (!). Here's the best

Hey Raiders, Heading to Avoca for the first time next week. Have read earlier Raiders posts by Avoca legends like Ray R for some tips, but just wondering if there were any whiting still around off the beach or if it's time for Aussie salmon/drummer. Also is there any action in the lake for the kids? Cheers

KevS, Good advice frome Alasdair - Dolls Point is a great place for kids, plenty of small stuff to keep them interested, plus I've nailed quite a few good sized flatheads and trevallies there with the softies. Also the beach near the cafe at La Perouse is a good place for the kids, and when they get bored you can send them up to get an ice cream. Cheers

Kevy, From the beach I reckon you can't go past an Alvey reel and set-up. They're virtually indestructible, easy maintenance and can handle anything you want to chase from the sand and/or rocks. I started with a basic 600B model (I still use it as my specialist outfit for whiting) and about seven years ago traded up to a 6500BCVRR on a Wilson MT7144 rod. It'll handle anything you want to catch - I've caught whiting, flathead, salmon, tailor, trevally, leatherjackets and drummer (from the rocks) with this outfit and it's never given me any trouble. I love using an eggbeater in the estuaries when I've got soft plastics and blades on, but from the beach the Alvey works best for me. Cheers

Ta mate. Just got them with some frozen worms. Love using live worms, but they're so hard to get around Sydney. Cheers

Hey Raiders, Haven't posted for a while, work etc being keeping me away from rods but managed to get down to Bondi very early on the last two Sundays to chase some whiting. They were firing last weekend - picked up 10 and kept 5 for a feed and got 6 this morning and kept 3. Good fun if you can get there early enough to avoid the hooking a few Irish backpackers! Hope those of you who have Easter off have some luck - I'll be working. Cheers

Thanks Leo, some good info there. Cheers

Hey Raiders, Heading down to South Durras for a week in January. Any tips or locations for that area would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

Mackerel, I've had a Shimano Saros 2500F (for the past two years) on an Ian Miller 7' 6'' 2 piece Rack Raider finesse bream. I use it for chasing flathead, whiting, bream and trevally with soft plastics and blades. Obviously the Saros is not in the same class as a Stella, but if you're looking for something a lot cheaper the Saros has never let me down on the lighter stuff. I landed an 83cm flathead on this outfit (released after a measure), so it can handle a good tussle. Cheers