neilm

I know this area well, and land based from McCarrs creek reserve has never been that successful for me (or other I have seen fishing there. My best catch was a 35cm bream. At the reserve and further upstream, the water is usually very clear and shallow (it's deep off the end of the jetty), but seems to be quite featureless. It's also not sand or mud bottom, but smallish gravel.There are some overhanging trees down one side of the reserve where I have cast plastics without success. There are abundant poddy mullet which says to me that there aren't that many predators. I think Dave (post before this one) has exactly the right idea - targetting bream under the boats and at high tide in the mangroves opposite the park. You do get occasional people down there at night fishing off the jetty - I don't know if they're more successful. It looks really fishy but has never really delivered for me.

I used to fish Fisherman's in the evening with a large fish flesh bait for huge rays. I lost more than I landed and lost a lot of tackle on the bottom so gave up and haven't fished there for years. Narrabeen & Collaroy are good for all the normal beach suspects when you find a gutter that's producing. The trick is to keep moving until you find it. Worms work well for all species, half a pillie is also a versatile bait but you are unlikely to get dart or whiting.

Great report, I love Darwin (been there 3 times now, once without fishing ) there is some wonderful fishing to be had, but it's hard landbased due to the 8 metre tides.

I thought about getting a drone too but the law states they must be operated more than 30 m away from anyone who is not directly associated with the operation (people being filmed are not considered to be directly associated with the RPA’s operation) which kinda limits their usefulness on a Sydney beach...

Hi John, When are you due back in Sydney? We'll have to get out for a session. I was in your Newcastle for the day a few weeks ago (I have a mate in Newton Aycliffe) when I was visiting family over there. If I'd had any more time I would have looked you up - but you're probably in Scotland for the summer fishing for bass? Cheers, Neil

Massive rays down there, and also many many snags, I've lost a lot of gear there over the years.

Email sent: Dear Members, To declare my position, I am a keen recreational fisher, I am 51 years old, male and I live in the Pittwater council area. I am writing to you to express my profound concern over the state of the NSW fisheries, in particular the Pittwater and lower Hawkesbury River areas. The situation is exacerbated by the increase in the allowance for commercial fishers to take Australian Salmon. You should be aware that it is entirely possible that shark attacks on humans will increase as salmon form a vital part of the food chain for sharks and other pelagic fish species, not to mention their value as a highly rated sport fish that is invariably returned to the water due to their unattractive nature as a table fish. To return to Pittwater and the lower Hawesbury River, commercial fishers have been using destructive netting practices for years, destroying the sea grass beds and assisting in the distribution of the noxious caulerpa taxifolia weed throughout Pittwater. The impact of this appears to be the degradation of the fish nurseries in which fish stocks attempt to replenish themselves, which seems to be having a disastrous effect on the fish population of Pittwater. I have written to you previous occasions regarding the possibility of a recreations only fishing haven for Pittwater, which incidentally I do still strongly support, I urge you to please review the increase in Australian Salmon catch limits for commercial operators as well as seriously consider the limiting of commercial operations in Pittwater. Local businesses depend on fishers coming from out of the area to fish Pittwater, we have an excellent boat ramp and other facilities that are a very attractive proposition to people wanting to have a vacation in the area, the only problem is that there are no fish. I have a small aluminium boat that is conveniently located on the shores of Pittwater. I can simply slide it into the water and have a very enjoyable day on the water - I am now considering buying a trailer so I can fish elsewhere. If that is not a ridiculous state of affars then I don't know what is. Yours Faithfully,

My standard plastic gear for kingies is an 8-15lb 6' loomis stick and a twinpower 4000 with 14 lb fireline and a 20 or 30lb flouro leader. Drag locked. Awesome setup, you know when you've got a king on. cheers

I think it's likely that the fish will take you straight into the pylons as soon as you put any pressure on him. Kings don't usually swim away from structure, that's what makes them hard to get landbased. I believe, like all the others, that you need a tackle upgrade. I'd be using a minimum 30lb main line/50 or 80lb leader for land based kings.

Bloopin's on the money re: the double uni. I have recently returned from the albright back to the slim beauty because I found that even a well trimmed tag end caught on the guides when casting, and also due to the catching it seemed to weaken after time. I have never had a slim beauty slip - I use purpose designed glue on the knot (can't remember what it's called)if I'm going offshore for tuna etc., I never use superglue in case there is a reaction with the mono or flouro leader. Cheers.

G'day Steve, you're right these are not isolated incidents and it is not limited to recreational fishers. I have been in situations where I have seen commercial fishers riding roughshod over rec fishers, and been equally abusive. The problem is not limited to boaties either - you only have to go to any wharf in Sydney harbour to experience abuse and unpleasant behaviour. It is a sad reflection on the way society is today, and not limited to fishers, you can find it in a car park, in a pub, anywhere. Very very sad.

Nice report. I tried Zander when I was in Switzerland a few years back - nothing to write home about, rather nondescript and muddy. I guess it would be better if it were held (alive) in clean water for a day or two before eating, makes all the difference to pike I'm told. Cheers,

They quite often keep them is very clean water for a day or so after taking them out of the muddy water and it flushes out some of the muddy flavour, then you have to get through the bones - apparently they're very boney. As an eating fish they make really good fertilser. Cheers

Councils are already campaigning to ban fishing on wharves all round the place,(eg. Canada Bay, Clifton Gardens), not sure how sucessful they've been so far, but the fools who continue leave litter, line and hang around drinking and swearing at passers by will mean than land based fishing in the harbour will become confined to rocks and beaches. This minority unfortunately when you approach them and point out the error in their ways will quite often become quite aggressive. Councils are not going to pay large amounts of money to Security firms to approach these louts - they'll simply close off the wharves after a certain time and ask the Police to patrol. I wish I knew what the answer was, but it's not vigilante groups.

sensational work steve, father's day at it's best.