Berleyguts Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I was desperate for a fish today before working all weekend while (it seems) everyone else in Port Stephens will be fishing in the Billfish Shootout! ? The forecast was for around 2.0m easterly swell and I wasn’t too sure if I’d want to do the run to Broughton. A message from Raider Jeff “Willy Weather” Scratchie had me thinking it might be a bit lumpy and with my stomach being a bit dodgy from some antibiotics I’m on, I decided I’d fish inside the Bay (where I wouldn’t be too far from “amenities” if needed lol!) and rigged accordingly. Fishing in the Bay, I could make do with the half a tank of fuel I had - no need to bother filling up. I hit the Soldiers Point ramp a bit after 5 and tried for some livies, with the view to trying a hole for jew around the turn of the tide later in the morning. There was bait about but I couldn’t seem to catch them. As the sun rose over Corlette Point, I dropped a couple of crab traps down where I’d had some success before and tried a flathead drift, flicking a soft plastic and drifting a bait and a squid jig. Managed a couple of squid and they went in the tank for later. I always like fishing along this peaceful stretch of beach but today was more special as I was treated (not the first time ?) to the sight of an extremely fit bikini clad blonde exercising her dog, up and down the beach... up and down... up and down... I was mesmerised! After checking the crab traps (nothing yet), I decided to try Corlette Wreck, not because it was slow where I was (I think I could have caught a few more squid) but because the bikini clad blonde and her dog had moved on. ? There was bait on the wreck but I didn’t do any good so I moved upstream to a hole about 34m deep off the entrance to a little cove where Scratchie suggested I try for jew. I sent down a couple of baits, one of them a live squid on a twin smelled hook rig. Things were slow but as the tide started to turn, the Baitrunner with the squid on it, started slowly taking off. The result was a small jew, 45cm... he’d taken the squid deep and had thrown his stomach. I decided to cut one of the hooks off rather than try and get it out and poked his stomach back in. A quick photo then I swam him beside the boat for a while, then he gave a couple of kicks and swam slowly to the depths. I hope he makes it. Scratchie messaged me to tell me how good the sea looked, so dammit, things were slow in the bay and my stomach was feeling better, so I decided to duck outside, even though I left my trolling rods at home! I needed a couple of bonito at least, to salvage the day. I headed straight to Boondelbah Island, my mainstay spot for bonnies. My go to lure, a Xrap in ghost, was at home on my 6kg trolling outfit, so I dug out a red head minnow and trolled it on braid, with a 4kg breakaway, why not?! Each pass earned a fish and I managed 6 bonito and a 45cm tailor to salvage the day. The only trouble with catching bonito... they make a hell of a mess of the boat, spurting blood everywhere! Not a spectacular day but still great to be out there! Not Broughton but bonito and a blonde in a bikini... that’ll do! (And I think I’m going to try that beach again soon!) ?. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Nice work bazza! A Jew is Jew no matter what size. A few bonito, tailor and a nice blonde is a successful day on anyone’s books! Glad I could help. Anyway, her number is 1300 get a life! Haha! Cheers scratchie!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock&Beach Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Great report mate. Hope you enjoy those Bonito. Chicken of the sea my kids say. Yummmmm Cheers R&B 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berleyguts Posted February 16, 2018 Author Share Posted February 16, 2018 54 minutes ago, Scratchie said: Nice work bazza! A Jew is Jew no matter what size. A few bonito, tailor and a nice blonde is a successful day on anyone’s books! Glad I could help. Anyway, her number is 1300 get a life! Haha! Cheers scratchie!!! Yeah, thanks Jeff! That hole’s worth a shot on the tide change in the evening, I reckon! ? I think it would have been OK up at Broughton... I just would have copped a bit more spray. I didn’t hear much chatter from the marlin boys... what channel are they usually on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masterfisho7 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Well done Bazza great report Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big Neil Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I really enjoyed your report Baz. We fishos must develop a stoic resolve I reckon when we can turn an ordinary day into something special. Mind you the sight of the dog escorting the lady jogger along the beach and a beautiful sunrise (as pictured) would have some minor influence, eh? What are the bonito like to eat or do you use them for bait? Cheers Baz and keep those reports coming, bn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berleyguts Posted February 16, 2018 Author Share Posted February 16, 2018 1 hour ago, big Neil said: I really enjoyed your report Baz. We fishos must develop a stoic resolve I reckon when we can turn an ordinary day into something special. Mind you the sight of the dog escorting the lady jogger along the beach and a beautiful sunrise (as pictured) would have some minor influence, eh? What are the bonito like to eat or do you use them for bait? Cheers Baz and keep those reports coming, bn Thanks Neil. Bonito is tasty as sashimi and I don’t mind it grilled fresh on the BBQ. It is supposed to be great smoked but I haven’t tried that yet... must do! It doesn’t freeze too well... it goes soft. However, I’m going to try making Thai fish cakes with it. I keep one or two for bait but I really should start salting down the fillets. I keep the frames for use in the crab traps. They were picked clean yesterday by something but no crabs were caught in the traps. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big Neil Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 13 hours ago, Berleyguts said: Thanks Neil. Bonito is tasty as sashimi and I don’t mind it grilled fresh on the BBQ. It is supposed to be great smoked but I haven’t tried that yet... must do! It doesn’t freeze too well... it goes soft. However, I’m going to try making Thai fish cakes with it. I keep one or two for bait but I really should start salting down the fillets. I keep the frames for use in the crab traps. They were picked clean yesterday by something but no crabs were caught in the traps. ? Thanks for that info Baz. I only know that they're good fun on light gear. Caught some when I've been on charters out of Kiama. They were used for bait. Cheers, bn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berleyguts Posted February 17, 2018 Author Share Posted February 17, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, big Neil said: Thanks for that info Baz. I only know that they're good fun on light gear. Caught some when I've been on charters out of Kiama. They were used for bait. Cheers, bn If you keep them to eat, you need to bleed them. Gets blood everywhere! I seasoned some fillets this morning (also tailor), rolled them in flour and cooked them on the BBQ for breakfast. Yum! And they are fun on light gear. I usually just troll them up but when I hook one, I usually get a few following it up. When I have my wife or son fishing with me, I should get them to drop a jig down on light gear... oh hang on... I can drop the jig down because my son alwaye grabs the rod when trolling! ??? I’d love to get one on 2kg! Edited February 17, 2018 by Berleyguts 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smasher Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 On 16/02/2018 at 10:00 PM, Berleyguts said: The only trouble with catching bonito... they make a hell of a mess of the boat, spurting blood everywhere! I put them head down into a bucket, stick a knife in under the gills and cut right through. Then carefully rinse over the side with fresh seawater 3-4 times. Result is a bled bonito with no blood in the boat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickmarlin62 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 geez baz your makin me want to move back up the bay...theres always something to catch and something to look at..lifes hard..you lucky bugger..keep the reports comin..its my comp weekend and I havnt launched the boat cause of the wind..typical..oh well theres always next weekend....rick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berleyguts Posted February 18, 2018 Author Share Posted February 18, 2018 3 hours ago, Smasher said: I put them head down into a bucket, stick a knife in under the gills and cut right through. Then carefully rinse over the side with fresh seawater 3-4 times. Result is a bled bonito with no blood in the boat. Thanks, I’ll give that a go next time. I’m sure I’m tempting fate by slicing a kicking bonito while leaning over the side then moving it back and forth in the water... bound to have a Noah come up one day for a bite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great_White Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Just love Bonito's !!! I Really Miss catching them now-a-days .. Can't even find them at the Fishmongers over here in S.A .... spewing Yes, tasty chicken of the seas right below the Albacore !!!!! Great write up ! Cheers Great_White 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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