LuckyFil Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Just back from a short van trip up to Broken Head (near Byron). Stopped near South West Rock on the way up and back to break the journeys. On the way up - about 2 weeks ago, the water was crazy cold (all the boats were calling it for 16 degrees) and it felt like when I had a swim. It was green and full of red weed, so no surprises I didn't score any fish off the rocks. On the way back this week it had changed and water was around 24 degrees and blue. Plenty of tailor off the rocks at sunset - I kept 2 and either lost or threw back the rest. Next morning had a go with cunje and bread baits and found 2 nice drummer going 45 and 43cm. Two in two casts, nothing in the 20 minutes before and nothing afterwards , but I was happy to get them in any case. They both took the baits aggressively and fought very hard so I enjoyed the session. Having one of them for dinner tonight coated in egg and panko. Don't expect to see another drummer till the cooler weather, but you never know! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masterfisho7 Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Great photo and some top fish well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakelad Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Lovely, well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted February 19, 2019 Author Share Posted February 19, 2019 On 2/15/2019 at 8:29 PM, masterfisho7 said: Great photo and some top fish well done 19 hours ago, lakelad said: Lovely, well done! Thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koalaboi Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Well done. Great fish to catch and very good on the tooth too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonD Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I never knew drummer were considered cold water fish, simply though it was because people targeted them in the cooler months due to lack of other species around. I don't notice any difference in numbers diving the headlands down here between summer and winter, I have noticed a large drop in numbers generally though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Nice work! Drummer are such good fun to target and are pretty good on the chew too! Cheers scratchie!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted February 23, 2019 Author Share Posted February 23, 2019 On 2/22/2019 at 9:58 AM, JonD said: I never knew drummer were considered cold water fish, simply though it was because people targeted them in the cooler months due to lack of other species around. I don't notice any difference in numbers diving the headlands down here between summer and winter, I have noticed a large drop in numbers generally though. Yeah I agree . I've caught plenty of them in summer but most people (including me) tend to target other species in the warmer months than in winter when there isn't much else around so they have a reputation as winter fish. Sorry to hear you've noticed such a drop off in their numbers when you've been diving I've not fished for them around Narooma but I'd heard the rocks around Merimbula were good. ustget down there one day to give em a go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonD Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 (edited) Not seeing that many in Merimbula or Eden either. Edited February 23, 2019 by JonD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelm Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 I also catch them all year when conditions allow, can't say I have noticed a decline in numbers caught, but then, I am not a real flash Drummer fisherman either, or the amount I see when diving, I saw a really big one just the other day when I was Cray diving. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonD Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Around 8 years ago they were the most common fish we would see around the washes. Just like snapper they have both become rare to find now, however I did dive a local sanctuary zone a short time ago where we found them and other species in very healthy numbers. The funny thing is I don't know anyone who really targets them, even back to the interclub fishing comps very few targeted them. One possible reason could stem back to some major storms and floods several years back which greatly changed the inner reef systems and marine growth around the headlands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelm Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Drummer fishermen tend to be "specialists" kind of like Blackfishermen, there is always incidental bycatch when fishing for other species, but to be successful, you need to target them, and doing that kind of diminishes other species possibilities, so as such, they are not often fished for. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenno64 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Great sized pigs for a feed....enjoy the fillets! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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