HAIRTAIL - Fun and fresh air and specimen gathering

[mrsswordfisherman]

@swordfisherman and I have been targeting the enigmatic hairtail this past week.

It has been for two purposes, fun and fresh air and assisting a young raider who is doing a PhD studying Blue Marlin. Due to COVID-19 he has been unable to go offshore and decided to do some research. He chose hairtail.

@Tag117 aka Tristan had posted a request for hairtail samples here in Fishing Chat a few days ago. As luck had it we were able to provide him with samples.

I have decided to write this report in a different style as we have many new anglers on board lately. I hope it is helpful to those unfamiliar with this style of fishing. To the experienced raiders enjoy the pics 😊

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DATE - 27/5/2020 Arrived at 11am and returned around 7pm

LOCATION – Cowan Creek Hawksbury NSW

Several spots available Waratah Bay, Jerusalem Bay, Smiths Creek, Coal and Candle Creek, Akuna Bay during hairtail season (late April to September). These areas become very busy during the season – density of other anglers can be at a high level.

Parking at Apple Tree Bay to launch at the wharf will cost $12 for park entry. You can check wharf details in our Boat Ramp section. Pensioners and concession card holders can get an annual free pass from NSW Parks and Wildlife which gives free entry to over 45 parks.

WEATHER – I had a look on our Deckee boating app and found the current conditions. @Mike McKiernan and the team have done a great job building this. I located Jerusalem Bay see attached pics of the current conditions including relative humidity, wind, temperature, air pressure, rain (chance of), swell, tides, moon phases and outlook for the week. Raiders make sure you get this goldmine of info onto your smartphones, tablets and laptops.

WATER CONDITION – Very clear and temperature preferably under 20 degrees Celsius

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THE JUICY DETAILS

The conditions were perfect no wind, sunny and clear and no-one else around …….. ahhhhh the life of the retiree.

Launched at Apple Tree Bay and had a pleasant ride up to Jerusalem Bay. One boat only in the distance and we chose the best possie. Down with the sand anchor as the bottom is fairly muddy.

Swordie had been making some whizz bang new rigs and we were keen to see what they produced. We started fishing for small yellowtail with a Sabiki jig in size 10 and a small snap on sinker baited with tiny pieces of peeled prawn. This is the only way Stewy can catch livies apparently!!!!!!

This worked fine and they were kept in the water in a collapsible wire keeper net for use later, either live or filleted (a hardy bait).

We had 2 rods baited up with half pilchards on two 3/0s ganged and 30 cms of single strand 60lb wire and then swordie attaches the new “secret weapons” – FLASHING DEEP DROP LED LIGHTS!

First drop and we are on and it was only midday in the brilliant sunshine. We are very excited at this point and feel that we will bag out (10 per person). The bites came thick and fast most of the afternoon. We had two double hooks ups and we were laughing and yahooing as we poled them over the side.

We had plenty of war wounds to our hands and legs particularly on the double hook ups. I was fighting mine and Stewy had his boated and it was flapping around furiously whipping at my leg. We both ended up with little paper like cuts from the razor like teeth.

It was a bit comical when Stewy yelled “quick get the *##$% pliers”. I turned and saw a hairtail latched onto his track suit pants by the ganged hooks. I did think for a fleeting moment I should just leave it there but resisted and cut the hook with surgical precision to release him from certain death. Harden up you sook!

Most fish were hooked at about 3 to 4 meters depth and some even shallower. We dropped as many as we landed at least. They were very aggressive and Stewy got busted off twice.

Around 4pm a few boats started to creep into the bay with plenty catching fish. The sun was going down and I cooked us a bacon and egg sandwich. We tidied up and headed back to the ramp. All bays were full and lit up like Christmas and we were glad we arrived and fished during the daylight hours.

We pulled up at the wharf and I heard “Donna is that you?” It was Tristan and we spent the next hour chatting and filleting our catch. Tristan was able to explain some interesting facts about the anatomy of hairtail.

He also told us that there was only one academic paper on his search about hairtail. It just happened to be the paper written by the NSW DPI scientists that we assisted at one of our fishraider 3 day socials several years ago. It is being reviewed and ready to be published.

Fishraider was always known for the legendary assault on hairtail at Cowan each year and it was even reported on annually in the Sydney Morning Herald by fishing and boating journalist David Lockwood (now deceased 2018)

Raiders ALWAYS catch hairtail. Here's hoping we can have a social in 2021.

Hope you have enjoyed this report

THE SCIENTIFIC DETAIL

Targeted Species - Hairtail

INFO FROM NSW DPI – https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/fish-species/species-list/hairtail

Scientific name

Trichiurus lepturus

Characteristics

Has a silver, ribbon-like body that ends in a thin whip-like tail. Hairtail have large, slashing teeth that should be avoided. They lack both caudal and ventral fins. Hairtail can be caught all year round though they are more commonly taken during winter months.

Size

Hairtail grow to a maximum length of 2.5 m and approximately 5 kg in weight.

Distribution

Large schools are infrequently found in coastal bays and estuaries on Australia's east and west coast. Recreational fishers in NSW have traditionally caught this fish in Cowan Creek in the Hawkesbury River system just north of Sydney, with catches also recorded in Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay.

Bag limit is 10

 

 

 

[blairy69]

Wow - awesome effort on this post - very informative well done

 

[Scratchie]

Now that’s a report!!! 💪💪💪

Congrats guys on the many captures and for helping out yet another raider. Win win all round I say! 
 

cheers scratchie!!! 

[zmk1962]

Donna... WOW.  You have set the gold standard for reports. !! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Awesome fishing effort as well. 
Cheers Zoran 

[61 crusher]

Wow what a fantastic report even a green gilled newbie could go out & be successful with that detailed information 👍😎👍 

i think I’m going to have to rustle up some bacon & eggs next time & ditch the bananas 😂 

PS  great photos 

[swordfisherman]

Donna actually smashed it all afternoon and caught her bag limit

[kingie chaser]

Wow, thanks for the amazing detailed report & information.

 

Looks like smiles allround 

[teddybear]

Wow, great report donna, great to see the flashing lights works 😉😉

[J0nn0]

WOW

what a report!

well done swordies, killing it

[lucapalooka76]

Oh my 🥺. Post level 💯. It's time to up my post game with some guest commentary from Rex Hunt.

[Berleyguts]

Great report, Donna! I felt like I was there. 😎

“Raiders ALWAYS catch hairtail”? I bet I could dispel that myth! 😂

[Yowie]

A very informative report there Donna, must have filled in the day to prepare it, and, a great catch to prove your efforts.

[Dalucius]

Fantastic report. Good to see you out on the water again.

Edited May 29, 2020 by Dalucius

[slam354]

Good report there what hook set up do you use when using the  live bait option and sinker size. Do you go to the bottom and set the bait or do you drift it down unweighted.

[Tag117]

Awesome report and awesome to see you guys down there!

 

Cheers for the help with the samples, if any raiders are keen to get involved with hairtail research, as Donna said, dont hesitate to message me :)

[mrsswordfisherman]

10 hours ago, slam354 said:

Good report there what hook set up do you use when using the  live bait option and sinker size. Do you go to the bottom and set the bait or do you drift it down unweighted.

Use the same two 3/0 gangs and just use the bottom hook inserted above the lateral line just behind the eyes in the shoulder. The weight of the LED light will keep the livies down as only small around 3”. 

[Pickles]

Donna, you’re a deadset legend, what an outstanding report.

All secrets disclosed, anyone one wanting to target Hairtail have all the tips and tricks here.

The only additional thing I do when targeting hairtail is to put a curtain ring on top of the rig,(wire or leader) to Grab the rig and save grabbing the fish. Hairtail “bites” bleed forever. I take “micropore” paper bandage tape when the inevitable happens.

 

thanks for sharing

 

[big Neil]

A fabulous report in every way. If I ever get the chance to go target them I'll feel pretty confident with this to guide me. Thanks for taking the time to compile it Donna and Swordy.

Cheers, bn

[tobycb]

Excellent report, thanks @mrsswordfisherman 

regards Toby

[dunc333]

good to see the hairtail never fail  with you guys as always chjeers dunc333 

[slam354]

On 5/30/2020 at 8:17 PM, mrsswordfisherman said:

Use the same two 3/0 gangs and just use the bottom hook inserted above the lateral line just behind the eyes in the shoulder. The weight of the LED light will keep the livies down as only small around 3”. 

Ok thanks slid it matter if you used both hooks when preparing the live bait or do you use one hook to not injure the live bait?

[nutsaboutfishing]

On 5/29/2020 at 3:57 PM, mrsswordfisherman said:

I turned and saw a hairtail latched onto his track suit pants by the ganged hooks. I did think for a fleeting moment I should just leave it there but resisted and cut the hook with surgical precision to release him from certain death. Harden up you sook!

Next time please take a photo first!!