Kingfish mayhem off Sydney - Raiders get together to celebrate lockdown freedom.

[Pickles]

Had a great day on kingfish on Friday with Raider @Emil and his young bloke Pat off sydney on Friday. We left early, having heard reports of large number of boats at the Roseville ramp mid week. As it was, the launch in the dark was easy and we headed off to the bait grounds for a quick tank full of yakkas. We didn’t try for squid as intel from a few of the charter operators was that they were small and hard to get. 
Emil’s centre console TABS is outstandingly well set up and a dry solid hull with lots of fishing space. It was my first Harbour Kingie session in 16 weeks and first time out for Emil for 20 weeks.

Being Just after the full moon, 1m swell, slight SW wind and clear day with high pressure, fishing on a rising tide and bait easy to get, it was set to be a good day.

God was good and we were not disappointed landing 20 odd kings and dropping quite a few also- unfortunately all rats and nothing over 65, but for the first Kngfish session since lockdown, it was a great day with Emil, who is a legend and his son Pat a top bloke (Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree). Being 2 humble blokes, neither wanted to be in a pic for the report (not used to catching small kings maybe).

We fished with the downrigger, trailing a live yakka; live baiting an unweighted yakka and flicking 6” soft plastic stick baits and minnows (motor oil,  amber, white - colour didn’t seem to matter). We also caught several trailing a line bait (unweighted yakka pinned in the nose).

leader weight was only 40lb, hooks were Gamagatsu and Mustad 7/0s and SP hooks were no5  3/8oz.

Its great when Raiders can get together and share camaraderie- and catch a heap of fish. The only mishap for the day was when I almost drowned the three of us by falling backwards on the throttle whilst helping Pat unhook a very lively Kingie and thrust us forward at top speed.

Edited October 22, 2021 by Pickles

[masterfisho7]

Nice report looks like you had a great day well done love the photo   

[BigHorse]

Awesome report there pickles!

Sounds like an awesome day on the water. 

[zmk1962]

Great report Bob. Sounds like an action packed day … right to the end. Pity Emil and Pat weren’t keen on a snap - it’s always good to be able to recognize a fellow raider waiting but perhaps they’re waiting to catch that trophy king !  Glad the Kingie season is starting up. 
cheers Zoran 

[Rebel]

Great day out with mates. Well done.

[GordoRetired]

Beats my attempt at Harbor Kings a couple of weeks back when I slow trolled Yakkas around for 4 or 5 hours and did not get a touch. You are the Harbor King expert. 🙂

[Restyle]

good to see the kings  moving into the habour. Was wondering when they'd be moving into the hacking last night.

Shame there all rats, but still plenty of fun and sure seemed to have been a awesome day back out in the harbour

[Sea Ranger]

I hope to get out soon.  Great report mate

[mrsswordfisherman]

Good report @Pickles

The kingfish are on indeed. Seems there were lots of raiders cruising around yesterday. 

Swordie and shroom were out at the usual spots. 

We had a very delicious feed of kingfish last night with some cryovac'd for later 

[GordoRetired]

41 minutes ago, mrsswordfisherman said:

Good report @Pickles

The kingfish are on indeed. Seems there were lots of raiders cruising around yesterday. 

Swordie and shroom were out at the usual spots. 

We had a very delicious feed of kingfish last night with some cryovac'd for later 

And as usual, while us mere mortals catch throwbacks Your old man brings home keepers for the table. Big Kingies, Huge Snapper. Bet if he went for a Flathead drift he would come back with a boat load of 60cm+ fish 🙂  🙂

[61 crusher]

Great report Bob & good to see the kings are around, might have to start calling you the kingy whisperer 😁

[mrsswordfisherman]

18 hours ago, motiondave said:

Id say early mornings for fishing for sure, but when one works till 1 am, and tries to sleep by 2am, then up at 7 am to get damn kids up....Im NOT a morning person

so any advice on afternoon kingfishing with be greatly appreciated, but not on this thread as it highjacks this one.

 

Start a new thread @motiondave  

[PaddyT]

It was a fun day Bob-pity we couldnt crack a better fish , its interesting to see the slightly different philosophies we have towards catching kings-im very much a downrigger and lure chucker whereas you very much like the drop a bait on their heads approach-both of which were successful  on Friday. Mind you catching a slimy on a live yakka was a first for me!!! The ocean always has its suprises!!

[Isaac Ct]

Sounds like a great day out! Well done

[Pickles]

2 hours ago, PaddyT said:

It was a fun day Bob-pity we couldnt crack a better fish , its interesting to see the slightly different philosophies we have towards catching kings-im very much a downrigger and lure chucker whereas you very much like the drop a bait on their heads approach-both of which were successful  on Friday. Mind you catching a slimy on a live yakka was a first for me!!! The ocean always has its suprises!!

Especially when the slimy was only slightly bigger than the Yakka.

it was a magic day, thanks again.