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Fishing Report for 24th July 08
BIG KINGFISH in Pittwater and Good Reef Fishing Offshore
Book Now on 0410 633 351 for a group or
individual booking
Hello
everyone
The last
couple of weeks has seen once again a fair few booked charters cancelled
due to strong winds and uncomfortable fishing conditions.
The charters
that have been lucky enough to get out, on most occasions, have seen a few
fish caught. There have been a few dud days in Pittwater but luckily they
mostly have turned out well.
Last week the
Evans family consisting of 8yo Max, 11yo Wilson and their dad Paul came out
for a day on Pittwater.
The days
started as usual by collecting live squid and yellowtail. Little Max showed
everyone how to do it and caught the only squid left in Pittwater as well
as most of the yellowtail.
We headed up
to our first area and downrigged. There were plenty of arches on the
sounder but the kingfish refused to eat our trolled yellowtail or squid.
After about
30 minutes the crew were getting a bit restless so I decided to haul in the
downrigger and drift over the structure with baits place in the strike
zone.
The live
squid was the first to be deployed and when the reel was locked off at the
right depth, the squid started to get a bit agitated. The next rod was set
up and deployed and it consisted of a small live yellowtail, bridle rigged
and coated in Glow Bait.
The trap was
set and it only took 5 minutes before young Wilson was hooked up and
fighting to stay in the boat whilst holding a diving kingfish.
The fish
fought hard but Wilson was up to the task and after a tiring battle a
kingfish of 84cm was flapping on the floor of the boat.
To say that
he was elated would be a bit of an understatement and rightly so for a
young angler.
The guys
ended up with other fish to end the trip but all bream and trevally were
let go to fight another day.
Well done
Wilson and Max, you make a great fishing team and will have to go fishing
with your dad more often.
This
encounter was replicated on the next 2 trips but bad weather has kept us
off the water the last few days.
The reefs that
are showing arches are changing from one day to the next, which is a little
challenging to say the least. The good thing is that they are on the move
and may be a sign of them getting hungry more often.
As mentioned
the last 3 decent kingfish that we have caught have all been on small
yellowtail. The use of Glow Bait has been purposeful so that when a big
school of baitfish has been found the Glow Bait yellowtail is no longer one
in a big school but the odd one out.
The
yellowtail can be caught at West Head but I recommend that you still catch
squid and cuttlefish before you try and track down a kingfish.
The usual
areas along The Kingfish Highway in Careel Bay are seeing most of the
action.
The Take-
Away is another area that has been good one day but crap the next.
Please be
aware that the Careel Bay area from Stokes Point through to the red marker
pole off Palm Beach and down to Barrenjoey is a NO ANCHOR or NET or TRAP
AREA. This closure has been in place for a long while now but people are
still throwing out the anchor and fishing.
PLEASE DON’T
as you are spreading the Caulerpa Weed by just fishing at anchor. Small
pieces of the weed get broken off and it floats away and starts a whole new
infestation.
Why is this
weed devastating?
It over grows
all the native seaweed and therefore those fish that depend on certain
requirements of the native weeds are driven out.
The only
species of fish that fisheries know about that will tolerate this weed are
luderick and some gobies.
Back to
fishing:
The other
area that has been a little bit of a surprise has been The Basin area.
Some mornings
whilst chasing squid kingfish and salmon have harassed us. They have chased
small lures and soft plastics but getting them to hit them has been a
different story.
The Basin
area has some trevally as well as bream for those able to anchor and burly
on a dropping tide.
The western
side of Pittwater is good for a drift at the moment with decent flathead as
well as school jewies if you can get to them before the netters.
The Mackeral
Beach area has been producing flathead whilst using soft plastics.
The squid
have been a bit tricky but with persistence a few can be caught. You can be
really lucky to stumble onto an area that is holding a fair few straight
away or be traveling about the place for an hour or two.
Most of our
squid have been caught using orange or green 1.8g jigs. Some of the squid
at this time are huge and the area that seems to be holding big squid is
Palm Beach Wharf.
The smaller
squid are coming from West head Beach as well as The Basin.
Botham’s Reef
has been a great place to finish a charter. We have been anchoring up and
burlying with a mixed bag being the result on most occasions.
These “mixed
bags” have consisted of tarwhine, trevally, leatherjackets as well as
kingfish on the odd day.
Snapper and
mowong are being caught along the coast at reefs in about 40m of water. The
snapper haven’t been massive but a few boats have scored some very nice
fish up to 13lb.
The reefs in
50m of water are seeing again snapper, mowong as well as leatherjackets as
well as flathead on the edge of the reefs.
Pick of the
spots would have to be Long Reef or if you are lucky enough to get there
before the pros, Boultons, Reggies and Mona Vale reefs.
If you feel
like fishing at the moment and don’t feel like getting wet, call us.
Our larger
vessel “Wildfish1” has a full canopy and side clears to make sure that you
stay comfortable and dry.
Remember that
the fish have to be wet, not you!
We are
targeting a variety of species at the moment and do have spaces on charters
for single people or couples to join. The charters are varied that are
available and as I write we have openings on Pittwater kingfish charters as
well as a few spots on reef fishing charters.
To book a
spot on a charter or to book the full boat Call me on 0410 633 351 or 9999
2574 and leave a message so I can return your call.
If you wish
to be put on our newsletter list please use the contact us button on the
side of the home page and leave us with your name, email address and phone
number.
All the best.
No Bananas!
Peter Le
Blang
Harbour &
Estuary Fishing Charters
www.estuaryfishing.com.au
0410 633 351
Please Note.
We are the original Harbour & Estuary Fishing Charters and take no responsibility for other charters with a
similar name to the above or our website name of Estuary Fishing Charters .com.au.
These other charter operators are in no
way connected to us so please don’t call us to complain.
Best wishes.
Peter
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