Fishing for Sydney pelagics

[Basswhisperer]

Guys looking for any info advice relating to fishing Sydney for deep water species. I want to move into chasing salmon, king fish, bonito, snapper etc. I have done plenty of kayak fishing for estuary species & am pretty comfortable locating launching spots and fishing on my own. But when it comes to fishing for pelagic's I am not so confident on what and where to look as well as safety considerations etc. If any one has any advice of where I should be looking it would be much appreciated.
Chris

[paulb]

Salmon are probably the next pelagic species on the calendar. I think from late August they start to appear around North Head. Its an easy launch from Little Manly beach and you could start around Quarantine point. Just got to watch the swell direction and size as it gets very wobbly out there in south and east swells.

There are supposedly large kings in the Harbour year round, so if you arm yourself with some fresh squid and cruise around, you never know you're luck.

[Basswhisperer]

Thanks mate this is great info is there a certain size swell you shouldn't fish in is it safe to fish on your own in these areas

[dru]

Thanks mate this is great info is there a certain size swell you shouldn't fish in is it safe to fish on your own in these areas

What sort of Hobie are you peddling?

[bunsen]

Thanks mate this is great info is there a certain size swell you shouldn't fish in is it safe to fish on your own in these areas

When the fish are around, its rare to be on your own!

[Bertros]

Thanks mate this is great info is there a certain size swell you shouldn't fish in is it safe to fish on your own in these areas

What sort of Hobie are you peddling?

+1. This will help a great deal.

I do a lot of my fishing around North Head chasing pelagics and happy for company. The Salmon are already about, though not as thick as later in winter. Still some Bonito about too, but nothing like summer quantities. Kings are the prize, but elusive, and more so this time of year.

Send me a PM if you fancy some company next time i head out if you don't mind an early start.

[dru]

Thanks mate this is great info is there a certain size swell you shouldn't fish in is it safe to fish on your own in these areas

What sort of Hobie are you peddling?

+1. This will help a great deal.

I do a lot of my fishing around North Head chasing pelagics and happy for company. The Salmon are already about, though not as thick as later in winter. Still some Bonito about too, but nothing like summer quantities. Kings are the prize, but elusive, and more so this time of year.

Send me a PM if you fancy some company next time i head out if you don't mind an early start.

Jesus, such knowledge about north head. I have my hand up. Threesome sounds cool.

[Bertros]

What sort of Hobie are you peddling?

+1. This will help a great deal.

I do a lot of my fishing around North Head chasing pelagics and happy for company. The Salmon are already about, though not as thick as later in winter. Still some Bonito about too, but nothing like summer quantities. Kings are the prize, but elusive, and more so this time of year.

Send me a PM if you fancy some company next time i head out if you don't mind an early start.

Jesus, such knowledge about north head. I have my hand up. Threesome sounds cool.

Was that warranted? I don't pretend to know everything about North Head, but have fished it out of a range of kayaks for the last 5 years and know what i feel comfortable in vs what i don't. My catch rates aren't spectacular either, but i can usually find a few fish and happy to help out someone who is just starting to fish the area or types of species i get while trolling a lures around the cliffs (plus wouldn't mind the company).

Edit: Apologies if that was in error Dru. I took the "jesus" comment rather poorly late at night. Still don't profess to have such knowledge of the place - just a little experience there is all.

[Basswhisperer]

Thankyou everyone for their replys. My hobbie is a sport and it is rigged with sounder, 1 x rod holder on the front and 2 x extended rod holders in the back. I mostly used it to target bream, flathead etc in bays rivers lakes as an alternitave to chasing bass to give me some variety as I love all styles of fishing. Over a period of time I found it harder to get enthusiastic about fishing those same areas and species looking for a new challenge, paticurly things that can pull some string and stretch my arms. A few years ago I was lucky enough to fish with a member from this site out of little manly one morning and i hooked a little king fish ever since than I have been hooked, but just have had trouble finding the time.

[paulthetaffy]

Bertros, I think Dru was being genuine there mate, at least that's how I read it

Basswhisperer, in the summer you can chase pelagics in the shelter of the harbour but at this time of year you stand a much better chance around the heads / cliffs and inshore reefs such as long reef, the colours, etc just as others have said. If you've not done much offshore work before then I'd build up to it.

On the safety aspect, North Head, just like anywhere offshore, not only is it dependent on swell direction and size (and period!!) but also importantly the wind situation. Personally I'm far more wary of the wind than the swell (within sensible limits) when heading offshore. It's hard to say "anything under X metres will be fine" becuase it's not true. The important thing is what YOU are comfortable with and turn back if you're not. Personally I find North/Middle head far more "bumpy" than when heading offshore at places like Long Reef due to the reflection and refaction of the waves off the cliffs. But the great thing about launching at little manly as Paulb suggests is that you slowly progress into the swell conditions as you go around quarantine point and head out - most days you won't suddenly be in the thick of it so you can see how comfortable conditions are before continuing on and turn back if not.

Another safety consideration is "in how" you fish for pelagics. In general they are all strong and fast so be prepared for that. Leash your rods for starters, but also make sure your rod rests are secure and drags set appropriately - if a sizeable king grabs you're lure and your drag is locked up with a rod behind your seat or not easily/quickly accessible you could be in all sorts of mess very quickly. Trolling is a popular method and many people will have two lines out at a time but this can also be a danger. Pelagics are usually in schools and its all too common to double hookup. It sounds great but it actually takes some thought and practice to control the situation and not to end up tangled or worse. Even a rat king has the power to tip you if your drag is locked and you're not controlling the rod. Even worse for hobies is when one of them finds its way under the yak and tangles in your pedals! That happens frequently with Salmon that like to come up to the surface quickly after hookup. So for me I only troll two lines when I know one of them is a low-ish breaking strain and with the drag set a little lighter than normal - I then ALWAYS take the heavy rod first on a double hookup so I can let the fish run easily on the other and snap my way out of a tangle if one occurs.

Paul

[Basswhisperer]

Thanks Paul this is very helpful. There is just so many factors at play when you start to fish in open water situations. I really apreciate everybodys help. My goal is to most likley try a few spots over the winter period so I can build my confidence up and by spring and summer start to have an undertsanding of the best ways to target these species so i can be more sucesfull.
Last summer I launched from Berry bay near Waverton and trolled around some squid baits. I had lots of small hits but no hook ups, The part that i didnt feel comfortable with was when I ventured out arond the corner near Milson point the boat traffic was unbeliveable and conditions were slopy and lumpy I felt very inadequate always looking over my shoulder. Is this the norm for the harbour reigion or is some places better than others?

[avayak]

Hi BW,
Balmoral is another excellent place to start. Safe beach launch and good coffee and B&E rolls for afters. Its a good transition between harbour and sea. Middle Head can be good for taylor, salmon, bonito and the odd king. Avoid an easterly swell though as the reflected swell can be unpleasant. From Balmoral it is also a short trip to Grotto Pt and Dobroyd Head for the previously mentioned species. There are a bunch of markers in this area that often hold fish. Watch out for the bommie at Dobroyd if there is swell. Oh and Dru, if your feeling rejected and want to talk about it, remember, we are here for you mate.

[paulthetaffy]

I've always felt like that in the harbour and much prefer being outside (I usually fish long reef). I "cut my teeth" at middle head launching from balmoral as its a good training ground for open water, but always felt uncomfortable out the front of middle head with all the boat traffic. The big cruisers and fly-bridge boats in particular seem to generate a lot of lumpy water and you never know if they've seen you. I find north harbour is quieter (once you dodge the manly ferry) but once you round quarantine point and move towards the heads there's usually a fair bit of boat traffic. But they're usually fishos so most of them are appreciative of kayaks being around (maybe!). North harbour has some great reefs and markers that pull the pelagics in and I usually end up there when the swell is up preventing an offshore trip. Middle harbour (in summer) is worth trolling for pelagics too. There's some around now too (I caught a salmon up at roseville bridge last week) but they're scarce.

[paulthetaffy]

Looks like we're on the same wavelength there Gary!

[dru]

Bertros, I think Dru was being genuine there mate, at least that's how I read it

Thanks Taffy, thought I was loosing my nut. God knows I piss people off occasionally, but don't get this one. Bertros, how exactly have I caused offence? Baffles me. No don't bother answering. I withdraw my request. Happy to fish the heads solo.