[Davey G]

didn't manage to get out Satuday arvo for a crack at the fishing comp, but was up bright and early Sunday thanks to my 1 year old who thinks that 5am is a GREAT time to jump around in his cot and bang the walls.

anyway, he went back to sleep and I figured that as long as I was up I may as well take advantage of the morning.

launched at around 5.30 to a great morning, calm and incoming tide. met a fellow yak fisho near the ramp (his 2nd only time) and had a brief chat before heading off. planned to troll for kingfish then find some livebaits for big tailor or early flatties.

nothing doing on the kingfish front, so i then drifted the sandflats throwing a small bubble pop popper hoping for a bream , whiting or flattie. nothing!

changed to a gold halco laser pro 45 and trolled up a couple of chopper tailor at the head of south west arm. headed across to lilli pilli where there were schools of pilchards absolutely smashing small 2-3cm long baitfish . the action was unbelievable, a section of water 200m square was churning into a frenzy. luckily I had the trusty sabiki rig ready to go and hauled in a dozen or so pilchards (see pic).

dropped a couple of pilchards down and was immediately hooked up to a solid fish. after a couple of runs he broke free.

changed to a bigger hook and dropped another pilly down, bang another hit but this time just the back half was taken....tailor.

tried rigging again but the remaining baits were untouched.

cruised back drifting for flathead but not a touch. got off the water at 10.30 just before that bloody windstorm came up.

a good morning despite the lack of action... I'll get' em next time!

 

[Scott]

Top report Davey, how much does it get the adrenalin rushing to see a good bait school boiling on the surface? One of the best sights in life in my opinion.

Catch ya Scott

 

[onemorecast]

Good Report Dave, too bad about the kings. Tell me though are the Pilchards you refferred to also called Sardines?

Eric

 

[troppo]

You have more fish on that one line than I catch in a month, Davey G, so well done.

 

[Peril]

Sounds like a good paddle Dave. I'll have to talk to you about your pilchard technique

 

[JT]

I would imagine that those pilchards or sardines would have been great eating grilled with some sea salt and lemon juice. Am I right or am I thinking about a different species/type of sardine? The sabiki you refer to Davey is the set up with multiple little feathered lures on it is it not?

JT

 

[Davey G]

JT - yes mate, just a simple bait catching rig -you can pick them up for $2-$3 at tackle shops. Its a series of 6 small (size 8/10) hooks usually attached to small strips of reflective material /feather/ beads to attract and imitate small bait fish. All you need to do is locate the bait school and lob it overboard. I've never considered eating them (too small,too many bones?), but they are great bait although don't stay alive very long.

I have a regular spot where I catch my livies in Port Hacking, and although theres usually millions of the buggers down there normally they remain unnoticed as they very rarely surface in great numbers. However Sunday morning they were really smashing up the top of the water.

Scott - yes it's a great sight alright, but as the small fish (pilchards) were chasing smaller fish it wasn't quite the same as seeing a school of bigger pelagics smashing the pilchards. I was surprised that there weren't more larger fish sitting underneath the bait school....

Dave - no worries, happy to show you a few spots when you get down this way next. The flathead should be waking up soon, so perhaps some shallows popper action and a bit of live baiting for kings could be on the cards one of these weekends...

Onemorecast... I guess they are similar/same as sardines, i've always called them pilchards. Either way they are great bait, and luckily in good supply in my waterway.... I always manage to get a few for bait when required.

Troppo - that may be the case, but it's about all I've caught in the last month also!

 

[Daveyak]

JT - yes mate, just a simple bait catching rig -you can pick them up for $2-$3 at tackle shops. Its a series of 6 small (size 8/10) hooks usually attached to small strips of reflective material /feather/ beads to attract and imitate small bait fish.

Davey, are those rigs legal in your waters? In WA we're allowed a maximum of three hooks to any line/rig so when I've used such bait rigs (slightly bigger ones with tiny pastic & fibre prawns above each hook) I cut 'em in half & make 2 rigs out of each one. Sabiki rigs are readily available in shops here but are illegal to use as purchased.

 

[Peril]

JT - yes mate, just a simple bait catching rig -you can pick them up for $2-$3 at tackle shops. Its a series of 6 small (size 8/10) hooks usually attached to small strips of reflective material /feather/ beads to attract and imitate small bait fish.

Davey, are those rigs legal in your waters? In WA we're allowed a maximum of three hooks to any line/rig so when I've used such bait rigs (slightly bigger ones with tiny pastic & fibre prawns above each hook) I cut 'em in half & make 2 rigs out of each one. Sabiki rigs are readily available in shops here but are illegal to use as purchased.

Dave, they are legal up to six hooks when fishing for bait.

Line fishing

* No more than 4 rods or lines to be used or set by any one person at any one time.
* No more than 3 hooks or 3 gangs of hooks attached per line.(A gang of hooks should have no more than 5 hooks.)
* One line may have 6 single hooks with lure attached to be used by the method of hand jigging only.
* No more than 3 treble hooks attached to a lure.
* Jagging is illegal (hooking, or attempting to hook, fish other than through the mouth).
* Drift lines are banned.

 

[Peril]

PS Dave, Grays Point will be chockas with bream boats on Sunday - Ausbream social. I won't be there