Fishfinder Fishing Report November 18, 2008
Finally looks like the winter blue’s are over as recently we welcomed a sudden warm 20-degree current converging in as close as 1km from the coastline off Sydney. This phenomenon only occurs like this every couple of years and believe me when it does, the fishing can be awesome!
Striped Tuna mass in close along with Mack Tuna and Kings all competing for their share of the spoils of baitfish and crab spawn pushed against the coast by these huge eddies of warm water. It’s funny how the Mutton Birds know as they migrate from Siberia only to arrive perfectly on time to share in the bounty!
On the bottom, the Snapper, Flathead, Pigfish, Morwong and Trevally move in to spawn or fatten up after spawning “as some are the opposite”. The only hard part of this kind of season is the weather system we have to endure in order to get out in our boats to fish! Insane Northerly and Southerly gales or just lengthy 15 – 20 knot days.
October generally means Snapper off Sydney, and depending where you are Nth or South these fish do vary in depth depending on where you choose to fish for them. Generally, We fish in about 60 meters for them and work in or out from there until you start to catch a few then you know what depth line the fish are on. After all this lot we finally get out with the right bait or plastics and the wait all pays off.
We have been working the 25 – 30 fathom line for October and November and it’s been brilliant as far as variety is concerned. By just drift fishing using a variety of soft plastics and baits and covering well-planned stretches of ground we’ve been catching Snapper, Morwong, Trevally, Jewfish, pigfish, Flathead, large Nannygai the odd pearl perch lost in the currents from up North and a few small Mako sharks. “Mate that’s variety”!
With the exception of the Sharks, ALL of these species have had a go at the plastics. We have been testing a variety of plastics and found that Squidgey Wrigglers, Atomic Guzzlers “large prongs” and Berkley Gulp 6 inch fat grubs are killer baits and recently I was privileged to have been given a tiny peak at the New “Stimulate infused Slam Baits” to try! “Mate frightening stuff” these things don’t last three seconds on the bottom.
The large grub baits are brilliant incorporating movement in the tail and a pheromone scent trail that have proven to be deadly little critters! We’ve worked out a simple but effective fluorocarbon rig for our plastics that is as affective as the dropper rigs that we use for baits and we are getting hammered trip after trip!
On the way home when the bite recedes a quick session spinning for Stripies and everyone is happy. “Boy these fish pull on light spin out fits.” In a bit closer for those who wish to fish hard for larger Snapper with spin gear it’s been pretty good with fish too 3 – 5 kg being caught a couple each for the table and you’re done.
The big thumper Kings should be arriving soon settling on the in shore reefs as their smaller school sized fish have already started to accommodate these grounds. Live baits and fresh squid baits all work as well as large plastic minnows and shads.
Tony Davis – Fishfinder Charters Sydney.
