Brisbane River Session #161 and #162

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

This report will be about the last two unsuccessful sessions I've had in the Brissy River. One of them was at my local park and another was on a weeknight at a spot downstream. Even though I didn't get any fish I still had some fun getting out and fishing, which won't be happening again until I'm done my exams  . 

The first was two Fridays ago, and at the local park. Straight after school I got the early train home, rigged a couple of rods and went to the park. I chucked out a berley brick at the spot I would be cast netting, but to my disappointment I didn't get many baitfish in the first 20 or so casts at varied spots. It was a bit before five now, and I hadn't caught any fish on dead bony bream like I hoped I might. I eventually got lucky and got half a dozen anchovies in the net off the front of the jetty, which were promptly deployed.

At a bit past 5 Charlie came down, so we decided to stay a bit into the night. I continued cast netting and caught a little bass, which was cool to see, and after that was released I then got a better sized mullet (40cm). That provided a bit of excitement, and I decided to keep it for strip/crab bait (filleted it and kept the frame too). After I caught the mullet, it was getting quiet, and things were looking down when I got a catfish in the cast net.

We still weren't getting any bites, but because it was dark I decided to tie my headtorch at an angle to the water where I was netting to see if it would attract bait and just to help me see what I was catching a bit better. It definitely helped me see what I was catching - nothing - until I got a 35cm or so bony bream in the net which was also kept for strip and crab bait. We kept fishing until a bit before seven after this, but we could hardly lose a bait so left and got dinner at mine after we cleaned up.

Keepers

Stats of Trip:

Tide: 10AM, .4M, Low, 4:30PM, 1.9M, High, 10:30PM, .8M, Low

Moon Phase: 51.5%

Air Pressure: About 1008 - maybe why the fish were off (low air pressure)

Humidity: 30-50%

Fish Caught: Bass, catfish

Bait Caught: Mullet, bony bream, anchovies

Tackle Used: 15, 20, 30 pound braid mainlines, 10, 20, 30 pound leaders, size 2 and 6 ball sinkers, large barrel swivels, 3/o suicide and 5/o circle hooks, Abu Garcia Ambassedeur on Ugly Stik, Abu Garcia Nexus on Shimano Sedona 6000, Shimano Raider 4-7KG on SHimano Stradic 3000. 

Overall Success Rate: 30% - Pretty quiet night

The session after that was a treat for me because my brother and sister were away on school camp, meaning I managed to convince my Dad @Cavvy to take me out to try for some fish and prawns at a spot I hadn't been to for a while last Wednesday night. We arrived a bit past seven, and because it was about to be high tide got some burley in, caught some livies and got some baits out, then went back to netting for prawns. Things were looking down when after about 20 throws we hadn't seen a single prawn, so I went and checked the rods. Nothing. There was one other fisherman who was using dead/servo prawns, and he was catching a couple catfish, from what I saw. 

I got back to cast netting and eventually managed about 20 good sized herring in one throw, which was pleasant as it gave me some better livies than Ponyfish and biddies. When I was throwing in a deeper part of the fishing spot I managed a bullrout in the net as well, which wasn't welcome. . After casting until 8:30PM, Dad and I were both ready to go home when we had only caught one prawn between the two of us. Another cast netter there caught some herring, and interestingly the person fishing was dropping there bait straight down and almost immediately pulling in a fat and ugly sea toad (which is what chewed clean through my leader at the end of the night). 

Stats of Trip:

Tide: 2PM. .6M, Low, 8:40PM, 2.4M, High

Moon Phase: 8%, decreasing 

Bait Caught: Silver biddies, herring, ponyfish, prawns

Bait Used: Herring, ponyfish, silver biddies, prawns

Fish Caught: 1 x bullrout

Tackle Used: 30 pound braid mainlines and fluoro leader, 5/o circle hooks, size 4 star sinkers, Kmart 8 foot rod and Abu Garcia Nexus, Shimano Baitrunner AERO and Sedona 6000. 

Air Pressure: 1014

Humidity: 51%

Thanks for reading,

Cheers Hamish

[Angry51]

Sometimes Hamish it's just good to get out there, not so much how much you catch

just to be out there with your Dad or your mates..

Good report mate.

[ellicat]

Keep at it Hamish. Can't be long before the threadies are about again.

Lucky the bullrout didn't get you.

[Hweebe]

@AUS-BNE-FISHO what about always having a heavy / shark rod setup whilst you are targeting other fish. I think at your local you are always a chance of a shark for some fun (if you can call it that).

This will keep it interesting in between hits / bites on other fish.

 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

21 hours ago, Angry51 said:

Sometimes Hamish it's just good to get out there, not so much how much you catch

just to be out there with your Dad or your mates..

Good report mate.

Thanks Angry, thats definitely true!

20 hours ago, ellicat said:

Keep at it Hamish. Can't be long before the threadies are about again.

Lucky the bullrout didn't get you.

Thanks Brian, hopefully they are around soon. 

2 hours ago, Hweebe said:

@AUS-BNE-FISHO what about always having a heavy / shark rod setup whilst you are targeting other fish. I think at your local you are always a chance of a shark for some fun (if you can call it that).

This will keep it interesting in between hits / bites on other fish.

 

Before the floods I always had a rod with a livie or strip bait for sharks or threadies, now there's not much space on the jetty but I always have a bigger livie out in the deeper water. Definitely a good idea though Hweebe. 

Cheers Hamish