AUS-BNE-FISHO

Take it easy mate.

@mangajack Getting there slowly.
Not allowed to do anything till the end of April.

Caught this live lobby with my bare hands

Looks like my season has come to an end, and there's some worrying developments about its future.
Once the trout move off to spawn it takes a couple of months for them to move back, then the Cod qo quite followed by the yellow belly as they stop actively feeding in the cold months.
Traditionally I would then focus on the redfin with the ultra light gear, but due to an epidemic of red spot they have been all but wiped out this summer, and that's a huge worry.
Redfin are the main food source for the other species and without that previously inexhaustible supply, the other species won't be feeding up as well, worse yet there are reports of red spit being found on the yellow belly in the lake, if it kills them off then with both Main predators of young carp, their population will explode.
If that does happen, then it's bound to spread the entire length of the murry.
But anyway I look at it, when the seasons change and the fish come back on there could be a major hit to my season, even this year my average yellow belly went from around 8lb down to around 3-4lb. So it is possible it's already being felt.

Hey Breaming with bro
I must say I don't know where they're coming from. The only reason braid would snap on the cast (in my opinion), is if a big leader knot is tied and hits one of the guides (bye, bye, shark rig 😉), or if the bail arm flicks over mid cast and the line snaps. Maybe they got an unlucky spool?
My line doesn't snap when I give it a big cast, and I've still caught half-decent fish on it. There is only one way to find out though if you like it or not, so you may want to give it a try... I don't think I just got a 'lucky spool' either because I have it on my 1000 Sienna, 2500 Shinobi (Diawa), 650 Penn, A crappy Size 5000 Jarvis Walker reel that we've had for five years and still catches fish, and it is soon to be put on my 2500 Nasci 🙂 
Cheers Hamish

Hi Breaming with bro
I've never used it, but there's only one way to find out if it's good! 
If you want some cheaper braid, I can personally vouch for Pryml. They make good gear, and there braid is very good. I use it on my heavy and light rods. I can fit approx. 150M on a size 1000 Sienna, which is pretty good seeing as though it's ten pound. 
J-braid is a bit to much for my dad just to go splashing out on all the time, hence why we use Pryml. 
Cheers Hamish

Towards the end of February I headed out in the bay in search of some Jew, I found them and had an absolute shocker!, I lost 4 fish (& plastics) to line break as I was going extremely hard on these fish to try and avoid being sharked, I also got snagged once, got snipped by a mackerel, and when I finally managed to get one close to the boat it got sharked about 3 metres away, I was devastated but not willing to give up, having lost 7 plastics & jigheads I headed off to BCF that afternoon to restock & get some new line.
The plan was to head out there the next day and see if they were still around, well, what a difference a day makes, I dropped the first fish, but managed 2 in 2 casts after that, the 1st went 95-96?, there was a little bit of chop out there and they weren't behaving themselves on the brag mat

I'll admit I took a pretty ordinary pic of him, but you get the idea. After I gave him the treatment and got organised again, this little guy paid me a visit

With 2 onboard in quick succession, the decision was made to leave them be, as its just too risky sport fishing for them with the sharks never too far away, so I decided to move on in search of some more fun.

That fun came via a little 30cm small mouth, which was a first for me in the bay, a Trevally not much bigger came after him, then I headed back in. It was a pleasant few hours all up.
Fast forward a month or so, with very little fishing taking place because of some average weather, when I saw the conditions for Tuesday just gone, it was an easy decision to head back out in the bay.
Jew were on the menu once again, so I deployed the same plastic from the previous outing and after working him for about 15 minutes I hooked a big grinner, now I "technically" didn't land him, no leader was touched, I swear!, I just let him chill next to the boat while I grabbed the pliers, when I came back to the rod he was gone, result!, the scoreboard remains unchanged.
Not long after that incident I hooked up to what I initially thought was a small shark, it hit the plastic just off the bottom and started to scream off, then it started coming up, rather erratic mind you, thinking it was a shark I wasn't interested in playing it out, with a heavy drag set to try and beat the sharks, I wound it in with little respect, that was until I saw it was a nice Spotted Mackerel, perfectly pinned in the centre of the top jaw there was no way he could've escaped, I swung him over the side and swifly gave him the treatment.


A surprise, and very welcomed addition to the esky, Jew were still on my mind so I kept plugging away, I missed a good hit, then the next flick resulted in a nice little Jew, success!.

Another dodgy pic, he got a little bent out shape in the esky. So far that 1 plastic has nailed 3 Jew & a spotty, he's almost earned his retirement I'd say??.
After that Jew I headed off in search of some Tuskies, having arrived at the spot and deploying the bait, I had a few enquiries early up which saw nervous anticipation almost reach fever pitch, you just never know how big it is until you set the hooks, this one sadly was no beast, and I made very short work of him. Still a very tasty fish though.

Thinking the bite might be on, I hung around for a few hours but couldn't manage anything else, which in all honesty wasn't such a bad thing as the esky already looked pretty good, and I'm well stocked for the next few weeks.
I pulled the jewels out of the Jew this afternoon, they are something I don't usually keep but I might start doing so in the future as they do look kinda cool.

 
 
 
 
 

Next time you fish the harbour fish unweighted livies along the north eastern part of the marina....you will not get a bite on lures or anchored baits there   but unweighted livies work. Threadies and cod there usually.
Alternatively work the Rita DeMata headland if you can still get access to it. Threadies and barra.
I fished Corio Bay and the headlands there the most....some good fish on the headlands there....very hard to land though. The reefs go out a hundred metres from the waters edge in some spots. GT's spanish macks and barra there. Occasional cobia and coral trout have come ashore there.

Bummer about the lack of action.
Today, we had plenty of action but snip offs and bust offs and pulled hooks were the order of the day. We managed several Bonito and a grassie and some grinners. Then the sea toads and sharks saw us pulling up stumps early and giving Green a go. Sharks here were swimming around the boat and we hooked a few before going in shallow to jig unsuccessfully for squid. So you didn't miss much while you were away.
Have fun in Melbourne. Going to the casino ? haha

Hi all, 
I drove up to Yeppoon last Thursday for a quick visit. After arriving late Thursday arvo, my Dad and I decided to go for a fish at the Causeway later that night as there was a run through tide. It was still pretty crowded just before 10, but there weren't any fish getting caught. My Dad and I alternated the lures we were using for the next hour and a half but after no bites we decided to call it quits. 
The next morning I didn't go fishing, but in the afternoon I went out to Double Heads. Unfortunately, the wind was very strong and the water was a bit brown, so I didn't bother fishing. My Dad and I then went to Ross Creek, where we also caught nothing except a large stingray which my Dad hooked that put up a good fight. 
The next morning we decided to give the harbor a crack. We caught some livies and tried a couple of spots, and ended up on the rockwall at the mouth of the harbour. We didn't have much success here, but my Dad did hook up to a decent fish (probably a cod) which broke him off in some of the rocks. We were a bit more hopeful about this spot now so decided to try there the next day, because it was still very windy. 
The next morning we repeated the same thing, where this time my Dad caught an undersize cod. Things were still very quiet and windy though. We also flicked plenty of lures around but no hookups. The next morning we came back to this spot and I caught one bream, so it was also very quiet. A bit unsure what to do to try and get a bite, my Dad and I decided to have a flick with some lures around the harbour later that night, which resulted in nothing except a very long sleep in the next morning. We tried in the harbour again that arvo with some smaller plastics and soft vibes but no bites once again. 
Overall, although it was a quiet trip, it was still good to try some fishing up in Yeppoon. I'm going to Victoria today so won't be able to fish in the river that much this holidays unfortunately. 
Cheers, Hamish. 

Hi all, 
I drove up to Yeppoon last Thursday for a quick visit. After arriving late Thursday arvo, my Dad and I decided to go for a fish at the Causeway later that night as there was a run through tide. It was still pretty crowded just before 10, but there weren't any fish getting caught. My Dad and I alternated the lures we were using for the next hour and a half but after no bites we decided to call it quits. 
The next morning I didn't go fishing, but in the afternoon I went out to Double Heads. Unfortunately, the wind was very strong and the water was a bit brown, so I didn't bother fishing. My Dad and I then went to Ross Creek, where we also caught nothing except a large stingray which my Dad hooked that put up a good fight. 
The next morning we decided to give the harbor a crack. We caught some livies and tried a couple of spots, and ended up on the rockwall at the mouth of the harbour. We didn't have much success here, but my Dad did hook up to a decent fish (probably a cod) which broke him off in some of the rocks. We were a bit more hopeful about this spot now so decided to try there the next day, because it was still very windy. 
The next morning we repeated the same thing, where this time my Dad caught an undersize cod. Things were still very quiet and windy though. We also flicked plenty of lures around but no hookups. The next morning we came back to this spot and I caught one bream, so it was also very quiet. A bit unsure what to do to try and get a bite, my Dad and I decided to have a flick with some lures around the harbour later that night, which resulted in nothing except a very long sleep in the next morning. We tried in the harbour again that arvo with some smaller plastics and soft vibes but no bites once again. 
Overall, although it was a quiet trip, it was still good to try some fishing up in Yeppoon. I'm going to Victoria today so won't be able to fish in the river that much this holidays unfortunately. 
Cheers, Hamish. 

Hi all, 
I drove up to Yeppoon last Thursday for a quick visit. After arriving late Thursday arvo, my Dad and I decided to go for a fish at the Causeway later that night as there was a run through tide. It was still pretty crowded just before 10, but there weren't any fish getting caught. My Dad and I alternated the lures we were using for the next hour and a half but after no bites we decided to call it quits. 
The next morning I didn't go fishing, but in the afternoon I went out to Double Heads. Unfortunately, the wind was very strong and the water was a bit brown, so I didn't bother fishing. My Dad and I then went to Ross Creek, where we also caught nothing except a large stingray which my Dad hooked that put up a good fight. 
The next morning we decided to give the harbor a crack. We caught some livies and tried a couple of spots, and ended up on the rockwall at the mouth of the harbour. We didn't have much success here, but my Dad did hook up to a decent fish (probably a cod) which broke him off in some of the rocks. We were a bit more hopeful about this spot now so decided to try there the next day, because it was still very windy. 
The next morning we repeated the same thing, where this time my Dad caught an undersize cod. Things were still very quiet and windy though. We also flicked plenty of lures around but no hookups. The next morning we came back to this spot and I caught one bream, so it was also very quiet. A bit unsure what to do to try and get a bite, my Dad and I decided to have a flick with some lures around the harbour later that night, which resulted in nothing except a very long sleep in the next morning. We tried in the harbour again that arvo with some smaller plastics and soft vibes but no bites once again. 
Overall, although it was a quiet trip, it was still good to try some fishing up in Yeppoon. I'm going to Victoria today so won't be able to fish in the river that much this holidays unfortunately. 
Cheers, Hamish. 

Hi all, 
I drove up to Yeppoon last Thursday for a quick visit. After arriving late Thursday arvo, my Dad and I decided to go for a fish at the Causeway later that night as there was a run through tide. It was still pretty crowded just before 10, but there weren't any fish getting caught. My Dad and I alternated the lures we were using for the next hour and a half but after no bites we decided to call it quits. 
The next morning I didn't go fishing, but in the afternoon I went out to Double Heads. Unfortunately, the wind was very strong and the water was a bit brown, so I didn't bother fishing. My Dad and I then went to Ross Creek, where we also caught nothing except a large stingray which my Dad hooked that put up a good fight. 
The next morning we decided to give the harbor a crack. We caught some livies and tried a couple of spots, and ended up on the rockwall at the mouth of the harbour. We didn't have much success here, but my Dad did hook up to a decent fish (probably a cod) which broke him off in some of the rocks. We were a bit more hopeful about this spot now so decided to try there the next day, because it was still very windy. 
The next morning we repeated the same thing, where this time my Dad caught an undersize cod. Things were still very quiet and windy though. We also flicked plenty of lures around but no hookups. The next morning we came back to this spot and I caught one bream, so it was also very quiet. A bit unsure what to do to try and get a bite, my Dad and I decided to have a flick with some lures around the harbour later that night, which resulted in nothing except a very long sleep in the next morning. We tried in the harbour again that arvo with some smaller plastics and soft vibes but no bites once again. 
Overall, although it was a quiet trip, it was still good to try some fishing up in Yeppoon. I'm going to Victoria today so won't be able to fish in the river that much this holidays unfortunately. 
Cheers, Hamish. 

Hi all, 
I drove up to Yeppoon last Thursday for a quick visit. After arriving late Thursday arvo, my Dad and I decided to go for a fish at the Causeway later that night as there was a run through tide. It was still pretty crowded just before 10, but there weren't any fish getting caught. My Dad and I alternated the lures we were using for the next hour and a half but after no bites we decided to call it quits. 
The next morning I didn't go fishing, but in the afternoon I went out to Double Heads. Unfortunately, the wind was very strong and the water was a bit brown, so I didn't bother fishing. My Dad and I then went to Ross Creek, where we also caught nothing except a large stingray which my Dad hooked that put up a good fight. 
The next morning we decided to give the harbor a crack. We caught some livies and tried a couple of spots, and ended up on the rockwall at the mouth of the harbour. We didn't have much success here, but my Dad did hook up to a decent fish (probably a cod) which broke him off in some of the rocks. We were a bit more hopeful about this spot now so decided to try there the next day, because it was still very windy. 
The next morning we repeated the same thing, where this time my Dad caught an undersize cod. Things were still very quiet and windy though. We also flicked plenty of lures around but no hookups. The next morning we came back to this spot and I caught one bream, so it was also very quiet. A bit unsure what to do to try and get a bite, my Dad and I decided to have a flick with some lures around the harbour later that night, which resulted in nothing except a very long sleep in the next morning. We tried in the harbour again that arvo with some smaller plastics and soft vibes but no bites once again. 
Overall, although it was a quiet trip, it was still good to try some fishing up in Yeppoon. I'm going to Victoria today so won't be able to fish in the river that much this holidays unfortunately. 
Cheers, Hamish. 

Did a solo trip down the Pin this morning in search of some Threadfin . 
Spotted some threadies  and  baby bullies  feeding  together in 1.5 m of water right where I expected them at 11.30am .
 I managed to pull a feed  before they wised up . 
team south  - 
Threadfin  885 and 1100mm
Bull Sharks 800, 740 and 765mm 
Grunter 350mm
Regards
Neil

@Old Scaley 39cm Grass Emperor.

Prymal braid is horrid I had some not long ago and just peeled it off and put it in the bin the 8lbs braid would snap before the 12lbs leader would and it wasn't a knot fail as I tested it quite a few times and it would snap a good 4inchs up from my fg knot it's crap

Just checked the US east coast red snapper season regs and they are far more severe. The 2023 “season” was 2 days! July 14 and 15! Plus every fisher is required to register their catch via a survey and have a release weight on board. 
 
 

Thanks for doing all this @ellicat.

I came across this article on a US website and found it very interesting. US west coast fishing regs
it shows how complex and restricted US recreational fisheries are for only one type of fishing, for what many of us would consider non-target species (rockfish = various types of scorpionfish and cod). 
imagine dropping the tinny in to wet a line when it’s closed from the shore out to the 50fathom line!

I’m not sure what is driving stock reductions but population must be a major influence. Also shows how good we have it over here!

April 2024 Scoreboard
 
Bream
1st @Allnighter 45cm (horse)                                   SOUTH 3
2nd @Allnighter 37cm                                               SOUTH 2
3rd @Neil Stratford 29cm                                          SOUTH 1
Australian Bass/Estuary Perch
1st @rayke1938 Bass 45                                            SOUTH 3
2nd
3rd
Grunter
1st @benno573 66.5cm                                                                  NORTH 3
2nd @ellicat 36.5                                                            SOUTH 2
3rd @Neil Stratford 35cm                                               SOUTH 1
Whiting
1st @Neil Stratford 39                                                      SOUTH 3
2nd @Neil Stratford35 and 35 and 35                            SOUTH 2
3rd   @Neil Stratford34.5                                                 SOUTH 1

Flathead
1st @Neil Stratford Dusky 57cm                                       SOUTH 3
2nd @Neil Stratford  Dusky 51cm                                     SOUTH 2
3rd @Ross.warwick  Dusky 41cm                                                   NORTH 1
Snapper
1st @ellicat 69cm                                                            SOUTH 3
2nd @Allnighter 63cm                                                     SOUTH 2
3rd @Leosonfire 49cm                                                     SOUTH 1
Jewfish - Silver, Black or Teraglin
1st @Neil Stratford Mulloway 74cm                                 SOUTH 3
2nd@Neil Stratford Mulloway 40.5cm                             SOUTH 2
3rd
Threadfin Salmon
1st @Neil Stratford 110cm                                               SOUTH 3
2nd @Neil Stratford 103cm                                             SOUTH 2
3rd @Neil Stratford 96.5cm                                             SOUTH 1
Golden Perch
1st
2nd
3rd
 
Tailor
1st @kmcrosby78 40cm                                            SOUTH 3
2nd @kmcrosby78 36cm                                           SOUTH 2
3rd
Tuna
1st
2nd
3rd
Mackerel
1st @Neil Stratford 110 cm Spanish                                          SOUTH 3
2nd @Neil Stratford 94.5cm Spanish                                       SOUTH 2
3rd @Neil Stratford 80cm Spottie                                             SOUTH 1
Cod (any type freshwater or salt)
1st @Neil Stratford Cattle dog 38cm                                        SOUTH 3
2nd @Neil Stratford Cattle dog 37cm                                       SOUTH 2
3rd @Neil Stratford Wire netting 34cm                                     SOUTH 1
Trevally (any type)
1st @Neil Stratford Big Eye 51cm                                            SOUTH 3
2nd @kmcrosby78 Dart 41cm                                                  SOUTH 2
3rd @kmcrosby78 Dart 39.5                                                    SOUTH 1
 
Shark (including shovel nose)
1st @Neil Stratford Bull 80cm @kmcrosby78 80cm Bull   SOUTH 6
2nd @Neil Stratford Bull 76.5cm                                            SOUTH 2
3rd @Neil Stratford Bull 74cm                                                SOUTH 1
Emperor and Tuskfish
1st @Neil Stratford Grass 48cm                                         SOUTH 3
2nd @benno573 46cm Red Throat                                                    NORTH 2
3rd @Neil Stratford Spangled 44cm                                  SOUTH 1
Trophy Fish of any Species not covered above.
1st
2nd
3rd
 
 
Total Team North               6                   points/10 contestants  = 0.6
Total Team South            76                    points/18 contestants = 4.2
 
 
Winner = Team SOUTH 
 
Monthly scores                 NORTH                 SOUTH
January                                     0                                  1
February                                   0                                  1
March                                  0                                  1
April                                     0                                  1
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total for year

Sorry guys....fixed it up above to be clearerer....almost like mud now.
It is what you get when the Mrs has something important to say whilst you are busy with real stuff...the lawn could have waited a minute more.....

Nice reel Greg and nice bargain too.

Nice reel Greg and nice bargain too.

Nice reel Greg and nice bargain too.