charlie.hans.fishing

Hi Hamish
I think at this point I'll use both the bait junkies and Z-man plastics as they both have their pros and cons. 
It's probably a gimmick but the plastics do have an impressive stretch even with lures down to 2.5 inch.
I have actually had one of my baitjunkies melt into a sort of pulp because it was left in a tackle box! Not doing that again.
Cheers Charlie.

Hey mate.
Thanks for the advice. 
I see what you mean - although the baitjunkies are not advertised to have the Z-man's famous "ten 10x tough" technology, they are still a really strong plastic with great action and a good stretch. The packaging has that sort of double shell clam style which for sure ensures the lure's scent is kept fresh and that they do not dry out. 
When it comes to jig heads, I use the same as you (ttlures headhunters). I use a 1/16th ounce weight with a size 2 hook. 
They definitely seem to be a great plastic. As both brands of lures are of similar prices (depending on the size and style) I'll probably stick with the baitjunkies then. 
What colours would you recommend in the baitjunkies? Particularly in both the grub and minnow styles. I've heard motor oil and mud blood are great natural colours for estuaries and freshwater?
Cheers, Charlie. 
 

Thanks everyone.

Hi Hamish, so sorry about my late response to this post... I just haven't even thought to go on the forum since this trip haha. Thanks for taking me out, although we weren't as successful in terms of size or numbers like our 2022 trip, it was still good enough. Good report. Cheers. 

Hi Hamish, so sorry about my late response to this post... I just haven't even thought to go on the forum since this trip haha. Thanks for taking me out, although we weren't as successful in terms of size or numbers like our 2022 trip, it was still good enough. Good report. Cheers. 

Hi Hamish, so sorry about my late response to this post... I just haven't even thought to go on the forum since this trip haha. Thanks for taking me out, although we weren't as successful in terms of size or numbers like our 2022 trip, it was still good enough. Good report. Cheers. 

Thanks, Hamish.
We were at the same area @charlie.hans.fishing and I fished when you were on @Old Scaley's boat last month.

Great report.
Well done.
Don't forget the AERO Guard next time.
Cheers.

Good effort - i love lure fishing - so interactive 

Good work, guys. Any fish on a lure is a win.
Get well soon.

Hi all
Snuck up to the Sunnycoast near Dunethin Rock on the Maroochy River with @charlie.hans.fishing on Boxing Day. Plan was to fish in Dunethin Lake and the surrounding area of the Maroochy River to try for a few flatties and maybe a jack if one came by. We arrived mid arvo on Boxing Day and went down for a fish around mid tide, flicking plastics off of the lake jetty.
I was off the donut first after we had each had a couple of missed hits with a little flatty. We continued flicking for another hour before it started to rain - just as this happened Charlie got a little flatty too. Decided to go to the beach for a swim that arvo but the next morning we were fishing again.
We started off canoeing around the lake a bit to no avail, so went had a cast around the opposite bank of the river to the mouth of the lake. I think Charlie got a spotted grunter here and one or two flathead (one that was legal sized). These put up a decent fight as he caught them casting in some shallow water near a snag. 
I got off the donut with a small flatty that liked my 2.75 inch Froff Bait paddle tail while we were drifting in the canoe (it was my first time using these lures, they're alright) but didn't manage to catch much more that day. I think we had another flick down at the lake jetty for nothing. It was very hot and unpleasant fishing, and with a lot of rain around the area recently too the mosquitos were very bad... It was nice going down to the beach again that arvo.
The next morning we had a quick flick around the bank opposite the mouth of the lake again. Here, Charlie got a bream on a plastic while we were drifting on the canoe along the bank. After a few more drifts and with a lot of tide/wind action making us drift very fast, we decided to go and have a cast at the deepest section of the lake. 
A ways into our first drift, Charlie hooked up to something decent. It was pretty heavy and quick, he hooked it in shallow water near the mangroves. Unfortunately, just as we were about to see it the hooks pulled. Bugger. I had another good hit on this drift, before later in the morning catching a flatty around the 40 mark. My Dad also had a cast on his canoe somewhere that morning and got an undersize barred grunter on a plastic.
We tried for a bit longer but the heat and mosquitos were pretty unbearable so we decided to go back to the campsite, pack up, and go home!
Thanks for reading, although the fishing was a bit quiet it was still good to get a few hookups. The next day I was sick and have just recovered enough to go fishing now so will try in the river tomorrow. 
Cheers Hamish

I reckon that's right, bro. 

Mango Tree. Edit: my page hadn't loaded and i didnt see that the thread has since continued. Sorry brian haha

I reckon that's right, bro. 

Hi all,
Thought I would chuck up a report about my last few unsuccessful fishing trips in the Brissy River. The first session was a couple of Mondays ago, at a local jetty. I arrived at about 5 and got a bit of bait together, but the bite was slow to begin with. Fishing the low tide change, I was hopeful of a threadie, but unfortunately all I could manage was one pup bullie. It wasn't long until my mate came down, but the bite didn't seem to change. That was until he took a phone call, and a rather large fish picked up my live bony bream, swimming against the current before I set the hook. This increase in drag pressure didn't seem to phase what I assume was a rather large shark though, and it screamed off without stopped until the spool of my 5500 baitrunner reel was empty of all line. Bugger. No more bites were had after this. 
Stats:
Tide: 8:20AM, .6M, Low. 
Moon Phase: 63%
Bait Caught/Used
Fish Caught: Shark
Tackle Used: Okuma Coronado CDX 5500 on Silstar Crystal Powertip Rod, Shimano Baitrunner on Kmart rod, Shimano Stradic on Shimano Raider, Penn Live Liner on Ugly Stik. 30 and 15 pound braids, 50 pound/80 pound traces, size 6 ball or size 3 snapper sinkers. 6/o circle hooks and barrel swivels.
Air Pressure: 1008
Humidity: 80%
Overall Success Rate: 40% - hooked up to a big one at least
The next day I went fishing with @Thorbjorn Hale - the spot we went to initially had no bait so we went back to his usual spot, where there was still hardly any bait. I did manage two large mullet in a couple of casts which saved the session, so after we got them a couple of baits were lobbed out. Things started off slowly, with myself only catching one catty for the whole day, but Thorbjorn did hook up to two very large sharks, both of which jumped out (around 2 meters) but managed to get off before he could land them. We left at around 1ish, with no more fish coming in for the day. 
Stats:
Tide: 8:50AM, .9M, Low
Moon Phase: 54%
Bait Used/Caught: Mullet
Fish Caught: Catfish
Tackle Used: I used three 6000 baitrunners with 8 foot fibreglass rods, 30 pound braid, 50 pound trace, size 4 star sinkers, barrel swivels, 6/o circle hooks. 
Air Pressure: 1010
Humidity: 64%
Overall Success Rate: 40%
On Wednesday, I was back at that spot, with a heavy shark rod and a couple of live bait rods. First up, I sent out some mullet fillet, which brought an undersize grunter onto the jetty. Then, I caught a decent sized live mullet which I sent out on my shark rod, which seemed to remain untouched for quite a while. Thorbjorn arrived soon as well, and sent out some shark baits too. 
Eventually my mullet got some action, and upon undoing a tangle and checking my line it turned out I had a 52cm or so tailor on. This was cut into half and sent out as a bait, and it wasn't long before the pieces started getting munched up by pup bull sharks. Thorbjorn eventually landed one, a decent shark around the 80cm mark. Later in the session, he also sent out a herring, and after about two minutes of fishing he pulled in a very solid 95cm thready. Nice!
Stats:
Tide: 10:00AM, 1M, Low
Moon Phase: 44%
Bait Caught/Used: Mullet, tailor, herring
Fish Caught: I got grunter, tailor, Thorbjorn got shark, threadfin
Air Pressure: 1010
Humidity: 61%
Tackle Used: I used a Penn Spinfisher 8500 and 15-24KG Savage Gear Salt rod, Penn Liveliner on Uglystik, and Shimano Sedona on Abu Garcia Nexus. 50 pound trace or wire trace, size 4 star sinkers, 6/o circle hooks, barrel swivels. 
Overall Success Rate: 70% - a few bites. 
On Thursday, I was at the same spot again, trying for a big shark. Bait collecting was successful for once, with myself managing 6 big mullet in one cast, which was enough to fish for the whole day. Thorbjorn and I sent some pieces out on our shark rods, and strips out on our lighter rods. There isn't really much to say about the days fishing, apart from the fact I caught one pike eel and the bite was very slow. I headed off a bit after midday again to get to work, and got my gear ready to go fishing the next day. 
Stats:
Tide: 11:20AM, 1M, Low
Moon Phase: 35%
Bait Caught/Used: Mullet
Fish Caught: Pike eel
Air Pressure: 1011
Humidity: 69%
Tackle Used: I used a Penn Spinfisher 8500 and 15-24KG Savage Gear Salt rod, Penn Liveliner on Uglystik, and Shimano Sedona on Abu Garcia Nexus. 50 pound trace or wire trace, size 4 star sinkers, 6/o circle hooks, barrel swivels. 
Overall Success Rate: 20%
That Friday and Saturday, I was away camping at Mt Barney, which was good, but I didn't catch any fish in the small creek nearby our campsite. 
On Sunday, my Dad and I launched into a spot in the river we hadn't kayaked before. There was heaps of bait skipping around when we got there, but the first half an hour was pretty unsuccessful with no touches on our lures. A while after that, we decided to go and catch some livebait - about half a dozen prime size poddy mullet made their way into our cast net bucket, and we continued fishing lures now with an unweighted livie swimming out the back. This to was unsuccessful, and at about 9:00AM we headed off defeated with a big donut. 
Stats:
Tide: 9:50AM, 2.1M, High. 
Moon Phase: 10%
Air Pressure: 1010
Humidity: 71%
Tackle Used: Shimano Stradic and Raider, Shimano Curado and Cranx rod. 15 and 20 pound mainlines, 30 pound leaders. 
Bait/Lure Used: Zerek pyra, Atomic slim twitcher, soft vibes, live mullet
Fish Caught: - 
Overall Success Rate: 20%
On Monday, I was back fishing with Thorbjorn at his spot. I arrived a bit before seven to some rather dirty water, which was a bit of a surprise. This did mean I managed to catch a couple of bony bream in the cast net, and seeing as though I already had some spare this meant we had a decent amount of bait. Another fisho caught a stingray and catfish early up, but I only got off the donut with an eel and a toadfish later in the day. Around tide change I also caught two pup bull sharks, but unluckily didn't manage any bigger models. I headed off late in the arvo and got my stuff ready for fishing the next day.
Stats:
Tide: 8:45AM, 2.5M, High, 3:10PM, .7M, Low. 
Moon Phase: 5%
Bait Caught/Used: Live mullet, herring, prawns, bony bream
Fish Caught: Sharks, toadfish, eel
Air Pressure: 1010
Humidity: 59%
Tackle Used: I used a Penn Spinfisher 8500 and 15-24KG Savage Gear Salt rod, Penn Liveliner on Uglystik, and Shimano Sedona on Abu Garcia Nexus. 50 pound trace or wire trace, size 4 star sinkers, 6/o circle hooks, barrel swivels. 
Overall Success Rate: 30% - a couple of bites
On Tuesday I just went for a morning session at high tide at one of my local spots, targeting threadies and sharks. I got a bit of bait relatively quickly, although the bonies were a bit smaller than what I would've liked using. Despite this, I lobbed a mixture of baits out, and waited for a bite (which seemed non-existent). Eventually, I hooked up to something - a fat catty. At around 10AM I headed home feeling a bit defeated with the complete lack of fish. 😞 
Stats:
Tide: 10:00AM, 2.3M, High
Moon Phase: 1%
Bait Caught/Used: Live bony bream and poddy mullet
Fish Caught: Catfish
Air Pressure: 1011
Humidity: 59%
Overall Success Rate: 10%
The next day, I was lucky enough to be able to go out in Thorbjorn's boat. We launched at Jindalee, and gathered some livies for the first bit of the fishing session. It wasn't long before we had a few bony bream and mullet, and we were anchored at the first spot. Here, Thorbjorn caught a shark before it went a bit quiet around high tide change, so we went up and tried two different spots. These were unsuccessful, so we went down to the Jindalee Bridge, where Thorbjorn caught another shark. 
A while later we were back at the starting spot. Here, I caught two sharks and we also had a few more missed bites. Overall, it was a great day fishing, thanks again for taking me out on the boat @Thorbjorn Hale. 
Stats:
Tide: 11:00AM, 2.4M, High. 
Moon Phase: New Moon
Bait Caught/Used: Live mullet and bony bream
Fish Caught: Sharks x 4, Catfish x 2
Air Pressure: 1010
Humidity: 67%
Overall Success Rate: 60% - fun boat day
On Thursday, I was fishing with a mate from school at a spot I hadn't been to in a while. Upon arriving, it took us about half an hour to get a few livies, but after that we were fishing. It was only five minutes before the first bait got something alright on it. My mate took the rod, but to my disappointment (he was still pretty excited), a rather large pike eel surfaced. It got tangled in my dilly quite badly, so I decided to keep it for shark bait. After that, the fishing only got worse, and we landed several small catties and another eel before calling it quits in the arvo. 
Stats:
Tide: 11:00AM, 2.4M, High
Moon Phase: 2%
Bait Caught/Used: Live mullet, bony bream, anchovies, ponyfish
Fish Caught: Pike eels and catties
Air Pressure: 1007
Humidity: 85%
Overall Success Rate: 50% - no donut
On Friday I was back at one of my local spots, seeing if I could get a more desirable fish (answer, no I couldn't). I got a nice size school of poddies at the top of the jetty walkway, and decided that would be my bait for the day. It wasn't long before I was also on the first shark of the day, and then another one which jumped out, and then a third one. The bite went a bit quiet as the rising tide really started to rip in, so I called it quits after that and rode my bike home at about 11:00AM. 
Stats:
Tide: 5:30AM, .2M, Low. 
Moon Phase: 6.3%
Bait Caught/Used: Live mullet
Air Pressure: 1003
Humidity: 72%
Fish Caught: Sharks
Overall Success Rate: 30% - no donut
Not being able to catch anything in the salt, my Dad and I decided to go bass fishing on Saturday morning. We got up nice and early and arrived at the spot a bit after first light, greeted with a very muddy track. We slid through spider webs and on the mud but eventually made it down to the first spot, where I got snagged but overcasting twice (not awake) but retrieved my lure, before my Dad and I moved on to a different spot. Here, my Dad got a decent bass first cast, and I got two in the next few minutes, but then the surface bite died down a bit (bass were around 30-40cm). We continued with surface for a while longer, before I switched to a Duo Shad and proceeded to catch 4 bass up to about 40cm, including one of which I caught on the way back of swimming out to get my lure from a snag. 
Biggest thanks goes to my Dad for swimming into over head high water to retrieve my Cicada after I did a dodgy cast. 
Stats:
Tide: Low
Moon Phase: 13%
Lures Used: Cicadas and Duo Shad
Air Pressure: 1002
Humidity: 82%
Overall Success Rate: 60% - got a few bass
The last session of this report was yesterday, at a local jetty again. I got there a bit after 5:30AM, and although bait was slow I still managed to get a few livies together. I hooked up onto the first shark of the day, but it snipped through my 30 pound leader, and then my mate got two, one of which bit him off as it got close to the jetty. Later in the session, as the tide changed, a got a 55cm or so catty on a 20cm mullet, which was surprising, and then called it quits at about 11. Overall, it was another pretty average session.
Stats:
Tide: 6:15AM, .2M, Low
Moon Phase: 22%
Bait Caught/Used: Live bony bream and mullet
Fish Caught: Sharks, catfish
Air Pressure: Moderate-high
Humidity: Moderate
Overall Success Rate: 20%
Thanks for reading, sorry for the long and unsuccessful report, hopefully I'll catch something this week. Gave it a break today for the first time this holidays but will go and try and catch an eel this arvo. 
Cheers Hamish. 

I'm in for Southside thanks Brian. 

I'm in for Southside thanks Brian. 

I'm in for Southside thanks Brian. 

* U P D A T E *
The comp is being extended to being a monthly competition with a winner for each month. Most months won takes away a grand prize at the end of the year. Also, I have introduced a "Trophy Fish of any Species not covered above" category. This will be for something like a pb Barra or Mangrove Jack that is somewhat remarkable.
 
SUBURBS OF ORIGIN 2024 (previously 1 January 2024 to 31January 2024, now AllYear!!)
So, I thought I'd organise this comp. I've pushed back the start date to give @John  time to fix the photo issue we're currently experiencing. This is the 7th time this comp is being run. I'm looking forward to the lots of friendly banter that usually happens during the comp. Leader board from over the years has Team South in a commanding position with 5 wins to 1.
Please use this thread for banter.
2016 - Team South
2017 - Team South
2018 - Team North
2020 - Team South
21/22 - Team South
22/23 - Team South
No changes from last year in terms of species or scoring system. Instead of having one winner per category, there will  be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each fish species. Each place will have a corresponding score. 1st (3 points) 2nd (2 points) 3rd (1 point). For either team North or South to win, they will need to have scored the most points overall. In the off chance that two identical length fish are caught, then all anglers who catch that exact same sized fish species will be awarded the same point. Eg: two people catch a bream that is 35cm which is the joint biggest fish. Both angles will score 1st/ 3 points (of course, this only applies when a Team North and team South anglers catch the same sized fish). So the same team cannot share and double up on points for any given place. Ideally, the measurement should be down to the mm, but that is not always the case as not everyone has a brag mat that goes down to the mm.  I'll run the scoreboard below.
SPECIES LIST
Bream, Australian Bass/Estuary Perch, Mangrove Jack, Whiting, Flathead, Snapper, Mulloway/Black Jew or Teraglin (Jew), Threadfin Salmon, Golden Perch (yellow belly), Tailor, Tuna, Mackerel, Cod (any type freshwater or salt), Trevally (any type) and Shark (i will allow shovel nose in this category), emperor species and tusk fish species. In the next comp we will have Grunter (any type) and Miscellaneous.
This is a free event, with no official prize. Bragging rights are enough of a prize.
To keep it fair, the night before the opening day of fishing, a unique symbol/object will be released that must be pictured with the catch. Submissions can be made online in the topic that I will create to keep an up to date leader board for all to see (topic will be called “SUBURBS OF ORIGIN 2024 LEADER BOARD” . Each time a new longest species is caught, I will update the original post to let everyone know what Team is in front and who is winning each category. The unique symbol will be as easy as writing/drawing on a piece of paper or a hand signal or an object, which can be easily placed next to the fish. Fish where you want, just because you’re a Team North member doesn’t mean that you have to fish North of the Brisbane river and vice versa. 
To be in Team North, you must reside anywhere in Australia north of the Brisbane River. To be in Team South, you must reside anywhere in Australia south of the Brisbane River. If you live on the river, the party is at your place.
Team lists below. Please nominate yourself in this thread, any time before  8pm on 31 January, 2024.
Team North  @Jono4500 @mangajack @GregOug @Angry51 @fatboy @Alex2505 @crazywalrus @benno573 @Ross.warwick @Corry
Team South  @ellicat @AUS-BNE-FISHO @Kat @Old Scaley @Huxstang @Neil Stratford @Bretto77 @Allnighter @Junky @charlie.hans.fishing @Bob9863
 @kmcrosby78 @Thorbjorn Hale @tugger @rayke1938 @Peter K @taib @Leosonfire
HOW TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY
To submit an entry, you will need a photo of the fish on a brag mat or some form of measuring device that clearly displays the length of the fish along with the unique symbol/object. This entry must be uploaded to the topic “SUBURBS OF ORIGIN 2024 LEADER BOARD” before 8pm on the final day of the competition. Even if you catch a fish that isn’t as big as the top 3 fish already submitted, feel free to post it up anyway as it would be great to see how everyone is going regardless. Non legal fish will be accepted...meaning fish that are not of a legal length as defined by the state you are fishing in. Just ensure that any non-legal fish are released safely.
The more anglers involved the better! This competition isn’t designed to push us against each other, but to just get some friendly banter going among this awesome community that we have going here on AFO.
 
The gauntlet has been thrown down! Who is keen? To nominate what team you are on, just comment on this post and I will add your name to the above list
 
Also important to note, please only use the leader board topic for competition submissions. For any banter or general chat, just use this topic. Just helps me monitor the comp submissions easier
 

Thanks Neil, yep I should make a graph with the data, good idea.
 
 
 
 
 
Thanks guys.

Thanks Rebel.
Thanks Brian, that sounds good.
Thanks mangajack.
Thanks Charlie.

Nice report, Hamish. 
Thanks Brian and Steve for taking us out. 

Great effort Hamish. 
Your thready was for sure a reward for your efforts. 

Great effort Hamish. 
Your thready was for sure a reward for your efforts. 

Great effort Hamish. 
Your thready was for sure a reward for your efforts.