Parramatta River - 14/12/08 & Oyster Bay - 21/12/08

Squidgie Bream Challenge Round 2 - Parramatta River

While Gary sat and drank bourbons in the pool on Hamilton Island, Terry and I braved the 30 knot winds (again!) for a rather unspectacular bag. We only managed 2 fish and didn't even crack the top 20. Sure, we lost a few crackers but the only fish of note landed was a nice whiting of 40 cms that Terry picked up with ten minutes to go.

Oh, and Terry did hook a monster...the only trouble was that the monster was him. Ouch! Right in past the barb and it took him about 20 minutes of cursing, crying and yelling to get the hook out. Makes me wonder how the fish get off so easily sometimes.

Oyster Bay - Lachlans 1st fishing trip

I remember a family holiday at Nords Wharf on Lake Macquarie when I was four years old and the days were spent with my father, drifting around in a tinnie, catching bream, flathead, whiting and blue swimmer crabs. That holiday was golden and my dad instilled in me a love for fishing that will be with me forever.

I felt that my son, Lachlan, who is four, was ready to come out in the yak and I'd attempt to get him hooked on this wonderful lifestyle we lead. He was a bit sceptical when I woke him at 5 am but was keen to get in the yak as soon as we reached Oyster Bay.

Drifting the flats with one lure out the back and casting ahead with the other (I'd cast and Lachlan would wind in), it didn't take long to get a hit and Lachlan was ecstatic. This was no record breaker but it bought back those fond memories again as this was the same type of fish that I'd caught for the first time all those years ago. A bream! Not legal but Lachlans eyes were wide with wonder and he readily accepted why we had to put him back.

Over the next two hours, I had the best fishing session ever. Not because we caught the most fish or the biggest but because I was there with Lachlan, teaching him what had been taught to me by my dad and watching him get excited over the same things all us anglers do. After 3 fish, he wanted to land them on his own and I was surprised when he managed it, too.

The final tally for the day was 8 fish - 6 to Lachlan and 2 to Dad, with four keepers (3 flatties and 1 bream). Back home he couldn't wait to show off his fish and was grinning like a Cheshire Cat when Grandpa took some snapshots.

We snuck out again for a quick session this arvo and landed a hefty flattie that went close to 60 cms which was closely followed by another about 40 cms. When we'd packed up and finished putting the kayak away he said, "When are we going again, Dad?"

It looks like I've got a new fishin' buddy.

Unfortunately my father died 17 years ago but I know he'd get just as big a buzz out of seeing Lachlan enjoying himself as I do. I never said it at Lake Macquarie when I was four but I'll say it now.

Thanks, Dad.

Happy yakkin', everyone and may you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

cheers,

Cid

Botany Bay - 8/12 to 12/12/08

I made it out for another few sessions this week but do you think I could land a legal Kingfish (65 cms)? The closest I came was 63 cms (about 4 times) but I did get smoked twice. I caught up with a few different guys out there and on friday morning there was ten of us bobbing around out there.

Once again they were hitting anything thrown. Poppers (from small to HUGE), SP's (all colours and types) and even metal slices. There'd be a frenzy of action for a few minutes then it'd go all quiet again. Then someone would hook up, and another two or three guys would get crunched as well.

Andrew (Rebel1 from AKFF) had been out most days and had a blinder with DaveyG where they landed about twenty each with Davey getting the biggest at 80 cms. But Andrew went out again this morning for zip. Not even a hit. Funny creatures these fish.

No Kingie action for me this weekend as it's the 2nd round of the Squidgie Bream comp. It's being launched from Bayview in hen and Chicken Bay and there should be over forty teams again which will make for a challenging day. Add the forecast wind and the murky water from the torrential rain we've just had, and it'll be doubly challenging!!!

Gary is up on Hamilton Island (catching Coral Trout, the swine) so I'm partnering with Terry for this one. Let's hope I can pull my finger out and land a couple this time. Happy yakkin, everyone.

cheers,

Cid

Botany Bay - 29/11/08 & 2/12/08

After last weeks efforts, it was pretty obvious where we were going to try next time. Saturday morning was just as calm in the grey light as wednesday but the obvious difference were the amount of boats zooming about. Terry was first off with a cast and straight away he hooks up. My cast is only a few seconds later and ditto, I'm on, too. These guys although spirited, were obviously undersize so it was quickly into the yak and back into the water for them.

Next cast and we both hook up again. Woo Hoo! Slightly bigger but still only about 60 cms. And that was it with the poppers (I find as soon as it's gets light they go a bit deeper), so we change to the Mojos. All up we managed about 6 each with two big reefings to our credit. No legals but great to see such healthy stocks of fish about.

I'm sure they went off the bite early due to the amount of power boat traffic. What really cheesed us off was a guy that raced straight over to where we were fishing before cutting the engine, then he rattled around with his anchor chain before tossing it over. If there had of been any kingies left in the area, they certainly weren't here now. : ( We gave it another 5 minutes without a touch and headed for home.

This morning I just had to have another quick flick and was greeted by two other yakkers already fishing, Andrew and Kevin (hi guys). They were also getting stuck into the kings and it was triple hookups a lot of the time. Once again they were mainly rats, such as Andrews here, but at least there were plenty to go around. No power boats to put them off and it was action aplenty until 6 am when they shut down. We floated about chatting for a ten minutes or so when ZZzzzzzzzzzzz, we're all away again.

I hooked my biggest for the day (felt like a beauty, too) on the last cast but the swine busted me off on something. Biggest I landed today went 63 cms, so I was only 2 cms off a legal one. I really do need to get some heavier gear as the 15 lb braid just doesn't cut it sometimes. I hope the weather holds for another early morning session this week. Happy yakkin, everyone!

cheers,

Cid