Towra Point - 13-2-10

Three of us (Andrew, Stewart and I) hit the point, a spot we would've liked to have fished in the Squidgy Round the other week. But it was just a bit too far to travel with the predicted wind. We know there are some cracker fish around here over the weedbeds, so we planned to see how we'd go. Stewart brought the coffee (thanks, Stewie) and we arrived about 7am for kick off.

The water was fairly clear, even after all the rain and I started fishing in 1.5m with a shallow Jackal Chubby (pink). Stewart headed for some racks and Andrew went in close to the mangroves. Conditions were ideal and we were hoping for a good session.

I started off fairly well, landing a 28cm fork within 10 minutes. Ooh, almost as good a start as the Squidgy round. Then I landed a pike and soon after a 24cm fork bream that went back (I was only keeping comp legals in the live well).

The bite wasn't hot so I changed to a 2" shrimp (banana) rigged on a 1/32nd jighead and hopped that over the weeds. This was pounced on by a 40cm flattie and a couple of undersize bream and another two pike!

Back to the chubby I go and it's almost time for me to head in (I only had 90 minutes to fish) when I get a good whack that stays connected. This is much better and the drag sings in short sharp bursts. Into the net she goes and she's a beauty. 34cm fork length and one that'd you'd definitely want in your bag during a competition.

I land one more that 24 fork again and turn to head back in. I faintly hear a whistle though and turn to see Andrew heading towards me. Show off, he has one that goes 35cms fork so I grab a quick snapshot for him. He slips it in my livewell so I can get a photo on the mat on shore. He'd been using surface lures without much success, so he changed to a squidgy bug that he worked sub-surface and this is what did the trick. This was a top fish to pull out of the mangroves on 4lb leader, so well done, Andrew!

Later in the day I rang Stewart to see how he'd gone. I ended up with a great 3 fish bag - 2 x 34

cm fork and 1 x 35 cm fork. That'd would've weighed about 2.6 -2.7 kgs. And all caught in only 4 hours. Another 3 hours could've seen a few bigger fish landed, so the 3kg bag for 3 fish may have been cracked. So all up it was a great morning. The fish were all really healthy and I'd love to spend a few more hours around this location. Just remember that if you do head in this direction that there is a sanctuary zone up in Quibray Bay where all fishing is banned. So check the maps before you head out.

Over the weekend there was the ABT/Hobie round in Walpole, WA. Unfortunately, there were only eight participants and four of these were from interstate. (Well done to those guys for making the effort, too). I'm still hearing and reading things concerning events from yakkers along the lines of next year they'll enter, or that they forgot it was on this weekend. The facts may be that unless the tournaments get the numbers, there may not be a 'next year' to enter. There is a lot of effort and money invested by the organisers of these events and they can't justify running it for only a handful of competitors.

I know Walpole is not exactly close to Perth, but they still managed to get 34 boaters for that section, so I thought there'd be at least 15 yakkers that would enter. So for the sake of our sport, if you're keen to help it grow, put it in your diary and bite the bullet. They are great days and the camaraderie is brilliant. You'll learn heaps and maybe even take out the event and earn some cash. Happy yakkin', everyone!

cheers,
Cid

Squidgy Southern Bream Series 2010 - Rnd 1 - Georges River

Earlier in the week, Stewart and I had quick yak in Woolooware Bay sussing out the options for the weekends comp. We'd both missed out down at St Georges last week so we were keen to produce the goods on our home turf. I managed a cracker of a fish that went 38 fork and was soooooooooo hoping he'd turn up again on sunday.

This year the series is being run by the Basin Lure and Fly Club (www.basinlureandfly.org.au/) and 20 yaks turned up along with 64 boats that made the beach a very crowded spot at 6:30 am. The boats set off just before 7am and 5 minutes after them, we were off as well.

I'd already planned my day and figured most yaks would head into Woolooware Bay and hit the racks and mangrove edges. I decided to gamble and headed straight for Taren Point, hoping to get my bag quickly from the pontoons and moored boats that can fish well first thing in the morning.

I started off with a Gulp 2" shrimp (pepper) and flicked it into the shadows. 7 minutes were gone when I bagged my first fish. 30cm fork length and that's a good start. At the next jetty I pull a 24cm fork and at the next one I get a flattie.

Now I move onto the boats and land another 24cm fork bream. Shizer! 'Maybe the deeper water will be better,' I think, so I move out to where it is 4 meters deep. I also go for a change of SP and rig up a medium Squidgy Lobby (grenade) on a 1/16th jighead.

I've reached the boat where I got a big girl two weeks ago and optimistically I cast close to the hull and let the lure sink. I let it settle and give the rod tip a few quick shakes and let it sit again. I slowly start to lift the rod and feel some weight and set the hook. The rod bends but there is no big run, just weight, so I wonder what I've hooked. As I peer over the side, from under the boat glides what I'm after.

This beast is just cruising and doesn't even know it's hooked and as I look, I can't see the lure anywhere. Suddenly it notices me and it's off like a shot! I dip the rod in the water and keep it away from the hull and try to gently guide it away. I back the drag off, thinking that it may be hooked deep and I want to keep minimal pressure on it. An anxious minute or so passes by before I can let out a 'You beauty!' when I slide the net under him.

This guy is not overly long but boy he's fat and that's the kicker fish I want. 36 fork length and close to 900 grams I figure which combined with my first fish should put me up near 1.5 kgs. And it's only 7:50 am! It's about bloody time I had a good start.

But he had taken the lure down deep so rather than risk injuring him, I followed the DPI Fisheries advice on deep hooked fish and cut the line and left the hook there. Their studies have shown that survival rates are above 85% and prove just how tough bream are. For further reading, visit their site: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/saltwater/catch-and-release/research and read the 'bream: the survivor' paper. I figured if he lasted an hour, he should last all day. I had my fingers and toes crossed anyway.

I land ANOTHER 24 fork bream off the next boat and then it goes quiet. As I move about, I keep an eye on the time so I can stick to my plan. Just after 8am I'm just starting to head to Woolooware Bay to hit the racks when the rain sets in. And then comes the wind. No, not again!

As I cruise under Captain Cook Bridge, I notice that the water over the shallows on the eastern side of Taren Point are quite choppy. On rough, overcast days like this, the bream often venture in close so I find the edge of the weed bed with my sounder and start casting a shallow diving Jackall Chubby.

First cast I get a whiting about 35cms long which has me thinking I've got another corker. Gees they go hard! The next cast I get a legal flathead. Third times a charm, so they say and bingo! I'm on! This feels breamy and halleluyah, it is. Another 30cm forker and that's my 3 bag. They're 3 pretty good fish and if I manage an upgrade or two I'll be over the moon.

I drift that weed edge twice and land 3 legal bream but they are all only 25 fork length, so there are no upgrades. The wind is picking up and I head to the racks I decide to fish an area with lots of oyster-encrusted boulders scattered over the seabed. I'm now using a an SX40 and i get another two bream, both 24.5cm fork length.

Suddenly I think, 'What's that splashing?' My eyes quickley widen. I spin around and lift up the lid on my live well and see the three fish on their side in two inches of water. "Yeeeeaaaarrrggghhhhhh" Weed has blocked up my intake and stopped water from getting in. I quickly start scooping some water in and start to head for shore. Ahead of me I notice a yakker. It's Just Crusin (Dave) and as I explain my dilema he comes to my rescue and passes me over his large water scoop. Thank, Dave, you're a legend! I gotta get me one of those.

Back on the beach I unblock the inlet and it's as good as gold. The fish are still kicking strongly thankfully and there is now not too long to go until weigh-in. I don't manage anymore fish and pull up at the weigh-in site at 1:55pm.

There is a long wait for a weigh bag and the fish get constant top ups of water to keep them healthy. Finally it's my turn and I know that the leading weight so far for us yakkers is just over 1.5 kgs by daniel Holder. I'm confident of beating that and hope to crack the 2kg barrier. I have a quick chat to the guys as my fish go on the scale and I punch the air when they announce "2.175 kgs".

Still, my big worry is Stewie. I hadn't seen him all day and he's so good he can catch a fish in a rain puddle. If he'd fished the racks, he might have extracted a couple of real horses. But luckily for me, although Stewie did get three fish, he didn't manage to land any of the bruisers he hooked, so with 1.77 kgs, he took out 2nd place which gave me my first kayak tournament win. $400 for first place, which will obvioulsy be re-invested into the fishing industry! These bream can cost you a fortune...

Happily, my big guy powered off when I released him, so hopefully he'll be in that 85% that survive. The organisers did a fantastic job of the day and with that many anglers I see a hugely successfull series in the offing. I was a bit disappointed that there were only 20 yaks there, especially seeing as it was a Sydney event, too, and for only $50 entry you'll learn heaps and have a great time mixing with other like-minded anglers. Here is a pic of Stewie with his two best fish but I didn't notice the water spot on the lens, so sorry for the slightly smudged photo, Stewart.

The pressure is well and truly off me now, as I've automatically qualified for the Grand Final in

October. Now I can just fish the other rounds and have some fun. but I'll still be aiming for a podium spot and some of the cash. The next round is at Batemens Bay followed by Port hacking on the 7th March. come on yakkers, lets make it a great turn out and try to get at least 30 along for the day. Then we can show these power boaters what real fishing is about! : ) Happy yakkin', everyone!

cheers,

Cid

ps

For some more breaming tips, buy the Kayak Fishing Sydney DVD. : p

ABT/Hobie St Georges Basin Tournament - 23/1/10

Remember that plea of mine a couple of weeks back to catch bream at St Georges like I'd been catching in the Georges River. Well it obviously fell on deaf ears as I didn't get any of them... well, not enough of them anyway.

23 yakkers set forth and spread far and wide. I started shallow hoping for some surface action but couldn't even attract a follow. I dropped back into slightly deeper water and flicked about a 2" Gulp shrimp (pepper). Whack! And I'm on. This fish goes 32 cm fork length and that's a good start after only 30 minutes.

I got a few more tentative hits but no hook ups. I drop back into deeper water (4.5 meters) and switch to a blade. Eventually I hook up again and swing in another bream. Ooh, it'll be close, better put this one on the lie detector. I fumble around inside my hull but cant find my ruler. Ah well, into the live well he goes.

I landed a couple of flatties and a whiting before deciding to move on. And so I ventured about, hooking and landing some thumper whiting and a dozen or so flathead but no m ore bream. Where are the buggas?

And then, right on midday, the southerly hit. And boy, did it hit! 30 knot winds whipped the basin up and things were pretty hairy out there. I wasn't far from the start and figured the churned up water may get the fish biting on the weed edges. Back to the blade (the only thing I could cast with any distance in the wind) and I quickly get a crunching hit. This is what I'm after. Breeam number three. But unfortunately, it's sunburnt and has blue freckles. Aaarrrgghhh. It's a squire. Back he goes and half a dozen casts later I get another hit. And you guessed it, another Squire.

By now the basin is really like a washing machine and I decide to pull the pin. Many of the yaks have already returned and I can see the others heading in, too. The landing site looks like a surf beach now (in fact the water is o rough that there are a couple of smaller tinnies that have pulled up to get out of the rough water) so I stow away all my gear and tether the rods, all except for one because I don't have a tether for it.

The wind is howling, the waters churning, there's weed everywhere and I'm being thrown about all over the shop. I'm not far from shore when I get swamped over the back of the yak and I feel

the wave picking me up. I throw my body sideways and stay in the saddle but now I'm side on and can see another wave bearing down on me. I kick the mirage drive but it's too late and I'm struck fullly on the side and over I go. I bail out and land on my feet in chest deep water. I quickly right the yak and notice immediately that the untethered rod is missing. I feel around with my feet but there is so much stuff churning about under the water (and I can't see the bottom either) that I can't feel it anywhere.

It's too rough to stay out here so I jump back on the yak and get into shore. I wan't the only one to get a dunking and even the guys in the PA's said they nearly went over, too. It's a great reminder that conditions can change at anytime and that a PFD should be worn no matter where or when you are out on your kayak.

Now I'm onshore, I get out my trusty ruler and put the smallest fish onto it. NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! 24 .8 cms. Can you believe it? 2mm short. Back he goes and I weigh in my 1 fish for 660 grams. There were some great bags weighed in, with Peter Woods taking it out with 2.3 kgs and the ever consistent Jason Meech getting 2nd with 2.18 kgs, closely followed by Jason Price for 3rd with 1.9 kgs.

I'd like to pass on a big thanks to David O'Toole from Outdoors and Beyond in Nowra and Huskisson who ran the BBQ and provided every angler with a food and drink pack. Such support is greatly appreciated by us competitors.

Well yesterday I competed in the Basin Lure and Flys 'Squidgy Southern Bream Series' held on the Georges River. But for that update, check back tomorrow. ; ) Happy yakkin', everyone!

cheers,

Cid