Squidgy Southern Bream Series Grand Final - 20th-21st October 2012

Another year and another Grand Final. The previously dreaded St Georges Basin no longer sent chills through my bones as lately I've managed to wrestle a few fish into my live well during the comps. A total of 25 kayakers had qualified and we set off knowing a southerly was forecast to hit a little later on. I moved to the same point that Jason Reid and I had success at last year and we started casting within 30 meters of each other again. Deja Vu!

This time I started fishing a squidgy 100mm wriggler in bloodworm rigged on a 1/40th HWS jighead with 3lb fluoro leader. I'd give it 10 casts and would then swap to a HB, namely a Jackall Chubby. This brought me my first fish but it wasn't the right type. A nice luderick hit the lure only 10 feet from the yak and it put up a spirited tussle before I swung it aboard. Back into the drink it goes and I swap back to the wriggler. This proved to be a good swap as within 3 casts I had my first bream in the well. Not huge at 26.6 cms total length but it only needs to be 26 cms. So that's the donut monkey off my back, now to get number 2.

The wind picked up a little and added a bit more chop to the surface. that was good and I started to get a few fish. Unfortunately they were just under but eventually a bigger specimen latched on and he went 28 tip length. Great, only one to go!

But now the wind died off and with it went the fish. I tried various lures and even went out into deeper water but apart from whiting and flathead, I couldn't get another bream for my live well. I decided to give the weed beds another try and just as I arrived the southerly moved into town. And with it, BANG, another fish. This guy was another 28 tip and that's my three! What a relief.

The wind started to increase and as the white caps rolled in, I got another. 27 tip and he's an upgrade! Where is that kicker fish though? The wind kept howling and for the next hour I bobbed around for a big fat zilcho. Eventually it was time to head in and see how I'd done.

Best for the day was Simon Morley who blitzed it and weighed in 3 fish for 2.08 kgs. The big fish for the day though went to Jason price with a 1.36 kg beauty. Unfortunately for him (but fortunately for the rest of us) he couldn't find a couple more to go with it. Rounding out 2nd and 3rd for the day were Rob Chambers (1.55 kgs) and Jason Reid (1.54 kgs). I was sitting in equal 6th with 1.04 kgs. Tomorrow is another day though and the Shoalhaven can be very tricky at times, so it was still anybodies to take.

The next day dawned beautifully but I would have preferred a little more wind to stir things up a bit. I had my plan and set off to where I'd picked up a few fish off the surface the last couple of times I'd been here. This time however, they weren't coming out to play and I left the spot with only a flathead to my name. Off to the channel where Hedgey snaffled the big bream from right under my yak last comp and it's where I got my first for the day, once again falling for the squidgy wriggler. Only 26.5 cms again, but she'll do.

Things were very quiet and I moved to the other side of the river to try some weed beds. Not even a hit, so I ventured back up to my original starting area as by now the tide was pushing in and a drift over the flats there may be productive. A few of the power boats were thinking the same thing and I slotted in among them. Cast retrieve, cast retrieve, cast....ooh, the lines moving sideways. I lift the rod and set the hook and 'Zzzzz' goes the drag and this feels better. It's silver AND it's a bream. He punched above his weight though and only goes 28 tip. Ok, one more to go and I've got my bag.

I tried all the edges, all the poles and time eventually was up so I headed back to the weigh in. On the way I passed some old oyster rack rails that had sandy patches between them. As I  moved along, I flicked a Lobby into these patches. Thankfully, one of these had a bream waiting and frantically I heaved him away from the structure and quickly lifted him into the yak. YES!!! That's my 3rd and at 30 tip, he's the best. But where is that bloody kicker fish though?

I'm hot tailing it back and as I pass some more dilapidated racks, I hear the 'kiss,kiss' sound of a bream taking something off the surface. It's right in between 4 poles sticking out of the water. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so I lofted my Lobby into the middle of them, gave it a few twitches and let it sink. BANG! The fish hit it like a train and the rod bent as I lent back. The drag was locked up but all the fish had to do was swim sideways and he'd do me. And that's what he did. PING! went the line and he was gone. So that's where the kicker fish was...

Back on shore there was the usual grumbling about lost fish and no fish what-so-ever but the guy with the biggest smile was Stewart Dunn. He had a cracker bag and looked like he'd take it out. Jason Reid had his full bag though, so it wasn't a given and Luke Kay had also managed three good fish. Down to the wire it went and the eventual stat's played out in that exact order. Stewart (2.78kgs), Jason (2.66 kgs) and Luke (2.48 kgs) Simon Morley could only manage 1 fish today and dropped to fourth with 2445 kgs. Without that kicker, I couldn't keep up with these guys but I managed a very creditable 5th place with 2.175 kgs and was one of only two anglers to get a full bag both days, the other being Jason Reid. Jason took out the AOY and deservedly so too as he's been so consistent all year, nearly always placing in the top 5.

Thanks again to the organisers for another fantastic year and also thank you to Steve Fields and Hobie for supporting me during these comp's. the next report I'll put up is for the ABT Narrabeen round which was my last chance to qualify for the ABt Kayak Grand Final down in Victoria on the Bemm River. Stay tuned. Happy yakkin', everyone!

cheers,
Cid

Woolooware Bay - 30/9/12

Flatties for dinner, that was the quest and a quick flick for a jewfish or two wouldn't go astray either. Of course, it was a bit late in the morning for a jewfish but you never know. But the jewfish weren't about so I moved to some flats and started flicking about the same 100mm Squidgy slick rig. Two casts later I have my first flathead. Yay! Then about 5 casts after that, I get number two. Not huge croc's at about 45 cm's but they are the perfect eating size.

It went a bit quite so I moved locations and started flicking a blade about and picked up my very first Grinner. Then it was time for another flathead and three was enough for me. One lone bream got in on the act when he snaffled my Squidgy Bloodworm Wriggler and to cap off the morning, I briefly hooked up to a salmon that rocketed up from the bottom, jumped twice then threw back my lure.

I'm off on a south pacific cruise for 10 days and when I get back I'm down to St Georges Basin for the final of the Squidgy Southern Series Bream Comp. Then the week after that it's the last roll of the dice to qualify for the ABT Final with a two day event on Narrabeen Lake. Exciting times ahead.

So until I get back from the cruise, Happy yakkin' everybody!

cheers,
Cid

8 week catch up...

Well, 8 weeks is a long time between reports but I've got a good excuse. I haven't been fishing! The last time I went out was for the Squidgy Sydney round back on the 8th July. With Lachlans and my soccer season in full swing there just weren't enough hours in the day to get among the fish. But I've a bit of catching up to do, so here goes...

Western Sydney Bream and Bass annual Bream Scramble - 24th June 2012

I was teamed up with Gary again and our first port of call only saw a few chopper tailor come over the side. From here we moved to deeper water and started working some blades and plastics in 10 meters. It wasn't too long before Gary gets a legal. Yahoo, we're on the board. 30 minutes later, Gary gets another that's about 33 fork length. 'You beauty, my turn next,' I think.

We plug away for another 40 minutes and are about to move when Gary gets another. Magic, we'll give it one more drift then. And then Gary gets another corker that's 34 fork. I'm starting to get sick of netting all these fish and am feeling like a free-loader. I grab Gary's lure and flick it out. Hop, hop, hop BANG! I'm on! And just as quick, it's busted me up. Schizer! That's one lure I owe you Gary.

Gary closes his eyes and grabs a random blade, hurls it out and lands another bream. Then another!!! That's our 5 bag, it's now 11:35am and I haven't landed a fish since 7:20am.

To cut to the chase, 8 legal fish (two of those were upgrades) came into the boat and I netted everyone of them. Apart from the chopper tailors, I didn't land a bloody thing. Not even a flattie. Worst. Day. Ever! Thank God it's a team event and I have to say I did a brilliant job scooping them up for Gary. I didn't miss one!

The weigh in showed it was a tough day but there were a couple of good bags weighed in. We didn't get the  top spot (that was 3.696 kgs) but we did manage 4th (with 3.185 kgs) which was pretty good for a field of 37 boats. Thankfully Gary was on his game today. Next year, I promise I'll catch one, mate.

Squidgy Southern Bream Series - Sydney Harbour - 8th July 2012

27 kayaks set off on this cool morning after 83 boats had scattered into the distance. I started working some flats for not even a touch and I thought 'Oh oh, I hope I do better than my day with Gary?' I set my sights on some boats and third boat I get my first legal of 27 tip length. Yay!

I get three more off the hulls but they're all just under. I then started throwing a cranka vibe around some weed bed edges and bring in another 2 bream that are both 25.5 cm tip. Ooooooh so close (they've gotta be 26 cms tip length minimum).

I move about, targeting pontoons, boats, rocky shorelines, flats and weed beds. I try Chubby's, Atomic Hardz, small stick minnows, Squidgy Wrigglers, Atomic Paddle Tails, Cranka, TT and Ecogear blades and all I can manage is more undersize bream. With 15 minutes to go I flick a black blade under a boat hull and hallelujah, it's a bream!


That fish kicked me up into 11th place (with 0.765 kgs) on another very tough day. 14 yakkers couldn't manage a legal but of course there is always someone who has a great day and Stewart smashed it. His bag of 1.725 kgs was nearly 400 grams in front of Shane Taylor (1.35 kgs) who just edged out Andrew Hancox with 1.335 kgs.

That result will do me though as I should be safe for qualifying for the Grand Final in October now. There is another round at the St Georges Basin on the 2nd September but being fathers day, I'll spend it with the family instead. Happy yakkin', everyone!

cheers,
Cid

Depot Beach - Snappy Time

Not a report from me but I wish I'd been there...

Stewart and a few of his buddies decided to escape the rat-race and headed south a couple of weekends ago to Depot Beach, a great spot to chase snapper, which is just north of Batemans Bay. With these legendary fish not far from the launch site, a good weekend was hoped to be had by all.

And they did, too! Phone calls deliberately intended to upset me, followed by photos that confirmed the tales that I presumed to be lies, only rubbed salt into the wounds of the unlucky anglers that were left at home. Conditions were pretty good; there was a marginal swell but at least it wasn't very lumpy and overcast skies meant the fish weren't too skittish.

A couple of the lads trolled hard bodies but Stewart stuck to SP's. 6" minnow style stickbaits and as is Stewart's way, he chases them basically on bream gear. The first fish punished him for this choice of tackle but the light gear meant that he was getting many more bites than the others.

The final tally was about 30 fish, with Stewart getting done over 3 times by big beasties that he couldn't stop. By-catch was a few flatties which normally are great, but they're rubbish when you're chasing these hump-headed sun-burnt bream on steroids.

This weekend I'm fishing with Gary Brown in the Western Sydney Bream and Bass annual Bream Scramble. This comp is open to all and is a teams event where you have to weigh in your 5 biggest bream. Gary and I took it out a few years ago, so we're due for another win. It's a boat only event, so no yaks allowed (boo, hiss) but it's always a great day. $140 entry fee with $1500 going to the winner and a BBQ thrown in, too. So if you yakkers have a friend with a boat, rock on up at 6am and join in. Comp times are 7am to 1pm. As I said, Gary and I have dibs on first place, but you can always try for second or third.  :  )  Full details and the entry form can be found here:
http://www.wsbb.com.au/smf/index.php?topic=5129.0

Hopefully I'll see you down there. Happy yakkin', everyone!

cheers,
Cid

Cooks River - mid-May 2012

I love it when a plan works out as it should. A midweek session, great tides (low at 10:55am) and magic weather and hopefully there'll be a big jewfish or two around.

It'd been a while since I'd hooked one of these silver beasts and I was itchin' to do battle. That big initial run, those ferocious head-shakes and the ensuing stubborn fight make these fish the king of the estuaries. I launched at 10am from a deserted boat ramp. The various bridges within the system were my targets and with a little luck I'd also pick up a couple of bream while travelling between them.

The first few bridges were fish-less but I managed a couple of average sized bream (about 28cm tip) on my 2" Atomic paddle tails rigged on HWS hooks. These kept my interest up but they weren't what I was after.

My tackle of choice for the jewfish was a Daiwa Advantage Rod and reel, spooled with 8lb braid and 10lb fluoro leader. The lure was a Squidgy 100mm slick-rig in black and gold.

As I approached the next bridge the current had virtually stopped. There were a few swirling eddies and the sounder showed a depth of 3.9 meters. Perfect. I started with the middle pylons, casting to the bases and letting the lure sink down until it settled on the bottom. I'd then give it a big double-hop and as it fell I kept the line taught to feel for any bites or 'ticks' that may indicate it being picked up.

Fourth cast, third hop and it's hit hard. Oh yes, this is what I was after. There were immediate head shakes and then a powerful run that thankfully went out into open water and away from those line-shredding concrete pylons. It peeled off 20 meters of line, there was another series of head shakes and again there was another 20 meter run. I could tell it was a good fish (duh?), but would it crack that magical meter mark? My best to date was 84 cms, so I at least hoped it would beat that.


The fish slugged it out near the bottom and started circling me anti-clockwise. I think this is where the Mirage drive really comes into it's own when you're fighting a big fish. I was able to keep maneuvering myself away from the fish to get different angles of pull on it and and in doing so could dictate which way it ran and thus keep it away from the bridge and out in the open.

This slug-fest went on for about 8 minutes and the last few runs were only of 5 meters or so. Eventually she planed up from the bottom (ooooh, will she go a meter???) and rolled on her side next to the yak, beaten but still glowing in those magical purple/silver hues they are so well known for. I carefully lifted her into the yak and headed for shore so I could get her on the brag mat. As I made my way in, Andrew called to see how I was going? "I'll call in 10 minutes", I said! : )

Oh man, wouldn't you know it? There was not one person around that could take a photo of me with her. So onto the mat she went and no, she's not a meter but it's still pretty close. 91.5 cm and that a new PB for me. I slip her back into the drink and swim her about to refresh her. Eventually she started clamping down on my hand and I just manage to get one last photo before she zooms outta sight. Beautiful!

There were no more jewfish after that but I managed to get what I came out for which isn't always the case, especially when chasing these elusive big predators. Now it's time to ring a few fellow yakkers and start the bragging. Happy yakkin', everyone!

cheers,
Cid

Oyster Bay with Danielle - 6th May 2012

Earlier this month Lachlan was staying at a friends place for the night so I took the opportunity to smuggle Danielle onto the kayak seeing as it's been awhile since she's been out with me. She was so excited, the night before she was saying, 'Early to bed, Daddy. We're going fishing in the morning!'.

And thankfully it wasn't too cold either. We had the ramp to ourselves and conditions were excellent. We started trolling a Chubby and a Babyvib while we watched the mullet jumping sporadically around the bay. Last time she managed a good flathead, so our goal today was to catch her her first bream.

Things were surprisingly quiet and we even had a short stint at flicking a surface lure under overhanging trees. I was hoping for a big surface smash but alas, no luck there. Finally though, the rod bucked and with a 'Ooh' and wide eyes, she was on!

This wasn't a big fish but she loved it just the same. I repeated the words I'd mentioned to Lachlan when he was learning. "Rod up, a little more, no, not that much, point it towards the fish, keep winding. Well done, that's it...'. And yes, it was a bream. Not legal but who cares when you're just out having fun. We had a quick photo and she dropped the little guy back into the water for another time.

We continued around the bay, eating a few chocolate biscuits, talking about fish and ballet and let's not tell Lachlan and 'Ooh, are there sharks in here? What about crocodiles?' Our laughter was interrupted by the singing of the drag as a better fish raced off with the Chubby.

Lots of funny faces were pulled as Danielle struggled to wind this 'huge' fish in. I saw the silver flash and this bream was soon in the net, too. Yay! This one was legal (about 27 tip length) but we weren't out for a feed today, so this guy won his freedom, too.

The time literally flew by and before we knew it we had to head back in. There was still time for another first for Danielle though, and although the drag didn't sing or the rod bend too much, she landed her first tailor. 'See ya fishy!' we yelled as he shot off into the depths and we continued back to the ramp.

Another fantastic day and I love being able to share these experiences and teach my children a wonderful pastime that hopefully they'll treasure as much as I do. Our time is all too brief on this planet so you've gotta squeeze every last drop out of it while you can. These memories will last a lifetime for me and I'm pretty sure Lachlan and Danielle will cherish these times too. Happy yakkin', everyone!

cheers,
Cid

Botany Bay in April

Phone calls made, locations discussed and a launch site decided. We're off to Towra! Larry, Andrew, Stewart and myself met at the western end of Silver Beach at Kurnell and launched from the boat ramp. Conditions were great but the swell created a nasty shore break that would be tricky coming back in.

Neither of us had been here for over a month, so it'd be interesting to see if a few kings were over the flats, or maybe even a school of bonito, but with me in tow, it was unlikely any bonito would show up within coo-ee. We were pretty confident there'd be a few big bream about as the tides were good for some action over the weed beds.

I started off with some surface lures and soon switched to un-weighted SP's. Not even a touch. I slow rolled a Chubby mid-diver and couldn't even raise a pike. The other boys had moved out into deeper water (2.5-3.5 meters) and on approach I could see Andrew hooked up. In comes a trevally and over his shoulder I can see Stewart hooked up, too. His is also a trevally and it's not too long before we all get involved.

I rig up with an Atomic 3" paddle tail (flecked motor oil with a chartreuse tail) on a 1/24th jighead and get monstered on the first cast. That happens sometimes with 2lb leader. On goes anotrher one and this time I keep it under control and bring in my first treva of the day. As I slip mine into the live well, I can see Larry is on for his first, too.

The next hour saw us all land fish, with multiple hook ups a common thing. Andrew was the standout today though and landed over a dozen cracking fish. Stewart did see one king but couldn't tempt him and Larry was the only one that could get a bream into the kayak. Still, when the trevally are on, it's a great session. I left the fish still biting and the boys went back the next day and although not as many fish were caught, the size was noticably bigger.

A week later, Stewart and I gave the HWO a try. It's been very lack-lustre at this spot lately and we weren't that confident of getting much there, in fact it was really the Drums in the middle of the Bay we were going to have a crack at for kings. Still it's always worth a throw and the first casts with our Waxwings saw us both hook up. Woohooo! The tailor are here and they were a good size, too. At between 45-50 cms, they had a bit of grunt and we probably landed a dozen each before we decided to continue out to the Drums. Of course, we lost a good deal more as they jumped and threw our hooks and the main reason we moved on was because a bigger specimen had taken my waxwing as a souvenier. It's hard to leave when they're biting like this, but we had bigger fish to fry, so to speak!

But as our luck would have it, as we neared the Drums, the tugs moved in with a tanker and that was our chance gone. 'Back to see if the tailor are still there?' said Stewart. Why not?

Fifty meters away Stewarts sounder lights up and he reckons they're bream, so he stops to drop a blade down. I continue and have now rigged up an old blue/silver metal slug that's been laying in my tackle box for years. Out she goes into the middle of the churning water. A few cranks of the handle and it's hit. "The tailor are still here,' I yell back to Stewie and then all of a sudden, things change. The spool starts singing and I quickly realise that this isn't a tailor!

It makes a 50 meter run towards the beach and I think 'Thank God it didn't head towards the oil jetty.' But this fish can read my mind and on cue, takes a left and races off again. I'm chasing it now and there is considerable weight on the other end of my line. I'm only using 10lb leader and can't put too much pressure on it. More tug of war between us and then another 30 meter run before I stop it again.

Now we're only 20 meters from the jetty and I decided to try the gently-gently approach. Sometimes with Kings, if you just keep gentle pressure on them, you can guide them with you. I start to move away and 'YES', it's following me. And it did for 5 meters before it decides that enough is enough and it does a screaming run to the jetty and ping!, it's all over. Ooh, that was a big fish, easily the biggest king I've hooked (my best to date is 89cms). In fact, I don't think he was even that troubled by me. If only I'd hooked him on the heavier gear. Ah well, that's fishin'.

From there we headed into the shallows and picked a a few bream and trevally on a range of HB's and SP's. I landed one good bream of 38cms on a Saku lure and after a quick photo, back he went. The next report I put up will be on the Squidgy Shoalhaven round that was on the other week. You know that weekend, it was the one when the southerly blew all sunday while we were out trying to fish the racks. LOL Happy fishin', everyone!

cheers,
Cid