Hi everyone,
I don't want to get too political on this blog, but after all if we dont try to educate now, chances are i will have nothing to write about later...if they lock us out of our fishing spots.
An email circulated last week, one which i posted a copy of here on this blog, to contact the premier and carmel tebbut to voice your disapproval of the marine park proposal for the hakesbury bio-region. I also took it upon my own to email Clover Moore, the sydney mayor, who is supporting the proposal with very strong language and a heap of gusto.
I emailed clover to ask where she got the quotes she was using as she didnt reference them on her website where they were published. Admittedly i didnt expect a response from her. I was delighted this morning to find in my inbox a response to my email. It read;
Dear sender
I refer to your email about my support for a marine park for Sydney.
I have supported establishment of a marine park following extensive consultation with community groups, stakeholders and scientific experts to ensure that protection is achieved. The proposal would include a number of different management zones and only the areas declared sanctuaries would totally ban any extraction of sea life.
I share widespread community concern that the Government should protect marine ecosystems, including addressing damage caused by urban development, agriculture, pollution, climate change and other major threats. While marine parks can play a vital role in protecting marine biodiversity, I believe that a multifaceted response to all threats is the best way to ensure the long-term sustainability of our waters.
You may wish to contact your local MP to express your views about this matter.
like all politicians the response answered nothing and in a long winded way only highlighted how deficient clover's knowledge is of the current state of our fisheries. I like how she stated in her response "I have supported establishment of a marine park following extensive consultation with community groups, stakeholders and scientific experts". What a complete load of crap. The only consultation clover has had has not been with community groups or scientists, but rather with the EPA to get herself well versed in the rhetoric needed to run a campaign like this....complete bullshit.
Anyway. I emplore all readers of this blog to send clover moore an email requesting her to identify where her quotes are sourced from and what scientific studies, relevant to sydney waterways, she is referring to. I'm curious to know if she knows who she is quoting. My fear is she has no bloody idea.
Clover Moore [Clover.Moore@parliament.nsw.gov.au]
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Bladed Lure Review
Hi All,
Xmas break is coming up. For me that means 3 weeks of solid fishing. In that time i am going to be trying out the variety of bladed lures on the market today. It's no secret the blades have gained alot of popularity and are catching good fish in a variety of situations. I blogged about them last month and discussed a fvew different variations in design and effect.
What i hope to achieve during this break is a total review of all the bladed lures on the market. I have sourced 12 different brands for the review ranging in size, colour, weight and materials. These are a combination of local manufactured product and imported models from various countries in asia.
While i wont give too much away in this blog, i will try to give some insight on the findings. I do however have to be careful as this review will be printed in an upcoming Fishing World article in 2009.
I think the key areas for examination will be;
1) Will the different lures fish differently?
2) Are they all just as effective as each other?
3) What are the design differences and how does this affect lure action?
4) Does colour matter?
5) Do the local lures fish as well as imported ones?
6) Does size matter?
7) Does the construction material benefit or detract from the lure action?
All these questions will need to be answered. I will fish blades almost exclusively for 6 weeks and use every lure in similar scenarios to try and compare apples with apples where possible. I know it sounds like a tough job... but somebody's gotta do it.
Xmas break is coming up. For me that means 3 weeks of solid fishing. In that time i am going to be trying out the variety of bladed lures on the market today. It's no secret the blades have gained alot of popularity and are catching good fish in a variety of situations. I blogged about them last month and discussed a fvew different variations in design and effect.
What i hope to achieve during this break is a total review of all the bladed lures on the market. I have sourced 12 different brands for the review ranging in size, colour, weight and materials. These are a combination of local manufactured product and imported models from various countries in asia.
While i wont give too much away in this blog, i will try to give some insight on the findings. I do however have to be careful as this review will be printed in an upcoming Fishing World article in 2009.
I think the key areas for examination will be;
1) Will the different lures fish differently?
2) Are they all just as effective as each other?
3) What are the design differences and how does this affect lure action?
4) Does colour matter?
5) Do the local lures fish as well as imported ones?
6) Does size matter?
7) Does the construction material benefit or detract from the lure action?
All these questions will need to be answered. I will fish blades almost exclusively for 6 weeks and use every lure in similar scenarios to try and compare apples with apples where possible. I know it sounds like a tough job... but somebody's gotta do it.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Hawkesbury Marine Park Proposal
Hi All,
It's with great regret to announce that the greens have finally tried to invade the last frontier of the NSW marine region. The Hawkesbury mrine bio region spans from stockton beach in port stephens past sydney all the way down to wollongong in the south.
The greens have some serious clout this time. They have luminaries like Valerie Taylor, the hag who got bitten by a shark 20 odd years ago. Too bad it didnt finish her off. Clover Moore... enuf said, and other political back benders and rubber armers. The greens obviously know they will need some clout this time round cause it will be a big undertaking. Sydney has over 1 million anglers and if mobilised could counteract this movement. But as has been shown in the establishment of other marine protected areas, anglers are an apathetic bunch. Unity in voice is not thier biggest strength. Unfortunate. Drama is, unless anglers are directly affected, they are loathe to unite. We could be an immense political power, able to create our own legislation and govern our own sport.
The Hawkesbury bio-region will unite a large percentage of anglers, thats for sure. But now is the time to act. Everone must write and lobby against this proposal before it gathers momentum. If there is enuf backlash the ruling Labor party will not jeorpadise thier already unstable government and try to implement this. 1 million voters swinging the other way will overthrow them...along with the greens.
So lets do this.
YOU CAN HELP STOP THIS WITH 2 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.
1) Copy and paste the text below into a new email
2) In the subject line put "Hawkesbury Marine Park"
3) Include your full name on the bottom of the email where it says
4) Copy the recipients:
To: dp.office@tebbutt.minister.nsw.gov.au
Cc: thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au
5) Click ‘Send’
Dear Premier & Ms Tebbut,
As a recreational fisherman I vehemently oppose the proposal for a Hawkesbury Marine Park. I feel so strongly about this issue that should it go ahead, I will not vote Labor at the next State Election.
A Hawkesbury Marine park has mobilised the one million strong recreational angling community and you can expect to feel the political backlash on an unprecedented scale. You would be best served to dispel any speculation by immediately announcing that a Hawkesbury Marine Park will never happen under a NSW Labor Government.
Regards,
It's with great regret to announce that the greens have finally tried to invade the last frontier of the NSW marine region. The Hawkesbury mrine bio region spans from stockton beach in port stephens past sydney all the way down to wollongong in the south.
The greens have some serious clout this time. They have luminaries like Valerie Taylor, the hag who got bitten by a shark 20 odd years ago. Too bad it didnt finish her off. Clover Moore... enuf said, and other political back benders and rubber armers. The greens obviously know they will need some clout this time round cause it will be a big undertaking. Sydney has over 1 million anglers and if mobilised could counteract this movement. But as has been shown in the establishment of other marine protected areas, anglers are an apathetic bunch. Unity in voice is not thier biggest strength. Unfortunate. Drama is, unless anglers are directly affected, they are loathe to unite. We could be an immense political power, able to create our own legislation and govern our own sport.
The Hawkesbury bio-region will unite a large percentage of anglers, thats for sure. But now is the time to act. Everone must write and lobby against this proposal before it gathers momentum. If there is enuf backlash the ruling Labor party will not jeorpadise thier already unstable government and try to implement this. 1 million voters swinging the other way will overthrow them...along with the greens.
So lets do this.
YOU CAN HELP STOP THIS WITH 2 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.
1) Copy and paste the text below into a new email
2) In the subject line put "Hawkesbury Marine Park"
3) Include your full name on the bottom of the email where it says
4) Copy the recipients:
To: dp.office@tebbutt.minister.nsw.gov.au
Cc: thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au
5) Click ‘Send’
Dear Premier & Ms Tebbut,
As a recreational fisherman I vehemently oppose the proposal for a Hawkesbury Marine Park. I feel so strongly about this issue that should it go ahead, I will not vote Labor at the next State Election.
A Hawkesbury Marine park has mobilised the one million strong recreational angling community and you can expect to feel the political backlash on an unprecedented scale. You would be best served to dispel any speculation by immediately announcing that a Hawkesbury Marine Park will never happen under a NSW Labor Government.
Regards,
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Weekend Report
Hi everyone,
Just a quickie today. Its late in the day and im coming off the back of two days in bed sick.
I hit the Hawkesbury river on saturday with two local tackle store gurus. The main aim was to hit a nice jewie on sp's. Been doing well recently and i put it down to s-factor. The new squidy scent is dynamite for turning lookers into takers. I used to sound out jewies all the time but would only have a 30% strike rate even once sounded out.
Now the s-factor has improved that equation. I reckon i'm hooking 60% of the jewies i sound out. Big call...but it seems that way at the moment. Only time will tell.
So we did manage to wrangle a samll soapy out of a new hole i havent flicked before. It looked the goods, had a nice colour change, a deep drop off, reef bottom, an eddie and panned out to a nice mud flat. All the ingredients for a good bag of fish. Sure enuf we got our mark. Also throw in a couple of good flatties as well.
Admittedly it was a tough day. Mooney ck was devoid of life and wind showed up....again. Seems like November 08 will be remembered for the gail winds and lack of fish. No surprise really. November in sydney is typically bad. But the good news is December usually fires up so bring it on.
I made a personal goal at the start of the year to knock over a jew over 20kgs on plastix in 08. Ive got 1 month to go. So far all i've got is a 11kg model. Cross my fingers.
Just a quickie today. Its late in the day and im coming off the back of two days in bed sick.
I hit the Hawkesbury river on saturday with two local tackle store gurus. The main aim was to hit a nice jewie on sp's. Been doing well recently and i put it down to s-factor. The new squidy scent is dynamite for turning lookers into takers. I used to sound out jewies all the time but would only have a 30% strike rate even once sounded out.
Now the s-factor has improved that equation. I reckon i'm hooking 60% of the jewies i sound out. Big call...but it seems that way at the moment. Only time will tell.
So we did manage to wrangle a samll soapy out of a new hole i havent flicked before. It looked the goods, had a nice colour change, a deep drop off, reef bottom, an eddie and panned out to a nice mud flat. All the ingredients for a good bag of fish. Sure enuf we got our mark. Also throw in a couple of good flatties as well.
Admittedly it was a tough day. Mooney ck was devoid of life and wind showed up....again. Seems like November 08 will be remembered for the gail winds and lack of fish. No surprise really. November in sydney is typically bad. But the good news is December usually fires up so bring it on.
I made a personal goal at the start of the year to knock over a jew over 20kgs on plastix in 08. Ive got 1 month to go. So far all i've got is a 11kg model. Cross my fingers.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Not The Right Knot!
Hi all,
I love talking knots. I wouldnt call myself a knotologist (can't believe they made a knot tyer an ologist of some description - funny stuff)but i would refer myself as an anal knot tyer. I enjoy tying good knots and get a degree of satisfaction out of tying a good looking knot.
There are some knots that i reckon are unsurpassable i certain situations and reckon that, if you dont alredy use them, you should try and learn. So i will try and lay it all out for you. Now knots are a personal preference so if your more comfortable tying other knots and feel more confident, chances are you will tie them more successfully anyway...so stick with em. These are purely my personal observations and if they help...all the better.
1) Main Line to Leader - Usually in lure fishing the main line is usually braid and the leader usually fluro or mono. The diameter differences make tying good slim knots that dont get caught on the guides problematic. There are 2 knots that are mainly used, the double uni or the improved albright. I use the improved albright 100% of the time. The double uni is harder to tie, takes longer and is a bulkier knot. Admittedly the knot strength is better with the double uni but i feel it still is a second choice. The albright can be tied in low light, is extremely slim and can be tied with lines of vastly different diameters. As i said the knot strength is not as good but with a light drags on spider web braids it makes little difference. In the heavier line classes the knots bites well and knot strength is improved. However really thin braid can cut into the leader at times.
2) Leader to Lure - In most situations the leader knot to a lure is usually a loop knot. A loop knot allows the lure maximum movement without being restricted by a direct knot. Lures that benefit from a loop are soft plastics and diving hard bodies. This makes up about 95% of the fishing i do. My favourite loop knots are lefty's loop knot or the perfection loop. Either are great knots and are nearly similar. Both have great knot strength too.
As i suggested, there are some leader to lure scenarios where a direct knot is preferable. These include using top water lures like poppers and walkers. Other lures include spinnerbaits and techniques like dropshotting. The best direct knot is either a blood knot or a uni knot. Both are easy to tie and retain nearly 100% strength.
3) Doubles - When fishing for the big stuff connecting single strands of line will not provide enuf security. This may be cause of shock to the line from a surge of a powerful fish or for abrasion resistence as two strands gives that extra security to land a fish in tiger country like fishing for big barra in the sticks. Normally folding over the last foot of main line creates a double strand of line. This is then connected to a single strand of normally very heavy leader. There a few double knots that can be used but my preference is the famous bimini twist. Once the twist is completed and the double is created in the main line, i attach this double to the heavy leader using a standard albright knot not the improved version.
There are literally hundrerds of variations to the knots i suggested. And trying to describe how these knots are tied would be difficult in print. So i suggest if you are interested to learn these knots either ask your local tackle store of buy Geoff wilson's book of knots. Geoff is a master of tying knots and his illustrated books are well written and easy to follow.
Hope tis helps a little.
ALBRIGHT KNOT
BIMINI TWIST
I love talking knots. I wouldnt call myself a knotologist (can't believe they made a knot tyer an ologist of some description - funny stuff)but i would refer myself as an anal knot tyer. I enjoy tying good knots and get a degree of satisfaction out of tying a good looking knot.
There are some knots that i reckon are unsurpassable i certain situations and reckon that, if you dont alredy use them, you should try and learn. So i will try and lay it all out for you. Now knots are a personal preference so if your more comfortable tying other knots and feel more confident, chances are you will tie them more successfully anyway...so stick with em. These are purely my personal observations and if they help...all the better.
1) Main Line to Leader - Usually in lure fishing the main line is usually braid and the leader usually fluro or mono. The diameter differences make tying good slim knots that dont get caught on the guides problematic. There are 2 knots that are mainly used, the double uni or the improved albright. I use the improved albright 100% of the time. The double uni is harder to tie, takes longer and is a bulkier knot. Admittedly the knot strength is better with the double uni but i feel it still is a second choice. The albright can be tied in low light, is extremely slim and can be tied with lines of vastly different diameters. As i said the knot strength is not as good but with a light drags on spider web braids it makes little difference. In the heavier line classes the knots bites well and knot strength is improved. However really thin braid can cut into the leader at times.
2) Leader to Lure - In most situations the leader knot to a lure is usually a loop knot. A loop knot allows the lure maximum movement without being restricted by a direct knot. Lures that benefit from a loop are soft plastics and diving hard bodies. This makes up about 95% of the fishing i do. My favourite loop knots are lefty's loop knot or the perfection loop. Either are great knots and are nearly similar. Both have great knot strength too.
As i suggested, there are some leader to lure scenarios where a direct knot is preferable. These include using top water lures like poppers and walkers. Other lures include spinnerbaits and techniques like dropshotting. The best direct knot is either a blood knot or a uni knot. Both are easy to tie and retain nearly 100% strength.
3) Doubles - When fishing for the big stuff connecting single strands of line will not provide enuf security. This may be cause of shock to the line from a surge of a powerful fish or for abrasion resistence as two strands gives that extra security to land a fish in tiger country like fishing for big barra in the sticks. Normally folding over the last foot of main line creates a double strand of line. This is then connected to a single strand of normally very heavy leader. There a few double knots that can be used but my preference is the famous bimini twist. Once the twist is completed and the double is created in the main line, i attach this double to the heavy leader using a standard albright knot not the improved version.
There are literally hundrerds of variations to the knots i suggested. And trying to describe how these knots are tied would be difficult in print. So i suggest if you are interested to learn these knots either ask your local tackle store of buy Geoff wilson's book of knots. Geoff is a master of tying knots and his illustrated books are well written and easy to follow.
Hope tis helps a little.
ALBRIGHT KNOT
BIMINI TWIST
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Popper Time
Hi All,
The summer sun is starting to rear its head...blue currents are feeding into our estuaries... and the fish are looking to spawn. This only means one thing..... crack out the poppers.
I just love these topwater lures. The visual aspect is exciting, the vicious takes as well as the gentle slurps off the surface as the fish nails the lure. Wicked stuff. As with any current craze there are some myths that need to be dispelled as well as some techniques that need to be elaborated on... Lets look at some of these now in readiness for summer.
1) Use heavy leader - Typically a heavy mono leader will aid in the popper staying on top of the water. Flurocarbon naturally sinks and will pull the nose of the popper down restricting the action. As mono floats, using a heavier line class will help the popper track straight and stay on top of the water. Also use a short trace too. Long traces are not neccessary and will also restrict the action of the lure.
2) Fish Shallow Flats - Now contrary to belief, you dont actually have to fish water super shallow. I have caught bream and whiting in water over 5ft on poppers last summer. The craze to go super shallow is fine but dont think the depper drop offs are out of bounds either. Fish patrol these areas and will willingly hit a lures 3 ft off the bottom.
3) Fish Broken Ground - I have had my best sessions flicking poppers over a mixture of sand and weed. Pure sand flats dont seem to produce quite as well. I get a lot of follows over pure sand but the fish seem more timid. Add in some patchy weed ans see what happens. It turns lookers into takers. The skittering popper resembles a fleeing prawn and prawns live in weed.. so the reason is quite simple. Even flick poppers over the top of dense weed beds too.
4) Walk the Dog - If things are tough and the fish are ignoring of just following a popper try a switch to walking surface lures. Walk the dog lures dont have a cupped face, just a tow point, and sometimes arched in appearence. When twitched correctly the lure will have a zig-zagging left to right action. It doenst displace any water like a popper but still resembles a fleeing prawn or fish. It a much more sublte presentation and can turn the fish on when a popper scares the fish
5) Colours - This is a very easy one to remember. Basically dark water dark lures, clear water clear lures.
6) Fish High Tide - I have found that fishing the incoming tide has provided the best results. Perhaps even the first hour of the run out too.. the shallow flats come alive with life as fish get to prospect for food on flats exposed at low tide.
There we have it...6 tips to maximise your popper fishing this summer. The benefits of this exciting new style of fishing is simple...tasty fillets of whiting... you cant get much better than that.
The summer sun is starting to rear its head...blue currents are feeding into our estuaries... and the fish are looking to spawn. This only means one thing..... crack out the poppers.
I just love these topwater lures. The visual aspect is exciting, the vicious takes as well as the gentle slurps off the surface as the fish nails the lure. Wicked stuff. As with any current craze there are some myths that need to be dispelled as well as some techniques that need to be elaborated on... Lets look at some of these now in readiness for summer.
1) Use heavy leader - Typically a heavy mono leader will aid in the popper staying on top of the water. Flurocarbon naturally sinks and will pull the nose of the popper down restricting the action. As mono floats, using a heavier line class will help the popper track straight and stay on top of the water. Also use a short trace too. Long traces are not neccessary and will also restrict the action of the lure.
2) Fish Shallow Flats - Now contrary to belief, you dont actually have to fish water super shallow. I have caught bream and whiting in water over 5ft on poppers last summer. The craze to go super shallow is fine but dont think the depper drop offs are out of bounds either. Fish patrol these areas and will willingly hit a lures 3 ft off the bottom.
3) Fish Broken Ground - I have had my best sessions flicking poppers over a mixture of sand and weed. Pure sand flats dont seem to produce quite as well. I get a lot of follows over pure sand but the fish seem more timid. Add in some patchy weed ans see what happens. It turns lookers into takers. The skittering popper resembles a fleeing prawn and prawns live in weed.. so the reason is quite simple. Even flick poppers over the top of dense weed beds too.
4) Walk the Dog - If things are tough and the fish are ignoring of just following a popper try a switch to walking surface lures. Walk the dog lures dont have a cupped face, just a tow point, and sometimes arched in appearence. When twitched correctly the lure will have a zig-zagging left to right action. It doenst displace any water like a popper but still resembles a fleeing prawn or fish. It a much more sublte presentation and can turn the fish on when a popper scares the fish
5) Colours - This is a very easy one to remember. Basically dark water dark lures, clear water clear lures.
6) Fish High Tide - I have found that fishing the incoming tide has provided the best results. Perhaps even the first hour of the run out too.. the shallow flats come alive with life as fish get to prospect for food on flats exposed at low tide.
There we have it...6 tips to maximise your popper fishing this summer. The benefits of this exciting new style of fishing is simple...tasty fillets of whiting... you cant get much better than that.
Monday, November 24, 2008
El Nino
Hi All,
As your reading this have a quick look out your window. I bet theres no wind, not a cloud in the sky and barometers at a steady 1115... and you wanna know why??? Cause its a bloody work day and we cant get out on the bloody water. Burn!
Nothing frustrates me more than having one day a week to whet my fishing thirst and being delivered the crap we were dished up on the weekend in Sydney. The report said 18kt winds on saturday. Now i cop 18kt winds...barely but it can be done. We opted to fish a section of the hawkesbury with protection from the wind due to the high cliffs... but what we didnt cater for was the real weather report. Instead of 18kt winds try 80kt winds... just an absolute joke. How can the weather report get it sooo wrong??? Usually i wouldnt even bother going out if the report of wind is above 20kts.
Anyhow we battled on. We did manage 3 flatties before the apex of the wind storm really hit. To make matters worse i had a greenhorn on board and it wasnt really the day for tuition.
These unpredicatble patterns are set to continue i feel. The only drama is that right now, looking out my work window overlooking sydney harbour the conditions are perfect... go figure.
As your reading this have a quick look out your window. I bet theres no wind, not a cloud in the sky and barometers at a steady 1115... and you wanna know why??? Cause its a bloody work day and we cant get out on the bloody water. Burn!
Nothing frustrates me more than having one day a week to whet my fishing thirst and being delivered the crap we were dished up on the weekend in Sydney. The report said 18kt winds on saturday. Now i cop 18kt winds...barely but it can be done. We opted to fish a section of the hawkesbury with protection from the wind due to the high cliffs... but what we didnt cater for was the real weather report. Instead of 18kt winds try 80kt winds... just an absolute joke. How can the weather report get it sooo wrong??? Usually i wouldnt even bother going out if the report of wind is above 20kts.
Anyhow we battled on. We did manage 3 flatties before the apex of the wind storm really hit. To make matters worse i had a greenhorn on board and it wasnt really the day for tuition.
These unpredicatble patterns are set to continue i feel. The only drama is that right now, looking out my work window overlooking sydney harbour the conditions are perfect... go figure.
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