G’day lads,

You know Spring is here when kingfish jigging reports start arriving from the NSW north coast. Sean writes, from SWR:

Got out and amongst it this week. The plan was to take advantage of the calm conditions and see if we couldn't bag a bar cod or two. Things didn't go exactly to plan when we started getting hammered by the leatherjackets, however did manage some nice fish, including some ripper nannygais and a decent snapper.

The wrecks were holding some good kingies, and last drop of the day (just as the wind picked up) Terry managed to snag a nice little jewie. So all in all a good day.

Well done cobber, by crikey you’ve had a great winter of fishing.

Jack writes in to clarify the pics of Greyband, in last weeks’ report:

Hi Andrew,

Love the pics of Greyband. Below is info about it as per http://www.fishnames.com.au/fishnames/fishnames.php?pid=2192

It is really a Groper (Epinephalus family), same as Rock Cod, Hapuka etc.

Cheers, Jack

BAR ROCKCOD

CAAB Code: 37 311910

Standard Fish Name: BAR ROCKCOD

Scientific Name: Epinephelus ergastularius & Epinephelus septemfasciatus

Authority:

Family: Serranidae

Obsolete Names: bar cod; barcod; cod; grey-banded cod; grey-banded rockcod; grey-banded rock-cod; rockcod

Helpful! But mate that raises more questions than it answers, because it means Greyband and bar cod are the same species? They certainly look similar, when you view Paul’s fish above. Fly rod fanatic Lionel tucked in under the Sydney Head cliffs. That’s a great place for casting, you’re out of the prevailing westerly winds, and the salmon are on tap all winter:

Hi Andy, here's pics from today’s jaunt with Norm! All on fly, all taken between Old Mans and Blues Point, all feeding on larger bait.

Thanks, champ! It’s good to get the schools to yourself midweek, I’ll bet. PS watch where you’re pointing that thing.

Eric fished around the Heads too:

Hi Andrew, attached is my yesterdays catch near the Gap in Sydney. Must have been breaking the law as this burly Sergeant Baker bailed me up. Biggest SB I have seen so far. We did start the day chasing Salmon at North Head but having hooked up 2 of them and broken and lost 2 rigs decided I needed to review my Salmon rigs and moved on.

Right Eric, I have got a salmon rig for you!

But most time they’re feeding on tiny fish fry, called glassies. Named because you can see right through their body – although they do have big dark eyes. Bonito and salmon brought aboard this time of the year often cough up multiple glassies all over the deck, so a lure of that size and appearance is needed. The problem is that something so light and small is very hard to cast. Matt Reid from Raptor Charters got me sorted last week on a technique for effective presentation. If you want to give it a try, here’s what you’ll need:

A jar of Bing soft plastic lures, pink or clear best;

1/16 ounce jig heads;

Light fluoro carbon leader, whatever size you prefer;

Tiny swivels and casting weight, barrel probably better than ball sinkers.

Rig up a simple paternoster, with a sinker dropper and the jig head coming off a short leader from the swivel. When a rolling school of salmon is sighted, cast into or towards it and do a slow sink and drop retrieve. Using this technique we had multiple simultaneous hook-ups on salmon, bonito, and trevally (handy for livebait at Browns.)

A kingfish even got into the action. How’s this, Darryl giving our light spin combo a major workout. He got the king boatside, too:

Some better results from SEQ. Darko writes:

Here is a pic of a 20 kg Spanish Mackerel my cousin Frank caught off the beach on Fraser Island with a piece of tailor last week.

But his reel drags were destroyed, so we sent him some carbontex:

Looking to upgrade the drags on my Shimano Bulls Eye XT and Shimano Aero Technium MGS XSA after I cooked the felt drag washer on the bulls eye after hooking a shark off Fraser Island.  Pics attached of what is should look like, and what it looks like after the shark peeled off 260 yards of braid.  I saw the bottom of my shallow spool, applied more pressure and then the line parted.  I don’t think I was going to stop that shark with the gear I had but it was certainly clear the factory drag cannot cope with such pressure.

That’s shocking. Carbontex will fix that problem, champ.

Graeme H fished Noosa:

HI Andrew, My mate Mal and I went off Noosa in the 20knt southerly on Sunday. We fished a couple of the inshore reefs without much success except for this nice grassy sweetlip that mal caught on a plastic. We eventually wised up and put out the sea anchor to slow the drift which allowed us to get out plastics down.

Now mate is that a V-Sea you are fishing from? (Dirty Harry movie voice): I NEEDS TO KNOW. If yes, send me a pic or two to put under the pillow.

Craig writes in from beautiful downtown Nambucca Heads:

Hey there champion , this is a mate of mine, Troy 'RICKO'  Rixon I took out and caught his first spottie. May this year.

Mate, I cannot WAIT to get back up there. Just waiting for an email from fishing spiritual advisor Phil B AKA Mister Cobia (whimper, sniffle, hint!)

For readers on Sydney’s south side, Jack L has news of an upcoming boat show:

Hi Andrew, just FYI – you may already know this.

There will be a boat show in Cronulla, some people may be interested.

http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/boat-show-for-the-shire

No Jack this is the first I’ve heard of it so very glad, you brought it to my attention. On the topic of boats, news from top bloke, regular newsletter contributor and candidate for Kiama Council elections this Saturday, Mark Way. This bloke knows more about offshore angling than the next ten fishos combined, and he’s pleased as punch about his new boat purchase:

This is the boat I bought for my mooring in Kiama Harbour (photo in Manly Cove before delivery). This will be the old pic. We (My Way crew) are currently updating her for inshore Snapper, Game n Sport fishing. Just spent a couple of grand on boat gear! She is 23' and has a good fishing cockpit. Will send a pic in month. My crew have already become attached to this ol girl and her new name will be Sea Eagle!

Alex’s new boat graphics make the tri hull look a weapon:

Congratulations Mark and looking forward to reports of some top trips in the boat, this summer.

Alex’s new boat graphics make the tri hull look a weapon:

Getting back to Darwin I was keen to head offshore & this is where Travis & Jim from Darwin Reefnwrecks fishing charters come into the picture. Right around Australia we have some great fishing on the doorstep of our capital cities & Darwin is no exception. The day started with 4 black jews to 12kg on the first drop! I was keen to fish plastics & scored some great golden trevally to 6kg as a host of different reef species & sharks ticked over throughout the day, with the highlight being a black marlin around 120 kegs being fed a hastily rigged sauri at the back of the boat before tearing off with 3 good jumps.Unfortunately the fish swam under the boat 10 mins later & cut the line.