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Catch up with the good catches in Sydney
  |  First Published: September 2016



Southern bluefin tuna are coming alive this season, with captures in the waters off Sydney. Bluefin up to 130kg have been landed, and plenty of yellowfin in the 35-65kg range are being boated. Trolled skirted lures have been working well on big barrels, and so has cubing up a berley trail. Great fish have been caught this season on baits and lures, so be prepared to use both tactics. Reports of fish are sporadic, and a long way offshore we might be able to close this season with some decent captures. Regular reports have come in from Long Reef wide to the back of the southern canyons.

Black Pete Marine’s James Thackeray was successful in landing a 90kg bluefin in recent weeks. James recommended paying attention to the top 200m of your sounder. When you find the fish working that area, watch the temperature breaks.

Matt Wheeler’s boat, Seize The Day was on the spot earlier this month, landing marlin and yellowfin for Matty and his crew. After heading wide to chase tuna, the guys soon found themselves hooked up to a marlin on a quiet morning. The afternoon bite didn’t take long to kick in with a four way hookup on yellowfin. With all fish landed, these feisty tuna put up a great battle on light gear and are good to eat. Great effort, fellas.

Matt and the guys were out near Browns Mountain when most of the action took place. All the fish were hooked on lures. Schools of albacore tuna are working in the same areas, so a tuna grand slam is always a possibility. Landing a late season barrel is always on the cards. Don’t throw in your hand yet.

Closer to shore, decent snapper and kings are being landed around the local reefs. Dave Rothwell fished baits of live yellowtail scad at Broken Bay wide. He landed five kingfish up to 93cm, and a very scrumptious John Dory. Anthony Ball has his fair share of angling on the reds, with great captures at the inshore reefs. Baits, jigs and plastics are all requirements for getting good fish to the boat.

Sydney Harbour water temperatures are holding firm and ensure good bites. Flathead, squid and trevally are all on the chew, salmon and tailor schools are also working the surface. Grotto Point and Chinamans Beach are two locations where awesome captures have been reported. Plenty of fish are rising up in the berley trails. The ever-popular trevally have moved in now and are hitting baits in berley trails throughout the harbour.

Differing techniques, from working vibes and plastics on the bottom to slow drifting lightly unweighted baits, have been a recipe for success with small boat and land-based anglers targeting trevally. A renowned fish for putting up a good blue, these guys are great fun on light gear for kids and experienced anglers alike. They’re not bad on the tooth either.

Beaches are still providing tasty feeds of whiting, dart and bream to those early morning anglers in the cold. King worms are the preferred bait for these anglers. Whiting up to 43cm have been recorded and most anglers bag a feed. Being on the move is the key to fishing the beaches, fishing four or five spots in an average 2-3 hour session. Also, take a few metal slugs to cast at any pelagics, should they pop up behind the surf. Be sure to pick the right conditions, as the wind chill factor can be a nightmare on exposed skin, once the temperature drops below 10°C.

The rocks have been productive for chasing pigs. Awesome sessions are had up against the edge with good catches. If it’s a longer cast you prefer, grab some squid for your paternoster rig and send one wide. Colder temperatures always have the snapper on the lookout for a feed.

We look forward to catching up with you all at the new shop in Brookvale, 533 Pittwater Road. We’ll be open from early September.

1

Anthony Ball caught this swell snapper.

2

Dan Klein and James Thackeray with a cracker Sydney Bluefin. That fish sure looks heavy.

3

Dave Rothwell with a very tasty John Dory.

4

Matt Wheeler and the crew did an epic job reeling them in!

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