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  |  First Published: July 2003



Well here we are in July and although it is cold out there, fish are still biting.

With the Winter change of species to ensure success, target what is around to up the catch rate. Snapper, although not in numbers, have been stationed at Boultons Reef. They need plenty of berley to get them out of bed and into a feeding mood.

Pete Beck scored just-legal reds on strips of fresh squid from Boultons. All fish were gently returned to be caught again another day. Off the Wrecks at Dee Why, leatherjackets, especially the six-spined variety, have been taking small flesh baits. Pike and sweep has been a nuisance and are taking food designed for sweeter fish.

Harbord Beach has been firing, with some good fish taken on live worms. Don't forget that little bit of red on the line as an attractant. This can be in the form of a small bead or a piece of red plastic tubing. Geoff Huntley beached a bream and two whiting on worms in a three-hour session.

The rocks have been coughing up some decent drummer, especially on frozen abalone gut, but small fresh, peeled prawns have also taken fish. Tailor have come in from Flat Rock and luderick are coming in off the rocks at Mona Vale. Chris Perry slid his boat in one morning, just after a $570 service on the motor. After an hour trying to get the beast started, he gave it all away, vowing to kill the nearest outboard mechanic. On a brighter note, he had a ball off the rocks up the river, getting busted off on fish that didn't even make the surface. What they were he still has no idea.

Bream are close in at Lion Island and the mulloway are waiting for tardy baitfish at Juno Point on an outgoing tide. Dusky flathead have been very co-operative, with fish coming from the drift at the entrance to the Hawkesbury near the starboard channel markers.

With plenty of bait in the water, a live yellowtail fished at Juno Point, the northern side of Lion Island, or round West Head could pick up a fish well worth a photograph. Simon Hoole tried to fish the pronounced eddies at Gunyah Beach but there was too strong a current to get settled. It is best to target the river on neap tides, when there is little water movement. Squid are back again at West Head, as well as around wharves and jetties on the Western Foreshores and Scotland Island.

The water temperature has dropped quite dramatically in Narrabeen Lake, so fish are a little lethargic. Because the water has been a bit cloudy, lures need a little help to be located. Sweeten treble hooks with a sliver of squid or dip the lure in tuna or pilchard oil to make up for the fishes’ lack of vision. Using lures with a rattle will pay dividends as well.

There have been bass taken right up the back of the lake but it seems the estuary perch have steered well clear of anglers, as there has been nothing said about these prized fish.

Queenscliff Lagoon never fails to fascinate me. After that tragic chemical spill, fish have bounced back in reasonable numbers and there have been reports of mullet and bream taking bait and lures. One angler landed three good-sized bream on fly gear where the lake comes close to Pittwater Road.

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For those who fish the Hawkesbury and surrounds, I will give a talk at 2pm on Saturday, July 12, at Bar Point Fishing Club headquarters on Peat Island, close to the Mooney Mooney turn off on the Newcastle Expressway. For more details give Bar Point Fishing Club organiser Peter Kohlmayer a call on 0429 307 771. See you there.

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The Bureau of Meteorology is doing a weather alert by SMS text trial where you can register to get alerts sent to your mobile. If you’re interested in participating, log on to the Bureau of Meteorology site at http://clients.legioninteractive.com.au/BoM/SMSAlerts/survey.asp to register.

Above the weed

When fishing prime weedy areas, make sure the rig used will display the bait above the weed level. This can be done by using a paternoster rig with the hook held captive well above the sinker.

The sinker sits in the weed, but the bait is now well above the vegetation and can now be seen by fish.

captions

1

This bass was taken on a shallow-running lure in one of the feeder streams in the Narrabeen Lake area.

2

Now is the time to check out your reels. Take them apart and apply oil and grease sparingly. Or, better still, take them to your local tackle shop, where they will get properly serviced for peanuts.

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