Leg Problem Still Can Go Fishing?!

Catch Report 29/9/2006

I've been suffering this problem with my left leg for almost a week already. It started out as a minor preaky pain on my left upper calf area but has since became more prominent which is really uncomfortable. Maurice told me about the possibility of slip-disc injury as it can often cause nerve damage to other parts of the body. I went to the doctor yesterday and true enough (not quite yet) that the doctor felt it could be a nerve pain and she wanted to see my x-ray for slip-disc dislocation and my pelvic area for any tissue damage. All these medical terms are so mind-boggling to me that I was so afraid that it might be something serious. Blame on me for no exercising frequently, I'd reckon I'm really lazy and unhealthy. Might be due to the fact I'm always seated in my office chair for long hours, thus pressing onto some bloody nerves on my buttocks. Get your fucking butt off Ronald!

Well, I did, haha.. I went fishing right after seeing the doctor! Bugger me, what kind of shit excuse is that? Who cares, I just wanted to get my mind off these medical shits that might just depress me more. That's what I often did, like my break-ups, stress in work, saw people whom caused me to not function properly... I go fishing, to be outdoors is more than enough to get my mind more focus. The company I get with my friends, the laughters, is such comforting to know that nothing in this world can put a person down, so long you're determined that the problems have to disappear eventually, they will.

Damn it, I feel damn brokeback man. Anyway, went to Hen & Chicken Bay to do a quick luring session. So called for quick, end up being there for 1 1/2 hours for a total of 2 fish. Tried with Ecogear SX48 1st with only a hard take but no hookup. After getting tired of using it, changed to 'brownie' without any action at all. By then, the sun was really burning me. Went over to 'secret' spot and scored a 41cm flathead on a 'very re-used' gulp sandworm.

Forgot to bring out my sony cam and end up taking picture with my super lousy ericsson phone. There was a old man whom I always met while there during the afternoons and he always do bait fishing and place his rods on the banks while sitting inside his car. Funny. Anyway, I cast my cultiva quite near his line and on the 2nd/3rd cast I got a hookup. The fight was not bad, but I knew it wasn't any biggie. Up came a 28cm bream sort-of foul hooked.

By then, the water was receding fast as I was fishing the run-out. It was getting too hot and unbearable and so I decided to call it a day. Not a good outing but still happy to be out.

Ronald

Oops, I Did It Again

Last week Thursday I saw the Dan Murphys ad again selling a case of Tooheys Extra Dry for $31.99 ($1 more than the previous case) I thought I need to stock up and so I went to buy BEER. Lots of BEER! Yikes! I know I know, I've only left with few months to enjoy my favourite beer and what better to get it during a cheap sale. I remembered telling Phillip that my alcohol addiction is tickling me (no way Jose!). Another great thing about oz that I'll miss is the snack companion to my beer o'clock time. None other than Smiths Chips in Sweet Chilli flavour. Ah... they are heaven to me... Coles were selling them for $2 a pack and what better way to get 2 for my slow indulgence when I soak in my beer world... Ah... heaven... Sadly, they will be greatly missed when I leave this place...

Ronald

Team St Mikes On A So-So Trip

Catch Report 23/9/2006

Team St Mikes had been laid off for almost an entire month for a boat trip. It was due to the wild weather we've experienced in Sydney for the season change which was raining heaps for straight consecutive days. For this trip, expectations were high. Chen went all the way out to prepare his berley which consisted of unbelievable ingredients you could've ever imagined. He kept left-over foods from our dinner at college and actually spent time to grind them up and freeze it. On the actual day, he woke up early and using almost 1/2 my bottle of tuna oil, he made the ultimate Team St Mikes berley stew that weighs a ton in a pail. That's dedication and I salute it!

We made an early out so as to catch the incoming high tide as well as to avoid possible prediction error from the weather watch. It turns out to be a almost perfect condition out in the water. After leaving Rose Bay, we motored out of it to notice heaps of birds gathering on the surface. I was excited and called out to he guys that there might be surface pelagics smashing baits. But as we got closer, it turns out to be false alarm. The birds were just resting and mucking around. Damn it!

Anyway, we got to the cake 1st and turns out there were at least around 2 boats there already. We got to our usual anchored area and proceeded dumping Chen's berley. The water was luckily not crystal clear and soon, Jeff or Phil got a hookup what turns out to be rubbish fish. The action later onward seems pretty consistent. With Jeff and Phil getting onto leatherjackets and silver trevallies. Both of the brothers had one of the best fights of the day, particularly Phil having the best tussle of the biggest trev in the lot. He now knows what the reel drag is for and truly enjoyed the power of a fighting trevally. There was a point in time when the trevs were just around and we had a triple hookup comprising of me, and the brothers. With the sun slowly coming onto us, the heat at some point proved quite unbearable. Seems like just any other ordinary hot summer days and it turn out pretty early in spring.

At some point it turned quite dull, especially on a falling tide. Then an agreement was reached to proceed to Clifton Gardens. Whilst there, we were harrassed by the security guards on the nearby naval wharf shouting to us that we gotta keep away from the naval wharf with a clear sign stating to be 100 meters aways from the warning notice. So we did and eventually they don't seem pretty pleased and still radioed to their naval patrol boat with no naval personnels on board but instead another security guard. He nicely told us that we're not supposed to fish in Clifton Gardens! At this point, I nicely challenged him saying that the notice states 100 meters which we did. But proceeded to state some lines from point A to point B and basically that indicated the whole area! Not wanting to confront him any further, we shifted with disgust. He even said that if he were to call the police, there'll be a $5000 fine, a good threat that basically achieved its goal to get rid of us. Bastards!

So we left and I suggested a quick try at the other cake. This time round, it was a fast flowing fallout tide. The main shipping channel there proved to be too wavy for us and we made our way back to the original cake for a last try. This time round, more boats were there. The current was still racing and we're pretty much done with it. Chen berleyed all the remaining ingredients and I only managed another trev and LJ before we pulled the plug and head back. Left Rose Bay to have lunch at Peter Lam. Overall, a so-so trip we all concurred.

Total tally: 9 x Silver Trevallies, 7 x assorted LJs and couple of yellowtails.

Ronald

Chen Beats My Whiting Record

Catch Report 22/9/2006

I had to attend Kenny's graduation ceremony in the afternoon and had agreed to drive him and his parents as well as Jeannie (if that's how her name's spelled) up to Macquarie Uni. I borrowed uncle sam's car and took off from work and thus resulted in re-scheduling my meeting with my supervisor that day.

It was nice meeting Kenny's parents that day. Kenny was over the moon knowing he had finally managed to graduate a Bachelor degree. After a few quick snaps with him in his gown, I went back to college leaving them to attend the ceremony.

On the way back, I stopped at Drummoyne bait and tackle shop to buy some baits for sat boat trip. Got a block of pillies for $8.50 which was really cheap compared to Rose Bay. But the prawns turned out to be too expensive and I asked Chen to go Aldi with me and check out. We went to Marrickville and was disappointed that they didn't sell the prawns we were after. So we headed to Paddy's market and got ourselves a nice 500g prawns at only $5. Afterwards, we grabbed some chinese buns for our 'late' lunch and also soya bean drink to wash down with it. We ate along the way as we headed yet again to the tackle shop in pitt street that was having a closing down sale. I grabbed some lures the day before but we went again to check out a rod Chen was trying to get for Jeff. Had browsed some nice Shimano T-Curves as well as the Daiwa Procaster-V but in the end it doesn't seem suitable for Jeff as we were after 2-piece rods. The lures that I got (as well as for Jialiang too) consists most of australian made lures. I bought an Attack lure, a Deception Palaemon and a River 2 Sea Buggi Pop 35. The former 2 are meant for bream fishing while the buggi pop would be suitable for bass fishing when I intend to do it in the coming summer months. Jialiang wanted an attack as well as a deception.

After not getting anything at the pitt st shop, we went back to college and I thought why not have a super quick fish and we headed straight to Glebe for a 30 minutes operation. I only used a watermelon bm and had only some bites but Chen was on fire again. He got a small flathead and then broke my whiting record (35cm) by getting a 37cm specimen in this really quick time-constraint session. Well done bro!

We quickly pack up as Chen needed to meet Jenny at UTS. He gave me a ride to Chinatown where I met Phillip for dinner at Cho's Taiwanese restaurant for my favourite Fried Chicken set meal, yummo!

Ronald

My Mate Lost His SX, Not Yet..

Catch Report 20/9/2006

Jialiang called me mid arvo saying he needs a 'pre-departure' fish. What the?! Like that also can.. Anyway, since the wind was dying down, I told him why not and we headed to Hen & Chicken Bay. He brought his Fly gear and proceeded doing flyfishing while I stick to my only form of angling and that is using a hardbody 1st. I did some mod to another Smilin' Jack of mine which I've bought it sometime ago but haven't use yet. The brown trout colour was put to test and it swims like the rest of the stable. But it could not tempt any fish around. It seems like a pretty dud day, with not much bites and surface action was just the usual occasional mullet jumps. Worst of all, there were heaps of rubbish on the surface and I saw a dead animal like a huge rat or cat or whatever bloated and floating! Yuck! Suddenly, Jialiang yelled out that he got a fish and he was delighted to break his duck on flyfishing finally. A small flathead decided to eat his fly of what I could see was a crazy charlie. A photo was definitely needed.

After feeling hopeless using the hardbodies, I used my previous kept Gulp Sandworm. I realised keeping it too long the colour seems to fade and became more soggy after soaking in the wet bait bag of stimulate drops. Still, I tried and there were the occasional bites without hookup. Tried my 'secret' spot and voila, a bream climb onboard the hook without me knowing it was a fish at 1st! I felt it was a flathead or some weed but then I saw the silvery flashes and knew it was a bream. Only a small bugger of 24cm without much interesting fight.

After that, everything became quiet badly. Jialiang suggested going up to this jewfish spot I heard about only to feel the wind suddenly changed direction and blew at us. He persisted with his flyfishing while I walked away from the wind and tried the same 'brownie' lure again. It was a rough terrain at that stretch and pretty much hopeless persisting there so we walked back where we came from and Jialiang changed to soft plastic fishing. I too changed to a sp I've so long since used it. Tied on a bloodworm grub and we continued towards the night. Mostly when I fish at night, I can't see my line properly, even with my headtorch it still wasn't that visible. When that happens, I tend to twitch my line more violently, because I was afraid that it'll get snagged. Actually it's a stupid mentality, no matter how well you'll work the lure, if there's heaps of crap beneath the water, it'll still be snaggable. Anyway, while Jialiang was rigging up his SX48, I got a good solid take which was quite rare for flatheads as they usually just somehow appear at the end of the line. This 43cm jumped and took the plastic and I could feel the instant action. Still, there wasn't much fight and I could easily hoist it up.

We proceeded down the road and on a particular cast, I snagged my grub and that was it, one fish caught only and it was gone. While I try to rig a new one, Jialiang snagged his SX48! I told him not to twitch out the lure violently in case the leader broke. It was stubbornly lodge in after several attempts to get it out. Shit, I told him there's no choice but to do 'chen' style by cutting the line and tying along the edge. I told him I'll come back and retrieve it for him but definitely requires my boat for the job as it was quite far out, wading seems impossible. So, me and team st mikes will try and help him.. hur hur..

Ronald

Not Bad For A New Spot

Catch Report 19/9/2006

This morning woke up very late yet again for uni and on my way to work Jialiang called me. I told him I was keen today for a fish and said I'll probably leave about 4. Anyway, the wind was monitored and seems to be blowing northerlies for the entire week. I tried google earth and stumbled upon a spot around botany bay side and told Jialiang about it in MSN. I asked Chen along and we headed off to the Kyeemagh breakwall to have a try on the airport side. Went off the pick up Jialiang and upon reaching the place, it was bloody windy. I casted 'goldie' without any touch and the water was pretty deep. Also tried a smelt bm on 2.5g jighead without any touches. Chen had a big pull but his gulp worm was torn in half. Jialiang's gulp worm foul hooked a super small flounder. We decided to change to the new spot and check it out.

We went to Kogarah Bay and in no time, I found the boat ramp area and it had ample parking spaces. Was so tempted to blow up my inflatable and test run it but yet again, too lazy to do it. Me and Chen started our luring at the ramp while Jialiang went to the rock wall side. We could see quite a lot of surface activities near us and were all pretty excited. Chen casted an avocado squidgy wriggler and got a super good run from a 35cm bream. He's really on fire nowadays!

Then he told me to cast near where he got the bream and I saw a wall and it looks very promising. I cast along the wall with the SX40 and slowly crank it as it was quite snaggy probably with rocks. Not long later, I got a solid hit and the fish took off. It was so exciting as it seems like those steve starling dvd style fishing where they do visual casting, but anyway, I certainly had fun though the fish was just only 25cm.

We shouted out to Jialiang that it was rock-n-roll at the ramp and he was still persisting at the rocky side. But anyway, as usual, after our initial hookups, there won't be anymore sundays for us. I changed to gulp worm and casted near the rock areas as I saw some surface commotion. After a couple of twitches, it got snagged, but luckily it came off when I walked to the rock area. Since there, I continue with the worm and worked my way up to Jialiang. Whilst there, it was almost dark and so decided to take some pictures of the sunset and a viewing platform. It was really a beautiful and fishy place. I even told Jialiang it looks like Singapore's reservoir areas with a wooden jetty and rocky outcrops. So basically where we were, in Singapore it'll be illegal fishing on the rocky outcrop!

Supposedly the view of the jetty and rocky shoreline but turned out crap.

The water view shot of the sunset in the background. Yet again, crap!

Lousy night shots, stupid Sony digi cameras suck big time man! Anyway, I gave up on the worm and tried with SX40 again. 1st cast and suddenly when cranked back halfway, I suddenly felt a weight. Gave a small yank and felt some head shakes. Knew straight away it was a flattie wihtout taking any line at all. By then, it was already dark, I saw the fish near my feet and had a bloody hard time bringing it up with my lip grip. When it was brought out, it thrashed around and scratched poor SX40 on the rocks, bad thing about the area without any grass for me to place the fish! Jialiang helped me unhook the treble and it went 47cm.

Suddenly realised the treble was bent due to the lure being thrashed by the flattie. I released the bugger gently on top of a rock which was covered with enough water and it didn't want to swim away! Probably too shell shocked after thrashing around the dry rocks. However, it did swam off eventually. We headed off after it went completely quiet and had dinner at the Nasi Campur stall in Randwick. Will definitely head back there again and try out my inflatable for sure!

Ronald

Finally A "Top Arvo"!

Catch Report 16/9/2006

Jialiang was asking me the other day what is the meaning of "arvo". It is a short abbreviation for afternoon used by the aussies. Top arvo top arvo, we always hear these words when they post good fishing reports of a very good session. I've had the privilege too for a top arvo.

Woke up early this morning to go to RTA before 12 and pay my rego. Lucky got there on time as it took some time to pay the greenslip in NRMA. Went past the newsagency and saw many people queueing up to buy Lotto. Oh yes, it is the 22 million draw today so I bought a few games, haven't check the results yet. Drove back from Marrickville in a very hot saturday.

Only managed to write half a page of my thesis and I was thinking about fishing. Damn it, so after a quick lunch from Thurs joe's dinner, I put on a 3-quarter and off I went to Hen & Chicken Bay since it was blowing an easterly. When I reach there, the wind was blowing but not that bad. I tried hardbody 1st and gave SX48 the run. Couple of casts later on a very slow crank I caught a so-so fight of 38cm flathead.

Then I thought to myself, better change lures as always the same lure that goes back in won't catch anymore fishes. So I tried with Smilin' Jack 'goldie' and scored my best bream at that place! But this 38cm bream did not put up a good fight, ended up as a 'plastic bag' (dead weight) most of the time when I crank him in, still, it was quite heavy. A Lebanese fisherman was there fishing as well and I asked him to help me take a photo.

Usually after 'goldie', I'll try with 'pinkie' next. I walked down further away from the previous success spot and on a particular far cast, I got a solid take and I was pretty stoked at how the action came in thick and fast. This 27cm bream didn't also put up much fight but still quite entertaining. It swallowed the whole size 12 treble hook in and I had a tough time getting it out.

Then later I gave Rapala jointed shad rap a go and was almost shocked coming close to losing it when it got snagged. Was so afraid I was going to leave the lure and line there and come retrieve it during low tide but alas, it finally came out after a persisted few more flicking of the rod. After that scare, I switched to using soft plastics and tied on a watermelon colour bm. Casted near where I almost snagged rapala, I got a sudden take on the plastic drop and zzzzz for a short while on my reel. Knew it was a good bream but alas, did the same thing as the previous big bream, it ran once and became a plastic bag in the end. Up came a 34cm bream and I was happy to take photos of it.

Then came the best fighting flathead I ever encountered. I casted back into the same spot where I got this bream and voila, another hookup! The zzzzz was even longer! And when I reel in a bit of line, it started zzzzz again! Fwah! I knew it would be a flathead and wasn't feeling heavy but this bugger seems to be on steroids! I take my hats off for this 41cm flattie and it definitely earned my respect!

By this time, I realised my watermelon bm is already 'chwee' (hokkien for destroyed). So I took out a new pumpkinseed bm and rigged it on the same jighead. Got some very small flatties and also this small bream in a 'secret' spot (no lah, just call it because after several trips I find they like to hide there).

Then, casted further out a bit from the 'secret' spot and got a few takes but missed. Cast back hopefully in the correct angle and this time I gotcha! This flathead took the lure deep and I was afraid their teeth will fray the leader. Luckily it held when I lift it out of the water. It really swallowed deep and I had to wear gloves to hold open it's mouth. In the process of 'digging' the jighead out, I felt sorry for the fish to endure my rough handling. As a result, bad karma bombard me with a painful spike on my finger by the flatheads deadly protruding spike, OUCH! Blood flows out continuously as they have this anti-coagulant thing on the spike that prevents your blood from drying fast. When I release it, I accidentally dropped it too early and the flathead lands hard on the concrete bank before sliding into the water. Oh no! My bad! Oh well, hope it's alright, it swam away anyway.

It was really dark by now, I tried with smelt colour bm for nothing and then gave Humbug a try too for nothing as I couldn't see shit in the darkness. So I packed up and head back.

Ronald

Intense Lures Losing Day

Catch Report 13/9/2006

Today I specifically force myself to wake up early so I can go office earlier and write up my Multivariate Statistical Process Control section of my thesis. Yeah right, still ended up being in office quite late. The reason is that I was so keen the days before that I'll like to hit the drains after Sydney had been pissed for 3-4 days consecutively. A quick message to Chen in MSN and we were off for a 'supposedly' short session to fish the high tide at Iron Cove.

The wind was kind when we got there. I used Cultiva and on the 1st cast, I got a hookup. Drag was a bit loose and I was having a little fun from what I knew would be a bream. This fish is something I'll never forget. It struggled and suddenly went to some pointed structures and got stucked there! I was shocked, and tried to gently flick the bugger out. To no avail, I was devastated. Chen suggested an idea by cutting my Fireline and he used a twig to shaft into the ground. Then I tied the mainline onto the twig and we were to come back during low tide to retrieve it! Genius bro! Honestly speaking I wasn't prepared to lose this lure as it always has the '1st cast' magic and the colour is not available readily.

Anyway I wasn't going to be detered. Chen got the next fish up on a cut-down Gulp sandworm. It was quite a good size bream, he was telling me: "Use the gulp bro". He was truly enjoying the constant bites from using this lure.

I tied on a watermelon bm instead and casted near to the drain. A few twitches later I felt a take and I striked. Not a good fight and up came a 30cm bream which took the hook well and truly embedded! Damn, had a hard time taking it out and the hook point was bent.

Tried again at the exact spot I casted and scored another bream but it was only 26cm. By this time, the new bm was almost wasted, ripped pretty badly.

Anyway, the next few casts back it got snagged! By then, Chen suddenly had a hookup and told me a fish took it while he was just simply 'parking' the gulp there. Initially it came in as a dead weight, but it made strong and long dashes near the shore. I knew it was going to be a big flathead! With my lip grip in hand, I prep to help Chen bring up this beast. But alas, my grip didn't want to perform today and kept slipping! Chen in his gusto yank the leader up and he scored his personal best 54cm dusky flathead!!! Congrats bro! You're nearing my record! Arghhh...

Then, we were losing lures intensively. We decided to give the joggers track side a go. While I was freeing a snag, Chen had a hookup on his avocado squidgy. Looks easily a 30 model. He's on fire!

Not long later on his same squidgy, he scored another big flathead! OMG! It was quite a big flathead, easily in the 45+ range! But due to difficulties getting the lip grip in, he opted to lift it by the line. It snapped and the flattie gain its freedom with a squidgy lodged in it mouth. I persisted with my bloodworm bm and casted very near the snaggy drain and scored a 42cm flathead. The fishes are everywhere! There were bites all way round!

However, to say it was a top day, I wouldn't really agree to that. There was indeed both quality and most importantly quantity. But the worst was to think I can lose Cultiva and numerous soft plastic jigs. Chen probably lost 5-6 maybe? While I lost 4 in this session. That bloody drain is indeed very snaggy, but it doesn't seem to always let us down.

Me, Chen and Jeff went there again at low tide during late afternoon to try get back my Cultiva. I brought my rubber boots in case there were nasties while I was wading. The line was still there and I walked down the banks tracing the line. The leader was in fact clipped onto this funny looking crap junk. Luckily the fish was a small bugger, but you gotta pity it as it had been stucked there for hours! I carefully free the line and it was still alive and kicking! Woohoo! I saved cultiva and the bream! But Cultiva was badly scratched in the melee. Still, I was happy to retrieve it back after all these troubles.

Thanks to Jeff for taking those pictures from his Sony Ericsson K800i. Me handsome a not?? Wah lao eh!! Shit, I look like some paddy rice field worker!!

It was a good outing, I felt we were like some school kids having a ball in outdoors. Beats better getting stuck in office, which in matter of speaking, I better continue my MSPC writeup! Stop JUDGING me please!

Ronald

Berkley Gulp Advertisements

I stumbled upon some videos and uploaded it into my stickam account as I find that using the embedded windows media player takes ages to access the files from filelodge as well as using flash players for people who doesn't use windows.

Part 1


Part 2


Holy crap! Even the pros also go "natural"! Damn it man, if I continue using GULPS I'll also probably end up being a "naturalist"?! Never mind, I've got no integrity, so it's ok.

Ronald

I Caught A Crab!

Went luring one morning with Chen for a dud trip but was surprised that a crab wanted to grab my cultiva! I was walking along and saw a small red crab on the bank wall and thought what'll happen if I drop cultiva near it. Bang! The crab used its pincers and grab hold of my lure! The treble instantly caught hold of it and I could easily lift it up for a shot before releasing it. Haha..

Oh no Ronald, what have you done??!! More "NO INTEGRITY" lures??!!

Ok, I've no integrity, tell that to the fishes. Thank you.

Ronald

Never Seen So Much Weed Before!!!

Catch Report 5/9/2006

Wah lao eh (pardon my singlish usage, my blog what!), I've never fish in a place that has so much weed all the time stuck onto every mother-father-son-daughters lure's on every bloody casts and within the 1st twitch or 1st crank. Where is this place? Five Dock Bay is the culprit. Still, Chen managed to get a baby whiting on his goldie amidst all the weed.

Then, there were lots of boil around the stretch that was weedy. I changed to cultiva(with a broken treble) and cast (try to) near the boils. Couple of cranks later got a hook up then as you would've imagined, the bugger throw hook or more likely my lousy angling skills. Anyway, I still persisted and did get 2 hard knocks later but still no hookup, that was it. Basket!

I suggested trying the opposite side near the ramp and it was better. As it was blowing a strong NE wind, I picked that stretch which I had went before in five dock bay as I reckon our usual haunts wouldn't be comfortable. It was dark by then, I gave pinkie a go but no takers. Then came the "NO INTEGRITY" lure, behold the ultimate play cheat biodegradable food substance CAMO SANDY! 1st worm went in and within coming near my feet, ferocious bites ensued and I strike, only to find the worm gone till where the hook appears. Damn it, must be pesky tailors! The sandworms are fast depleting, which I'm now down to the last 4th of a 10pack. I re-rigged and tried again. After numerous casts, I came up triumph on a 28cm bream which gave quite a good fight taking short lines out.

I can say I'm quite comfortable with the proper usage of these GULPS, the long pause really gets the timid fish time to give more serious bites. After that, I got another smallish flathead and more bites but lucky the worm survives. Chen caught a flattie on his GULP 2inch shrimp in Nuclear Green colour, yes, NUCLEAR!

It says on the packet that it's supposed to glow, but the greenish colour really puts me off!

Ronald

Perfect Conditions But Lack In Quality

Catch Report 4/9/2006

Today's weather was quite good, though blowing quite a strong southeast wind. Justin sms'ed me and Jialiang that he caught a 40cm bream on bait at Glebe yesterday morning. Seeing that Glebe is favourable for SE winds, I made a call to Jialiang asking him if he wants to lure today and he said it's ok for a short session at Glebe as it's nearer.

Made my first cast with the Ecogear SX-48F at the shallows and I had a good take and the fish felt like it had some weight. But, again due to my lousy angling skills I must have not set the hook properly and it jumped off the train(lure). Damn it man, talked about a $13.55 lure with extremely sharp hooks! As usual, after the 1st action, the rest of this lure usage is zero.

Changed to GULP camo sandworm and this biodegradable lure helped save the day. Jialiang refuses to use it saying there's no integrity in a "cheating" lure, yeah yeah yeah.. righto. In the end, he succumbed too, after seeing me getting lots of action using it. Long story short, caught a couple of fishes but I lost track and didn't take all photos. Had 5 pics, 3 breams and 2 whitings. Whitings are definitely undersize, and one of the bream looks legal, didn't even bother measuring them.

I cropped all the pics together as there's nothing spectacular to look at, shit, better change this mentality, at least I caught fish, better than eating "eggs"!

Ronald

First Time Seeing A Weir

This afternoon Jialiang asked me if there was any fishing plans. I told him I'm heading down to Villawood's Compleat Angler store for the final day of the sale, as well as popping by the Georges River stretch at Liverpool. He didn't go but Chen went with me after his work. It was quite a long drive to the west, probably my second time doing it as I never ventured much to the "wild" west as what Chen always described.

When we were at the tackle store, it was a huge place! Almost like a fishermen fantasy come through! But the lure section was a bit let down in my opinion. Anyway, Chen finally found his 5'6" rod for boating. I in the end somehow have to buy something to constitute the effort of travelling that far. End up buying a Ecogear SX-48F hardbody lure which I've already had the 40 model.

We drove down to Liverpool and it wasn't that far from Villawood. It's quite a huge town, and the train station looks sophisticated! We parked very near the weir and there was a ethnic party going on nearby. They were playing loud folk dance music and having a blast! The weir (not sure what it means) is basically a man-made structure that separates fresh water and salt water of a river system. Here's a picture of the salt water side while we were standing on it to fish.

And this is a pic of the fresh water side.

My primary aim of coming to this place to check it out was for the fresh water side fishing. I had a goal and that was to get my first Australian Bass before going back to Singapore. I heard that using topwater lures like a popper is popular for dusk fishing. Long story short, we didn't get shit and was freaked out by what was a glass bottle thrown at the overhead foot bridge and it smashed quite near where we were standing. It was indeed a dodgy place, don't think we'll be back there again, unless I was pretty sure there's genuine reports of bass being caught there.

Ronald

Two Broken Hooks, A Bad Sign?

Catch Report 2/9/2006

Yesterday tried to wake up early but ended sleeping in till 10 plus. I had told Chen I'll be going to Campsie's BigW store to check out the 2 for $10 berkley soft plastics deal. Drove there without much traffic and easily found parking. Surprisingly now BigW carries a wide range of berkley stuffs and they had more GULPS. Unfortunately, none of the GULPS were on sale and ended up getting a 3" pseed bm for Chen and I got a 3" hawg in pearl blue (not a good colour) and also a pack of 2" bloodworm grub which I had run out already. Each pack was just $5 so it was quite worth the drive. Then, I know there's a sale in Kmart as well offering 20% off fishing accessories. I decided to go check out the Burwood store and it wasn't far from Campsie. It was a regrettable move. There was a huge jam along burwood road and the weather yesterday was bloody hot! Upon reaching there, the fishing section was crappy, wasted my time!

After a quick lunch back in my room, went to office to get some work done but end up doing nothing much as I was kinda tired because of the hot weather. Instead, I was ok to think about fishing! Basket, I went fishing instead of doing my thesis! Was contemplating the other time when I was out with Jialiang that I wanted to try a stretch in Iron Cove and so I went there. It was quite impossible to lure there and another wasted trip! I knew that the wind was gonna blow north-east and thought to give La Montage a try but end up changing my mind and head to Hen & Chicken Bay.

Tried with goldie and pinkie for quite awhile but nothing touched them! It was a bloody hot afternoon with the sun baking me from the west. Then I switched to sandworm and had a few touches after just a few casts near some likely looking structures. I tried slowing down and got a snag, damn! A hard yank and it came off, but to my astonishment, the hook point broke that's why. I thought this particular jighead that I bought was of good metal construction but seems it proved me wrong. I re-rigged a new one and cast back to the same spot, felt some bites and I striked. This fish fought quite well though not taking any drag and up came a 26cm bream foul-hooked above the eye, ouch!

Moved along as the sky was getting dark. At this particular stretch, I was getting a few hits. A particular drop I felt a good pull and knew it must have been a good size bream but my reaction wasn't fast enough to hook it, damn, I was devastated! Cast back again and I got a smallish tailor which almost tear up my sandworm, bastard!

Proceeded back to my car and I changed to Cultiva. First cast and a quick crank I got a good take. This flathead was feisty, giving quite a good fight despite it's small size. When I was trying to unhook it, I used a plier to remove the belly treble. As I was trying to do that, the hook point broke! Oh my, breaking hooks not only once but twice in a day! Basket, have to go and replace the Owner trebles, very expensive you know!

I hope this is not an indication or sign or whatever.. I don't think I'm superstitious right? Ok ok, back to work. (yah, I always say that, my blog what!)

Ronald