One nice thing about having a fishing blog is that, from time to time, we are sent a bit of gear to review. We have always been completely honest about this, which I think is great in terms of maintaining a sense of independence and objectivity. It allows us to be really critical of certain things, while others may be…
Tag: soft plastics
Stalking bonefish on the flats – what to do when beginners luck runs out
The morning had been dotted with captures of small reef fish, each fish slightly more bizarre than the last. First a bluefin trevally, then a parrot fish, a cornet fish and then a strange little goby thing with razor sharp teeth. Looks aside, they were a bit of fun and they helped to keep me enthused and my mind alert…
The best worst day of fishing – Hawaiian bonefish, broken leaders and the curse of the banana
The alarm sounded at 5:30am but I didn’t need it, I was already awake and bristling with anticipation and nervous energy. The kayak from the hire shop was strapped to the roof of the car, the esky was full of ice and two rods and a backpack waited by the door. I grabbed my belongings, say goodbye to my dozing…
Rediscovering the NSW south coast estuaries; Merimbula lake fishing report
Down in numbers, but all of good size – early spring fishing in Merimbula lake What a treat to be able to spend the labor day long weekend down on the NSW south coast at Merimbula. Our extended family had gathered to celebrate the old man’s 70th birthday and accordingly we had splurged on some nice cabins and were treated…
Bonefish on lures – the addiction begins
If you’d asked me 6 months ago what I knew about bonefish, I could probably tell you about this much: 1) They live in tropical places. 2) They live on vast sandy tidal flats which are impossibly white. 3) Rich white men pay a lot of money to fly to tropical places with vast sandy tidal flats which are impossibly…
Seals, spiky fish, salmon, surf and sun; A weird and wonderful weekend at Wallaga
Winter is over folks! I’m happy to call it. I spent nearly all of last weekend on the south coast of NSW in board shorts and thongs – and at last count I still have ten fingers and ten toes. With another winter behind us it’s time to cast our minds (and our lures) forward to 9 glorious months of…
The Temptation of Tuross lake – the winter Mulloway day trip
Sitting in the office all week, I felt the itch. And it got worse and worse as the week went on. Sitting inside does something to me. Immersed in a world of computers and email, it makes me feel disconnected from the ‘real’ world – it makes me want to be outside! With an eagle eye on the wind forecast…
Estuary fishing in winter – find one fish, find em all
Pick the right day and a fishing session on the NSW south coast in the middle of winter can be a beautiful thing. Pick the wrong day and you will wonder why you ever left the comfort of the leather recliner – you know the footy is on right? Fortunately the human brain, or perhaps just an overly-keen angler’s brain,…
The humble redfin: trash or treasure?
I’ll never forget my first redfin. I was on a holiday with Mum, Dad and my sister, and we’d made the trip across NSW and into Victoria to visit my grandparents, who lived on a beautiful little farm near the granite hills of Harcourt, Victoria. Mum and Dad had decided to take the family for a drive, and we headed…
Holiday fishing around Canberra
It’s been a while between drinks, so to speak. Between catching up with friends and family, tending to my small acreage outside Canberra, or the rollercoaster of Christmas and New Year, it’s been difficult to focus on fishing and blogging. Nonetheless, I had an amazing time in New Zealand in early December (Hamish wrote a great blog here), and have…
Lessons learned from a lost Leviathan
The classic fishing story is, of course, the one where the angler stretches out both arms and says “it was THIS big!” In 2014, it is typically followed by a digital photo presented on a phone. Tales about the ‘one that got away’ can be equally dramatic, although they rarely have photos to accompany them. While disappointing, losing a big…
To fish or not to fish? A tale of fishing mateship
I am lucky to fish with a group of mates, many of whom write for this site, who share the same passion for the sport. Who else would you find to camp for days on a crocodile-infested river in the Northern Territory enduring heat, mosquitoes and monsoonal rain? Or to bob around like a cork in the ocean for hours,…