Jigs Only

Last week’s report saw Drax and myself heading wide – very wide, 30 miles – east of Port Stephens. All went well and we found a few nice kings and snapper. But that was more good luck than good management! My Lowrance HDS-9 was hopeless and the only way we got onto fish was that the GPS put us on the right mark. Back up again this Thursday just passed and first stop, Bay Boat Sales – who you might remember were the people who generously lent me a set of boat keys when I left mine at home. I left the Carolyn Jane with Tony, asking him to install the new Raymarine 12 inch sounder:

His team moved the Lowrance to the instrument box – where I planned on using it as a plotter only. Then he put the Raymarine on top of the box, just where I need it:

Very lucky to get the Raymarine at 70% off because 1. it was a shop display model, and 2. the sales guy was a Downrigger Shop fan. Next morning met up with Zac and Drax at Soldiers Point boat ramp, both keen as mustard for a kingie hunt. Kind of sad to see the way Port Stephens Council has let the place run down. The toilet's taped off like a crime scene:

And I saw a few blokes heading into the bush behind to do the business. On the other side of the parking area, the walkway’s fallen apart:

Tacky as hell, for a place that claims to be a tourism hotspot. One hour twenty minutes at 20 knots to our spot, and I’d hardly come off the plane before the lads had their jigs dropping through the water column. Drax hooked up first, and was pleased with a nice keeper on our red 250 gram jig:

I rigged up with a 7 inch super lumo soft plastic (one of ours) on a 16 ounce TT jig head. Quite sure that would have been deadly on kings – but only if they found it, before the barracouta and LJs did. Unfortunately that didn’t happen:

Zac visited here and scored a Saltiga Hiramasa rod from our tackle sale
Then stopped by the Fishing Station for a Saragosa reel from Jay
Pilchard pattern jig from our 250 gram range made up the combo
And here’s how it all went down
Keep in mind he’s a professional football player?
Big bloke who makes quality kingies look small in videos
This one, at 91cm, is his PB:

YES – we were finding some nice kings and were hoping for a one metre plus – because Drax had already dropped one at least that big. But the barracouta just wouldn’t quit:

With a long run back to the ramp – and an even longer run back to Sydney – we decided to bail. Next day, Drax sends me a pic of the kingfish paella he whipped up for a dinner party. Mad skillz:

Still early but this is shaping up to be a great winter jig season. Normally it only gets better and peaks around October so for us to be finding quality kings in good numbers this early is a great sign. Heading out? Don’t forget to take a set of the jigs kings love. Our 250 gram size:

250 GRAM KNIFE JIGS

Next weekend we are off to something very different – the Carp Muster, at Glenbawn Dam. Will report in if anything interesting happens there. Thanks for reading
Andrew Hestelow

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