Kingfish and Carp

Back from a big trip and busting to get out on the water chasing kings. Son Chris and his friend Andy Nash good to go, last Saturday. We launched at Roseville and headed to Balmoral Island on a gloomy overcast morning:

It didn’t take long to fill the tank with small yellowtail. Kingfish and dollies love these little jellybeans:

Note to self: clean the live bait tank! Out to South head and deployed both downriggers. Conditions were perfect:

But things were quiet. Pulled the gear in and scooted up to Long Reef, where things started happening:

Andy and Chris pleased with their first kings in … way too long! Downside being, all the fish we caught were just undersize:

Top day had by the whole crew. All we need to do now is, find some bigger versions. Maybe we should have gone jigging instead? Ours have been working for Steve Cumins:

10 x 250 gram jigs $95 inc delivery

Two clients this week wanted a lighter jig:

These ones available. Gypsy and Samaki brands, 150 grams, $13 elsewhere. Our price 10 jigs for $70 including delivery.

Next day I decided to check our favourite pond. Regular readers will remember that, this time last year, I posted videos of the epic battles we had with big carp at this spot. They’re still there! Check out this monster. I’d estimate him to be 8 or 10 kilos:

I rigged up one of our 15 kilo 702 combos – way heavier, than what you’d usually use. But this lake is super shallow and full of weed. When you hook up one of the monsters it can’t dive. Instead, the big ones do a long fast run, picking up stacks of weed on the line. The load on the rod, of fish plus weed, is tremendous. Bait was a floating chunk of bread mounted on a small super sharp treble hook. The three hook points assist in keeping the soft bait on. A bubble float is used to give weight, for casting. Our larger than normal bubble floats provide enough resistance to set the hook, when these small trebles are used. First cast, and two big carp swam past the bait:

Next cast I got smashed. Treble hook straightened out! Rematch next week! Busting to get offshore on Thursday but after ringing around the regular crew, no one was available. So, headed down to the boat ramp for a solo session. What happened next explained by an answer to Neil G’s question:

Neil, on Thursday none of our regular crew could go but I was busting to get out on the water. When I got to the ramp there were a couple of blokes who looked like they knew what they were doing, casting lures for bream. On the spur of the moment I asked them if they’d like to come chasing kings. They both jumped aboard. We scored some live yellowtail at Balmoral and some big slimy mackerel at the Centurion. Up to Long Reef but, when we got there, the water was murky and there were no other boats around. Which is never a good sign. Back down to South Head where we found a few - although undersize:

They gave a good account of themselves on the light gear the lads were using. I would recommend those two spots for anyone from Sydney starting out. The kingfish are often small but that that’s probably a good thing.

You can always work your way up, but the techniques stay pretty much the same. Let me know if you need a map, Neil?

So tonight (Sunday 16th June) I’m finishing the report when a message from Don Cummings arrives. Regulars will remember I stayed with him during a red hot north coast mackerel bite, back in March:

Sheesh! Heading up soon and will report back on how the trip goes. Just before finishing up I should mention there’s a bit of a bargain going. I’ve boat another (small inexpensive) boat, and one has to go to pay for it. This boat is absolutely ideal for someone going on long range trips, someone needing a tender to get to their moored boat, or someone who has nowhere to store a trailerboat. Here’s a video of it in action:

And here’s pics and specs. Drop me a line if you want to know more? Thanks for reading, Andy

FOR SALE
Mangrove Jack folding boat
3.3 metres, 11.2 feet long

With 5HP Mercury 2-stroke outboard
No boat registration needed
Transport on your roof, stow flat in the garage
Light weight, quick and easy to assemble

No parking space needed
Way better than a Portabote (which I had for ten years)
Perfect for around Australia trips, or where storage is an issue
Have caught stacks of fish using it, including kingies
Matching aluminium collapsible trailer (38kg!) also available
Cost to me was $4500, will sell for $2800
Send me a PM or email for more pics, videos, details

Delivery included to Sydney
Reason for sale: have bought larger boat
Pic of manufacturer’s plate attached.
Here’s what it says:
HIN AUFW3F133K505
Max outboard 8HP 27kg
Max persons 4 = 300kg
Max load 310kg
CALM WATER

Andrew Hestelow

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