Sydney Rock

SYD ROCK & BEACH Alex Bellissimo

alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

This month we are heading towards spring, but as far as the more temperate fish species are concerned, winter is nowhere near over. The average water temperature is a frigid 17°C, so it’s still a long way off warming up. That fun, especially if you’re using the right gear. For example, catching Aussie salmon off the beach on 10kg heavier beach gear is great but if you want to get the full fight out of this great sportfish, try 2-4kg gear, lighter outfits and you will appreciate the sporting side way more.

This can also apply for rock blackfish. The majority of ‘pig’ fishos use 12-15kg gear, but if drummer. They are the ‘true’ drummer, and are a migratory species caught along the East Coast. They are often caught as a bycatch by anglers fishing for rock blackfish (also known as ‘black drummer’, or ‘pigs’).

Silver drummer like rock structure, ledges which are strewn with sea tulips, kelp, cunjevoi and the several species of weeds and invertebrates found substantially larger than the average rock blackfish, they will take line in sharp burst and potentially rub you off on a submerged ledge or rock corner as they try to escape. They also have sharp, short teeth that can sever your line.

Silver drummer, like pigs, are a grazing species, eating an array of weeds. However, they mostly prefer kelp, which is in very large volume. In the stomach contents of a silver drummer, you’ll see that 90% is kelp, although they don’t mind a large peeled prawn or cunjevoi bait.

I think the eating quality of a silver drummer is OK although many anglers would disagree. I only eat smaller drummer that are less than 2kg, and release the larger ones. The flavour of larger fish is a bit too strong.

The rock blackfish numbers have been good of late. Fish up to 57cm have been caught, with a lot of fish around that 40-45cm size. Bream and groper are fairly consistently caught with pigs on most outings.

Large prawns are a good bait to bring on your outing (20-30 prawns per half kilo). You can use king, endeavour (blue-tail prawn) or banana prawns, which

Some snapper are still around distance casting or wash fishing (fishing the sudsy white water off the deeper ledges). Last month I caught a nice snapper of 46cm on a Bait Junkie 5” Jerkshad in the pilchard glow. A few trevally were also caught on the outing on this plastic.

Some snapper, trevally and Aussie salmon have also been falling for half to three quarter pilchard baits. It definitely helps to cube up your pilchards and mix it through with bread mush. You should berley consistently and use a variety of ball sinkers, ranging from size 00-2, depending on how much current and wash there is. When it comes to hook sizes, I recommend 1/0 for trevally and 2/0-3/0 for snapper.

August is a good month for luderick and groper. With the flatter seas thanks to the westerly winds, you can fish rock spots that you would not normally fish. It also allows the groper to feed in areas that they would not otherwise feed in.

Crabs are the bait, with red crabs being the best for this species. I recommend heavy gear of at least 15kg, with 24kg being the norm. Shelly Headland also in Manly for luderick, rock blackfish, trevally and groper. North Curl Curl and South Curl Curl are good for distance casting for snapper and wash fishing also for luderick, trevally, rock blackfish and more.

Further north, South Whale and North Whale rock platforms are good for luderick, groper, some snapper, trevally and rock blackfish, preferably the boulder areas.

BEACH FISHING

It seems the great run of tailor is continuing as they migrate up the coast. This will not continue much longer though because it’s getting towards the end of their run north, that is, in the Sydney region. Last month we saw a great run of tailor up to 2kg+, with the average size being around 45-48cm.

Big salmon are becoming more dominant and this month will see an increase in this species. Walking along the beach with a light 2-4kg spin reel with a 3m rod and a handful of metals is a fun way to spend a morning or afternoon. Alternatively, you can use the more traditional 3/0 to 5/0 gang hooks, with a bean or star sinker ranging from

Mark George with a stud rock blackfish of at least 3.5kg. It was released to breed. Pigs of this size are old, possibly over 40 years old, according to Fisheries.

will not happen until late October at least, although a southeast swell may boost up the temp slightly. This doesn’t particularly bother me as I switch to whatever is biting at the time – and in any case, these coldwater species are a lot of you reduce that to 9kg or even a 7kg outfit you will experience some excellent sportfishing. Additionally, you will get more bites with the lighter line.

ROCK FISHING

This month will see more of another winter species arriving: the silver locally. These fish prefer white water cover, in depths of around 2-6m. When hooked, rock blackfish like to head for a ledge or cave to escape, potentially damaging or severing your line, but silver drummer rarely do this. However, because silver drummer are

A 55cm tailor caught by David Morgan in the evening on a bright moon. They bite more freely in the dark and will continue biting all night.

you should preferably peel when fishing. White bread for bait is also good, preferably sliced so you can more easily use a half slice without the crust moulded on your hook.

To complement the bread baits and prawn baits, soak bread in some water and consistently trickle mushy bread into your whitewater wash. With groper you can fish the deeper ledges or even the shallower locations as these fish will venture into the shallower ledges and boulder areas in search of a red or scotchie crab.

The best spots to fish are North Head Manly, a spot called ‘The Hat’, for luderick, groper, trevally, salmon and rock blackfish. Try Little Bluey near 1-4oz in moderate swell conditions. I like the Daiwa 5000BGMW with 20lb braid and 20-30lb leader, or Alvey 60S Stealth reel with 10kg mono and a rod of 3.6m or more that can handle weights up to about 150g will suffice. Whole pilchards have been used for decades, and work really well for tailor and salmon.

Fish the larger gutters on the beach and most importantly fish the low light periods, preferably at night. High tides periods (two hours before to one hour out) are not absolutely necessary unless there is a moderate swell. In flatter you’re matching the size of your hook. When you buy a bag of pilchards, the pillies can vary in size; some are 150mm and some are up to 180mm. The larger fish are good for ganging up for tailor and salmon, while the smaller pillies can be – it moves with the current much more freely.

Now let’s look at locations to fish off the beaches. I recommend starting at Manly for salmon and some tailor, preferably after dark (it’s a very crowded surfing beach

It’s so much fun catching snapper off the rocks on plastics! This 46cm red was caught on a Bait Junkie 5” jerk shad in pilchard glow off the rocks. Several trevally were caught on the outing as well.

swell conditions (under a metre) you can even fish the low tide periods with surprisingly good results.

Some of the beaches are also producing some nice trevally. A fish fillet of mullet cut in a slim strip, approximately 2cm wide by 8-10cm long, will make a deadly bait for a trevally or bream. My preferred way to catch trevally, however, is to use single 1/0 or 2/0 hook and half a pilchard (or slightly less), and ensure that cut in half and baited up on a 1/0 or 2/0 hook. It is a common mistake for anglers to put on a bait that is too big and/or bulky for the size hook that they’re using, which can reduce the hook-up rate.

A frequently asked question is do you berley up on a beach? Yes, you sure can but it’s about being practical. Like rock fishing, berley works a treat but if the current is too fast it’s pointless. Remember the berley is not like your rig during the day). Curl Curl, Dee Why, Collaroy near the pipe when the swell is a bit larger from the south, Warriewood and mid Palm Beach are producing for salmon, tailor and at times trevally. • For rock and beach guided fishing or tuition in the northern Sydney region, visit www. bellissimocharters. com.au, email alex@ bellissimocharters.com.au or call Alex Bellissimo on 0408 283 616.