ANOTHER TRIP WITH SOME BIG KINGS AND ONE MONSTER LOST

Today's trip consisted of half beginners and half regulars and they are always exciting as the beginners luck sees for an interesting day. And this was no exception! Although the closer spots held heaps of bait the kings were lacking and a move to deeper water saw instant hook ups on large kings. The first timers did well with some big ones hooked and lost and eventually some landed. One particularly big one was hooked pulling off maximum drag and eventually reefing the angler, a shame to loose his first big king. Sometimes it doesn't matter what breaking strain your leader is, when you hook a big king right on the bottom they know exactly what to do. The River2Sea Spike jigs were doing all the damage, they remain my favourite jig for the larger kings. The kings were in a very small area so boat positioning is crucial otherwise you catch nothing. Unfortunately the kings didn't play for too long and didn't return at the tide change but a couple of bigger models each was a good effort for when the kings are temperamental.

MORE BIG KINGIES

Again the ocean was full of hatch and bait fish with schools of salmon and bonito around the heads. The deeper reefs were tried first with some nice fish up to 97cm caught,but again they were not schooling, with the fish being spread out. On arrival at a closer spot the sounder was red with bait fish and kings lurking under them, all hell broke loose with lots of hook ups. But they were on the move quickly with bait schools everywhere to pick from we couldn't locate them again. I was hoping they would hang around the pinnacles and we would bag out on really big kings but that's fishing. Another trip of big kings and lots of potential.

BIG FISH BUT NUMBERS DOWN

After more days of strong winds it was good to have a good forecast to give the jigging another bash after previous succesful trips. As usual the winds and seas were worse than predicted and it was a struggle for everyone but we were all desperate for a fish. The dust storm has caused a massive hatch to occur in the ocean with the largest schools of small slimies I have ever seen. We decided to give a wreck in about 65m of water a bash so as to give time for the seas to settle with no result (I've been told by someone that has dived it that kings abound but can't seem to catch one, although we have never really given it a good go. The move to deeper water resulted in some good kings being caught but they were very shy and not schooling up, resulting in lots of searching and long times of jigging between fish. About 12 fish to 7kg were caught but if my bucket of death is not full I'm not happy. On our way back to port a large shool of bait fish erupted around us but consistent jigging and lure casting resulted in zilch. All up not a bad day with some good potential for big fish but with the whole ocean being full of bait the kings were spread out and hard to catch.

FINALLY THE WEATHER BACKED OFF

After weeks of cancelled trips it was good to finally venture out wide to see what effect it had on the kingies. The closer reefs looked promising with good shows of bait but swirling currents made it hard to hit the spot consistantly and I just had a feeling we should move on to another spot. The move was right as the current was flowing from the north and a good drift direction over the reef. The first drop saw mutiple hook ups on big kings taking drag. Unfortunately one large fish was lost due to a braid cross over but a few were boated. Interestingly we jigged up two small albacore in close well off the reef, it's been a while since I've caught them in so close.

The fish weren't there in big schools but they were caught randomly throughout the day. I like it when it's like this as schools of fish up to 80cm can be annoying, they stop you from catching larger models. One client even caught a trevally,which is a rariety these days as the southeast trawl boats seem to have wiped the large schools out.

All up we caught about 12 kings in the 8 to 10kg range and a couple of 4kg models. The beginners on the trip did the best, it looked like the slow jigging was the best method and the green and gold spike jigs out performed the rest. More photos are posted on the web site. I'll have to improve my photo taking as the fish wre 10kg models but only look small in the photos.

PHOTOS POSTED ON WEB SITE FOR THE LAST YEAR

I'VE BEEN REALLY SLACK AND HAVEN'T POSTED AN UPDATE FOR 12 MONTHS. MUST DO IT AFTER EVERY TRIP BEFORE IT SNOW BALLS AND BECOMES TOO HARD. ANY WAY, I'VE POSTED ALL OF THE PICTURES OF FISH CAUGHT OVER THE LAST YEAR IN THE PHOTO ALBUMS ON THE WEB SITE. SO IF YOU'VE BEEN FOR A JIGGING CHARTER WITH ME HAVE A LOOK AND SEE IF YOUR UGLY MUG IS THERE HOLDING A FISH.THE FISH HAVE BEEN A BIT CAGEY THIS YEAR, THERE IN BIG NUMBERS ONE DAY AND GONE THE NEXT.THERE HAS BEEN A FEW SLOW DAYS AND MANY OTHERS WHERE BAG LIMITS WERE CAUGHT.

Jigging Sydney Kings

Perfect conditions and the reults of the previous trip had excitement high for today's group made up of Peter Hay, Phil Black,Peter Lin and friends.The kingies again would not school up until a certain time of the tide and then the bite continued for only a couple of hours. In between time the leather jackjets caused some destruction.Phil tried soft plastics which are usually jacket food but this one was left alone long enough to catch anice king. Another spanner model jig was tested today with excellent results. The 16mm ring spanner was the perfect weight and at $3 each a much cheaper option.The claw hammer jig is the next model in construction.All patterns of jigs were working today and bag limits were quickly reached of fish in the 75-85cm range. Wth full eskys and a weary crew the trip home was a time to catch up on some sleep and dream about the next trip

THE KINGS ARE BACK IN TOWN!

The poor results of late prompted a visit to some spots south of the Botany Bay in an attempt to find some fish. Todays charter was formed by Dave and his kayak fishers, now and then they evolve from their yaks to fish in a stink boat.The early morning sesion brought no results but then the switch was turned on and the bite started!Double hookups turned to all at once keeping me busy landing kings. The fish were all around the 75-85cm range but all well fed and weighty. Cheaper orange jigs were doing the most damage, but again the jackets did some too.The bite lasted for four hours and just stopped, they can be so frustrating.Conditions were perfect for most of the day with only a late sea breeze. Bag limits were reached and plenty thrown back. PBs were caught by some and everyone went home sore and a full esky. The water was cold and dirty but if you can find some bait the fish will be near, things can only keep improving.

TREVALLY

Today's group consisted of Gary, Bill, Jay, Wilson and friends and a hard day was anticipated. Unfortunately the water conditions were the same with the wind direction keeping the current away from Sydney. A surprise catch were three trevally. These used to be in large schools off Sydney but the last couple of years have seen a rapid decline in numbers. They require a different technique than kingfish and Gary had it. With the weather deteriorating and a lack of fish,an early day was had. The fish are just north of Sydney but a quick current change will have them at our doorstep again.

A SLOW DAY ON THE KINGS

Today's charter was a small group and mainly as a farewell last fish with one of our Japanese jigging friends, Chika, who is leaving for a new adventure after 20 years in Australia. He always jigged hard no matter what the conditions and consistantly caught the biggest fish.He is a true jigging master and will be missed, looking forward to his return visits.

Unfortunately the fish still haven't returned to Sydney. We have a still, cold eddy of water at the moment and the kingfish have moved on. It was a hard day with just six keepers and of course Deborah caught more than her share. Our two new jiggers managed to catch plenty of throw backs in worsening wind but the hope of one last big fish for Chika faded. The charts are showing better water heading our way and this will bring the kings on.

KINGFISH AND JACKETS!!!!

After the previous charter of little fish hopes weren't high for today's trip but conditions were perfect! With lots of fish caught earlier in the month and this being the first good weekend in ages, the ocean was a parking lot. It seems like everyone had taken up jigging! But there was worse to come! The current had stopped, the water was green and cold, full of algea and ferrocous leather jackets! The option to fish out wider was taken but fish were just as scarce. One lucky jigger caught a nice big squid on a knife jig. The other jiggers decided to swap to bait fishing and caught some long finned orange perch. The afternoon saw us return to closer grounds and all the other boats had given up after losing all their jigs to the dreaded jackets.For the next couple of hours kingfish were slowly added to the esky but you had to be careful of the jackets.It was obvious that the boats before us had lost lots of jigs as we were jigging up jigs with 60m of braid, must have been an expensive trip out for many. A quite day fishing overall but not too many jigs lost and some also recovered - looking forward to more current and the dismise of the leatherjackets.

Jigging at Last

Another two weeks of bad weather had again cancelled all jigging trips. This was the first and we were hoping all the kingies were still there after two weeks of strong winds and big seas.The charter was made up by Peter Hay, Michael, Phil,Bill and friends. The area looked barren of fish, they had all gone. After an hour the fish came on for a small bite with only one keeper out of the handful caught. The move out wider was much the same with few fish caught. We hung in there till late hoping for a repeat of the late bite, but it just didn't happen, there was no fish to be caught, very disappointing.

KINGIES GALORE

Bad weather had cancelled our weekend trip but they were able to move it to midweek. The charter consisted of Dan Ryan and friends, James Taylor and some new jiggers. We picked the right day as conditions were perfect and our favourite jigging spot was empty of all boats. The fish were a little hard to find as waves of dolphins kept the fish on the move. After 10 or so fish it was decided to fish wider. Fishing was much the same there but with a lot more boats and a hungry seal stealing the biggest fish all the time. The catch rate was slowing so we moved back closer to jig on the tide change. At 2.00pm the kingies started to school up and the feeding frenzy went till dark. Our first time jiggers were braining them - Phil's slow jerk and wind was the most effective catching the most fish. The smallest fish was caught by Dan, it was smaller than the jig, what skill
or what a hungry fish.The fish went off before dark and everyone had a full esky.

KINGFISH FEVER

Today's charter was organised by Tak from http://www.deepwaterjigging.com.au/ . Recent bad weather had forced many cancellations but today's conditions were perfect. All the kingfish have been caught in closer of late so we fished in 65m of water off Botany Bay. From the second drift kingfish were everywhere, with multiple hook-ups on every drop.I sure was busy netting fish and filling the kill box! Deborah's PB of 21 from the previous charter was beaten this trip, now it stands at 22, what an angler! Fish were constantly returned with 100+ caught for the day. Although the fish were of average size our first time jigger had a ball and everyone took home a full esky.

NEW JIGGERS AND A GOOD CATCH

Today's jiggers were a new group formed by Peter, conditions started off bad but improved throughout the day, it's been hard to fit a charter in with the weather conditions. Again we fished in 80m east of Sydney and after finding the fish and the right drift hook ups started.It wasn't long before the fish were in a feeding frenzy and triple hook-ups all day! The fish were all in the 75 - 85cm range with the odd 8kg fish. Bag limits were reached and fish thrown back all day!

Non stop kingfish action

Today's charter was a late decision with the crew only finalised late the night before and what a day it turned out to be! There was a break in the weather with the westerly winds finally forecasted to ease for the day. We were one down so I took the oportunity to have a jig myself.

We fished the water 80m deep off Marouba and it wasn't long before the fish were found.Single hookups at first progressed to triples and at times everyone was on a fish. Bag limits were quickly reached and fish were constantly returned to fight another day,all
up over 100 fish were caught. The size of the fish was down with most in the 75-85 cm range, with the biggest fish being caught by myself going 97 cm. The fish were in a hungry mood and all types of jigs were quickly consumed and I pulled out my special spanner jig to show you don't have to spend money on fancy jigs!

My two new jiggers were completely worn out and happy with the days catch, hopefully the arms will recover to jig another day. The best jigger on the day was our lady jigger Deborah who had a personal best catch of 21 kingfish. We also jigged up 3 bonito and 5 barracuda.