What a place, you would think that by 2015 it would be buggered like most other popular places. But, it's one of the great survivors. I can't say that in a week the fishing has been spectacular, because by Yamba standards the fishing has been pretty poor. The setting, the facilities, the weather, the beauty of the place have made up for the lack of fish.
I received a text from Tham, he had a craving for blackfish, or at least for blackfishing. I was happy to go along with this as I was looking for an opportunity to take the kids somewhere where they could fish from the shore. Tham suggested Botany Bay, which is around the corner from him, and an easy drive on the freeway for me. He even offered to get the bait! Too good an opportunity to pass up in my book.
Received a text from Tham today asking if I wanted to go for some late afternoon kayak Bassin. The forecast was for stormy weather, but it's nice and warm so took the risk. I was on the water at 5pm, no sign of Tham, so I started paddling.
I had the day off yesterday, so took the kayak and had an early morning crack at some bass. I'm starting to get some confidence now, and back in the swing with my casting. I concentrated on using diving lures. started with a deeper diving Jackall Chubby. It was see-through and mostly green. I like these lures, they cast really well and you can bump them over the snags. This is what has made the difference for me, getting the lure in tight to the bank next to a snag and then bumping the lure across the timber.
The week beforehand was pretty rough, storms blanketed much of Sydney for days. By the weekend the weather was brilliant, warm days and cool nights. We paid for the weather though. The cold water Making its way down the river and cool conditions had the fish pretty well shutdown. Made it difficult for novices like me. In fact, I got a donut. My son Daniel though, did catch two fish, small, but out fished his old man.
Caught my first Bass out of the kayak today. Two fish between 30-35 cm. Was a great morning on what we will say was a local river :) Tham rang me for a Friday night session, but I convinced him to do an early start. We were on the water by 6:30 and I was home by 10. My fish were caught on a Jig Spin with a 1/8th jig and slider tail. Tham's fish were same but he got one on a yellow Kokoda Bat. Really great to break my duck, and good to get some confidence before the Bass Catch next weekend. It was a magnificent Sydney Spring day, not my biggest Bass but a bit of a landmark.
I've been trying to get to Lake St Clair for a long time. Glenbawn has been a favourite destination for many years with it's excellent camping and good fishing options. Finally got out there for the October long weekend. We didn't do too well on the fishing front, but we did see some nice bass caught from the bank in the campground on worms! Daniel kept us rom getting a group donut by catching a couple of kilos of catfish.
