Shark Skin

An electron micrograph reveals sharkskin’s secret to speed: tooth-like scales called dermal denticles. Water races through the microgrooves without tumbling, reducing friction. They also give the shark’s skin the feel of sandpaper.

Sandy Hook

Location: Sandy Hook - NJ
Date: 14th Aug 2010
Crew: Toon, Austin
Time: 10am - 2:30pm
Weather: Calm
Rig: Running Paternoster Rig
Target Fish: Fluke, Bluefish
Bait: Mackerel
Berley: N/A
Catch: 2 x Fluke, 3 x Sea Robbin
Report: Good morning session into early arvo. Very calm waters and lots of boats out drifting for fluke. Caught 2 fluke, largest being just under size limit at 17 inches. Sea robbins were hitting early, but that action stopped as soon as we cut one up for bait. Walk back to the car saw a small snake eating a frog - that was wicked.
Rating: 5/10. Relaxing session, but no keepers.

New Jersey

Location: Bay Head - Jersey Shore
Date: 20th Aug 2010
Crew: Toon, Austin
Time: 10pm - 3:30am
Weather: 0-10 knots, 3/4 full moon, warm and fine
Rig: Running Paternoster Rig
Target Fish: Brown Shark
Bait: Whole Bunker, Mackerel
Berley: Frozen gatorade bottle of chopped mackerel.
Catch: 1 x Smooth Dogfish, 1 x Skate
Report: Perfect night, warm water, warm evening. Cast first lines out at 10:30pm, fishing the runout tide. Waded in about 50 meters to get further cast distance. Low tide was at midnight. First run on the line was at about 12:30am, zzzzzZZZ, but we missed the hook up. This got the blood pumping and at about 1:30am the second zzzZZZ began on the baitrunner. Hooked the fish, and it gave a decent fight for about 5 minutes. Pulled it in and was foul hooked, but still landed the bugger. POssibly smaller baits would be better for these dogfish or at least double hooked baits. Targeting big sharks though, so big baits = big fish. The final 15 minutes Gus pulled up a slimy skate. Threw it back and packed up.

Next time look for constant berley trail, and double hooked baits to secure hook ups.
Rating: 7/10. Bring on the big boys this weekend...

Berry's Beach Rocks

Location: Berry's Beach

Date: 08.05.10 - 09.05.10

Crew: Ross, Dave H

Time: 11pm-6am

Weather: 5-10 knots, cloudy, raining

Rig: Paternoster Rig, Snapper Snatcher, Shark Rig

Target Fish: Shark, Salmon, Trevally

Bait: South Australia Pippie, Eel (caught from Yarra River), fresh squid, Pilchard

Catch: 2 x 80-90cm Draftboard Shark

Report: Extreme fishing ! Great location, must be very cautious on lower platform. Fished the lower platform few hours from low tide only because the swell was small. Would be dangerous if conditions we rougher. Took along a backpack full of wood, arrived and realised no chance starting without kindling, none around site. Left the for next time. Sent out a shark rig on a balloon with eel. No luck. Very difficult off the rocks to do this, eventually got it out on the run-out tide after slowly feeding more slack line. Attached ring of balloon to snap swivel as well as sinker and steel trace. When out far enough, pull forcefully on rod and break the ring off the balloon and sinker drops... proved to be difficult especially at night.

Note: Do not attempt to reach this spot at high tide ! Journey there at low tide is 20mins. At night and on a high tide takes 1 hour. Had to scale up 3 m cliffs and wade through water. Essential to have a head lamp when fishing at night. Also the gas burner provide better visibility than a battery led lamp.

Rating: 6/10

Another day on the Tinny

Location: Ventnor, Tinny

Date: 07.05.10

Crew: Ross

Time: 12-5pm

Weather: 5-10 knots, cloudy, weed everywhere, 18 deg

Rig: Paternoster Rig

Target Fish: Whiting

Bait: South Australia Pippie - $16 -holy crap

Catch: 2 x 40cm Leather Jacket

6 x Whiting 30 -45cm

Report: Found it really hard to find a patch of sand. Have to hit the right spot or you just get weed fish

Note: Began using nylon paternoster rigs rather than the steel wire surf rigs. Cheaper more ideal.

Rating: 6/10

Loch Sport - 90 Mile Beach day 2

Location: Loch Sport car park

Date: 17.01.2010

Crew: Ross, Andrew, Simo

Time: 12-5pm

Weather: 5-10 knots, sunny, calm, 38 deg

Rig: Snapper snatcher 6.0

Target Fish: Shark, Salmon, Tailor

Bait: Fresh Squid from market

Catch: 2 x 15cm Salmon

1 x 60cm School Shark

1 x 70cm Ray

2 x 60cm Hammerhead Shark

1 x Silver Trevally 30cm

Report: Perfect conditions again, 1 x esky, beach tent, bbq, 10 people, 2 x surf rods... no doubt a day of fun in the sun. Two small salmon caught on silver lure, all others caught on snapper snatcher with squid strips.

Note: Casting again into the channel

Rating: 10/10

Loch Sport - 90 Mile Beach

Location: Loch Sport

Date: 16.01.09

Crew: Ross, Andrew

Time: 2-5pm

Weather: 5-10 knots, sunny, calm

Rig: Snapper snatcher 2.0

Target Fish: Shark, Salmon, Tailor

Bait: Fresh Squid from market

Catch: 1 x 80cm Gummy Shark

Report: Perfect conditions. In the morning other fisherman caught 2 large Salmon. Two long strips of squid on snapper snatcher rig. Left line in water and got distracted with beer from esky, then found Andrew pulling gummy in himself... all credit to Andrew !!

Note: Easy to spot the channel. Many others fishing in wrong spot and caught nothing. When hooked up the the gummy the cast landed right into the channel outlet.

Rating: 9/10