Blackfishing

[korg20000bc]

I grew up fishing for blackfish/luderick/niggers and I was able to spend some time over the new year after them on the NSW South coast.

My dad taught me and his dad taught him. I had a real sense of wellbeing while using the skills that had been handed down through a few generations.

I was taught how to on the Woronora River at Bonnet Bay. Unfortunately, those rocks are now encrusted with homes with occupants who aren't happy with people fishing in front of their views. The bait was always green weed (apparently, my grandfather used to swear by rolling in some of his pipe tobacco with the weed), and the rig was not negotiable-
size 8-10 hook, stem blackfish float, split shot attached to the trace to make the float almost neutrally buoyant only allowing 3-4 cm of stem above the water, float stopper made from tire valve tubing with a piece of matchstick inside and the line rubbed with vasoline to make it float.

Since moving to Tasmania I haven't really had a go at them. They are not a species that are targeted here though they are plentiful and only ex-Sydneysiders go for them- according to the tackleshops.

I've got to do some leg work and find some spots.

Any other Blackfish enthusiasts out there?

[bblaze]

Stanley wharf and off shore islands on the nw coast. seen schoal of blackfish (big buggers too) swimming up and down the wharf in Stanley tormenting the local fisherman as they dont know how to catch them. Most are caught local in gill nets as by catch and aint sought after. This time of the year is about right tthrough to about April.
cheers
blaze

[korg20000bc]

Thanks for that. Its a bit of a hike from here but when I'm up that way I'll remember to take my gear.

I need to find some spots in the Tamar. That's probably closest. The wharf at Beauty Point might do the trick.

[UNDEROVER]

I've been snorkeling in Corindi creek at Red Rock (north of coffs harbour)and have seen quite a few swimming around, which has prompted me to comment on this post. I'm an absolute novice at chasing Blackfish. The one decent crack I had at them was on Harrington wall (north of Taree), where my methods were ridiculed by an a particular old timer, but who actually bothered to show me a thing or two, after which, I finally caught a couple. I guess this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Blackfish, and any more detailed info regarding fishing for them in rivers and off headlands would be awesome. Bring it on.
Cheers, Matt...

[Chenz]

This has got to be one of my favourite types of fishing. A lot of people however think it is too finicky and like fly fishing think it is too hard to learn. Wrong - it just takes a bit of practise. Watch the old blokes fishing for them. That's how I learned

I have fished for niggers in all conditions from on the rocks on North Head to still water on Narrabeen lakes. One of my favourite spots is down off Greenwell Point on the ShoalhavenRiver on a good run out tide.

Like all types of fishing it is just leaning the basics. The most crucial thing to get right is the depth to fish. This means having the right distance from your float down to the hook. More correctly, down to the last split shot as a lot of the time when fishing in any current or drift the bait will be perpendicular to the main line. I try to have my weed down around 1-2 metres off the bottom but adjust up and down until you find the depth they are feeding at. Weed cut up fine and mixed with sand and thrown in at regular intervals for burley increases your cahnces of getting them on the chew.

I agree the float has to be neutral buoyancy as if the fish bites and starts to swim away and feels too much weight they will drop it like a smelly rag. When the bite the float goes down and then wait 3 seconds before striking sideways the opposite way to the float down.

I use an Alvey Luderick Special reel on a 12 foot slow taper rod which takes all of the bumps and runs of a big blackfish when hooked. The main line is 20 pound so that it can handle being scrapped against rocks barnacles and weed on the ocean rocks but the trace is 4-6 pound maximum. Size 8 or 10 Gamagatsu green hooks finish off the rig. The other good thing about ****** fishing is the bait is usually on the rocks where you fish and the price is right.

If you have a stormwater canal near you more than likely there is green weed growing in it and this is also excellent bait in rivers and lakes. Cabbage weed is the best though if you are fishing off the rocks. Be sure you have the right footwear as it can get slippery – Cleats are the go down on the rocks

I think of this as my hypnotherapy as watching that float – and you need to watch it all the time is immensely relaxing. That is until a big 2 kg blackfish gets hooked – Then lookout and hang-on.

Bled, filleted and skinned, they are one of the best eating fish in the water. I could write more but am going out to grab my ****** rod and head down the rocks in the morning

[UNDEROVER]

Hey Chenz,

is the green weed you speak of, the stuff that has the consistency of wet cotton wool? Would it be the same stuff I've seen in the stagnant waters amongst the mangroves?

[Chenz]

The green weed I use looks like green hair. Some is a crinkly texture and other stuff is dead straight. I get it from a stormwater canal which joins the Parramatta River near my place. Grows on the walls and in the bottom of the chanel. Can we feet long when the conditions asre right. rain tends to kill it off though.

The stuff you are talking about is not that good. If you go down to a wharf or jetty there is usually some green weed growing on the intertidal section of the pylons or on the sides of floating pontoons.

The green cabbage weed is just as good if not better in faster water

[gonfishen]

I have recentely come back from camping at Marlo which is where the Snowy river empties into the sea. We were fishing in the river using sand worms and came home with an esky full of Luderick all good eating size. The next day all we could catch was Taylor and Trevally, anyway it is a good little fishing spot.

simon

[korg20000bc]

Fishin'... its a funny old game.

[KEV0044]

Love Luderick fishing
My Dad taugt me all the best rigs and methods from a young boy .
He passed away two weeks before Christmas .
I'll get back to you about this subject soon .
Cheer's guys ,
Kev .