Macleay Island Squire

[Scott Ashe]

Hi All,

Hit the water at 5am Friday, for a much anticipated fish, because it felt like years, since I had my boat in the water, due to this crap weather. (really 6 weeks)

Headed to Potts Point at Macleay Island, to see if there were any squire about, as we normally have fun catching and releasing there.

Anyway caught 8 Squire between 2 of us between 5-30 to 8 am, nothing to really brag about because the biggest came in at 30cm, but hey its better than sitting at home

The majority were 26-28 cm.

If only I could find some legals.!!

Cheers
Scott

[Mark-P]

Hey scott, did you try in close ( within casting distance of that jetty ? ) I use to get the odd good one there before sun up !! Still a better than nothing result ....

Mark

[BenDover]

Hey Scott, Yeah Ive sounded ever bit of that area and found the same thing. I found schools of legal 42 - 47cm squire in 2 metres of water. Even at midday when they are suppossed to be deep. Sight casting for them with plastics is an experience and a half. But i drift the stuctures at mcleay and then head to peel side of coochie on a little reef system there. Can give you marks if you like. But they are mostly there on clear water days when you can see the reef and fish anyway. If thats no good i go trolling over at peel.
Here's some of the fish from the shallows 1 - 2 metres of water

[BenDover]

I got a 55'r there once in 1 metre or less. Tried to cast the placcy infront of him but he was in hunting mode and turned around and it ended up behind him. But he turned SOOO fast and left the water as he hit it. I felt soo bad when i got back to the ramp i let him go. Thats the biggest ive got from there.

[Martijnf]

hey mate.. what species is that third one from the first pics?

trying to get a head start on this fish id-ing business for when I get down there

[wags on the water]

hey mate.. what species is that third one from the first pics?

Grassy sweetlip

[reddybayfisher]

Hey Scottie, I was out there as well Friday morning in my tinnie - probably would have seen you - there wasn't as many people there as thought....I end up with a nice size taylor.....about 5 squire around the 30cm mark - they felt like a good size winding in - but not quite legal....a few shovel nose and toadies: pain in the arses.....I was using bait and had most luck with squid.....I caught the taylor on a SP squid set up, jigging from the bottom - I thought I would try and the taylor hit it....first fish ever with a SP set-up....

Thanks Mark P for the tip - I'll try a bit closer to the jetty...see what happens

[BenDover]

Nicer work mate. Youll never look back now when you find how easy you can get fish on placcy's.

[reddybayfisher]

BenDover - I am not totally convinced yet - my preference is for bait still but I like having the other option of using SP's when things go quiet and vice-versa....
Cheers

[BenDover]

Ill convince ya . With plastics, the fish will either hit them straight away before another fish does. Or not be interested at all. Or they are not there. But there is no waiting. I pulled 5 legal snapper once for 40 minutes of fishing. Most of it was fighting time. The plastic only just hit the water and i got my bail arm over everytime. Thats fishing.
The other awsome factor is no peckers. Just by catches.

You just have to get the rythem and be confident.
After you get sick of bait. Just chuck a placcy out with about 3 times the line for depth. And stick it in the rod holder and drift . Youll see.

[Mark-P]

Hey Ben, i recon those shorts are the difference mate haha !The two places ben has mentioned are best fished ( when using bait ) with un weighted hardy heads & the fresher the better ... Throwing the cast net around the sand banks in that area should get all the hardies you'll need !!

Mark

[BenDover]

Are you pickin on my shorts mate. Atleast they dont stink of rotting bait at the end of the day .

[Mark-P]

I've got a pair just like them but mine are nuclear chicken

[BenDover]

Mate, if you did the fish would be jumping into your boat .

[ddobson]

Im with ben dover the placcys woll get more hits with the squire than smelly ol bait ever will. I have spent some time out potts point and tried for brim on 4 pound and lost a snapper at least 60cm and one at 50cm so i will be upping my leader and spending more time in 1 to 2 metre area. Oh i also say go the nuclear chickens or go home when it is dark or dirty water. Wierd to hear of squire staying around in the shallows in middle of the day. Might have to get a pair of nuclear togs as well.lol. Cheers