Still good bream in the Pine, despite the fresh.

[Freeeedom]

There was a release of water from the North Pine Dam on Monday night, and as a result the Pine today was quite discoloured and totally fresh. Quite a bit of hyacinth was coming down the South Pine and there were a couple of huge logs in the river as well. Even at the top of the tide you could hardly taste any salt in the water. But that doesn't seem to worry the bream at all because there were plenty there again today. Quality was pretty good, with an average size of about 28cm, best of 35cm and about 10 fish 30 or better. Because of the fresh there were also quite a few catfish about, plus a massive freshwater eel. Caught about 40 bream and released about 20, plus at least a dozen catfish. Put the pots out while I was fishing and managed 11 muddies (but none legal). At least it didn't rain today which was a change, so I didn't come home wet as a shag as has been the case in recent trips. Quit about 11.30 - made for quite a nice morning!
Cheers Freeeedom

[cuzzamundi]

Fantastic session, mate. You continually slay 'em in the ole Pine. Great stuff.

cuzza

[robfin]

Were you out fishing Monday morning under the highway bridge by chance? I was there with my son and nephew hiding from the rain and we struggled to land any but got blown away by some untouchables. We had more luck hunting flatties near dohles as the tide went out. Gonna give it another go tomorrow if it's another day like today. Well done on the bream, you have them Sussed.

[flip1906]

Nice work you've definetly put some theories to shame about too much fresh.

Phil

[bowds13]

hey freedom nice fish there mate! what did u get them on? im gonna hit the piine tomorrow with chasing some sharks in mind but if they arnt there might switch to chasing bream! also did u happen to notice if there was many bait fish around?

cheers

[Freeeedom]

Were you out fishing Monday morning under the highway bridge by chance? I was there with my son and nephew hiding from the rain and we struggled to land any but got blown away by some untouchables. We had more luck hunting flatties near dohles as the tide went out. Gonna give it another go tomorrow if it's another day like today. Well done on the bream, you have them Sussed.

Yes I was there on Monday Robfin. Stayed dry the whole time I was fishing and then got soaked at the ramp and again when washing the boat down and flushing the motor. Only brought 8 fish home on Monday but reasonable quality like today.

Bowds13 - I was using prawns. There was a guy cast-netting around the freeway bridge pylons early looking for some bait but he didn't seem to be getting anything at all. He tried about 8 different places right across the river but I didn't see him with a single fish in the net, and I was watching closely because I had my net with me in case I needed it. When I go chasing live bait I usually go further up the river.
Cheers Freeeedom

[robfin]

I netted some poddys and bony bream down southpine way but didn't get a touch on either of them. Also saw some prawns skipping around but only very small ones.

[smokindrag]

did you taste the water down near the bottom?? i think you will find despite the amount of fresh let into the pine over the last few days the water in the lower half to third of the water column will be quite saline still... the fresh tends to run over the top of saline water being pushed by a tide!!

[Freeeedom]

did you taste the water down near the bottom?? i think you will find despite the amount of fresh let into the pine over the last few days the water in the lower half to third of the water column will be quite saline still... the fresh tends to run over the top of saline water being pushed by a tide!!

I know that this can happen in deeper estuaries, Smokindrag, but I doubt that it could occur in such shallow water as the Pine. When you think that the channel around the beacons just upstream from the Dohle's Rocks ramp is only half a metre deep at low tide, and quite turbulent in the tidal run, you'd think that the water would be pretty well mixed.
Cheers Freeeedom

[smokindrag]

Yep thats right!! the pine is a pretty shallow estuary, but has some deep channels and holes (a few new ones now! ) the shallow areas of course WILL be fresh theres no denying that, but you will find the deeper channels and holes will still contain saline water,( maybe quite diluted) but salty enough for most fish to stay!!

You had a good session by the looks anyways!!

how long do you stay in one spot while fishing for bream in the pine? is there a particular part of the tide you prefer?

[cuzzamundi]

There are quite a few pockets in the Pine, expecially upstream, that are pretty deep. Definitely deep enough to be more saline than the surface. I remember as a kid scratching my head wondering why I caught salt water fish in certain pockets after a major fresh, and that is why.

cuzza