Kayak Noob

I've seen them in there dead after rains too... Gets me wondering where do these bigs ones get washed in from? Wouldn't mind finding out so I can target them local for a bit of sport... And crab bait.

I have eaten fish and blue swimmers from the lake before plenty of times and always been fine afterwards.
 

The blue swimmers definitely only come through for a few months this time of year as it gets warm and disappear again, so their fresh and healthy when you catch them. It takes many months and up to years for toxins like heavy metals to build up in the flesh, and since the crabs really don't spend that long in there, they are pretty safe to eat. Also the signs and notices say not to eat SHELLFISH. Crabs are CRUSTACEANS. Shellfish means don't eat of the mussels and things that like to grow on pontoons and bridge pylons, sucking up all the crap out of the water... they make good bream bait though

Also another way of looking at it - IF there are toxins and heavy metals present in the water... then they cant be to an extremely dangerous level.

1) Because there are plenty of 35+cm big bream who have obviously lived there for most of their lifespan - and that's a long time. If they can live in there for that long, it cant be too harmful.

2) ASSUMING that you catch a bream and a few crabs or whatever and they do have high levels of toxins and metals in their flesh - How big is the fish and the crabs? If their still alive and swimming when you catch them, and then you eat them, you will digest a small amount of the toxins and pass some out... And our bodies are 100X bigger than a crab, or a fish... its going to be even further diluted spread around our giant bodies.

3) These things subside over time as our body will turn it to waste and eliminate it from our system sooner or later... If you only catch and take stuff occasionally, the levels in your body will never build up to a dangerous level. I wouldn't recommend eating from the lake every single day, but its only now and again... you'll be fine.


 

+1 for the spot on Salisbury main north road, used to go there a few years ago when I lived out that way

Thanks a lot guys, all very helpful posts.

Thanks Kelvin Underpants, I'll keep checking the temperature using Underpants' link he provided over the next 2 weeks with all this sunny fine weather, and hopefully if gets up another 2-3 degrees I'll go out chasing them then, if not, it will be another squid session!

Thanks Doobie, that first link to Des' posts I have seen before, that's actually where I learned that the whiting follow the cooler water, and the pictures he showed how the top of the gulf is cooler in winter and hotter in summer really starts to make a lot of sense.
 

Cheers guys, always learn a lot on this site!

 


 

Doobie, I have a sounder on my kayak which shows the depth and temperature

Hey guys, was just wondering if any of you whiting whisperers know what temperate the water is roughly when the YFW start making their way onto the metro beaches? I know they follow the cooler water down as the water begins to heat up the gulf but that's as far as my knowledge goes haha

I noticed on Sunday that it was around the 14 degree mark, im wondering if that changes much as the warmer weather begins

Funniest and worst...

Garden island a few years ago, nothing decent biting all afternoon, Not me but a mate managed to bring up 2 big blue swimmers going at it mid session if you know what I mean.... Caught on a rod on a half pilchard certainly eased the boredom for a while

Also thought I'd snagged something once fishing in the port from an old ramp/dock type think near the jervois bridge I think it is? Anyway I suddenly managed to start to getting line back incredibly slowly, and 10 minutes of dragging in godknows what it slowly starts to appear... I've only gone and hooked onto a dirty old 2 seater couch.... Was the only thing I caught all day bigger than 20cm salmon trout!!

I checked out their site but the only 2 bedroom cabins were unavailable the weekend I'm planning.... Typical!

Thanks I'll look into it  

... Probably wont be taking the Yak though as I don't have racks on my car at the moment, but mainly don't want to mix alcohol and paddling  

 

Hey Guys,

Wasn't too sure which forum  to post this in, so that's why its under 'general'

Im looking to plan a weekend away fishing up the river towards the end of November to celebrate the end of the uni year, does anyone here have any good recommendations or can suggest some good caravan park cabin style accommodation on the cheap? My only requirements are needs to be 2 bedroom, close enough to the bank I can walk down to fish, and cheap!

I've stayed in Mannum before and enjoyed that, as the cabins are clean and close to the waterfront. They're just $100 a night for 2 people which is at the upper end of my price range. I'll probably end up there if cant find anything else!

Cheers



 

Awesome! Definitely going to try this one when I get a proper filleting knife

I have a 7ft 10kg rod I plan to use for big snapper and rays/big stuff....

I call him Brutus

I noticed this a few weeks ago, I took half a dozen home from semaphore off the jetty...

4 of them had no significant smell, and 2 were rank. They went straight in the freezer bag for squid teasers

Holy crap, that is awesome!!

Seriously thinking about selling my kayak set-up now and getting something like that...Only  Problem is just know I'll end up putting a hook or squid jig through it and sinking!

Cheers guys, that's where ive been seeing them, just about every dive from Glenelg to porties has one of these in the video.
Guess I wont bother targeting them ,but rather just hope jumps on as a by catch one day and gives a good fight!

I've been watching a lot of Dive videos on youtube trying to find some potential Kayak spots, and I've seen several of these, they look like a good size, and could be fun on light gear in the kayak.

But what is it? Some sort of Trevally?

I've caught Bream on bacon rind... had all sorts of prawns and dinner leftovers out in a burley bucket, and ran out of pilchards when they were hot on the bite, so I grabbed a bit and BAM!

As has already been said, the Yellowfin are long gone. Best chance of whiting will be some KGW down further south.

There has been lots of salmon around if you looking to use some lures, or Bream in westlakes.

Absolutely the rays love Hardwicke bay. I borrowed a little rowboat off the owner of some holiday units in Turton once, paddled about 50/100m off shore and could have easily bagged on Garfish, Salmon around 30cm, tommies and squid easily if I had the time and concentrated on all of them.  I also caught a few BIG sweep off the turton jetty, until one took drag and wrapped me around a pylon...  Also saw about 4 or 5 average rays and a real monster in the two hours I was out there.

If you start around high and fish the outgoing tide I reckon you'd have a good chance of getting a feed.

How's it going Alex, have you managed to crack it yet?

Awesome I will give it a ago sometime this coming weekend, will head down to a metro beach!

Fairly small, 6 i think it was Plankton...

Will give it a shot tomorrow afternoon with some pillies.
KJUst another question, i thought chicken and all red meats were banned, or am i just imagining it?

Well I'm surprised. I have used a variety of worms, cockles and haven't got bites, even when I can see a school in the water. I tried using mince and bread once, but they stripped it off the hook the second it hit he water.

Will try stiffening it up as people have suggested and will give the kangaroo meat a shot too, sounds interesting for something different at least!
I can only go in the metro area, my car isn't up to making a yorkes trip anymore these days

I have tried a variety of baits without luck, I have never caught a mullet. I've seen a few reports stating theyre around, so a rough idea of a location, and bait should get me going, if you kind people could offer a noob some advice

I'm thinking of heading down to west beach where the river flows out, but I'm unsure whether all the fresh water would help or hinder my efforts for some table fish?

Unbelievable, I've been to garden island and the squadron there, same as you twice in the last two weeks, same baits, for less than dozen undersize gar and 1 15/20cm bream.

You have undoubtedly the best luck of any fisherman I know.