Kings running big time
Typically during the winter months there are lots of kings around including some big heavyweights. For me I have had some of my best sessions every and best of all we got all the action on film for the latest Strikezone DVD. Live baiting and jigging the reefs in 20-30fathoms we had a series of unreal sessions catching a heap of fish to 15kg.

It has been a long time since I enjoyed a good session on big kings and better still to get it all on camera. The best technique was to drift over the reef with the live baits suspended down deep just off the bottom. Watching the sounder intently the moment we marked the fish I would put the Honda in reverse and hold it station right over the fish.

Coastal reefs aside there have also been some good reports of kings on the Peak and the 12 Mile as well. Further south the kings have been firing on the Banks with huge catches of fish up to around 6kg. This bite won’t last forever so get out there while it is going. As the month progresses the fish will migrate north following the warmer water so the North Coast reefs, headlands and islands will fire. Seal Rocks used to be one of my favourite locations for big kings at this time of year but unfortunately the Marine Parks Authority saw it fit to lock anglers out, not just around the islands but 3 miles out. I know I keep harping on it but man it kills me those mongrels kicked us out so the divers who don’t even pay for a licence can have exclusive access!

When it comes to bait for winter kings one of my favourites is the humble old yakka. A lot of anglers don’t rate these baits but during the winter they are prime baits and are the downfall of a majority of the big kings I catch.

Terrigal is still firing and Scotty from Haven Charters has been killing it along the 100metre line. He is copping a bit of grief from the sharks but is still managing fish to more than a metre as well as some pesky bonito.
 
Portland still firing
The amazing run of bluefin continues with some very late season jumbos being caught out off Portland.  While the bigger fish should have well and truly gone this highlights there are no set rules in fishing so if you simply have to give it a go and get out there.

Tuna time
Bermagui’s sensational run of bluefin died out as the eddy dissipated and now the main concentration of fish have moved north off Jervis Bay. There have been some good reports of decent bluefin up to 100kg as well as some solid yellowfin the 70kg range being caught between Sydney and Kiama and I expect that over the next month there will be a lot more caught.

This eddy will slowly move north so chances are you will be fishing up towards Port Stephens. The trick is to study those sea surface temperature charts and watch the progress of the hotter eddies and where they are moving.

When it comes to techniques I think trolling is the best option for bluefin and in particular run a Laser Pro in the shotgun position which always seems to be the first to go off for me. When you do hook up don’t stop, keep trolling. The struggling actions of the hooked fish will get the rest of the school excited and result in a multiple hook up.

I also carry a bucket of cut up cubes ready to go so the moment I get a strike I start cubing and try to get the school up to the boat. I should also add that I have a Saltiga rigged and ready and while cubing I always flick a bait out. This can be a bit annoying if you are fighting fish at the same time but if it produces an extra fish whose complaining. 

Strikezone boats
In an effort to help more anglers get into the action Strikezone has teamed up with Evolution Boats and Honda Marine to set up a new line of serious fishing boats. A number of Honda dealers have already jumped onboard so if you’re keen for a new trailerboat then check them out.

TV appearance
Some more exciting news is that I will be hosting River to Reef this season highlighting what is on offer in NSW. I look forward to catching up and fishing with many readers up and down the coast so if you see the crew pull up in town be sure to come over and say G’day.

New Book
How to Catch Fish and Cook it has hit the shelves and is already kicking goals. Covering the top 50 species in the country as well as some of Rach’s favourite recipes it is a bloody great book but then I am biased.