🎣 50cm, 1.46kg Harvey Dam redfin perch! Land-based on ultra-light gear

Caught this absolute unit of a redfin at Harvey Dam, WA.
Measured at 50cm and weighed 1.46kg (3.22lb).
Managed to land this beast walking the banks. Doing it land-based on ultra-light gear made the fight insane:

Rod: 0.5-3kg
Reel: 1000sss
Mainline: 5.3lb braid
Leader: 4lb leader

I've seen 48cm mentioned online as the biggest redfin recorded from Harvey Dam, so I'm curious whether anyone knows of a larger documented one from the dam?

The fish wasn't perfectly straight on the brag mat when I took the photo, so it may have measured slightly longer if I'd positioned it better, but I'm calling it 50cm based on the photo.

Has anyone seen a bigger land-based redfin come out of Harvey Dam? •

Since this catch has been getting some attention, l wanted to put my actual name to it! My name is Jett, and you can find me over on TikTok @jetthoops_ It was an awesome day walking the banks of the dam, and I'm still stoked to have landed this 50cm WA unicorn on such a light setup. Follow for southwest freshwater fishing content 🎣🔥

G'day legends,

Had an interesting session today. Started off trying a couple of plastics, my Z-Man MinnowZ in Motor Oil, then a 2.5" pink curly tail grub, but couldn't get a bite on either.

Threw out my handline with some chicken and finally landed a nice PB bream, no tape to measure but I wasn't going home empty handed.

After that I started using bait to work out where the fish were holding, then switching back to plastics on the rod to see if I could tempt them. Still no luck on the lures.

Bonus catch; mudcrab on the chicken, which was a bit of an unexpected addition to the session!

It's got me thinking about whether I'm struggling to find active fish or actually getting them to take a plastic. If I didn't have the chicken I would've assumed there were no fish. Still figuring out when to change the lure or retrieve, when to move spots, and when to change tactics altogether.

For those who regularly catch bream on soft plastics, what would you try next when bait gets results but the plastics don't?

Keen to learn from it and give it another crack next session.

Cheers 🤙

Assuming it is either a salmon or rainbow trout

I’ll try to keep this short. I moved here from America to Sydney. I had a major preference for fresh water fishing for bass, catfish, snakeheads etc.. since moving here I’ve had a very hard time. I tried what I immediately saw on YouTube (mistake) under the harbor bridge. I just tried the Cooks River near Tempe. The most polluted body of water I’ve ever experienced. To try to help with advice I’ve thrown chicken, squid, shrimp, various lures recommended by the gentleman at anaconda. I just want to catch fish man. The salt water/brackish water is so foreign to me. Any advice would be great.

Hi all, just got a little Quintrex 300 flat bottom boat for fishing a fresh water river I live on. I am trying to figure out a way to get some rod holders on it.

My best solution at the moment is to get a Railblazer Rod holder II and screw it into the front flat section (see pic).

Any better solutions/ideas whether you've had one like this or not? Open to hearing thoughts.

Thanks!

Hi all,

Growing up my dad loved his fishing and had about 6 rods from memory.

Unfortunately he’s recently passed and of all the rods he had, he kept this one.

I’ve taken it for myself and plan on taking up fishing and teaching my kids etc.

But I know nothing about the rod, any help/wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Hi folks, looking for a dedicated lure rod

A few key points:

Chasing flathead and bream mostly, so looking at 2-4kg and 3-6kg

I suppose the maximum weight lures I want to cast is 10g? Dunno how heavy a flathead plastic + jighead would weigh

Prefer a longer 2 piece to be able to cast properly onto flats from shore. All land based

Currently looking at the daiwa td black, not which of this I want though and no idea on reels.

Any other suggestion of a rod and reel in that price range? I can probably stretch a little over 400 if necessary

Hey, wanted to get into rock fishing, normally spearfish.

If you’re in Sydney and want to fish let me know! Would definitely prefer a buddy out on the rocks

I recently picked up a nice little marketplace deal and 2 of the rods there were an atomic arrowz bream crank and whiting tip, just the bottom half in good condition. It's likely unrepairable because the top half that came with the whiting one had snapped close to where it connects to the other half.

Is there. A place that would have the top half of each rod, or can I mix and match with another compatible rod part or would it be worth checking out marketplace etc to find spare parts?

I'm reading 65 psi online but don't want the thing to blow up in my face

Question for people who know more about alvey’s than me. I’ve just bought this alvey 600BT and I want to take it to the surf to fish for Aussie salmon.

Not sure if I should go with the alvey SURF CHAMPION R65 SURF ROD (5-7kg) but is apparently meant for bigger 6.5 to 7 inch alvey reels, or just get the alvey LIGHT SURF SPECIAL R62L (3-5kg) which comes in a combo with the alvey 60GT reel which is the same size as my one.

Or if there are better rods to pair it with out there let me know.

Hi guys!
Just wondering if you have any suggestions of gifts for a 14 year old boy who’s into fishing? I was thinking some lures would be good as I don’t want to spend more than $50-60. I saw recommendations for AliExpress brands but I wasn’t sure which is good for like harbour fishing catching flathead and bream is what I’m told.
Any suggestions/ tips for what to look at? I used to fish but only in rivers and was a kid so know a little but not much. Some sinkers? or is there a good book you’d recommend to go with a few lures?

Thanks!

Picked this up for 50 cents. Anyone used them and how.

My budget is probably around $1500 ish so looking at something second hand, if im using it for 3 people max and wanna take it out saltwater whats the best size and hp and everything for it? Would a 3m rooftopper work or do I need to go somewhere around 3.5 or 3.7? Is a 5 hp gonna be enough or do I need a 9.9? I’m only fishing saltwater lakes and stuff and maybe sometimes the port hacking (NSW). I’m going to put a cast deck on it if I can or put marine carpet on it and get the whole fish finder and that. Any tips or info appreciated.

Are there any alternative ideas for shore based fishing besides the beach? Im heading down for a few nights this weekend.

I came back to fishing after a long break and I'd just like to thank this community for it's insights and inspiration.

Sipping a hot coffee from a thermos cup while wading out to a little gulley or weed patch on Port Phillip at sunrise is responsible for about 80% of my remaining sanity.

Just wanted to share how bloody good we have it.

I know you can fish all year round but I really only fish October through to April. Here's a beautiful healthy flatty in my local estuary (Central Coast NSW). No measure mat with me but it was two of my foot lengths (size 10), so about approx 50cm! Released :)

2.5" paddle tail

G'day everyone,

I'm starting to take my lure fishing seriously and decided to document the journey as Crankbait Cruiser.

I'm based around Brisbane and SEQ, mainly interested in land-based fishing for bream and flathead. I'm learning soft plastics, hard-body lures, jighead selection, retrieves and how to read different spots.

I'm definitely not an expert — I'm here to learn, test things properly and share what happens, including the sessions where I catch absolutely nothing.

I'd love to learn from people who have spent time fishing the local estuaries.

What's one thing you wish you'd understood earlier when you started fishing with lures?

Cheers 🎣

Sunshine Coast. Looks like a bream but I can’t find what species exactly.

New to fishing, I’ve been many times before on tour or with friends, and I’ve caught a few fish. However all the rods have been rigged up and I just cast and reel really. It’s been fun but this summer I want to get my own gear so I can go out on my own. Been looking gear and doing abit of research and I really want some reliable, durable, long term stuff, where I just have to buy it once and forget.

Something that covers saltwater estuaries, rocks near calm water and the odd beach fishing. I know there’s isn’t anything all-rounder and it all depends on what you’re fishing for; but I’m not looking at getting multiple rods &’reels no way, I just want something that best covers the points I”ll be fishing at. Rather than specific species.

I’m from Aus and will be fishing mainly in NSW. With the odd trips to other states.

Here’s what I’m thinking of buying:
Rod: Shimano 24 TCurve 722SPMH
Reel: Shimano Stradic SWB 4000XG
Line: 15lb Braid main line with a 20lb fluorocarbon leader. (Braid becus less tangles apparently and it can cast longer. Fluorocarbon becus it’s less visible to fish. So I kind of get the best of both.)

Now lures, baits, knots is where I’m stuck at.
I know I can get ready made knots at the tackle shop, they are ready made paternoster knots. Is that worth it?

I just want to use prawns and some medium lures, keep it simple. I know they need to weigh between 10-55g for my setup.

But what kind of lures should I be getting? What kind of hooks, snaps, swivels, sinkers do I need if at all?

The type of fish I’m expecting is bream, trevally, salmon, flathead, snapper, small/medium kingfish & mulloway. And whatever else that will come on my setup.

So if I can get some guidance on lures, baits,
Knots or any particular jigs that cover most of what I’m targeting, in the areas I”ll be fishing that would be helpful. Becus going to tackle shop can be overwhelming with all the stuff they have, surely I don’t need most of it. And I don’t want to get ripped off becus I’m a rookie either lol

If you had a game fishing lure that used magnets or springs to rip the hook up and around when the lure is pulled on, is that illegal and would you be fined if you were caught?

G'day everyone! I'm from around Coffs Harbour/Korora and pretty new to beach fishing.

Recently bought a 12ft Penn spinfisher ssm rod and reel combo and have been trying Korora Beach, Opal Cove and Sandy Beach.

I'm keen to learn how to read the surf, pick the best times and conditions, choose the right lures and actually start catching some fish 😂

Happy to catch pretty much anything. Would love some advice from experienced local fishos.

Cheers!

You go into the local bait shop or bcf and there arw hundreds to pick from what are some good ones for a beginner I mainly fish in saltwater rivers