FROM THE PRESIDENT
Club Fundraising and Sponsorship Opportunities Our Club Secretary, Annita, will once again be organising a club raffle, and I encourage everyone to get behind it and support the club. We also have a special sponsorship opportunity available for businesses looking to support our clubhouse improvements. The new club wharf pylons are available for corporate sponsorship at $10,000 each, providing naming rights for an individual pylon. There are only 5 pylons available, and we now have just 3 remaining. This is a unique opportunity for a business to leave a lasting mark on the club while contributing directly to these important improvements. If your business is interested, please get in touch before the remaining opportunities are taken. Thank you to everyone who has already supported the club and its ongoing projects. Central Zone Tournament The second round of the Central Zone competition is coming up on 7th and 8th November. This round runs from 7:00 am on Saturday through to 5:00 pm on Sunday, giving members a full 24-hour tournament window to get out on the water. You can log on at any time during the round with the host club, but please remember that all required paperwork must be submitted for your fish to count. Good luck to everyone competing, and I look forward to seeing some great results for Sydney Game Fishing Club. Tight Lines, Glenn Wright President Sydney Game Fishing Club
In this edition, I would like to focus on three important areas of our club: boating safety, upcoming social events and an update on our clubhouse maintenance and improvement works. Boating Safety October marks National Safety Boating Week, which is why we make boating safety a focus on our October club meeting each year. An article on boat safety is also included in this edition of the magazine, and I encourage all members to take the time to read it. More importantly, please take the opportunity to thoroughly check your boat and all safety equipment. This includes EPIRBs, life jackets, dry bags, life rafts, flares and radios, along with your vessel’s general maintenance. It is easy to overlook equipment when everything appears to be working, but regular checks are essential to ensuring it is ready when you need it. A little preparation can make a significant difference out on the water. Club Social Events We have some fantastic social events coming up, and I encourage members to get involved and bring along friends and family. Our famous Prawn and Oyster Afternoon is coming up on Sunday, 15th November. This is always a popular day on the club calendar, so bookings are essential. It is a great opportunity to enjoy some excellent seafood, catch up with fellow members and spend a relaxed afternoon at the clubhouse. Also, save the date for Friday, 20th November, when we welcome Al McGlashan as our guest speaker. There will also be an opportunity to have his latest book signed, making it a great Christmas gift idea for the fishing enthusiasts in your life. I look forward to seeing plenty of members at both events. Club Maintenance and Improvements There has been some positive progress with our clubhouse improvements. IBW Constructions has installed new sliding doors and a ramp to improve wheelchair access, making the club more accessible ahead of our upcoming Kids Christmas Party. This is another important step towards making our clubhouse more inclusive and welcoming. Looking ahead, once the wharf upgrades are completed, we hope to further develop the site as a space for accessible fishing, allowing more people to enjoy the experience of fishing from our waterfront location. We now have the plans for the wharf works, and these have been sent out for tender. Once the pricing has been received and assessed, we will be in a position to plan the next stage of the project. At this stage, the major wharf upgrades will likely be scheduled after the 2027 Peter Goadby Memorial Tournament. These improvements represent a significant investment in the future of our club, and I look forward to keeping members updated as the project progresses.
NSWGFA Tournaments Bill Heyward Memorial Tournament Hosted by Botany Bay GFC Feb 6th 2027 till Feb 7th 2027 2027 Garmin Billfish Shootout Hosted by Newcastle & Port Stephens GFC Feb 18th 2027 till Feb 21st 2027 2027 Raymarine NSWGFA Interclub State Championships Hosted by NSWGFA at Port Stephens Feb 24th 2027 till Feb 28th 2027
Broken Bay Invitational Tournament Hosted by Broken Bay GFC Mar 13th 2027 till Mar 14th 2027 2027 Peter Goadby Tournament Hosted by Sydney GFC Apr 3rd 2027 till Apr 4th 2027 Port Hacking 100 Paul Barning Memorial Tournament Hosted by Port Hacking GFC Apr 17th 2027 till Apr 18th 2027
Calendar of Events SGFC November 2025 1st - 2nd Summer Point Score 7th - 8th Round 2 Central Zone Round 20th - SGFC Club Meeting with Al McGlashan 21st - 22nd Summer Point Score 24th - Committee Meeting December 2025 1st - SGFC Club Meeting (BOM Talk) 6th - 7th Summer Point Score 12th - Kids Christmas party 20th - 21st Summer Point Score 29th - Committee Meeting JANUARY 2027 2nd - 3rd Summer Point Score 16th - 17th Summer Point Score 26th - Committee Meeting
22nd 23th
Gone Fishing Day 2026 - Video Here A huge thank you to the skippers and crew aboard Tantrum, Gobble de Hook, Hypertension, USA-17 and Ant's boat, along with Jamie Mackay, who helped out on the wharf for kids who preferred the comfort of fishing from land. We had a fantastic day with plenty of fish caught and released, including Kingfish, Bonito and Slimy Mackerel and Leather jackets. It was great to see so many kids enjoying themselves Thank you to DPI, Gone Fishing Day, Otto’s Tackle World and the GFAA Kids Fish 2 Programme
GOLD HOOK
Two anglers are lucky to be alive after their boat overturned approximately 46 kilometres off the NSW South Coast yesterday afternoon (Monday 12 October), triggering a multi-agency rescue. Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Allan said the men’s decision to carry essential safety equipment, including a personal locator beacon (PLB), helped ensure they were located and rescued. The anglers logged on with Marine Rescue Bermagui earlier in the day before heading offshore in their 5.5-metre open runabout. They had planned to return by 6pm.
Just before 3.45pm, Marine Rescue Bermagui was tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command to respond to a PLB signal received by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority off Barragga Bay. “A volunteer crew was quickly assembled and deployed on board Marine Rescue NSW vessel Bermagui 30. “While Bermagui 30 was en route to the beacon’s location, the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter located the two anglers, winched them from the ocean and returned them safely to shore,” Inspector Allan said.Conditions offshore had deteriorated, with a 1–2 metre swell and south-westerly winds reaching 25 knots.
“It’s believed both anglers had hooked fish and, while lifting one on board, their boat overturned, leaving them in the water,” Inspector Allan said,“When something like this happens, you are relying on your safety equipment. Thankfully, these anglers were carrying the right gear and activated their PLB to raise the alarm.“Without that beacon, they could have been left treading water and clinging to an overturned vessel 46 kilometres offshore for more than two hours before their planned return time triggered overdue procedures.“That is a serious, potentially life-threatening situation.“When boaters log on with Marine Rescue NSW, they provide details of their trip and expected return time. If they fail to return as planned, our radio operators escalate efforts to locate them.“Boaters can log on using the free Marine Rescue NSW app or via VHF channel 16.“We cannot stress enough that layers of safety save lives. Carrying a PLB and having emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) on board, wearing a lifejacket and logging on with Marine Rescue NSW all improve your chances of being found if something goes wrong.“It also gives your loved ones peace of mind, knowing you have taken important steps to protect yourself on the water". Things to think about are Life Jackets , Flares, epirbs , radios, torches, food, water. Pack a dry bag and have readily available, if these boys didn't have their dry bag they would not be here today to tell their story. Have a plan and stay safe !
Marine Rescue NSW urges boaters to carry lifesaving equipment after vessel overturns 46km offshore
Cairns 60th Tournament Glenn and I had a blast fishing the Cairns 60th aboard Bounty Hunter! We got off to a rough start, missing the first day of fishing, but once we finally got out there, we managed to release 3 marlin. The highlight was taking home Champion Lady Angler, in the first year the tournament introduced a Ladies category! How good is that? A huge thank you to Bounty Hunter Charters for a fantastic few days on the water!
Slimy Mackerel are a significantly better livebait, and targeting them is essentially the same process. Usually, the smaller bite-sized Slimies make a much better livebait for the Harbour than the larger models that occasionally turn up in the burley trail. The most effective live finfish by far is the Garfish, and it ranks alongside Squid and Cuttlefish in terms of effectiveness. Targeting Garfish is most productive along the edge of a sand flat, preferably one with a healthy population of string weed that the Garfish feed amongst. They are best targeted with a small piece of prawn, no bigger than a pea, suspended 30–50cm under a pencil float with a size 12 hook. Cephalopods (squid & cuttlefish) are a different game entirely and are by far the best possible bait in most situations. Calamari Squid are one of the more common livebaits and are relatively easy to collect during the summer months. They are best targeted around shallow-water kelp beds in the outer Harbour areas, from Little Manly to Elizabeth Bay and almost everywhere in between.
How to catch Sydney Harbour Kingfish May 28, 2026 by FS Staff by FS Staff
Calamari are best targeted using relatively large squid jigs, usually in sizes 2.5 and 3.0, worked slowly just above the kelp. Using a strong leader between 10lb and 20lb will help limit bust-offs in the kelp, allowing the squid jig to pull free when you get snagged. There is realistically little difference between the effectiveness of Arrow Squid and Calamari; however, targeting them is completely different. Arrow Squid are best targeted in the deep-water channels and around moorings. Unlike Calamari, they usually won’t appear in shallow water during the daytime. As a result, a paternoster rig with one or two squid jigs suspended 50–100cm above the sinker is the most effective technique. A simple lift-and-drop retrieve is usually enough to bring them in and trigger a bite.
Introduction Kingfish are one of, if not the most sought-after recreational sportfish in Australia. Unlike their pelagic counterparts, such as Spanish Mackerel up north and Bluefin Tuna down south, they are readily available and accessible in our harbours and bays along the majority of the Australian East Coast, making them one of the most popular fish targeted by recreational anglers every year. Sydney Harbour Overview Sydney Harbour is the epicentre of Kingfish fishing in NSW, and ever since it was made a recreational fishing haven in February 2006, it has become a utopia for recreational anglers. Part of Sydney Harbour’s reputation as one of the best Kingfish fisheries in Australia comes down to its geography. Being a flooded river valley, it is home to steep drop-offs, deep channels and, more recently, countless sunken boat wrecks, along with thousands of moorings and pontoons. These provide habitat and food for smaller fish, which Kingfish prey upon. There is a common misconception that Kingfish are a seasonal species in Sydney; however, they are actually present year-round, with the bigger fish turning up in the colder months and large numbers of rat Kingfish flooding the Harbour during summer. Collecting Bait Bait collection is the absolute key to becoming consistently successful when targeting Kingfish and is paramount to all forms of fishing, whether you're land-based or fishing from a boat. The easiest baitfish to access is the Yellowtail Scad (Yakka), they are plentiful but aren’t the “best” bait. That being said, they still work, and sometimes, when it's all you can get, they can be a great option. However, nine times out of ten they will be outfished by almost any other typical livebait. Yellowtail can be collected from almost any wharf or pontoon in the Harbour, as well as most wrecks and reefs. Catching Yellowtail land-based is heavily centred around first and last light, requiring either an early wake-up or significant pre-session preparation to ensure you arrive armed with a bucket or bait tank full of livebait. The easiest way to target them is with a Sabiki rig and a small amount of bread and pilchard burley — just enough to get them into a frenzy. The idea is to have them so fired up that you won’t even need to bait the hooks. Slimy Mackerel are a significantly better livebait, and targeting them is essentially the same process. Usually, the smaller bite-sized Slimies make a much better livebait for the Harbour than the larger models that occasionally turn up in the burley trail. The most effective live finfish by far is the Garfish, and it ranks alongside Squid and Cuttlefish in terms of effectiveness. Targeting Garfish is most productive along the edge of a sand flat, preferably one with a healthy population of string weed that the Garfish feed amongst. They are best targeted with a small piece of prawn, no bigger than a pea, suspended 30–50cm under a pencil float with a size 12 hook. Cephalopods (squid & cuttlefish) are a different game entirely and are by far the best possible bait in most situations. Calamari Squid are one of the more common livebaits and are relatively easy to collect during the summer months. They are best targeted around shallow-water kelp beds in the outer Harbour areas, from Little Manly to Elizabeth Bay and almost everywhere in between.
Lures The most popular and effective lure styles include Garfish imitations such as the ever-reliable Lunker City Slug-Go and the newer Daiwa Bait Junkie Gar. These lures are best worked with a long sweeping retrieve, creating a sporadic tail action that imitates an injured or fleeing Garfish. They can be worked unweighted across the surface or allowed to sink before being jigged back upwards through the water column. The most successful lure anglers in the Harbour consistently vary their retrieve styles to trigger bites. Large poppers and stickbaits also have their place in the Harbour, particularly during periods of extremely low light and around channel markers or steep drop-offs.
Losing too many fish around a school will often make the remaining fish spooky and cause them to move off the area. One of the best aspects of Kingfish fishing in the Harbour is mobility. If you are not catching fish at one location, it’s important to move and try another area. While tide and moon phase certainly affect fish activity and availability, current often plays a smaller role than many anglers perceive. If you are limited on time, focusing your efforts around tide changes is generally the most effective way to maximise bites. That being said, earlier is almost always better, so try to secure your bait quickly and arrive at your chosen location before the crowds do.
Without a doubt, the best possible bait for Harbour Kingfish is the Common Cuttlefish. Cuttlefish are much more widespread than most people realise and, at certain times of year, can be caught along almost any shoreline from the upper reaches of Middle Harbour all the way up the Parramatta River. Unlike Arrow Squid, Cuttlefish love structure. Pontoon pylons, tall weed and shallow rocky areas provide perfect habitat. Combine this with string weed or gravel and it is highly likely you’ll find them. They are best targeted with a size 1.5 to 1.8 squid jig. Use a paternoster rig when targeting them in deeper water around the outer Harbour, or fish them weightless when working shallow shoreline structure. Targeting Kingfish Off the Boat Kingfish are one of the most sought-after species in Sydney Harbour and, as a result, you’ll often be competing with many other anglers, especially on weekends. Because of this, it is essential to separate yourself through both bait quality and presentation. Downrigging is an extremely effective technique for catching Harbour Kingfish, allowing you to cover large amounts of water while presenting a moving bait, which is naturally more realistic than a stationary offering. The Canon Downrigger 10 STX and the Scotty 1085 are among the most popular options used throughout the Harbour. The most important factor is ensuring your bait is positioned several metres away from the bomb so as not to spook fish. That being said, the most common — and often equally effective — technique is simply running a ball sinker directly down to a livebait hook suited to the size of the bait. Most Harbour bait fishing for Kingfish revolves around wrecks and pressure points in the upper Harbour, including Middle Harbour and the Parramatta River, along with outer Harbour reefs and channel markers. The fish generally move further into Middle Harbour and the Parramatta River during the colder months before congregating in the outer Harbour throughout summer. However, this can vary from season to season. Two of the most important techniques when a fish takes your bait are: 1 Never strike aggressively when using a livebait or circle hook, as this will often pull the hook straight out of the fish’s mouth. 2 Use the boat to drive fish away from structure if you hook a large one.
Kingfish, however, are not limited to large presentations — especially when feeding on micro-bait, which commonly occurs between October and January. When fish are slurping bait off the surface or slicing through schools of tiny baitfish, small paddletails such as the Z-Man Slim SwimZ and finesse surface lures like the Sugapen Splash become the go-to options, creating realistic imitations when the fish refuse anything larger than a few inches. Gear and Tackle When it comes to light-tackle lure fishing, a standard 7-foot 2–4kg rod paired with a 3000-size reel is usually the most suitable option and is more than capable of landing small to medium-sized fish. However, you may struggle significantly against larger models. Finding the perfect balance between gear heavy enough to land fish and light enough to entice bites from fussy Harbour Kings can be difficult. Off the boat, a PE4 to PE6 rod around 6 feet in length is an ideal option, paired with a 6000 to 8000-size reel spooled with 40lb to 50lb multicolour braid. A great higher-end setup is the Shimano Grappler Type J PE5 paired with an 8000-size Twin Power loaded with 50lb Sufix multicolour braid. Land-based setups are very similar, although replacing the Grappler with a longer rod in the 7–10ft range is advantageous. A great option is the Saltist Hyper 962, which provides enough casting distance to position large livebaits and lures effectively. A 50lb leader is usually more than sufficient while still remaining thin enough to get bites in most situations. However, you may need to downsize your leader if the fish are especially fussy. Hook selection is also integral. For Arrow Squid, Cuttlefish or small Calamari, a 4/0 or 5/0 Hoodlum hook is generally the best choice. If you intend to use larger livebaits, consider increasing your hook size accordingly. Table Fare Kingfish are an exceptional table fish when treated correctly. Bleeding the fish immediately and placing it on ice are essential steps in maximising eating quality. While it is still generally not recommended to eat fish caught west of the Harbour Bridge, Kingfish move frequently throughout the system and are generally considered safe to eat. Kingfish truly shine when prepared raw, with the shoulder loin being the most commonly used section for sashimi or ceviche. Making full use of the fish helps reduce unnecessary harvest. The wings are spectacular when grilled, while the belly section is often the fattiest and most flavourful part of the fish.
www.tantrumlures.com
Women in Fishing Evening On Thursday, we hosted our first-ever Women in Fishing Evening, bringing the fishing community together to celebrate women in fishing and to inspire more women to get involved and feel welcome in the sport. Led by MC Karen Wright from Sydney Game Fishing Club, our incredible panel shared their stories—from what first got them hooked to breaking records and building organisations that help more women find their place in fishing. We can’t thank Karen and our panellists enough for sharing their experiences, knowledge and passion so openly. Their stories showed just how many opportunities fishing offers, whether you’re picking up a rod for the first time or chasing your next challenge. Thank you to everyone who came along, asked questions and helped make our first evening so special. Special thanks to the following: Without you it couldn't have been such an awesome evening! Chloe Laurence, Pip Walker, Michael Bonnici, Jo Starling, Sandy Gorecki vickilear, Karen Wright, Audi Croft, Mikayla Thomas, Shimano Australia Fishing Daiwa Australia Official Another big thanks to our local community support Jacqui Scruby Deputy Mayor Ruth Robins NBC
Hindsight Fished the first round of central zone with myself, Lucas and jockey. Lucas managed a 116kg blue shark and I got a very excited 179kg mako both on 15kg. Lucas got to see a mako in full swing and how they play up at the boat.
Stomach Content Analysis Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) Analysing Researcher: Tristan Guillemin Capture Date: 20/2/26, Capture Location: Port Stephens Weight of Fish: 28.5kg, Short Length: 120, Sex: F
MARINE ECOLOGY GROUP School of Natural Sciences
Total stomach content of yellowfin tuna.
Main Result: A total of 85g of stomach content were found in your fish. For the weight of the fish, this gave a stomach fullness index of 0.22. This is a low value and suggests the stomach was close to empty. Of the 85g of stomach content, we found the following (pictures below): • 24 larval crabs. Crustacean larvae are often pelagic and float in current before becoming heavy enough to settle down, making great food for fish like yellowfin with gill rakers for filter feeding. These were 22 larval frog crabs (Umalia sp.) and 2 pelagic crabs (Planes minutus). • 4 juvenile tropical fish. These juvenile fish get washed down the EAC and are easy pickings for pelagic predators. These were 4 juvenile triggerfish (Balistidae), 3 boxfish (Tetrosomus reipublicae) and 1 tang (Acanthuridae). • 8 unidentified fish. Too digested to identify. • 1 “monster shrimp” (Cerataspis monstrosus). These are a crazy looking shrimp, hence the name, that start looking alien like as larvae, but grow into regular looking shrimp. These results provide an insight into the feeding of yellowfin tuna and help us identify the prey they depend on for survival and the areas they feed in. With further tuna samples, we will be able to get a big picture understanding of the species.
Larval crustaceans (down the bottom of the shot, monster shrimp and box fish at the top). Larval tang and two small triggerfish.
Mon to Fri: 6.30am - 3.30pm Sat: 7.00am to 12.00pm
SAINTLY WHISPERS