Leaving Sydney at 6:15 and still amazing how busy the roads are as the family and box trailer head off south to Pretty Beach (PB) .

4 hours and 2 stop later we spend the first hour setting up  camp. Great to hear the sound of the surf and apart from some drizzle earlier, dry and cloudy.
The place was full as you'd expect with school holidays. A decent tent that can be setup within 30 minutes helps too.

For afternoon, amazingly, No fishing, just time for a swim and family stuff, beer, BBQ you know the drill. When PB is too rough you can always find a calm beach that safe for kids, note, beware big sting rays can cause a stir or surprise.

Up at “bird alarm” clock time I was itching to get a line wet. I’d packed the #2.5 NS 5.39M and Blue bird #1 5.49 M  ISO rods, 5 m land a rucksack and ran out with hardly a word and mouthful of tea, guilt last 2 nano seconds. O'Hara Island  is 1km walk south of beach, past one headland, name unknown. This Island has options if the one side is too rough. You've got a deep east side front and north facing side has massive white wash on the north when the waves are easterly. As much as the front really tempted me caution is essential in new spots. (Smart chicken) As it was low tide you can walk across dry from the beach to the Island. Very clean, no fishing litter.

Cabbage and Oysters and 3 big volcanic 'sculptures' are on the eastern tip and one big on 100 south of this cluster. A deep outflow zone was too good to ignore. First fish was my favourite party pooper Mr Sweep.  His friends made me switch to cabbage in frustration. This  proved a wise move as the first hit took me by surprise, zooming off into a cave taking float and all , my blue bird feeling weak. Drummer 1:0,  I failed to apply the brakes quickly suspecting a ludrick instead.

Next fish didn't get the same delayed punch and while the battle looked like being lost again as he powered for the cave the  6 kg leader holding on. With some fancy net work I had dinner in the bag. Strong pig on the #1 .

Needing to learn more about the place I moved back toward the beach on the south side to a shallow kelpy reef to discover more  drummer, released those small one and sweep again. Mullet also showed up. More floats lost the reef and one overzealous pig.

Family showed up so I got the kids to land some sweep. One taken to eat and yes, they are good to eat.

Walked back with the water near high, it’s a bit harder but if you don’t mind getting wet it’s fin. I’ve done this in winter and this was a lot more pleasant.

On Friday I tried the North side – this area has high vantages and low vantages, the North Westerly wind was most helpful in flattening the waves. So I moved off the high ledge (0 fish) and down to the ledge where there was cabbage weed galore.

This spot proved the best move. A drop off about 3 meters from the shallow 2 meter deep ledge, about 2 meters wide and then a bommie. A bit of a channel if you like. Good white wash on occasion.

Fished weightless and with bread and prawn, small sharp carp spade hooks from (Behr tackle) –Siglon FC  6 kg fluro. Using the #2.5 “elephant gun” was a good move as the first fish screamed around looking for a cave at my feet.  This was one of 4 I l kept for the table (2 days worth of food) . Lovely spot.  When I used a 000 sinker it was kelpie after kelpie.

Afternoon session, light rain, another spot to test ( yes, never fish the same spot twice to minimise impact and share). The rock headland to the south has a few large volcanic rocks which provide ideal protection and wash, plus weed and food for drummer and other fish.  There are two shallow reefs with cunjevoi to the left and right of this position, sand bottom otherwise.

First fish turned out as a near white/grey camouflaged  drummer who won his freedom - pulled hook. Next one took longer to hook but it put up a great account for it’s size on the #1. Running up onto the shallow reef to attempt breaking the leader. Starting to love this blue bird rod and Daiwa level brake, performed very well and l love the light feeling of the combo.  Fished floatless, 000 sinker to the hook as the waves made it hard to sink the line. Baby salmon and mullet were attracted to the burley, a blurter was the last fish of the 2 hour session.

Other serious options include distance casting and live baiting. I didn’t have the time to experiment but there must be snapper and kings there.

I’ll be back to continue my learning adventure. Pristine, clean area, sadly the only rubbish was indicative of some less thoughtful tourists. It takes little effort to remove their crap so please do the right thing.