A Certain Type Of Nostalgia

By Marcus Braid on August 26, 2015 in

Clear-sky winter days bring with them a certain type of nostalgia; whether it’s longing for summers past or the beckoning of sunshine, calling you to warm yourself in a windless pocket of its rays, one cannot be sure. Whatever it is, there is something truly unique about Sydney’s winter weather and the effect it has on people’s moods.

Finding the time to stop, listen, look and be present is an often-overlooked luxury in today’s ultra fast-paced world, with its modern conveniences, wants, desires and must-haves. However, when we allow ourselves to find that time, to stop and take in all that is around us, and let the natural world envelop our senses, the rewards and pleasures can outweigh almost all the woes we place upon ourselves in our personal construct of society.

A simple re-engagement with the natural cycles of ‘wild’ life returns the benefits tenfold, and is, I believe, one of the reasons that so many people just cannot get enough time on or in the water or out in the bush. These pursuits have become our way of taking the time to stop, look, listen and be present – embrace it!

August is, as I always say, one of the trickiest months to catch fish in and around good old Port Jackson. This is not to say that there’s no point in going fishing; rather, days spent fishing can be more challenging and sometimes downright bloody frustrating, more so than almost any other month of the year. As a result it is important to pay attention to all of the factors that affect your day-to-day chances of success. Change of light, tide, bait, target species, tactics and presentation all play a significant role in bringing home a feed, so if the weather’s less than inviting or the tide’s not in your favour it could be a wise move to find another way to unwind.

On the bright side, however, the shallow water free-diving can be rewarding and other mid-winter visitors, like the John Dory, will be lurking in the deep bays of the harbour. Additionally, flathead, bream, tailor, whiting and Australian salmon should provide plenty of challenges both in the harbour and along the beaches and ocean headlands. Further offshore there’s the chance of solid Sydney snapper and the persistent possibility of yellowtail kingfish, and wider still there’s the ever-optimistic opportunity to catch a majestic yellowfin or bluefin tuna.

I for one suggest keeping your options open and any days in lieu on hand, because we all know that not going is simply not an option. It’s all about seizing the opening when the weather is right and the fish are on the chew!