Sneaky Sunday Blackfish Session with Blackbeard

Luderick (aka Blackfish or Niggers), are extremely underrated, both as a sport fish and on the table.

I have a soft spot for the old Blackfish, stemming from the old days when I was a young grommet around the age of 10 or 11.  My good buddy Scott "Dong" Stapo and I would go missing for a whole day to climb up and down cliff faces by ropes and rock hop big obscure boulders, all in order to get to our favourite Blackfish spots. We worried our parents sick to say the least! We would also spend hours after school or of a weekend making our own floats, which we made from kebab skewers and cork bottles that we scavenged from our neighbours bins. When Scott's old man left the house, we would sneak down to the back work shed and use his sanding lathe to shape the cork. We would occasionally throw sinkers at it while it was spinning and cover our eyes and wish our lucky treasures haharrgh!! We wouldn't stop until someone got hit......rrrr the good ole days!!...yeeeeew!!!

Luderick pull hard, especially when fishing with lite 4lb leader material. There is definitely an art to catching these little herbivores, and they'll put all your angling skills to the test. Once mastered, they are extremely addictive. Not only are they a great sport fish, but when eaten fresh (providing they've been bled & cleaned correctly), I consider the Blackfish to be one of my top 5 eating species. Although, I must admit they don't freeze very well.

I woke up at the sparrows fart Sunday morning for a sneaky session down at my favourite Nigger spot. After catching and releasing about 20 fish, I was back before my fiance had even noticed I had gone. With a high tide at 6am and a nice wash....I couldn't resist.

See pics below...

Tasty little Critters!!

Smile!!!

I miss this guy. Dong with a nice Kilo plus Nigger from a few years back....arrrgh!

"Fly fishing" with the Long Reef Pirate Crew

When the only way of accessing ya favourite fishing spot is by Base Jumping, it makes for a very interesting adventure indeed...haharrrrgh!!! 

FULL CLIP COMING SOON!!!!! SEE SNEAK "PEAK" BELOW!!!!

BB with body double / stuntman cuz Paul "Webz" Webster

Webz testing out his gear

Lets go Fishing!!.....arrrrrrgh!!

Stick-Face Off Sydney

Words by Nick Clark
Pic's by Michael Bonnici

Dragging lures around the ocean has never really been my thing...im much more at home pulling snapper on the local reefs, or getting stretched by big inshore kings.

Clarky with a Chunky Sydney Red

Having said that – every summer when conditions are good, or when reports indicate that there’s a few marlin around – im happy to do a handful of sessions out on the shelf pulling lures.

Last Saturday was one of those days where myself, Mike bonnici, Jay bardon, and Jason “The Bass Master”, put to sea in Mikes rig ‘SERIAL KILLER’ for a shot at a Sydney marlin.

A reasonable ocean greeted us at Sydney Heads with just a little sharp chop from an uphill current and noreaster combination. Once we got out past 60 fathoms the ocean mellowed out nicely and we pulled up in 80fathoms to set a spread.

A mixed spread was set – a couple of Black Pete Billmark cut face lures, a big Moldcraft in close and a notoriously good fishtaker, an ‘Ahi Pussy’ out back in shotgun.

Expectations were high and the water looked the goods with small pods of striped tuna rippling here and there. 40 odd minutes of trolling had gone by when we were all woken up to life by the brief screams of  a ratchet, then nothing. Then another rod buckled and line raced off the reel again before once again pulling hooks… We all saw nothing on the surface and were all guessing different things ….Then crunch! The outfit with the shotgun lure buckled over and the Tiagra screamed as line spewed off! ‘you beauty – that’s my rod!” I thought as I cruised down the back of the boat and grabbed the 24kg stroker.

 We knew early on in the fight that this was a blue as he showed up on the surface quickly, giving us a good look at him as he belted past the boat with an awesome display of aerials!  45 minutes later the fish was on the trace and with hooks out, a few pics taken,and a healthy release the whole crew were stoked!

Im not that experienced with marlin weights but we all agree the fish was somewhere between 120 – 170kg??

Good mate James Thackeray was just telling me the day before how awesome blues are, and I’ve long needed a blue to complete my billfish trifecta(black/blue/striped). This fish certainly lived up to everything people have told me – Blue Marlin are fucken cool, powerful fish!

Thanks to all the boys onboard that morning, unfortunately we didn’t get another bite for the rest of the day but that’s just gamefishing in Sydney! 

See Pics Below...

Clarky hooked up and strapped up!!

Beautiful blue beast!!

Check out the girth on the girl....arrrrgh!!

Beaky's at Port - Dean Labroad's first Stripe Marlin

Stripes, Black's and Blue - LRPC - Fish Eat Drink and Screw!!!

Pirates embark on Port Stephens for an Epic weekend on the Beaky's

PIC'S AND VIDEO COMING SOON!!!

From The Vault.....Arrrrrrgh!!!

Was just looking back on previous Posts and thought that the following pictures didnt get enough fucking praise.....rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!!

Words by Blackbeard

Timmy Forster with a Killer 40kg Bass Grouper......arrrrrrrrrgh!!!

The Fish-Yoda's Fat ass 17kg Kingfish a Sydney PB

Featherswords PB 20kg Sydney-King-Nugget!!

Sea-Leg Withdrawals - Epic Weekend!!

Foreword by Blackbeard

After being high and dry for the past week or so (due to crook weather), the Pirates were having serious sea-leg withdrawals from not being on the high seas......aarrrrrrgh!! The weekend's forecast looked good, apart from the chocolate Poo coloured water in close. This was the result of the previous week's rainfall and dirty water currents pushing up from the South...  However, it didn't seem to deter the predatory fish.....if anything, it excited them.....arrrrrrrgh!!  From Beakys, deep water ogles, pelagics, such as kingfish and Dolphin fish, to the inshore predators like Jewfish and Snapper, they were all on the chew......aarrrrgh!!
Pirates then went their separate ways in search of the Ultimate treasure....arrrrrgh!! With Captain Feathersword tied up on a Bucks weekend, the rest of us scurvy pirates found time on the water. Captain Frothalot nailed a nice king of 105cm on his solo mission Sunday morning off Sydney. Down on the South Coast, Captain Hack watched 3 Beaky's hooked up from the stones, only to be lost a short time after. Captain Jay also ventured down south on what was more of a leisure weekend with Family, and bagged a nice feed of thumper squid. Myself, I got amongst a nice session of Jewish off Sydney.....and last but not least, the Bonnici's.....They took fishing to the next level. Spending more time on the water than on land. Including a sleep over Friday night on the high seas......FREAKS!!!....arrrrrrrrgh!!!! See pics below.

The weekends plan was to catch Jew, King, have a Deep water Jig, and Jag a Marlin, but unfortunately we missed out on the Marlin. So, I rang my boss and asked for the Monday off, he replied by saying "Only if you take me". The result - 4 stripes and a Blue.......Stoked!!!


Words by The Fish-Yoda aka Michael Bonnici

Hayley with a Healthy Sydney Red

Mike with a nice Mulloway caught right on sunset

Catch and release

Teraglin are a welcoming bi-catch when fishing for Mulloway

Jason with a wounded King....the only kings he can catch bahahaha...just kiddin' ;-)

Back from where you came from boy!!!....arrrrgh!!

Its Puka Time for "The Bass King" Jason

The fish Yoda Hooked Up to a stripe

Who's a pretty girl??.......woooo hoooo!!

The Boss with his hands on a nice Stripe

What an amazing Fucking creature!!....Arrrrrgh!!

Blackbeard Fisting a nice Pair of Jewfish from the weekend...arrrrrrrrr!!!!

Captain Frothalot's 105cm Kingy

Captain Jay's thumper Squid over a kilo

Sydney Jewfish are on the Chew....Arrrrrgh!!

LRPC arch-nemesis Lindsey "Kerosene Blue" Reaney with a nice Mulloway 

Kings In The Shallows

Pirates Mike Bonnici, Josh Young and Captain Blackbeard head north for a days session on some shallow water Kings.......aaarrrrgh!!

The Fish Yoda with a 14kg Scud!!!

Frothalot with a Nice 13kg Nugget!!

King Clarky!!

Clarky with his 20kg Scud Missile!!!

Words By Blackbeard
Pics By Mike Bamforth

Over the past couple of months there have been subtle murmurs between fellow Pirates as to who was going to be the first to catch that all elusive 20kg+ Sydney Kingfish....aarrrrrgh!!

Mike's 17kg PB

Mike Bonnici aka The Fish Yoda was definitely leading the way, catching a number of fish around the 14 - 15kg mark and a Sydney PB of 17kgs. Fellow Pirate Chris Hack also pinned a nice 15kg fish from the stones on a popper, which in itself was an awesome feat! The prospect of catching this trophy fish all seemed a little far fetched.....until KING CLARKY came along.....Aaaarrrrgh!!!

 Hack's 15kg from the stones

Nick Clark aka Captain Feathersword is a Founding Member / Writer and Inspiration behind the Long Reef Pirate Crew. With his vast and extensive knowledge of fishing that extends back many moons ago to his early childhood, it was no wonder this Pirate was the first to find the Treasure...Aaarrrrgh!!

Only a week ago Nick and close mate Mike Bamforth set out in search for BIG King off Sydney, and sure enough BIG King is what they found. Catching a total of 3 Kings with a few bust offs inbetween, Mike hauled 2 nice fish @ 7 & 10kgs and King Clarky landed his Monster @ 20kgs even, making him the first LRPC member to break the elusive 20kg barrier in Sydney.
Congratulations my friend.....it is well deserved. See more pics of the Beast below....

King Clarky!!.....Need I say more?? 

Hold the fuck on bra!!!

It was love at first sight....aaaarrgh!!

A PIRATE PROFILED … ‘WALK THE PLANK’ WITH JOSH YOUNG

Josh Frothin on his First Hapuka

Interview by Nick Clark AKA Captain Feathersword

Josh Young AKA 'Youngy', 'Young-Gun', or 'Captain Frothalot' is one of the original LRPC members. A born and bred Narrabeen Kid - Josh is an all rounder in the ocean...He fishes hard, surfs pretty well, and is one bloke who gets so stoked to be hanging with his mates doing just about anything.

Father & Son with some nice Jews

Josh comes from a solid fishing background too - His father Alan is a gun Long Reef fisho with many years of experience...So, it was only natural that Josh has picked up a lot of handy knowledge through fishing alongside his old man!

Frothin's most valuable Treasures

Now, along with his beautiful partner Erin, Josh is the father of a lovely baby girl Ruby. Though he's a dedicated father, Josh still earns the points at home to get out on the water and go fishing regularly.


Joshy is definitely the person who gets most excited about fishing I've ever met & certainly one of the best blokes too!

Q: How old are you now and how old when you first started out fishing?

A: I'm 31 now, and was 3 or 4 when I first went fishing - off the shoreline at Greenwich point in Sydney Harbour chasing bream. I first went fishing in the ocean at age 6.

The boy's not an Octopus otherwise he'd be holding up the Jew as well.
"There were no plastics in those days just ya good ol pillie tails" - Josh Young

Q: How often do you fish?

A: 4 times a week before the baby, now I try to go at least twice to ensure I bring home enough fresh seafood for the fam! Haha

Not only does he supply seafood for the family, he also occasionally brings home some shiny decor :-) 

The 6.6 kg Snapper which landed him 1st place in the prestigious Warringah Anglers Annual Snapper comp for 2011....Aaarrrgh!!

Q: There's always been a Handlining culture at Longy, particularly in the early years...are you keen on the Handline?


A: I love Handlining, particularly for Jews offshore & Bream in the harbour, but recently after becoming a Pirate my quiver of rods has expanded too...Hahaha

Josh aged 8 with his first Mulloway caught on a handline

Q: Whats the first fish you remember catching?

A: Definitely a Bream in Sydney Harbour, off the shoreline and probably ate a homemade pudding bait

Frothin and his Sister lying next to a big Cobia

Q: What are your 3 Favourite Species, and 1 all-time Favourite?

A: Mate its a close one but snapper, Jewfish & Kingfish...Its bloody hard to say but I think Snapper are my fave of the lot....I love em!!

Friohin Loves his Snapperrrrrrgh!!

Q: Favourite fish to eat and how do you cook or prepare it?

A: I love Sushimi, so Kingfish in the Raw with soy & wasabi...YUMMMO!

Nice sushimi grade King caught off Longy

Q: Its often hard to narrow down an all-time most memorable fishing sessions but what session stands out most to you?

A: In the early 90's fishing off Mona Vale with Dad and his mate Gordon, we had a blinder session....We got a 56lb Cobia, a huge tub of Reds & Jews with a few solid Kings mixed in with em too....you probably wouldn't brag about it these days but it was a bathtub and a half full of fish!

Big Al on the left with his 56lb Cobia.....aaaargh!!

Q: Our mate Bonnici has influenced us all a lot with quality gear - whats your favourite fishing weapon at the moment?

A: Definitely my custom made Mini Jigger with Okuma Selina reel, its sick! Pulls the head off even big BIG Kings! Love all the Jigging Master stuff too and my Bonnici Custom Snapper rod...Yeeew!

Sick Combo Bra!!! Bonnici should bring out his own line of Signature rods

Q: Cool, whats your next tackle purchase gonna be, if you can sneak it past the Missus?!

A: A 5000SW Stella for BIG Snapper & Bluewater Spinning

Pirates Treasure

Q: Your little Caribbean Safari is a nice, capable Long Reef boat but if you had the BIG Bucks, whats your dream fishing boat?

A: Shit...I'd probably go a 28ft Boston Whaler with a nice Central Hardtop wheelhouse & twin 300hp Yamaha's, just to get me out and fish anywhere in any weather....but yeah my safari is a good girl!

Frothin's Rig. Check the LRPC signature logo right of the transom....aaargh!!