Went out to Balmoral (AU) today during the "Major" window which is 13:03 - 15:03. The wind was gusty and water choppy then there's plenty of people bombing into the water from the jetty, kayaking, canoeing, boating. So, obvious there's no fish.

Keen to know if anyone else in Sydney went to another spot during this afternoon's major window and caught fish?

Edit: Has anyone ever fished a "major" window that is during day time and was productive?

Mate, we were out most of the day today off Mandurah, WA. Major time for us was 12:30- 14:30ish
We got a couple but fish were scarce. These types of days I call hard work and today was hard work.
Also know a couple of blokes that went out yesterday and got zip!!
The almanac is mostly right but I guess occasionally it might be wrong!!

I have been saying for a few years...I could toss lures into a bath tub all day and not catch a thing during a major time.

Just because you fish the major times does not mean you are fishing in the location where the fish are. Did you try other locations or just stay in the one spot? Did you try different baits or lures?

haha - I was waiting for your reply itsaboat

Well you guys seem to know what you're doing.
Don't forget there is always a bit of luck involved as well.
Catching is being at the right place, at the right time with the right bait and a good dose of luck.
I've been out on seemingly perfect days during majors without catching anything as well.
But luckily more often than not it works out well for me.

If I don't catch anything it works like a catalyst for trying harder. It drives me nuts and then all I can think about is fishing - until I catch something again. So in a way it's good I suppose - keeps my mind occupied

At the moment I'm on a mission to catch a trout with a fly rod. Just been learning how to cast those bloody things.
Wish me luck

I've been watching trouts in the river and they seem to be quite active during the major and minor times.
Tried to cast some lures at them but they weren't interested. So I guess they're just looking for bugs at the moment.

Thank you guys for your replies

After yesterday I've decided I won't ever go back to that spot during daylight hours in summer months regardless of the major/minor windows.

As for trying other spots I'll try other spots when I can go fishing alone. I took my two young boys with me yesterday and so having a jetty is a lot safer / convenient, and I've seen someone having a sizeable mulloway in his bucket caught in that same spot on another occasion in the evening (and he told me he caught around 7pm which I remember was low tide, I got there after 8pm). So it's a spot worth keep trying. But definitely not daylight hours during the summer months.

When I can go fishing alone I'll try some of the rocky spots or maybe beach fishing. I don't have a boat so my options are limited.

"But luckily more often than not it works out well for me."

Mark, when the majors worked out for you were they during daylight hours or night hours or closer to dawn / dusk?

Another question on my mind is whether the majors / minors windows affect estuaries as well as beaches, rock breakwalls, and bays similarly?

I don't think I have ever seen the Forum Admin "quoted" before That is going straight to the pool room

Maybe this will help -

https://www.fishingreminder.com/best-fishing-times-explained

Many years ago I was posted to the School of Artillery, North Head Barracks, Manly. I lived on base there for 2 years.

Of course, I did a bit of fishing around North Head. Plently of good little beaches and rocks. In those days I never worried about Solunar clocks and stuff. I did alright. Bream. ludrick and even a bonito from time to time.

I don't remember ever having a bad day fishing there...and it's just across the bay from Balmoral.

well, I'm not much of a night fisher, except if I try to spear some flounders. But I also don't usually fish directly from the shore or jetties.
I either use a kayak or paddle-board to get to my fishing spots. Usually the water is between 4 - 15 meter deep where I fish.
I prefer to go fishing during major or minor times either in the morning or during the day. Mornings are my favourite because there are less people and boats around. Some of my spots work better during minor times because of the tides and the depth of the water, others work best during majors.
When drifting around in a kayak I can also cover much more ground until I find the fish. From my experience the fish usually start biting when the fishing times start and then slowly go off the bite when the times are over. You still get a bite every now and then in between the fishing times but it slows right down and gets boring for me.

If I do fish from the shore, like surfcasting or rock fishing and the water is shallow I usually try to get out during major or minors just before sunrise or around sunset. If you fishing in shallow water and can combine major or minor times with sunrise/sunset you'll increase your chances. Fish usually cruise shallow water when it's dark.
Also when fishing stationary form the shore it's best to use a chum or berley trail to attract fish to your location. You gotta be more patient when shore fishing.

Hi itsaboat,

Thank you for the tip! I'll need to get myself a life jacket and a pair of cleats then I'll go try some of those rocky spots.

Cheers,
JC

No worries mate

If I may...

OK...cleats. Great idea and they work, But, is a fish worth your life?? Just my opinion but I reckon if you need cleats then the fishing spot is not a fishing spot.

I don't remember the name of the hospital (I could use Google but I am lazy:)) near Long Bay Jail. Anyway, there is a golf course there. Walk through the golf course to the rocks. You will see star pickets inserted in the rocks...YES, star pickets!! IDIOTS actually chain themselves to those star pickets so that they don't get swept off.

Life jacket is a very good idea. I use one of those light weight ski jackets. It is like a vest and you don't even notice you are wearing it.

Another thing...and this might sound a bit silly...a helmet. Just about all (or at least most) drownings off rocks, are because the person was hit on the head as they went into the soup. Or should I say their head hit the rocks. A cheap bike helmet will save your life if things go pear shaped. Might look a bit silly, but I don't give a rats what people think I look like. I would rather be in the water swimming than in the water unconscious.

If you wanted to try some spots around North Head or Manly, you will not need cleats (unless you are feeling ambitious). A life jacket (life vest) is a bloody good idea regardless of where you are fishing.

My view is that the moon cycle, and bite times are just one variable. There is barometric pressure, winds, weather, location, food source, etc,etc. When they all line up for the species you are after those are the special days that you get that hot bite you talk about for years. With each variable that is "off" the less action I seem to get.

Thanks for all your tips mate!