🎣 The Hi Tide Fishing Podcast: Wild Weather, Black Mud Crab Pots, and Gulf Adventures! 🌊

🎙️ Episode Overview

Pouring rain and sweeping low-pressure systems have trapped Sydney Metro fishers inside this week, but the Hi Tide crew is breaking through the gloom with an absolute cracker of an episode! Host Grant Boyden and Captain Kieran Reekie check in on the chaotic autumn weather patterns sliding off the east coast, before casting a wide net across Australia's premier fishing grounds to bring you the ultimate weekend intelligence.

From surprising backyard trap experiments on the Mid-North Coast to full-blown Barramundi bags in the tropical north, this week proves that even when the weather turns sour, the fish stories only get bigger.

👥 Featured Guest Profiles

• Captain Kieran ReekieOur regular co-host reporting live from Southeast Queensland. Kieran tracks a series of intense, short-burst downpours dropping up to 40mm in minutes, forcing local race cancellations but driving a surprising run of massive 7-to-8-foot Hairtail and Coobia under the local bridges.
• Craig McGill (Fishabout Tours Sydney Harbour)Broadcasting from Coffs Harbour while house-sitting, Sydney's premier charter veteran shares details from a relentless rainy stint. Craig walks listeners through his fascinating "accidental experiment" where black mesh crab pots systematically out-fished standard orange pots 10-to-1. Plus, he reveals a hilariously humbling story of spending five days aggressively casting at a massive school of fish—only to find out they were Luderick instead of Mangrove Jacks.
• Alan "Blakey" Blake (Blake's Marine)Calling in straight from his tropical product-development vacation on Sweers Island (near Mornington and Bentinck Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria). Alan breaks down the glorious 28°C weather, catching beautiful metered Cobia, 30lb Jewfish, Nannygai, and a bounty of Finger Mark.
• Peter "PJ" Johnson (Lowrance Electronics Expert)The North Coast fishing and sonar legend shares part two of their massive group expedition to Karumba with guide Josh Richards from Odds On Fishing Adventures. PJ shares their secrets to bagging out on King (Threadfin) Salmon and Barramundi using forward-scanning sonar, surviving a makeshift electric frypan mud-crab feast washed down with 15-year-old single malt, and why Alan Blake's trip started with a literal slip-up on a muddy boat ramp.

🗺️ Ultimate Regional Fishing Reports

📍 Sydney, Pittwater & The Hawkesbury

• Mitch from Narrabeen Bait & Tackle checks in with a quiet week due to brown, discolored waters. However, localized hot spots persist: look for Jewfish and Hairtail around the Hawkesbury, and flathead or salmon around Scotland Island. Look out for plague proportions of Tailer hovering west of the bridge up near Drummoyne.

⚓ Sponsoring the Fleet

This episode of the Hi Tide Podcast is proudly brought to you by Blake's Marine. For the absolute best deals on the water, visit them 6 days a week at 02 4577 6699 or browse the fleet online at blakesmarine.com.au.

As sure as yabbies bite your toes, you don't want to miss a single minute of this week's charting adventure!

On todays show, we catch up with Captain Ross O'Brien and talk shark attacks with Max Gleeson.

Cast off with the High Tide crew for the May 16th edition, where we navigate the latest fishing reports, political waves, and expert local advice from across Australia. This week, host Grant catches up with Alan Blake from Blake’s Marine as he prepares for a "product development" expedition through 1770 and Cairns, eventually landing in Karumba for five days of serious fishing. Meanwhile, Kiran Reekie reports on the recent heavy rains in Maroochydore, which have spurred a massive run of mud crabs and active fishing for local students catching bream and flathead before school.

Our deep-dive segment features Justin Duggan from Sydney Fly Fishing Tours, reporting live from Broken Bay. Justin shares a masterclass on targeting Hairtail during the day, explaining how to spot their unique vertical signatures on a sounder and why aggressive lure retrieves often outperform bait. He also touches on the current "shoulder season" transition in Sydney Harbour and the arrival of massive 70cm Bonito.

In a spirited discussion, Steve Bowler from Tenterfield Firearms joins the show to tackle the "recalculation of priorities" in the recent federal budget. From the controversial tagging of bull sharks to the preservation of local fishing access on the Northern Beaches, Steve offers a candid look at the intersection of lifestyle and politics. Finally, Isaac from One Up Fishing brings us the latest from Botany Bay and Port Hacking, reporting schools of Dolphin Fish (Mahi-Mahi) still lingering in 22.8°C waters and providing tips on how to fish the "underrated" groins for squid and flathead.

Whether you're looking for the best spots for Kingies and Jewfish or need a tech tip on why you must update your electronic charts to avoid costly insurance excesses, this episode has everything you need to gear up for the weekend.