Andy from the CJ
24-09-2011, 01:13 AM
Port Stephens, NSW: the morning started with loading the gear onto Andrew’s beaut Boston Whaler 24 foot centre console, then blasting down the harbour in the pre-dawn gloom. My plan was for some solid testing of a new jigging combo on mid size kingies, but considering how tough jigging has been I would have settled for a 40cm Sergeant Baker. We opened our innings with a soft plastic snapper session underneath the lighthouse. As it turned out, the snapper wouldn’t play ball, but for anyone around that way who’s into light pelagic or saltwater fly, now is the time to go. The numbers of bonito (mostly a good size too) salmon and tailor there yesterday was just incredible, and because of the size of the schools they weren’t particularly boat shy. Perhaps hard to see, but this pic shows hundreds if not thousands of shearwaters and terns, working schools in front of the light house:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg190/scaled.php?server=190&filename=69872161.jpg&res=medium
This foul hooked one went so hard I eventually had to gaff it, for fear of tearing the lure out. Note that, at 6:00AM, I’m not quite ready for a closeup:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg813/scaled.php?server=813&filename=63956756.jpg&res=medium
Out to the wide reefs, a new spot near Allmark which a friend of a friend who works for a magazine in the commercial side of fishing had shared (!) Down went the jigs. Result, double hook up for Chris and Andy – nothing, for me.
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg190/scaled.php?server=190&filename=40735109.jpg&res=medium
With two nice kingies aboard, we made it up to the top of the reef and dropped again. Result, two nice kingies for Chris and Andy – and nothing, for me.
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg842/scaled.php?server=842&filename=38338615.jpg&res=medium
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg695/scaled.php?server=695&filename=98254285.jpg&res=medium
A lot of blokes ask, ‘Andy, what’s the best jig colour for kingfish?’ I know that albacore love the silver/white ones, we’ve proven that in a comparison test. And that NZ kingies prefer the green/yellow, that was proven in a side by side jig test too. But I usually say, ‘the kingies don’t care’, in relation to metropolitan jigging. That was proven wrong in a big way yesterday because as soon as I switched to a silver jig like the lads were using, I was hooking up every drop:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg847/scaled.php?server=847&filename=98271349.jpg&res=medium
Gee we had a great time out there yesterday. It’s been a tough season for kingy fanatics but Thursday was just one of those magic days. Here's the only one I caught before switching colours:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg856/scaled.php?server=856&filename=41872556.jpg&res=medium
The fish averaged 90cm, with a couple just over the metre mark:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg703/scaled.php?server=703&filename=55017977.jpg&res=medium
The weather played ball until lunchtime, at which point the ‘nor easter started to pick up fast. The last fish of the day hooked up on Andrew’s Stella 10000 and was very quickly taken by a shark who, instead of biting the kingie in half in the usual way, managed to hook up himself. Despite our very best efforts at boat driving, the shark – most likely a bronze whaler – completely spooled Andy’s reel and busted off. We headed back to Port using the ‘nor easter as a tail wind, everyone feeling very happy and relaxed after a great day on the water. We released several but went home with a solid catch:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg707/scaled.php?server=707&filename=43079494.jpg&res=medium
We will be out jigging kings again as soon as next weeks’ dirty weather blows through.
Cheers,
Andrew
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg190/scaled.php?server=190&filename=69872161.jpg&res=medium
This foul hooked one went so hard I eventually had to gaff it, for fear of tearing the lure out. Note that, at 6:00AM, I’m not quite ready for a closeup:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg813/scaled.php?server=813&filename=63956756.jpg&res=medium
Out to the wide reefs, a new spot near Allmark which a friend of a friend who works for a magazine in the commercial side of fishing had shared (!) Down went the jigs. Result, double hook up for Chris and Andy – nothing, for me.
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg190/scaled.php?server=190&filename=40735109.jpg&res=medium
With two nice kingies aboard, we made it up to the top of the reef and dropped again. Result, two nice kingies for Chris and Andy – and nothing, for me.
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg842/scaled.php?server=842&filename=38338615.jpg&res=medium
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg695/scaled.php?server=695&filename=98254285.jpg&res=medium
A lot of blokes ask, ‘Andy, what’s the best jig colour for kingfish?’ I know that albacore love the silver/white ones, we’ve proven that in a comparison test. And that NZ kingies prefer the green/yellow, that was proven in a side by side jig test too. But I usually say, ‘the kingies don’t care’, in relation to metropolitan jigging. That was proven wrong in a big way yesterday because as soon as I switched to a silver jig like the lads were using, I was hooking up every drop:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg847/scaled.php?server=847&filename=98271349.jpg&res=medium
Gee we had a great time out there yesterday. It’s been a tough season for kingy fanatics but Thursday was just one of those magic days. Here's the only one I caught before switching colours:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg856/scaled.php?server=856&filename=41872556.jpg&res=medium
The fish averaged 90cm, with a couple just over the metre mark:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg703/scaled.php?server=703&filename=55017977.jpg&res=medium
The weather played ball until lunchtime, at which point the ‘nor easter started to pick up fast. The last fish of the day hooked up on Andrew’s Stella 10000 and was very quickly taken by a shark who, instead of biting the kingie in half in the usual way, managed to hook up himself. Despite our very best efforts at boat driving, the shark – most likely a bronze whaler – completely spooled Andy’s reel and busted off. We headed back to Port using the ‘nor easter as a tail wind, everyone feeling very happy and relaxed after a great day on the water. We released several but went home with a solid catch:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg707/scaled.php?server=707&filename=43079494.jpg&res=medium
We will be out jigging kings again as soon as next weeks’ dirty weather blows through.
Cheers,
Andrew