revs57
12-07-2006, 03:21 PM
Given the fantastic weather lately we decided to give Tuesday a go to try and get away from the weekend hustle...the weather report looked like a hooter and the crew, Joeley, Birdy and Swano were itching for a good trip.
After departing M'ba by 3.30 am we made good time to the northern banks area bumping through the odd sloppy bit occasionally finding angel gear to get there well before sunup. We'd been given the heads up about a good ledge not far from where we fished the other weekend, so we sounded around but after failing to locate it we began to drift a couple of decent rocks we turned up that had good show. #It wasn't long before we began to get the familiar belting runs, head thumping bumps of good snapper. #After boating quite some really solid samples around the 4kg we moved to another area up in the Hard to see if we could hunt down some larger varieties.
Not having been in that neighborhood a lot, we sounded around a starter mark I had...found some fishy looking structures but after anchoring, burleying and giving it a good go and failing to boat anything larger than we already had we decided to head for the more familiar areas we have done well in previously to work on a feed.
By now the morning bite was well and truely over so we had to work pretty hard over a couple of familiar areas, pulling the odd fish from around 68 metres.
There were a few highlights on the trip. #At one point Birdy pulled out the knife jig on the "come here" gear. To see our mate doubled up and almost pulled out of the boat on each of his first 4 drops by xos Amberjacks was an absolute hoot. #Birdy, you've just gotta put some meat on them bones...go to the gym and work out or something...Jason failed to boat any of these bandits but the way they hit, took line with the drag set to sunset and fought left little doubt as to what was doing the damage. Another hint came on the 5th drop when Jason boated a pup AJ of about 6kg.
Joeley loaded up the TLD25/Live fibre on a jig and gets really excited only to boat a foul hooked happy moments...must've been the saddest moment in Joeley's trip...what a let down - and didn't we let him know...Welcome aboard Flamin Riptide Joeley!!!
At one point Swano was messing with soft plastics gulps on his Shimano excell weapon 6-10kg 701snpr matched to a Penn Affinity 4000 loaded 20lb suffix etc, and his other outfit fondly knicknamed "the noodle" was resting in the corner rod holder with a scuzzy piece of squid on for bait...I'm in the corner when it goes off. #Swano said..."go on then!", and from the time I picked up this lump of spaghetti, to the moment a pup sambo hit the floor of Flamin Riptide I was in stitches of laughter...I haven't laughed so hard for a very long time...this rod was literally doubling over like a snake holding its tail in its mouth...man it was so funny...the drag screaming and the rod totally unable to put any grunt into the fight...Lump of lard!!! It was literally flexing right through the butt end of the Rod...Swano proudly told me he picked it up at a Garage Sale...Any wonder I reckon!!!!
Swano boated a really solid Snapper on a gulp on his light gear....Joeley chimed in with a good contribution of solid fish and banter all day (apart from the sad moment when he really copped some!)...he picked up the culture of flamin' riptide very quickly...these young blokes have no respect when it comes to banter...The boat tax increased with every quip!!!
The skipper was using the infamous Rovex Big Boss/Penn Sport all day boating some very nice snapper and a very solid green job fish...First time I'd ever caught one of those but man don't they go! #Glad I had the new drag in - I'd smoked the drag at the Fraser Comp and true to their warranty Penn replaced it without a question (thanks Ken!)...it worked really well and enabled a good fish to be boated.
We moved again to the outside of the Northern Banks where we began to drift some really inviting structure with the most promising show we had seen all day.
Swano boated a couple of very pretty juvenile Reds...they sure are a spectacular fish, and the show is clearly being carved up and the bait now beginning to sit in layers.
Jason puts the jig down and pulls a couple of very solid fish we called for "Rosy" Job Fish which is a matter of debate. Jason is considering a thread on this so I won't spoil the discussion here. #Swano is now in on his Penn Spinfisher/Penn Sport combo with another "Rosy" and I chipped in with my jobby. The esky is now starting to fill up with the addition of a few tuskies, moses perch, pearlies and hussar.
At around 3.00pm we called it for a 4200rpm/50plus klm/hr run home in glassy conditions.
The fact that it was overcast most of the day took the shine of what would have been a great day (pardon the pun) #awww...O.K. we did have a great day!!!
Final tally...an esky full of lovely Snapper, Pearlies, Venus Tusk, Hussar, Moses, Green Jobby, Rosy Jobby, Maori Cod...perhaps our most diverse bag since we've been fishing the banks...yeah, O.K., I'll say it, we had a great day!!!!
Cheers
Rhys
After departing M'ba by 3.30 am we made good time to the northern banks area bumping through the odd sloppy bit occasionally finding angel gear to get there well before sunup. We'd been given the heads up about a good ledge not far from where we fished the other weekend, so we sounded around but after failing to locate it we began to drift a couple of decent rocks we turned up that had good show. #It wasn't long before we began to get the familiar belting runs, head thumping bumps of good snapper. #After boating quite some really solid samples around the 4kg we moved to another area up in the Hard to see if we could hunt down some larger varieties.
Not having been in that neighborhood a lot, we sounded around a starter mark I had...found some fishy looking structures but after anchoring, burleying and giving it a good go and failing to boat anything larger than we already had we decided to head for the more familiar areas we have done well in previously to work on a feed.
By now the morning bite was well and truely over so we had to work pretty hard over a couple of familiar areas, pulling the odd fish from around 68 metres.
There were a few highlights on the trip. #At one point Birdy pulled out the knife jig on the "come here" gear. To see our mate doubled up and almost pulled out of the boat on each of his first 4 drops by xos Amberjacks was an absolute hoot. #Birdy, you've just gotta put some meat on them bones...go to the gym and work out or something...Jason failed to boat any of these bandits but the way they hit, took line with the drag set to sunset and fought left little doubt as to what was doing the damage. Another hint came on the 5th drop when Jason boated a pup AJ of about 6kg.
Joeley loaded up the TLD25/Live fibre on a jig and gets really excited only to boat a foul hooked happy moments...must've been the saddest moment in Joeley's trip...what a let down - and didn't we let him know...Welcome aboard Flamin Riptide Joeley!!!
At one point Swano was messing with soft plastics gulps on his Shimano excell weapon 6-10kg 701snpr matched to a Penn Affinity 4000 loaded 20lb suffix etc, and his other outfit fondly knicknamed "the noodle" was resting in the corner rod holder with a scuzzy piece of squid on for bait...I'm in the corner when it goes off. #Swano said..."go on then!", and from the time I picked up this lump of spaghetti, to the moment a pup sambo hit the floor of Flamin Riptide I was in stitches of laughter...I haven't laughed so hard for a very long time...this rod was literally doubling over like a snake holding its tail in its mouth...man it was so funny...the drag screaming and the rod totally unable to put any grunt into the fight...Lump of lard!!! It was literally flexing right through the butt end of the Rod...Swano proudly told me he picked it up at a Garage Sale...Any wonder I reckon!!!!
Swano boated a really solid Snapper on a gulp on his light gear....Joeley chimed in with a good contribution of solid fish and banter all day (apart from the sad moment when he really copped some!)...he picked up the culture of flamin' riptide very quickly...these young blokes have no respect when it comes to banter...The boat tax increased with every quip!!!
The skipper was using the infamous Rovex Big Boss/Penn Sport all day boating some very nice snapper and a very solid green job fish...First time I'd ever caught one of those but man don't they go! #Glad I had the new drag in - I'd smoked the drag at the Fraser Comp and true to their warranty Penn replaced it without a question (thanks Ken!)...it worked really well and enabled a good fish to be boated.
We moved again to the outside of the Northern Banks where we began to drift some really inviting structure with the most promising show we had seen all day.
Swano boated a couple of very pretty juvenile Reds...they sure are a spectacular fish, and the show is clearly being carved up and the bait now beginning to sit in layers.
Jason puts the jig down and pulls a couple of very solid fish we called for "Rosy" Job Fish which is a matter of debate. Jason is considering a thread on this so I won't spoil the discussion here. #Swano is now in on his Penn Spinfisher/Penn Sport combo with another "Rosy" and I chipped in with my jobby. The esky is now starting to fill up with the addition of a few tuskies, moses perch, pearlies and hussar.
At around 3.00pm we called it for a 4200rpm/50plus klm/hr run home in glassy conditions.
The fact that it was overcast most of the day took the shine of what would have been a great day (pardon the pun) #awww...O.K. we did have a great day!!!
Final tally...an esky full of lovely Snapper, Pearlies, Venus Tusk, Hussar, Moses, Green Jobby, Rosy Jobby, Maori Cod...perhaps our most diverse bag since we've been fishing the banks...yeah, O.K., I'll say it, we had a great day!!!!
Cheers
Rhys