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An old friend returns to fish with Jimbo and the grand kids

 
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An old friend returns to fish with Jimbo and the grand kids

My Grandchildren, Kale, Owen and Tully had been up from South for the school holidays and it did nothing but blow its ring out, making a fishing trip a near impossibility. This upset Kale, as he’d come up to fish with his Granddad and the troublesome duo of Ashley and James.

Thing started to get a bit complicated and crowded as my good mate Graham “Ace” Wheare and his wife Pauline from Adelaide were coming up to fish and they over lapped by three days. Now Ace and I go way back I first met him when I was about 20(Whoa! that is way back then!), I was playing knock ruck for Elizabeth (SA) and he came out to play (he was already a State lacrosse player and had gotten fed up being hit in the head with a stick, can’t think why). We soon got talking about fishing and when I found out he had a boat, I was in “Like Flynn”!

The upshot of it was most week-ends we put out after the footy and fishing overnight chasing Snapper and King George Whiting. We always used to do pretty well as he was a good fish’o but the highlight of the trips were the Sunday mornings, he had a little portable hot plate and we used to have fresh King George Whiting fillets for breakfast with a big mug of fresh coffee, Magic!

I hadn’t seen Ace since moving north to do some real fishing so I was keen to impress. The weather was finally on the improve and by the time he got here the wind had almost disappeared and we had some decent tides, so it was all go.

We had decided fish in Damper creek on the mainland across from the Hinchinbrook Island to give Ace some casting practice and get the feel of lure fishing. Kale was already competent with a rod and was giving Ace some clues and with some sound advice from me, he soon had it going. He finished up hooking 2 cod, a Queenfish, a GT and a Barracuda all in quick succession, Kale was to busy having fun netting fish and giving instructions. He just loves it on the water; he’s happy if other people are on, I think he gets more fun out of it than they do. I keep telling him you have to have a lure in the water to catch fish, he’ll work it out, hell he’s only 9!He can still remember his first fish, he ought to, he kept it in the freezer for 12 months for me to see on one of my rare trips South. A smelly old European Carp he caught in the Murray! (In SA of course, now that River is a monument to man’s stupidity!).

We motored up the main creek to fish some drains that were still running near the bottom of the tide. We decided to let Kale troll as we worked along the bank with the electric, at least that way he had a lure in the water (a pink Flatratz, James had told him that was the go). I had just released a small Barra about 50cm which had smashed my pink “Leads” near a small twig when Kale is going balistick, ”I’m on Grandad” he sure was just a good old reliable Estuary Cod, well he thought that was great. No sooner was his lure back behind the boat when he’s whacked again, this fish wasn’t big but was putting up a better show than the cod. A nice little Mangrove Jack, things were looking up for him, he couldn’t stop smiling or talking for that matter.

Back in the water goes the lure, it must have just hit bottom, when it’s monstered, doubling over the rod and nearly pulling kale out of his seat! Now this was a fish! Kale is handling it like a trouper, letting it take line and pumping and winding when he had the chance. We hadn’t seen any color yet but I had tipped it for a decent Barra, the fish moved side on to the boat and was using the current to its benefit was just about to tell Kale not to pull when its spat the lure (as they do, as they do), didn’t worry kale he was rapt, he was that excited he had to sit down, ”My hands are shaking Granddad” was all he could say. What could I say “better luck next time mate” was the best I could do?

Now back to Graham, he’s finding out about the frustrations of Barramundi fishing, he’s had follows, he’s rolled a couple, he’s had them miss, he’s had half hearted grabs and a couple on for a while but no photo! We decided to call it a day as Kale was going home next day and we were of to Missionary Bay.

We hit the water early, as the kids had got us up for an early flight and were soon up on the plane zipping across to the Bay. We decided to fish some snags and Mangrove roots in the bay itself as there was a bit to much water for my favorite creek (14B). I soon had a fresh juvenile Barra to the side of the boat and released, I had seen a couple of others follow this bloke out so I suggested to Ace that he have a couple of flix and see what happens, well three times the Barra came and had a look, even poking Ace’s stationary lure with his nose. Ace gave me one of those “Not again looks”. Not to worry next cast he’s on, a nice fish has swallowed his gold “Flatratz”. Trouble was, it’s done a triple pike around the snag.

I’m watching Ace, he’s really working it, ”Its still taking line“ he yells as he drops his rod and winds again. ”You silly twit“ I say,” its snagged, your working your but off on a log” I couldn’t help but laugh he was so serious.” Stop reeling in, grab the spool and apply gentle pressure” was my advice sure enough the fish swam out following the pressure. I give the electric a burst bringing the fish out in the open, where it starts to tailwalk and jump around, giving him some fun and a Barra in the boat at last. Some quick photo’s (you can see where the fish was up against the log) a measure (56cm) and released. That was a bone of contention, Ace reckoned a fish that big should be filleted guess it would if you where used to filleting whiting! He told me afterwards the best thing about it was when he saw the fish float up and inhale the lure. Another angler hooked on catching Barramundi!

Well the pressure was off; Ace had caught his Barra now to get fishing.

We started of in a small side creek, where I worked my lure past a sunken log, smack; a nice Jack had taken a likening to it. It was a beauty about 45cm,we decided to keep that one for tea as I reckon they are one of the best eating fish around probably only surpassed by a Fingermark. Ace soon had a decent Blue Salmon on and it was giving him a lesson in dirty fighting, tearing all over the Creek trying to make for the opposite bank, but soon under control and a quick flip of the pliers and it was gone.

“Every fish I get you let go” says Ace, I explained that they are not a good table fish but really a sporting fish, I think he had visions of it wrapped up in paper with chips!

We moved into the main creek and fished the deeper snags, where my deep diving “Leads”soon had teased a nice fish out. A nice Fingermark now they can put up a “stoush” but this one was destined for the table to and was soon in the net. A useful fish at 43cm,they really are a good looking fish and look equally as good dressed up in Batter!

On that note I had better close, I have gone well passed my word limit and HB can get cranky! Needless to say we fished a lot more that week and hopefully will continue to do so in the future. Nice One ACE!

Jim (Jimbo) Lee  -  www.un-reel-sportsfishing-adventures.com.au