|
Chris
let’s the side down
Every
fisherman has those days, when everybody is catching fish around you and
you can’t do a thing right. Well this was the day it happened to my good
mate and all round good guy Chris Jones. The “Lump-Meister” (Dave”Lumpy”
Milson) had rung to say he was coming down with his new boat for a
serious try out and wanted to chase Pelargics out a bit wider than we
normally fish.
We decided to head for Eva and throw “poppers”between there and
“Birdshit Rock” aptly named due to all the birds that roost there. They
use this rock and Eva as a base to chase the numerous bait schools that
are being chopped up by Trevally, Queenfish, Tuna, Bonito etc. These
schools hang out in the currents there and going right out to Kennedy
Shoals and reefs beyond.
As we left Pt Hinchinbrook the water was glassed out and would remain so
for the rest of the day, you could just feel it was going to be one of
those outstanding days on the water. Lumpy soon had the boat upon the
plane and it wasn’t long before we swung around Cape Richards and headed
for Eva, we could see the birds working in the distance and decided to
try for some Tuna first, so off after them we went.
Now, if you have tried to fish the bait schools you know how frustrating
it can be, as they always seem to be just out of casting range. Chrome
slice’s on a spinning rod were the order of that day, this coupled with
long casts usually puts you near the action, well for a couple of casts
anyway! Lumpy was soon into a small fish of the Tuna variety, probably
around 2kg and was giving him the “hurry up “ on the light spin gear.
That was the only fish pulled out of that school, as they were
particularly spooky. We spent some time chasing the bait but were
finding it very hard to get close enough; obviously we weren’t holding
our mouth right!
We decided to head back to Eva and try for some Trevally, we had
switched to “Poppers” on our regular overhead outfits and were working
the edge of the current line. Chris was the first to hook –up, but not
for long, it’s ripped half his braid of the reel, zapped him around a
rock! Goodbye line and popper and as usual its his best lure, always
happens, you never lose a “cheapie”, probably because they never catch
fish!
Lumpy and I were having fun catching and releasing, Trevally at about
2-3kg,good fun, Makes for exciting fishing, especially when all the
action is visual, nothing better than watching a fish smash a popper!
Chris was getting a bit frustrated to say the least, plenty of hits and
smash’s but no hook-ups. Lumpy soon switched to a “Bumperbar”and started
to jig for fish as we could see some bigger fish down deep under a small
bait school that were holding in the current. I decided to stay with the
popper, I was using an old “Killalure”commonly referred to as an
ice-cream cone.
I was working the lure with out paying much attention, when Lumpy shouts
”Look out Jimbo, your about to get monstered”! Sure enough a “Horse” of
a GT was attacking the lure, coming in that fast he missed it the first
time but swung around to smash it with out missing a beat! It started to
peel of line at quick rate of knots, “better fire up the motor, mate “ I
said “he’s already got me down to the backing”! My reel was loaded with
15kg braid on a 6kg mono backing and it was this that I was worried
about as it had been on for a long time.
We were soon chasing it all over the ocean till I got back to the braid,
then it was pump and wind, then another run and more pump and wind. I
don’t know who was tiring first the fish or me; Trevally can be a
handful. After was seemed ages the fish was at the boat and in the net,
I guessed his weight at about 10kgs,a good fish in anybody’s language. A
few pics and congrats all ready and the fished was released to fight
another day.
We decided to move from Eva as we could see some nice size Tuna chopping
up bait and coming out of the water in their frenzy. But try as we may
they wouldn’t let us get close enough for a cast and if we did we
couldn’t get a hook up most probably as they were feeding on real small
bait. It was at this stage we decided to give it up and go boating and
check out the new boat.
Now for those into the technical side of things, Lumpys new boat is made
by Phil Pocock at Maroochycraft Aluminum Boats (07 54796899). It is 5m
in length, with a side console and pushed a long by a 60hp Yamaha, even
with 3 in the boat it was up on the plane quick and fairly zipped along.
I was impressed by a couple of things, the craft handled very well and
was surpassingly stable even with the “big fella” moving about plus the
overall finish was excellent. If you are in the market for a new boat
give Phil a call, he will look after you I’m sure.
Talking about things South, the “Lumpmeister”and myself have received a
bit of a caning (all in good fun) at the hands of Channel Nine media
star and fishing Guru Andrew ”Phippsy” Phipps. He reckons we only catch
small fish probably due to the fact that we always try and fish the
“sweetwater” together when ever Lumpy ventures in to the Valley. Well
here’s pic of a nice Queenfish that Lumpy hooked and boated on a huge
“Popper”, when we fished Lucinda Jetty chasing more Pelargics.I have to
tell you it was the biggest “popper” I had seen, it put out a bow wave
big enough to rock the boat. But hey! It got the job done.
Jim (Jimbo)
Lee - www.un-reel-sportsfishing-adventures.com.au
|
Email
