A bloody deck at last

Date: 2009-10-11
Launch: 6am
Next tide: 7:50am low
Wind: 5-10kts SW
Sea: 2m swell, no chop
Return: 10am
Days since new moon: 21
Water temp: 19 (yay!)
Location: Spot A
Catch: Trevally, snapper, bonito

Davebeat and I met a the Spot D launch at first light but it didn't look friendly. Would have like to give it a go with the Evo but knew it would be tough and even tougher for the prowler so we got back in our cars and headed to the Spot A launch.

The 2m swell made the larger reef quite dangerous so we went out wider than usual and made our way to the mark. Current was running to the south. Set the drift with a 7" bass assassin shad out the back and casting a 4" power minnow. First take on the power minnow was timid and had me wondering if it was a good fish or just a big sergeant baker. Then it started fighting. While not strong it fought all the way up - a trevally around 34cm fl. At last, a legal fish and some blood on the deck.

A few casts later and a stronger hookup. The fish put on a surge, the rod dipped and the leader knot parted. Not a sticky drag as I'd retired the offending spool. Rather I just had the drag a bit too tight for the old leader I had on. Retied leader and jig, had a few casts then decided to reset the drift. Was pulling in the drogue, seated sideways with both feet in the water, when the drift rod buckled. You beauty. Guessing king or snapper. It took a few runs and had the Major Craft Slicer 10-16lb rod working hard (a very light and enjoyable stick that is showing some class despite a moderate price). Eventually a flask of pink and shortly after I had a 40cm fl snapper in the hatch.

A few more drifts with a 40 cm fl bonito coming on the troll between drifts on the 7" shad.

The swell seemed to have risen while we were out there and waves were breaking much further out than I'd seen before. We skirted most of it but had a couple of moments from the thunderous roar of a large wave breaking behind and seeing some large, rising waves come close.

So pleased to not just have caught a legal fish off the Evolution but to have secured a good feed for the family. The water was warm for this time of year and presages a bumper season