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4,190 Posts
Pysgodwyr (Lloyd) and I got down to Balmoral about 6am. The morning was slightly overcast, but no wind as yet. We dropped a berley bag off the end of the end of the wharf and went back to set up. As we did, a car went by with 2 Hobies on a trailer. We headed out from the beach and saw them on the water (Mark and ?, not with AKFF).
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I headed over to the wharf, and fiddled around with a Sabiki jig in the berley trail to no avail. I’d optimistically left my bait in the car (all right, accidentally) so I went in to grab that and Gatesy arrived. Shortly after, Paul (On The Edge) and Josh arrived. We lifted the gleaming new beastie (gently) from Gatesy’s car, and I headed back out.
I ran into (not literally Dave) Ken (Kraley) - That makes Hobies:8, Other Kayaks:0. Ken had caught a squid off the big boat, so he’d be sorted for bait.
A troll along the naval wharf brought nothing, a little further and I caught up with Lloyd, setting up his secret weapon (downrigger). I chucked out a bait and caught a very small snapper, time to head further round.
Drifting along the Northern edge of Middle Head produced nothing, I stopped to talk to a mate who was landbased – he’d been there since dawn for naught. Further along I had a good take on my light gear, but the tiny hook pulled. Gatesy caught up with me and seemed to be relishing his new ride. I fished the Eastern face of Middle head for more (very) small pinkies and a couple of leatherjacket (all released) so I decided I’d head to the Wedding Cake off Clifton Gardens and try my luck over there.
I trolled a deep diving Rapala all the way, no action. As soon as I got to the WC, a small bait close in brought a trevally (35cm), 2 more (33cm) followed quickly. By now it was 0900, and the wind was starting to build, so I thought it prudent to head back. Shortly it was blowing hard enough to whitecap, and it was a very wet (but exhilarating) journey back into the wind. Just as I rounded the northern tip of MH into the more sheltered zone, my Rapala went off, but the hooks pulled quite quickly. I stopped in on my mate again - still fishless. Headed back into the beach and the Rapala went off again, a tailor (37cm).
By the time I got back (1000), I think everyone else had packed up – mine was the only Hobie in sight. The conditions were slightly more challenging than previous outings, but I still managed to reduce my swim percentage – not sure if Gatesy had the ritual dunking or not. As always it was good to catch up with some other members and I was happy to have a few fish to take home. (I reckon an enterprising type could sell their parking spot…Balmoral was packed).
I headed over to the wharf, and fiddled around with a Sabiki jig in the berley trail to no avail. I’d optimistically left my bait in the car (all right, accidentally) so I went in to grab that and Gatesy arrived. Shortly after, Paul (On The Edge) and Josh arrived. We lifted the gleaming new beastie (gently) from Gatesy’s car, and I headed back out.
I ran into (not literally Dave) Ken (Kraley) - That makes Hobies:8, Other Kayaks:0. Ken had caught a squid off the big boat, so he’d be sorted for bait.
A troll along the naval wharf brought nothing, a little further and I caught up with Lloyd, setting up his secret weapon (downrigger). I chucked out a bait and caught a very small snapper, time to head further round.
Drifting along the Northern edge of Middle Head produced nothing, I stopped to talk to a mate who was landbased – he’d been there since dawn for naught. Further along I had a good take on my light gear, but the tiny hook pulled. Gatesy caught up with me and seemed to be relishing his new ride. I fished the Eastern face of Middle head for more (very) small pinkies and a couple of leatherjacket (all released) so I decided I’d head to the Wedding Cake off Clifton Gardens and try my luck over there.
I trolled a deep diving Rapala all the way, no action. As soon as I got to the WC, a small bait close in brought a trevally (35cm), 2 more (33cm) followed quickly. By now it was 0900, and the wind was starting to build, so I thought it prudent to head back. Shortly it was blowing hard enough to whitecap, and it was a very wet (but exhilarating) journey back into the wind. Just as I rounded the northern tip of MH into the more sheltered zone, my Rapala went off, but the hooks pulled quite quickly. I stopped in on my mate again - still fishless. Headed back into the beach and the Rapala went off again, a tailor (37cm).
By the time I got back (1000), I think everyone else had packed up – mine was the only Hobie in sight. The conditions were slightly more challenging than previous outings, but I still managed to reduce my swim percentage – not sure if Gatesy had the ritual dunking or not. As always it was good to catch up with some other members and I was happy to have a few fish to take home. (I reckon an enterprising type could sell their parking spot…Balmoral was packed).
