[Davey G]

NOTE - This thread is restricted to members who are submitting an entry into the MAY fishing competition only. This thread should only contain fish information/details and I'd request that other members please refrain from adding additional comments to keep this thread from getting OUT OF CONTROL!!! aaargh.. THANKS

My submission

Name: Sammy the Squid
Category Entered: 'Yummiest Catch" ...is that a category?? If not, 'Estuary"
Fish Type: Hmmm, is a squid actually a fish? Don't think so!
Date of Capture: 7/5/06
Time of Capture: 10am
Method: 'More Ass than Class'
Line Class: 10lb fireline
Terminal Tackle: 12lb mono leader, 4" shallow diving lure
Comment: That's one unlucky squid.

Well, I managed to get out early yesterday. Had plans of fishing in Botany Bay for kings/trevally, but on reaching Silver Beach (put in spot) decided that the strengthening NorWester wasn't going to be much fun. Headed back to Cronulla and put in at 6am. Trolled a selection of lures (Rapala CD9), trusty $4 special and my new SX48 for bugger all. Paddled around to Salmon Haul beach and threw out a bait for a good sized pike, which I kept for bait. Spent a few minutes there trying to rustle up some livies, but no luck. The wind had gotten up by now, and the paddle back didn't produce much. Hugged the sheltered western side of Gunnamatta Bay throwing a selection of soft plastics, and lures for several chopper tailor but nothing decent. Nearly back at the boat ramp, still trolling my 9cm shallow diving $4 special over weedbeds in about 1.5 metres of water, got a good hit on the rod, grabbed it and felt a good pumping pull. I immediately thought 'a good flattie' but when the 'fish' broke the surface it had a good set of tentacles on it.

So the unluckiest squid in the world is currently marinating in my fridge ready for a pre dinner entree tonight. Yum! Cool

Body of the squid was approx 30cm long, around 36cm to the beak (does that make sense?) [/b]

 

[YakAtak]

Name: Bertha
Category Entered: Biggest flathead
Fish Type: Dusky Flathead
Date of Capture: 6/5/06
Time of Capture: About 9 am
Method: Cast and retrieve Berkley Gulp 4" watermelon swim mullet , while under anchor
Line Class: 8lb fireline
Terminal Tackle: 6lb fluoro leader, 1/16 wobble jig head size 1 hook
Comment:Pine River, bottom end of run out tide, about 1metre of water

 

[Peril]

Name: Couldn't beat it out of it
Category Entered: Biggest bream
Fish Type: Yellowfin bream
Date of Capture: 6/5/06
Time of Capture: Dusk
Method: Cast surface lure - black Daiwa Live Cicada
Line Class: 6lb fireline
Terminal Tackle: 10lb fluoro
Comment:

After two sessions with the boys in Forster and not having landed a single fish I was getting a bit down. Saturday arvo we started around 3pm and I followed Matt in his plan to visit a spot we had seen in the morning. An area of oyster racks that had the channel on one side and some extensive flats on the other.

I paddled to the flats side of the racks, spotting a decent swirl as I passed the corner of the lease. Decided to anchor up within casting distance of this corner. Sun was getting low so I decided to try some surface luring. Tied on the live cicada and cast towards the racks. The incoming tide was taking the lure parallel to the racks. It wasn't long before the first boof occured. This picked me up as I have read the boofs without hooking up are common - I should just keep at it. This happened several more times with many casts in between. Still I kept at it, just varying slightly where I landed the lure (phenomenal that I didn't snag the racks once).

The sun had set but it was still twilight when I landed the lure in my prime spot at the entrance to the lease - between two posts. Blooping it back and about one third of the way when the boof happened. This time the line tightened and stayed tight. Took a little bit of drag then the fish made the mistake of heading straight at me. Wound in the tighten the line again and it runs back towards the rack. Three or four runs and retrieves and I finally had it at the yak and, after a bit more struggle, it was tired enough to be guided into the net. Completely stoked. A new PB at 38.5 to the fork, or 41 total length.

Released to trouble the ABT guys next week after the photos were taken.

 

[Peril]

Name: Algernon (don't ask)
Category Entered: Biggest flathead
Fish Type: Dusky Flathead
Date of Capture: 7/5/06
Time of Capture: About 8 am
Method: Cast unweighed soft plastic - 3" Paramax grub in clear pink glow
Line Class: 4lb fireline
Terminal Tackle: 4lb fluoro
Comment:

Still high after the fish from the previous night and after a pleasant evening spent with people of character, wit and intellect, we returned to the scene of the previous night's success. This time we explored the flat behind the racks. The tide was coming off the high with a light westerly breeze. The flat was very soft silt, largely covered in weed with some silt patches. Lots of worm/nipper holes (Matt found a large nipper bank further back).

I had followed Matt and went a bit deeper into the flat than him, paddled to the western side and began a gentle drift. Got two hits casting around the one spot on this drift. Came back for a second drift and came up tight after a couple of casts. Now I had 4lb leader and almost certainly had a flathead so was very wary of being busted off. It took a few runs as I kept the tip low to keep its head under water. Then it tried burying itself in the soft silt. I pulled which just dragged the yak to the fish. Eventually it took off again after which I got it close to the yak. It resisted the net but eventually I was able to guide it in.

Not as big as Karl's but equalled my PB at 50cm. A solid fish for that length too. This one joined the Forster crew for lunch.

 

[Daveyak]

..

 

[Scott]

Davey, I must apologise for this brief hijack of this thread, particularly after you asked us all not to. However I had to comment on how proud I am of Peril for releasing that magnificent bream to fight another day. A bream is far too valuable a sportsfish to be caught just once. At a fork of 38.5, that fish would have been pushing thirty years old. I will get off my soapbox now and give you my guarantee I will not hijack this thread again.

Regards Scott

 

[Jake]

Name : Fish
Category Entered: Most species - 7
Fish Type: Squire 30cm, Bream 27cm, School Mackeral 43cm, Flathead 38cm, Pike 30+cm, Grinner 30cm, Cod 25cm.
Date of Capture: 7/5/06
Time of Capture: Between 0600 and 0930
Method: 1/4 oz Jighead with 4" Smelt SP for all fish.
Line Class: 8lb fireline
Terminal Tackle: 12lb fluoro
Comment:
My method of fishing I call twolling . Its a slow twitching troll, so I can keep on the move and fish continuously. It has proven very effective despite its less than manly nomenclature.
See pics in Fishing Reports.
Cheers,
Jake