[kingfisher111]

Trip started very well with both Kevin and myself arriving at the launch within seconds of each other. With the forecast being just about perfect we were looking forward to a great day on the crystal clear water of Westernport Bay. Setting up took place under headlamp torch light and as the sun rose we head off.
Kevin had chosen a teriffic launch location just tucked in around the corner from the surf break at Pt Leur spot was completely sheltered, with no waves at all.
The plan was to locate some well defined channel edge and anchor and fish the dropoff. Getting a good dropoff turned out to be quite a job as the seabed just slowly drops away up to 10/11 metres and then runs at that for kms. Fished a couple of spots with no luck. Had a visit from a friendly seal who divided his time between Kevins kayak and mine and got some pillies for his trouble. Kevin called it a day late morning to return for family commitments but not before paddling off for a closer look at the huge bommie that breaks over the middle bank when a good swell is running up the North channel.
I paddled back with Kevin and bade him farewell before heading out again in search of that illusive dropoff.
Managed to find a small bank not more than 3/4 km offshore.Depth was 7 metres. Anchored up over a grassy bottom with patches of sand. Water was so clear a fishfinder was not needed to see the fish swimming around down there. The surface was like a mill pond. Fished for a further 4 hours and managed to snare 3 good sized Draughtboard sharks, if there is such a thing. Tend to fight with all the power of a wet sock!! The leather jacket were also willing and ended up with 8, bringing 1 home for a feed. Also spotted a squid chase my sinker up out of the weed so bit off the rig and sent a squid jig down for him. Luckily the squid knew what to do as I had very little idea. Thats the first squid I can ever remember catching. Used it for bait. Must ask Squidder how he gets ink stains out of his kayak! Messy damn thing. Would like to target more though being rather partial to calamari. Also got a nice little flatty. All in all a great day, with good company from Kevin, perfect conditions, beautiful location and a bit of a tan to boot. Steve.

 

[Peril]

Persistence rewarded. Sounds like a good one.

 

[Kevin]

Peristance did pay off for you Steve. Apart from perhaps finding a bit of a drop off what do you think you were doing different to earlier? Do you think the top of the tide that you would have fished contributed? Or was it the fresh squid as bait?

 

[kingfisher111]

Hi Kevin, in my humble opinion it was all about the dropoff. It wasn`t even a big one, only about 2 metres. We must have taken our eyes off the sounders on the way out as it was pretty close in. Thing is it was the only defined drop in the next, what 5 or so kms?? Steve.

 

[Blaen]

Good report, thanks Steve it looks like a bit of fun with the Draughtboard Sharks, I had never seen one before till those pics. Thanks.

 

[Milt]

Looks like a great day out there fellas, i've caught a few of those sharks out there whilst in a stink boat and your right its like pulling up a wet sock :? . Well done on the fish and calamari stakes.

There are some huge 10m drop offs a few k's south of Woolamai, I may be able to get you a GPS mark if you like in a few weeks. As well as some ripper whiting grounds just out of punch bowl. For me I like to fish these waters from a stink boat particularly of your planning an offshore trip 3-4k out :shock:

Milt,

 

[Squidder]

Nice draughties Steve :wink:

About the squid ink, there's a thread from awhile back about cleaning off squid ink - I found that lemon juice and a lot of scrubbing got most of it off. Recently I've not worried about it too much - learning to live with a few black stains is much easier than scrubbing your hands raw trying to make your yak look pristine again. And besides, you could look at the stains as a trophy

 

[Squidder]

Here's the thread about cleaning ink off your yak:

http://www.akff.net/forum/viewtopic.php ... =squid+ink

 

[PoddyMullet]

Nice yakkin gents. I kind of like the leatherjackets on the plate Steve...sweet tasting and underated I reckon (although I'm often wrong). Pretty fair effort feeding the seal pillies, outta the 3 of ya who had the best whisker set? :wink: