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Who needs a charter... when Tugger's at the helm!


Eug

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A deckie spot opened up with Mark and I was lucky enough to get in on it. Launching from Currumbin I was particularly keen to get his perspective on getting through the bar and hopeful that some of his experience would rub off on me. Being a Mackerel virgin I was also keen to open the account on these toothy pelagics.

Few quick calls back and forth and we agreed to meet up at 04:00 down at Currumbin. Early morning and I non-eventfully drove my way to the ramp. Mark turned up not long after feeling pretty seedy from the night before. A quick setup of ice, tackle and other bits we were on the water in no time.

A quick scout of the bar and he decides to wait a while for a little more light to shine through. This guy knows his stuff and if you are ever lucky enough to get onto his boat, pay particular attention to what he's doing and how he does it. It's almost like second nature to him but the experience is invaluable, particularly for a new bar crosser such as myself.

Out onto Palm Reef and he confides in a few hints and tips about the location and techniques, we were quickly onto the schoolies and Mark successfully lands one while I get snipped off on the wire (multi-strand dammit). Soon after we were plagued by the sharks and called it quits to give another one of his marks a hit.

Using his trusty GPS (lining up buildings with mountains and bridges with buildings) he managed to get us into position. While he might not think it's particularly anything special, his sounder was never turned on (broken anyway). His ability to kick it old school with great accuracy is something I (and probably many others) would find amazing.

We were soon back into the fish with quite a few failing to find the hooks. One of the rods went for a blistering run and Mark called on me to take it. Long hard runs in and around the boat coupled with a few heart in your mouth tangle moments (got to have those) and we get the fish boat side, a nice spotty! A quick gaff from Mark which almost drags him into the drink and I open the account with a nice 90+ Spotty. Quickly redeploying baits and Mark is onto another smaller spotty.

The bite dies off and we just kicking back having a chat when our live yakka (jigged up earlier) goes for a blistering run. Mark calls it for a Spanish, only to have severe us off. Another yakka is sent out under the balloon and when we finally decide to retrieve, find the mono all cut up without us even noticing.

Mark has probably had better sessions, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience he has kindly imparted with me despite the lack of fish (by his previous reports :P ). Just being out on the boat I immediately noticed a few things which I could have done better/was doing wrong myself, and without the experience of an old school salty like Tugs would have continued to do so.

This was certainly one of those days by my accounts where the fish was a bonus. Once again Tugs a big thanks for the company and experience you've passed on.

Cheers

Eug

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First Mackerel and what a way to open the account. Brian, I'll try remember to pose with the rod between my teeth next time :P

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The man hard at work.

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Conditions were fair with moderate wind.

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Waiting game.

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What's for tea?

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Looks like you'l get a new avatar now and thanks for the company eug your a natural on the rod guiding that spotty well around the boat. The season should be a long 1 this year so we'll try to get out again and pair up with the boats.

The mackies were there enough today to keep us interested and that last run from the spanaird on the big rod was a ripper if only we could of got him it would have capped off a good day.

You'l get the mackie bug now as i saw how excited you were with that spotty ripping line out on you many times and to get a good first mack in the boat to to start your account off.

Thanks again for coming out hope you had fun and got some tips for next time

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..............

First Mackerel and what a way to open the account. Brian, I'll try remember to pose with the rod between my teeth next time :P

............

Well you have better teeth than me so the pic would look so much better if you did. Who knows you may become a celebrity and pickup a tackle sponsor :whistle: :lol:

Nice fish and sounds like you made the most of a good day out.

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There are some fishing trips you can't wait to read about and any with Tugger in them is one of them.

That's a great spotty, Eug. I wouldn't mind tagging along one day for my first Discovery bar crossing. Always great to read about top fish being caught and of top blokes sharing his knowledge.

Thanks for the report.

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Thanks gents and lady.

Rob I've done it in mine with a bit of guidance from Bri, it's a piece of cake although conditions were spot on. Having also gone through it on Mark's boat (weather was fair), I dare say it's quite variable and could turn nasty quite easily. I'll let you know the next time we tee up a crossing and keep you posted.

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Thanks gents and lady.

Rob I've done it in mine with a bit of guidance from Bri, it's a piece of cake although conditions were spot on. Having also gone through it on Mark's boat (weather was fair), I dare say it's quite variable and could turn nasty quite easily. I'll let you know the next time we tee up a crossing and keep you posted.

Thanks, Eug. It would be good to get a little tinnie convoy going... hopefully my shifts will allow it. What depths were you fishing in and how are the currents out there?

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the currents can vary from day to day anywhere offshore and the depth is between 18 to 24m on the palmbeach reef and around 35m on the gravel patch

Thanks gents and lady.

Rob I've done it in mine with a bit of guidance from Bri, it's a piece of cake although conditions were spot on. Having also gone through it on Mark's boat (weather was fair), I dare say it's quite variable and could turn nasty quite easily. I'll let you know the next time we tee up a crossing and keep you posted.

Thanks, Eug. It would be good to get a little tinnie convoy going... hopefully my shifts will allow it. What depths were you fishing in and how are the currents out there?

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