queensland No macs or squid, but one for MIL

[Old Scaley]

The forecast for mid-week was too good to miss, so @ellicat and I made a plan to hit spot R1a on the eastern Bay to chase macs and squid. We launched from Manly at dawn into a bit of westerly chop which was not too uncomfortable. The sunrise was beautiful as usual. Here is photo for those who never see a sunrise ( @GregOug, I am talking about you).

We got to spot R1a and Brian deployed a pilchard under a float. I decided to fish the bottom with local squid chunks while I waited to see if there was any mackerel action. Brian soon followed suite. Pretty soon we were pickerel severely and the only fish coming over the side were stripies and undersize snaps and grassies. The float line was not getting any love either. I called a fellow AFOer who I knew was close by chasing squid to see if he was having more luck, but alas he was quiet as well. 

The conditions just got better and better as the day went on, but unfortunately the fishing was still quiet. Brian called @GregOug who was out and about surprisingly early. He reported that things were quiet as well. We had a couple of moves and did a bit of drifting before settling in at spot R1b for the run out tide. The nursery was still active but I did manage one grassy in the mid thirties. Soon after, there was our favourite sound of zzzzzzzzz coming from my reel. After a very brief fight the line went tight but no movement.  Was it a ray, or a big cod headed for home? I left the line with tension on for about ten minutes hoping to annoy the fish out of hiding, but no joy. So I gave it heaps of slack, again no joy. I tightened the drag and broke the line. Looked like the braid was cut on something sharp so the fish must have headed for a bit of reef.

A bit later after landing a smaller legal grassie and a legal tuskie, the old zzzzzzz happened again. This time there was no heading for the reef and we settled into a good battle that went for several minutes. When I first saw the fish on its side down deep, I thought it was a big snapper, but when I got it closer We could see it was a big fat morwong. By this stage I was wondering how good that hastily tied FG knot would hold, but in no time Brian had slipped the net under it and 75cm of morwong hit the deck. I weighed it on my boga grips this morning and it was just over 12lbs in the old lingo. My best fish so far this year so I was pretty happy.

   

So while we didn’t manage either of our target species, it was another great day on the water with good company, a few laughs and a few fish. Thanks again Brian.

[ellicat]

It was great to be out there after a long period of inconvenient weather days. Company was good as always, Steve. Thanks for the day. You've summed it up nicely so I don't have much to add. Well, other than the fact you hogged that side of the boat when my side wasn't firing. Mental notes have been taken. haha

I'll tag on here that I relaunched at 4.30 yesterday afternoon and fished around the Port with @Leosonfire for zero in the esky, a squid that had its head ripped off by something that didn't come back for the main course. :(   In the end we ended up wrestling a good sized catshark and two big rays to the boat before the midnight curfew and a 22 hour day called time.

That was a good fight you had with the morwong and very well angled !

[Drop Bear]

Cracking fish legends. I love my mother in law.... fish

 

[Drop Bear]

1 hour ago, ellicat said:

the midnight curfew and a 22 hour day called time

woah! thats a big day out on the water!

good on ya mate. Great to get out there. 

[GregOug]

2 hours ago, Old Scaley said:

The forecast for mid-week was too good to miss, so @ellicat and I made a plan to hit spot R1a on the eastern Bay to chase macs and squid. We launched from Manly at dawn into a bit of westerly chop which was not too uncomfortable. The sunrise was beautiful as usual. Here is photo for those who never see a sunrise ( @GregOug, I am talking about you).

Well. Excuse me! For a start, I have seen a sunrise. In fact, I saw it yesterday as I turned over and went back to sleep! Also, what are you doing fishing in my spot R1a?

[Drop Bear]

3 minutes ago, GregOug said:

Well. Excuse me! For a start, I have seen a sunrise. In fact, I saw it yesterday as I turned over and went back to sleep! Also, what are you doing fishing in my spot R1a?

haha I think that is my spot originally haha. 

[GregOug]

1 hour ago, ellicat said:

It was great to be out there after a long period of inconvenient weather days. Company was good as always, Steve. Thanks for the day. You've summed it up nicely so I don't have much to add. Well, other than the fact you hogged that side of the boat when my side wasn't firing. Mental notes have been taken. haha

I'll tag on here that I relaunched at 4.30 yesterday afternoon and fished around the Port with @Leosonfire for zero in the esky, a squid that had its head ripped off by something that didn't come back for the main course. In the end we ended up wrestling a good sized catshark and two big rays to the boat before the midnight curfew and a 22 hour day called time.

That was a good fight you had with the morwong and very well angled !

Good on you Brian for putting in the hours. Sorry you didn’t get the reward you were hoping for. 

[GregOug]

1 minute ago, Drop Bear said:

haha I think that is my spot originally haha. 

Well, I note you don’t need it anymore Robbie. That Jewie is a beast!

[GregOug]

We caught one barely legal Moses Perch and a decent sized Bream in the first ten minutes and then nothing for the rest of the day. I was disappointed but my son pointed out that that was a lot more than we usually manage. And I must admit they tasted bloody great!

[GregOug]

8 minutes ago, Drop Bear said:

haha I think that is my spot originally haha. 

Yeah. Only joking. My spot numbering system is still only up to AA0.

[kmcrosby78]

Nice work fellas and great work on the big morwong @Old Scaley. Geez @ellicat - that's a big day alright. Have you only just woken up?

[ellicat]

1 hour ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Geez @ellicat - that's a big day alright. Have you only just woken up?

I wish !  Been up since 5am, but did have a nap this arvo.

[Drop Bear]

12 hours ago, GregOug said:

We caught one barely legal Moses Perch and a decent sized Bream in the first ten minutes and then nothing for the rest of the day. I was disappointed but my son pointed out that that was a lot more than we usually manage. And I must admit they tasted bloody great!

Nice one mate. Moses are delicious and i have enjoyed many feeds of bream. 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi @Old Scaley and @ellicat

Great job on that awesome fishing session. I'm glad you guys landed some good and yummy fish.

The fight must've been great, with a fish of that size. I bet he had some power in him Steve. Yum!

Cheers Hamish