Estuary- muddy water monster Something big breaking off from the pontoon

[subtlefly]

So back at the pontoon on a decidedly ordinary fishing day last weekend and got a very nice strike and hook up- 30lb braid FC knot to 80lb platypus leader- this thing pulled for maybe 30 - 45 seconds - really swirled the top of the water out in the creek so  I don't think it was something big on the bottom like a  shovel nose or big stingray - anyways cut straight through the 80lb line.

Normally I understand that its best to make your bait seem as natural as possible - I am using whole squid (about 7-10 cm long) on a single large hook or live bait mullet or prawn when I can catch some - and have not been using a wire trace.  The big hit and chew off was on the squid.  Do you think it is worth running a trace to see what this thing is?  I don't really want to spend my time catching monster catfish or pike eel - But we have caught some cool sharks and there has been a 102 cm Barramundi and some smaller catch and release Mulloway from the pontoon...    There must also be Mangrove Jack there but I we haven't caught any yet.

So the mystery monster - is it worth trying to pull it up with a wire trace or is it (based on the experience and statistics) going to be some non edible/ugly/dangerous beast that is going for that type of bait you think?

Thanks team and have a great day- tight lines

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[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Sounds like you’ve been having some fun sessions! I reckon you were most likely on a shark of some sort, most of the sharks I’ve caught have fought in the top of the water column with a few leaping or splashing on the surface.

Cheers Hamish

[ellicat]

Agree with Hamish. It does sound shark-like.

I'm going to say it is worth a go at catching it, just to see what it is. In the meantime don't go wading.

 

[Bob9863]

 Bull shark would be my guess, anything under 200lb leader and it won't be on for long. 

[The Mad Hughesy]

does sound sharky. its worth chuckink a 80lbs trace on just to increase your chances to see what it is

[subtlefly]

Well I decided no I didn’t change my rig.. on the pontoon it is what it is - after a night of incredible catfish action, with a few pike eel thrown in to liven things up I did end up catching a couple of nice fish between 6 am and 8am this morning.

I even hooked up a tiny thread fin salmon using a popper lure - first lure strike at the pontoon!  Fish threw the hook at the last moment but it was only tiny. I have been playing around with soft plastics and lures at the pontoon for a couple of years (maybe 15 or 20 trips a year) and to get a surface strike and hook up like that (with Grandpa Pontoon watching) was pretty incredible experience

Tight lines all and thanks for your time and wisdom

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[Bob9863]

Another option is take a 2nd heavy rod, run a live bait on a 100lb wire trace while your fishing for other stuff, it's a lot of fun catching a land based shark. 

That reminds me I need to do a post about that. 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Nice grunter! 

[ellicat]

Well done on the popper hookup. Not an easy thing to achieve with a threadie.

[rayke1938]

Large cod mud crab and venetian blind cord will do the trick

[Junky]

I reckon you've got a Groper playing with you. 

Sharks carry on when they're  hooked, go bezerk, big fast runs, head shakes etc. 

Big groper just keep swimming away until the inevitable line break. 

 

Ray's onto it. 

Take some rope and fight it one on one.