Spot On

[ellicat]

@Old Scaley and I launched at Manly at 7 this morning and headed to Mud. Plan was to have a go at a snapper or two on the runout and tide change, then head up inside Moreton to troll for some spotties.

Mud was a bit quiet but managed to put a keeper grassie and tusky in the esky. For the first time in ages we were able to rustle up some livies too. A few undersize fish and a couple of grinners saw us through until 12.30ish. We then decided to go for a troll.

We headed up to a beacon with the plan to troll from there over to Moreton then down to Shark Spit. Steve had on a 3 inch spoon behind a 5M deep trolling board and I had on a Laser Pro 2.5M diver in Qantas. About 500 metres from the beacon Steve's rod went off, I hit the waypoint button and in came a spottie that played up deluxe beside the boat - ripping the line through Steve's hand 3 or 4 times. Finally he got it onboard, going 83cm.

 

I quickly changed my lure to a 190mm 6M diver Laser Pro in Qantas while Steve cleared the mess on his line. Back in the water we passed back through the mark and on a bit when Steve's rod went off again. This time it was an undersize schoolie that flipped off boatside. We did a circle or two for a bonito, before deciding to head back to the beacon and then turn for home, as the wind had sprung up a bit.

On the way to the beacon my rod went off, reel screaming at pace. By the time I'd throttled back, turned and got off my chair and got to the rod the lure was bitten off. Either a big spottie or maybe a Spanish or even a longtail. Who knows ? Whatever it was it won its freedom and I got the booby prize. (Not that I've got anything against boobies.)

We trolled for another five or ten minutes on the way to Mud with no further action, so wound them in and headed for home.

Thanks for coming along, Steve. That macky made the day.

[Old Scaley]

Just finished cleaning and packing the mackerel which is destined to form part of a few upcoming curries. If we had spent more time chasing them, I’m sure we would have had a few more macs, but it was hard to leave those bites that were teasing us at Mud. Great day as usual Brian. Looking forward to many more trips in 2023.

[Angry51]

Looks like a fairly good day, tell a few lies and get a feed,

what more do you want.

[Kat]

Mmm mmm fish curry - although I think if I caught a spotty it would be eaten as is with some salt, pepper, flour and butter.  

What sort of curry Steve?

[Angry51]

HOT one.

[Bretto77]

Looks like you two had a good day overall. Great to see. There are definitely worse things in life than a 'Boobie" prize @ellicat 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Good work Steve and Brian, that's a solid mack!

[Allnighter]

Good stuff you two Amigo's

Nice spotty Steve and a great photo too btw Brian

[ellicat]

44 minutes ago, Allnighter said:

Good stuff you two Amigo's

Nice spotty Steve and a great photo too btw Brian

It's easy when the subject is so photogenic... like all spotties are. haha

 

Here's a video of the mack hunting. (Put it on HD for a better view)

 

[Old Scaley]

2 hours ago, Kat said:

Mmm mmm fish curry - although I think if I caught a spotty it would be eaten as is with some salt, pepper, flour and butter.  

What sort of curry Steve?

I like many curries, Kat. Lately it is this one https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/madras-fish-curry-of-snapper-tomato-and-tamarind/. Simple but very tasty.

[kmcrosby78]

Nice work fellas - glad you landed the spottie @Old Scaley, I was a bit nervous when you leant the rod against the gunwhales, thought it might do one last run and take your rod with it ....... Good to see you both doing well - not jealous at all ....... 

[kmcrosby78]

Oh and enjoy that curry Steve .

[Bretto77]

1 hour ago, Old Scaley said:

I like many curries, Kat. Lately it is this one https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/madras-fish-curry-of-snapper-tomato-and-tamarind/. Simple but very tasty.

I reckon I will get to try that soon... If there is an appropriate candidate in the freezer of course.... Fresh is looking unlikely for a while

[Bretto77]

52 minutes ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Good to see you both doing well - not jealous at all ....... 

Yep.... I hear you

[Allnighter]

Geez you're game retrieving line with bare hands like that @Old ScaleySteve 🫣.... one accidental wrap of line around one of your digits and you will have a nice fresh snapper bait . 

[Old Scaley]

Yep, Darren, I made a mental note to bring the gloves next time I use the trolling board. And we decided that we might play the next one out a bit longer. 

[charlie.hans.fishing]

That's a good session Brian. Nice work on the solid spotty @Old Scaley

[Hweebe]

Nice Spottie on the trolling board - So far i've resisted using boards / trolling but may need to bite the bullet to tick off a Moreton bay spottie for 2023.

When i've trolled the qantas lures behind the boat my other half reckons its not really fishin  which i try to explain to her its just another technique to fishing.

I shouldn't really argue she outfishes me 9 times out of 10 and likes to stay "connected" to the rod/line to feel bites / hits. Meanwhile I'll have 5 rods out  and no fish.