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Bribie Island Poppers 10 Feb 2008

Rocket75

By Rocket75
in Saltwater

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Rocket75 Newbie

Rocket75

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After a bit of a sleep-in this morning, Kath and I stashed our light lure outfits in the car and we headed off to check out Northpine Dam and the country markets at the nearby historical park. We had no serious plans to fish anywhere today, but I was interested to see how much water had made it in and how it looked. After a drive around it was evident that the levels have risen noticeably since last I was there, but there is still a long way to go.

Neither of us was keen enough to battle the long grass, mud and snakes, so we moved on to the markets for a look at the various stalls.

Fresh fruit in hand, we left the markets and made the decision to head for Bribie Island for lunch and maybe a flick or two on the calm side.

My favorite spot on Bribie so far is the end of Banksia Beach near White patch. There are yabbie banks there that have yielded some good fish for us over the years, if a bit hit and miss.

The tide was just passed high and rapidly draining off the banks. With scattered cloud cover and patches of weed evident, I thought we may be in with a shot of a flattie or two.

Kath started working a soft plastic and I was trying one of my as yet un-proven “Chubbiesâ€Â. After many casts and no touches at all, we were starting to think that we were out of luck. Kath noticed a showing of surface action in the vicinity, so I switched to a popper.

Poppers and I were not firm friends. I owned approx 6 of them, but had yet to catch a fish on them, and had little confidence of doing so today.

We were in the fortunate position of casting with the wind, so we managed to cast our poppers a good 30-40m across the banks, looking for channels and structure that may hold the elusive fish we were seeking.

Disheartened after casting fruitlessly Kath had given up for a break and was watching from the shore whilst I continued casting in the vain hope that something would commit suicide and throw itself at my popper.

I was content “playing†with one of my more recent popper acquisitions, a likely looking beast by Strike Pro called a “Smashmouthâ€Â. This lure’s action seems to vary with retrieve speed. It zigzags on the surface with a slow to medium retrieve, or bloops with quicker jerky motions of the rod. The bib on the front of the lure acts like a bulldozer and displaces an impressive amount of water.

I was happily experimenting and thinking that if I was a fish, I would have a go at this lure, and bugger me, something did!

A solid hit transmitted through the 4lb crystal on my Pflueger Trion/Silstar combo, and a large splash where my lure had been was enough to tell me that I was on, but to what?

Expecting a flattie, or perhaps a bream, but happy just to be fighting something with some go, I concentrated on keeping the line tight as the drag did it’s thing.

My first impressions were not that of a flattie fight, with the unknown attacker carving from side to side in the shallows. As my fish came closer, I could make out a long silver shape that was reminiscent of some of the bigger whiting I have caught on bait further up at Donnybrook in the past.

This fish looked too deep in the body at first glance, but as I got the better of the fight and walked backwards to beach my prize, I was delighted to see that it was indeed a whiting.

Not just any whiting, my whiting of firsts and bests!

• First fish on a popper.

• First Whiting on a hard body.

• PB Whiting bait or lure

On the brag mat for the happy snaps it went just on 36cm and it was quite solid, so much so I was unable to make my fingers meet around its girth.

After photos it slipped away into the shallows to grow bigger again for the next lucky angler.

I cast again with high hopes of repeating the dose, but alas, no more fish graced us with their presence.

More than happy with the results of our day trip we packed up and headed for home. Kath finished the day fishless (a rarity indeed), but I have a feeling she will be out for revenge on our next mission!

Thanks for reading, photos to follow.

Rocket

[img size=448]http://www.australianfishing.com.au/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/images/popper_whiting_005.jpg

post-953-144598443521_thumb.jpg

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Dan23 Newbie

Dan23

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Awesome, I've tried for whiting on poppers a couple of times without landing one. Great stuff. Looks like a good spot there too. Sounds like with all the fresh water in the rivers, island life could be the go.:)

That's a pretty big whiting too. You must have been tempted to take it home for a few crumbed fillets.

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Dan23 Newbie

Dan23

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Dinodadog wrote:

Well done Rocket, I got some small poppers awhile back after seeing starling catching whiting with them, but they havn't seen water yet. Next time have a wash before your photo your face is dirty. ha ha

He he, I have that same Pop R he used in that vid. When I got it they said that it had been popular. The other day I was in a tckle store I won't name and they had about 20 all in that clear body blue head colour and they were stinging about $19 for a $12 lure.

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Rocket75 Newbie

Rocket75

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Thanks guys.

Yes Dennis, I do need a shave :blush: (& you sound like my Dad!)

No Dan, I'm not real big on eating fish most of the time and rarely go prepared with ice etc. Got any time off this week, we can try the same spot again:woohoo:

Rocket

Any one else got one of these poppers, any success ?

[img size=448]http://www.australianfishing.com.au/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/images/popper_whiting_006.jpg

post-953-144598443528_thumb.jpg

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Dan23 Newbie

Dan23

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Rocket75 wrote:

Thanks guys.

Yes Dennis, I do need a shave :blush: (& you sound like my Dad!)

No Dan, I'm not real big on eating fish most of the time and rarely go prepared with ice etc. Got any time off this week, we can try the same spot again:woohoo:

Rocket

Any one else got one of these poppers, any success ?

[img size=448]http://www.australianfishing.com.au/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/images/popper_whiting_006.jpg

Nah but you've got me keen to try on the weekend.

That bib looks like a Halco nightwalker. Does it work in a similar way? I've got some cash to blow so I think I'll go buy one:)

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Rocket75 Newbie

Rocket75

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Dan wrote:

That bib looks like a Halco nightwalker. Does it work in a similar way? I've got some cash to blow so I think I'll go buy one

Dan, I have not used a nightwalker, but they do look similar from what i can remember. The one I was using was quite large (at 6.5cm and 9.7 gram), so I wasn't expecting a whiting to hit it, but just goes to show, u never know:woohoo:

I'll definitly be giving it more of a swim from now on:P

Might even have to get another one (when they are on special)

Rocket

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