Seeing red!
Sunday - 29 May 2011
The tides were not very favourable this weekend. Not much of a difference between high and low tide means that there will not be much current.
The first spot gave us a few small fingermark snappers which were released to grow bigger. The second spot gave us no bites at all, so we moved on again. Merv went back to the first spot, insisting that there are fish there really!
I moved on to a drop off from 14 feet down to 24+ feet. We've had a few from here before, but no bites this morning. As I was sitting there, wondering where Merv was, I had a text message.. "Ang Kway (Red Snapper) are here! 2 so far and counting!"
Merv's instinct was right again!
I started to wind the line back in, ready to follow Merv, when I felt a little tug. I paused on the retrieve and felt a stronger tug, struck into it and felt a nice little fighter on the end. As it came up, I could see red - my own red snapper!
Cast out again and sent Merv a text saying I had my own! Another tug and another red came up to say "Hello!"
Another text to Merv - "2 all!"
My next cast put me in the lead...
I looked up and saw Merv heading my way.... just as my fourth took the bait...
Merv was impressed and dropped his line down into the same hole. He was quickly rewarded with a bent rod and another one came up. I had enough of the snapper for now, so cast around looking for Giant Herring, but only found a small one which was quickly released.
Moving further into the rocky areas along the coast, I had a strong pull and quite a fight on my hands. Puzzled as to what the creature was, I was hoping for a nice Barramundi, but this wasn't fighting like a Barra. As a silver disk appeared, I could see why it was a strange fight - my biggest Chao Xi (Sickle Fish) came spiraling up to the surface. This thing is huge for this species!
A quick foto and sent her back off into the depths..
I looked across and could see a large shoal of fish on the surface. We've seen many large shoals before, but never caught any of the fish. I usually cast into or over the shoal allowing the lure to sink down and hope to tempt a big predator to take my presentation. I did the same this time and hooked one of the mystery fish! Now I know what they are - Five Spot Herring!
I know this one only has three spots, but I guess it is saving up for the other two!
Quickly released this one, cast out and caught another! I think they just got in the way of the lure, rather than actively attacking it tho.
Merv and I ended up with about the same amount of fish today, tho I think Merv's flu had thrown him off his game slightly!
