james7 Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 (edited) It was a bit of a late start because someone (and I wont mention Syd's name) set their alarm to "pm" instead of "am". Anyway, conditions were beautiful as we trolled down the coast. What a great (late) morning! Near Marley was a bit crowded. However, a couple of yakkers seemed to be doing okay following the bait schools around. (CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO SEE THEM FULL SIZE) We continued trolling further south, picking up a few tailor and half a dozen bonito. Now that we had some fresh bait, we decided to have a break and have a "lazy" drift for flatties and a cup of coffee. We picked up the odd flathead here and there when, out of the blue, I landed this beauty. Here's Syd holding MY flattie Just like some other reports have said, we had heaps of those baby spiders floating by with their strand of web and landing all over the boat and around our rods. It was one of the strangest things I'd ever seen. The spiders were so tiny (pinhead size) and the web strands were up to 2m long. Really weird! Syd was very jealous of my flathead and was wondering what he was doing wrong when his rod suddenly buckles. This would be the "equaliser" he said. Instead, this is what he brings up ... (Well, I thought it was funny!) He didn't even want to play a tune on the banjo! Later on and my rod bends and the heavy weight made me think I had ray like Syd's ... ... but this wasn't a ray ... It was this ripper blue spotted flathead! A couple of photos and a rough measure and back she went as she was well over 65cm. (Our unofficial on the boat rule is that any flattie over 65cm goes back) With hindsight, I wished I'd put a drink bottle in the photo so I could enter it in the "catch of the month" competition. We didn't even get an accurate measurement because Syd broke his ruler when he trod on it. Anyway, I was keen to get it back in the water as soon as possible. I reckon it equaled my previous pb of 69cm. It was nearly 15cm across the head. Once again here's Syd holding one of MY flathead (I love saying that!) I picked up another good flattie, and as the afternoon was slipping away, we decided to have a bit of a casual troll back hoping for some more bonito and tailor to fillet and smoke. Along the way, a little rat king put up a good fight. The sun was setting as we continued trolling, picking up a few more bonnies. We were just about to pack up when this big bonito smashed the lure. What a fighter! It was easily the biggest bonito I'd ever caught. A beautiful red sky was a fitting backdrop to end a fantastic day on the water. Cheers Peter Edited December 17, 2010 by peterS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james7 Posted December 14, 2010 Author Share Posted December 14, 2010 A few more photos … Here’s Syd holding the bonito. It was 60cm and about 2kg. A new pb for me. And my two flatties … I also forgot to mention in the report that my “el cheapo home made lure” actually caught a few bonito. Mind you, it was made with the finest quality Myer shopping bag plastic! The next day, before we cleaned them all, Syd thought I should get a photo of one of the flathead with a drink bottle and put it in "catch of the month". This is his idea ... it's feeding time And of course, the usual "table shot" of the final catch. The tailor and bonito were smoked and were delicious! A brilliant day out! Cheers Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgey Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 What an exceptional day on the water, Peter! What a fantastic feed of quality flathead. You were definitely at the top of your game today Fantastic conditions, success on home-made lures, some XOS flatties and a PB Bonnie ... no wonder you're happy! Cheers Skip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray R Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Hi Pete, mate that was another epic tale of fishing splendour. Top fish you guys scored and what a great day it looked.. Congrats on the big flatties and a stonker horsie, along with some great pics, good to see Syd back in the striped shirt..LOL.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil D Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 (edited) Pete thats a Top day out mate, gotta be happy with that Catch & thats one Fat Flathead, yummmm. Edited December 14, 2010 by Groper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musty Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Ok we've seen enough of Syd we wanna see you Peter once and for all! Great catch btw Musty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cut_loose Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Nice catch again mate, you always clean up ! I'm going to The Hacking on Friday. I think i'll go for a troll in the arvo at around 4, then i'll drift around with the bonito i catch ! Are you just using pink xmas skirts ? Thanks mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FISHARK Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 well done gents that was a good day on the water ... Mate that lure worked for the Bonnies hey ?? good work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabefisho Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 G/W Peter, thats a great feed. Nice croc too mate, she's a ripper. Tight lines Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVZ350 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 yum yum yum nice catch fellas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Squidy Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Hows that for a blue spot? Absolute cracker of a fish that one mate, well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusky_Chaser Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Great fishing....awesome blueys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adslmlx8 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 lovely fish there! we too were swarmed by the spider plague on sunday whilst feeding the catfish each side of the hawkesbury bridges must have been literally billions of them within minutes of casting the rod it would be festooned with dozens of the little critters seems the fish musta been scared of them we couldnt catch a feed all day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssymmetri Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 hahahaha love the lure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james7 Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 (edited) Are you just using pink xmas skirts ? Mate that lure worked for the Bonnies hey ?? good work hahahaha love the lure! Yeah, we caught about 12 bonito and the one kingy using pink skirts. I only caught 3 on the "homemade" lure before the swivel broke and I lost the lure. Anyway, the story behind the homemade lure is that a couple of months ago, Syd and I were sitting around one night making a few rigs (and having a few drinks ) when we decided to have a "lure making contest". The only rule was that the lure had to be made with "stuff" we "found". This was mine (very professional eh! ) and this "crappy one" made from packing foam and cable ties was Syd's effort The winner would be the first one to catch a fish. Syd didn't even remember to take his lure last Sunday, and that first bonito I hooked meant that I was the winner! So I challenge all Raiders to try and beat my fantastic effort of catching a fish using a piece of red Myers shopping bag plastic, a bean sinker and some aluminium foil! Cheers Peter Edited December 16, 2010 by peterS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Great day out Peter Looks like Syd got suitably punished by the fishing gods for his late start... watching you land a couple of crackers while dealing with his Banjo Cheers, Slinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brendong Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Pete that was a cracker Bonnie and Blue Spot...congrats mate.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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