G'day raiders,
I decided to drag the boat down to the hawkesbury yesterday with jnr scratchie for a local tavern comp. With the impending weather predicted it was a difficult decision but I'm always keen, so I thought bugger it and that is where the challenge began!
We were greeted to hostile winds and threats of lightning, rain, the works and it was difficult even launching the boat. As we ventured out, the usually calm river was a torrent of wind and swell and we were bobbing up and down like a brides nighty! We finally made it to our spot to hide from the wind as best possible but our idea to throw SP's was gone. We drifted hungry bay for a few hours and picked up a few flatty for our troubles, all around the 40cm mark.
Jnr also managed to catch a squid and after some clever netting, he was put in the live tank with a plan in mind.
It was becoming a bit mundane drifting the same area and we took our opportunity with a slight drop in the wind and we headed out between flint & steel to Juno. Great decision, first I'm on to a nice little soapie, then jnr and then double hook up! It was a great little sesh with 6 Jew in 40mins ranging from 40-55cm.
It was then time to find a spot for the night and we'd done well to dodge the rain and wind and still managed a few fish, so we bunked down in JB out of the wind. I really like this spot and a chance to use this live squid with a chance of a resident Jew. Anyway we dropped anchor, burleyed up and was waiting for the tide to change bit this time there was no dodging the rain. It bucketed down, so out went the live squid and a livey I caught. And we retreated to the cabin. Right on the tide change, off goes the squid and I jump out pick up the rod, strike zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, a run of 100m in 5secs as the run stops and feel the weight, a shake of the head and goooooooooone! I was shattered and wound in the rod to find still most of my squid there but dead. Oh well, reset the hooks and out she goes. Nothing for about hour so I hit the bed and just as I fell to sleep zzzzzzzzzzz, I jump up, half asleep, wet, no shoes and try again. This time it comes up solid and the hook is set. I yell to get jnr up to give me a hand as it's pitch black and I didn't want to drop this one! So with the aid of my little mate I battle with this fish for 10mins and it wasn't until it finally surfaced and it was a bloody Noah's ark!
So off to bed, cold wet and disappointed and nothing for the rest of the night. We awoke in the morning to similar conditions and managed a couple more flatty before heading home! It was probably some of the most challenging conditions I experienced in sometime but still managed a feed and most importantly made it home safe!
Thanks for reading,
Cheers scratchie!!!