Scratchie

Great report Rev! Good to see you back on home turf getting amongst them! Nice kingy 🤙 cheers scratchie!!!

Was a memorable day indeed mate! Cobia are notorious for dropping gaffs and I did think it was all over. But we finally won one in the end! Your up next champ! 🤙

Now I know what they fight like I reckon I lost a couple of bigger models in the last 3 weeks 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ Cheers mate!

Yeah the reds were scarce yesterday for us too! Mick scored a nice one and got dusted by one but the bites were few and far between. They obviously don’t like that fresh water!

Thanks. It sure was! Thanks FIL. It was a slog out that’s for sure! Cheers Rebel 🤙 Thanks mate! To answer your question it’s the balance between getting the bite and not! The primary target of the day was snapper. But then once we started getting dusted, we upped the leader size to 30lb. And still got dusted. It’s a sporting game out there 😂

Nice work again Yowie! Always interesting to see what you have on the mat! cheers scratchie!!!

Thank mate! It made my day yesterday. 🙌

Thanks 🙏 unbelievable feeling! Yewwwwwee ✅ Cheers mate! Mick got the snapper and it was a beauty too! Thanks Frank! Yeah it’s funny how it can happen. I’ve never been on a boat that’s caught a cobia. And I’ve been on plenty! Hopefully you can tick your nemesis off one day too! BTW, I’ve caught a red mowie before 😂😂 Thanks mate! Well I’m glad there was another fishraider there with me! 💪 Cheers mate! Now that I’ve fought one and landed it, I understand the fight. I reckon I’ve lost heaps of them before 😂😂😂 Thanks Kent! It actually did both. First deep, then hit the surface and then after the gaff attempt went deep again! I was worried on the silly gear but all good now! Cheers mate! Thanks Dave Thanks BN! The next is a 20kg plus king. But not on a snapper stick please 😂😂😂 Thank you Cheers mate! Hard earned alright! It took 20 plus years! Hahahahhaahah thanks Dave! Yeah good luck with that on a handline! I’d still be there fighting now 😂

G’day raiders, This post is 20 years in the making! Whilst catching snapper is my most favourite fishing target, there are plenty more fish in the ocean so to speak. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to many places chasing different species including an epic trip to Darwin with a bunch of legend fishraiders and tick many species off my list. Trips to QLD and northern NSW have seen me add to those lists but one fish that has eluded me my whole career and my nemesis is the dreaded COBIA!!! Well today @back cruncherand me hit the island after a promising trip a few weeks back that saw us lose a heap of fish. The day didn’t start out well and to be honest was looking rather bleak. We struggled to catch a livie and our first few drifts in two different areas only yielded a few bonito and some rat kings. So we headed back to the area that we copped a dusting previously and it wasn’t long until I heard the reel screaming. Mick didn’t hear it cos he’s half deaf 😂😂 but he heard me yell at him to start the motor. After a few runs and a couple of winds, snap goes the leader. Not again! Undeterred we kept casting and Mick loads up and this thing heads for NZ and snap goes that one too! We reset the drift and I cast out, about 10 seconds later and it’s screaming again! This time I set the hook and set it hard! I lose about 100m of line and call for mick to pull all the lines up! An epic battle ensued and about 5 minutes or so later, I get my first sight of the fish in the surface! It’s a friggin COBIA I call. The knees begin to weaken and my arms are shaking. I slowly compose myself and settle back into the fight. Another 10 minutes or so and I’ve finally got it boatside and it’s decent. Mick leans over and gaffs it and it’s almost in the boat. Then it rolls around, spits the gaff and heads back for the depths! Nooooooooooooo! I take another deep breath and start the fight again. Easy, easy and begin to wear it down as it’s doing the same to me! Lol Another 5 mins later and it’s within sight of the gaff and in she goes and into the boat. The relief was immense!!! A fish if a lifetime had just hit the deck. A few choice words and Hi 5’s then back to fishing. Not long after Mick pulls a good snapper, followed by two sharks and got dusted by another good snapper! Didn’t manage to find him his cobia but we know they’re out there! Overall, what started as a pretty ordinary day turned very epic in a turn of a reel. Sometimes it’s not just the fish either, it’s the company and Mick……. Your a legend mate! Broughton Island @9:31 mid tide gear: Okuma ITX 4000 Atomic ARROWZ offshore 10-25lb 20lb Dangar braid and 20 blackmagic leader Thanks for reading, cheers scratchie!!!

Nice work mate! My favourite spot in NSW to fish! Everything is on the cards up there. Thanks for the report 🤙 cheers scratchie!!!

Hahahahaha have the same problem! Too much work and too many kids 😂😂😂

Nice work mate! The more time you spend out there, the better the results will be! Congrats 👏 cheers scratchie!!!

Nice work Skip! Good to see you got out and nailed a few! cheers scratchie!!!

What a fantastic trip! Good to see you boys get amongst it. cheers scratchie!!!

Congrats to you both! Not only on the marriage but a fantastic trip! cheers scratchie!!!

Hahahaahaha yeah messaged me! Epic fish and hope it’s a world record!

Nice work mate! Good to see you get amongst it! Have to tee a up a trip soon 🤙 and bring Rick along! cheers scratchie!!!

Good stuff Bob! Nothing like a good kingy session. I’m still cringing at those bananas though 😂😂😂 cheers scratchie!!!

Just be cautious if your venturing outside. A bit of wind and swell forecast for tomorrow!

Thanks mate! We got a feed and had some fun! That’s all that matters! 👍

Mate, I was really surprised how the fish turned on! But we had to move a fair bit to find them. Not much debris at all 🤷‍♂️ Cheers Rob. Yeah I can never get use to losing that many fish 🥲 Hahaha! The day I catch whiskers there will be a quick photo, a stern talking too and I’ll send him on his way! Good to see you too! Im just glad Mick is half deaf lol 😝 To lose one or two big fish I can handle, but today I lost 5 and there was nothing I could do about it. No gear or angling failure, they were just too big! 🥲

Hahahahah! Yeah it is skinny but I wanted some sashimi, so home it came 😂

Well done Rev! The smile says it all. We sometimes get so focused on targeting fish, (boat based) we often forget how much fun getting back to basics is! cheers scratchie!!!

G’day raiders, Headed out early this morning with @back cruncher to go and chase some reds and see whatever else was out there. We were surprised to find the water temp was around the 24deg mark but it was still pretty green and dirty. The wind was a bit up on forecast and with a strong current running downhill, it made it a difficult decision where to start. We pulled up to the first spot and after two casts we both looked at each other and said let’s move! Found another area to work and got our drift set. A few casts and not much doing and then suddenly I loaded up and a screaming reel and then I lost wait! The snapper had swallowed my plastic and crushed the leader. Damn! A couple more drifts and finally a pannie into the bag. Then the live rod goes off and I’ve got wait of a good king. As Mick clears the lines the fish runs under the boat and into structure then gone! Damn! Time to move on, and another two areas are devoid of bait and fish! Our next spot had a good drift and finally Mick comes up tight to a fish and into the bag. We kept casting our plastics but it just didn’t seem to be working, so I chucked some yakka fillet on a jighead and fished it the same way and finally, it loads up and with some line peeling, I finally stop a decent red (75cm) We both now switch over to bait and cast out fresh and old fillets and started getting a couple! We adjust our drift once more and I cast out and get absolutely smoked by a brut and almost lost my spool. Damn! Reset the drift, cast again and bag I’m on! This time I managed to stop its run and there was enormous weight. It takes another run and I stop that too. Now I need to get some line back, so we chase it down and as I’m about to get on top of it, Pop! (The next few sentences I made will not be repeated on this site 😂) DAMN!!!! Called it a day not long after that. It was good to see @Peter Nelsonout there and share some info! Me and Mick had a cold beer on the travel home just thinking about what might have been! Oh well, you can’t win them all but yes I will be having nightmares for a while. Thanks for reading, Cheers scratchie!!!

It was a pleasure to meet you Rev! A damn shame that the water was so putrid. Normally March is the best time of year to fish up here. Great to see you get a good flatty though and you came away with a few spots to try next time your in the area. Travel safe mate! cheers scratchie!!!