Guest Big-Banana Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 (edited) Forecast looked great, so plan was to head to spot X down the coast which usually holds a lot of bait at this time of year, downrig with some fresh squid and see what jumped on and then to hit the flathead grounds for a feed. Boat was packed and readied last night and I snuck in a few hours of sleep. Up at 4:00am, packed all the bait and tackle, hitched up the Hilux and off we went. Looked like it was going to be a nice day At the ramp at around 5:30ish and launched. A slight puff of wind, but apart from that, it looked the goods! No liveys today, instead we shot straight out to this little spot, and got the downrigger set up. Put a big squid out and started the troll. To put it short, it was slow! Not much happening on the sounder and the water temp of 16 degrees was a bit disappointing. Whilst doing our troll I started flicking around a 7" Gulp, casting at some boils up top which were right in tight against the rocks. Perceviered for about 30 minutes but just as the decision was made to pack it in and move elsewhere we snagged the bomb, which wasn't too bad seeing as I'd gotten around 2 years of life from it. Makes me glad I don't have one of those expensive Sharks While we were packing up, I had one last cast and tried a different retrieve. It's always the last cast... To see a King over a meter boof a lure on the surface is unreal, he had a few cracks, and the big bastard missed the lure 3 or 4 times. He wasn't alone, he had a few mates with him. Cast to another pack right in against the rocks. BANG! I'm on. Actually seeing the take was unreal. On 20lb, in snaggy country, I didn't think I had much of a chance. His first run saw him stay up high in the water column, and we gave chase. It was a good 50-60m before he slowed up, and then he dove down deep. Bottom looked clean enough so I let him go, not that I had much of a choice Fight was a bit of a stalemate for 5 minutes where the bugger wouldn't get off the bottom, then I felt the leader starting to shred, he found something snaggy... I backed the drag off and had the boat swung around and pulled the fish from a different direction. He came free, but with 30lb leader and already damaged, I took it real easy. After another 5 minutes, he came to the surface. Wanting to release the fish we netted the fish, but he was all out of juice. He went 104cm and 12.2kg and was my PB King. To see him take a lure off the surface was unreal and the hundreds of casts I've made all made it all worthwhile. Arms were stuffed after the 15 minute fight, but some smart boat driving made the job a little easier. Had a few more casts with weary arms, yeah I know I'm soft. No more luck there, but I was satisfied. Good news for the Social blokes, there were patches of birds working in around a 5 kilometer square radius. I couldn't nail any on small metals and boy they were moving quick, very very flighty. We tried a troll but going nail any. Looked to be Salmon though. Off to the Flathead ground where you guessed it, plagued with jackets. They were all small buggers, but a bit more patience and we ended up with 3 flathead around 50cm, we had more luck near Kilcare Wide. The fish came as soon as the drift went from South to North instead of West to East. Saw an early season bush fire which smoked up the whole system near the rail bridges. There looked to be a lost container ship which hung around the heads all day. I think he had the wrong port! Off the water by 12:00pm and a day to remember Edited September 27, 2008 by Big-Banana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alasdair Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 That is a VERY good fish. Well done!! 1m+ king thats what it's all about!!! Hope you had a few afterwards alasdair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 fantastic fish Banana nice work on that gear too! Cheers, slinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netic Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Awesome stuff Anthony, very well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inhlanzi Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Well done BB That is a great report and an even better fish!!! Well done you are now a proud member of the SP (20 lb) hoodlum club cheers inhlanzi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA911 Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Well done on the PB king! great report as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray R Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Wow mate I'm exhausted from reading your report, that is a great fish and to watch it smash you as well, great work in the windy conditions as well. I saw that big container thingee as well, never seen one that close in before and weren't the containers stacked high... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatty hunter626 Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 bloody nice king there mate....i had to work and saw what you meant about the smoke everywhere but nothing to worry about just a little back burning on dangar island cheers flatty hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big-Banana Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 (edited) A few more pics A few more pics Edited September 28, 2008 by Big-Banana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barker Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Well done Banana, great report, great fish and again I wonder why we sponsor those $10 plus glossy magazines when a normal bloke like all of us on fishraider posts a report like this. That takes the cake for sport fishing, boat handling and some good management. Good onya mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big-Banana Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Thanks all! Just another thing, they were "tailing" out of the water within half a meter to the rocks. Very similar to GT's on the flats. The second King chasing was around 15kgs, so there are some bigger fish mixed in there. He was full of micro Slimeys about the size of your palm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boban Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Great report Anthony and not too shabby on the fishing front as well. Good too see the Big Banana getting out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgey Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Superb fish mate A great read, and just rewards for your efforts mate. That is a cracker! Hodgey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the1murph Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 beaut of a king mate good work. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robeebee Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 mate, that was a great read and an even better fish well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew399 Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Top fish and a good read as well! Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tackle Junkie Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Great Angling Mate, Well Done!!! It is one of the stories you will be telling for while. Cheers Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agro78 Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Well done mate got to be happy with a pb king i must try around the heads this weekend myself congratulatons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug43 Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Nice read mate, I bet the heart ws in the mouth when you felt that leader getting flogged! Nice catch well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big-Banana Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 Thanks for the kind words guys, trying to hit Browns tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R_Zee Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 Thanks for the kind words guys, trying to hit Browns tomorrow Nice Fish Anthony! nothing beats landing a big king especially on relatively light line. what gear were you using? must have been a hell of fight good on ya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickybee Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 great fish.that thing is on the roids. well done mate.good start to the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukunui Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 Awesome kingie. and great report. Fishing in close seems to be the only way to avoid those bloody leather jackets at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanger Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 Great fish mate!!! Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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