Iron Cove 13.3.09

[beeroll]

I went out last week to Iron Cove and had a bit of an exploratory flick into the mangroves near Rodd Point "island", pulling out quite a few small bream and one legal one of 30cm or so which went back in. Around the island itself, there were quite a few small whiting, but nothing approaching legal.

Last night I decided to give the mangroves a proper go with the high tide - but when I arrived, the "high" tide wasn't enough to cover the mangrove area properly! Local knowledge will come, I guess... but I headed over to the island, and cast out from one of the little beaches there. I wasn't expecting much, so I'd only taken the rod and the bait out of the car. Naturally, first cast, WHAM! huge run, and a great fight from a 35cm bream. When I got him to the beach, I went to lift him out of the water, and the line snapped just above the hook! Fortunately, he was a bit dazed, and I managed to scoop him onto the sand. There was a bit of a function happening in the boathouse, and a few people watching - they must have thought I was completely crazy when I threw a fish onto the sand and then just took off - running to my car to get my other gear...

So, the first hour just went off on the rising tide - heaps of bites and runs, only a couple more hook-ups, one a bream that was slightly shorter - 33-34cm, but substantially heavier (the lower one in the shot below). Another great fight, as I was a bit generous with the drag - it's mostly sandy bottom, so I wasn't too worried about being snagged up. And the last hook up was a pup of maybe 15 cm, who swam off looking very dazed and confused...

Once the top of the tide hit, things slowed up big time. Another three guys showed up to fish off the beach too, very friendly, asked if I minded them fishing there, and gave me some Turkish delight (thanks, if you're reading!). They pulled in a series of tiny specimens, for a while I was wondering if they were using Johnson's baby food as bait! When I left, I gave them the rest of my bait - which was chicken rolled in parmesan and garlic - they took a sniff and said - "You're fishing with pizza!" Anyway, very nice guys, and I hope their luck improved, although my looked at me funny when I told her some guys showed up and gave me Turkish Delight...

So I hung round for a few more casts, and then packed up after a perfect night. It was still, warm, almost no mozzies, an amazing lightning show from way down south and big breambos throwing themselves at my hook!

Edited March 13, 2009 by beeroll

[clem]

Great catch there!

It is nice when everything goes kinda to plan and you can have a great deal of info after all of that.

I guess the net and gear will follow next time as your confidence will soar from this last trip.

It is funny how you can get to know people for the first time and have them be friendly AND offer you a treat.

Believe it or not I got given a 65cm kingfish one day and the asked me if I got it out of the bin.

Good on you for releasing the smaller fish earlier as you OFTEN come across people who take the smaller ones and then try and think why there aint any bigger ones out there.

"HELLOW........I GUESS THE LIGHTS ARE NOT ON AT HOME"

Anyway once again great catch and all I can do is hope it was me and not you

Cheers Clem

[beeroll]

Great catch there!

It is nice when everything goes kinda to plan and you can have a great deal of info after all of that.

I guess the net and gear will follow next time as your confidence will soar from this last trip.

Thanks for the props. For sure, I've fished there before for nothing to keep, but now I know that if the conditions are right, it's worthwhile getting properly set up before I cast...

It is funny how you can get to know people for the first time and have them be friendly AND offer you a treat.

Believe it or not I got given a 65cm kingfish one day and the asked me if I got it out of the bin.

Now that is a vote of confidence!!!

Good on you for releasing the smaller fish earlier as you OFTEN come across people who take the smaller ones and then try and think why there aint any bigger ones out there.

"HELLOW........I GUESS THE LIGHTS ARE NOT ON AT HOME"

Yeah no kidding - a guy last week showed me his catch of one keeper bream and two that would have been pushing to be 15cm. He was all proud until he saw me looking at the littlies, and then he shut his bucket quickly and kind of scuttled off.

Anyway once again great catch and all I can do is hope it was me and not you

LOL, there's plenty for both of us to have good sessions!

[nemo1203]

Mate what a great report, look foward to your next one....