Outside Botany Sunday 3rd May

[Rastas2035]

Hello Raiders,

I've been fairly slack on my reports and have made a decision to make a concerted effort to make regular posts.

I had actually been out to the 2nd Fad on Friday after looking at the SST and seeing the temp come back up again to 23 for a couple of legal dollies 62-65 cm after many throw backs and had the fad to myself.

I know we all here about the one that got away but at 4pm the FAD had been dragged under by the current but as I had it marked on the GPS I kept drifting past at around 50 mtr from it's location just to makie sure I did not end up on it flicking the pillies.

I had a couple of rods out 1 side and needed a gentlemans break when I was looking down to see a school swim under the boat at at the head of the school was a Large Golden Bull being followed by the usual size.

I quickly turned and hoped for the best and had 1 rod go off but knew it was just another 60-65cm and let him hook up and then the Live yakka I had out went off also. I quickly brought in the smaller dollie to while the line was screaming off the Big Penn and let it run before flicking over the bail arm and then the drag screamed. Now I have been guilty of counting my chickens in the past but I knew this was the bull.

After a 15 min fight and 3-4 runs with this large Golden Bull tail walking and jumping about 5ft out of the water I got him to the side of the boat. Knowing that my gaff was not in an accessable spot (unprepared ) I reached for the large nett and as I did this he went for one last run and sure enough stupid me did not loosen off the drap and the Hook pulled. If you heard a curdling scream coming from the sea at about 4.30pm off Bondi it was MEEEEEEEE. Another valuable lesson learned the Hard way.

I remember when we was at the side of the boat he was at least as long a the Cougar Craft stiker on the side so he would have gone 12 - 15kg.

So knowing the weather report for Sunday was going to be about the same as Friday I lined up a couple of the boys and we planned to be catching yakka's at 6am.

Well as would have it Yakkas were plentiful and they were small 6-10cm but hard to catch by about 8am the tank was full with a Large squid in the kill tank also just as back-up but the sky weather and sea's did not follow the weather report, I knew there was to be rain but the swell was onyl to be 1-1.2 mtr's.

However the Bommy off Bear island was breaking 6ft at least and the sky looked like a tempest was coming, we could see storm cells comeing and going and decided to stay in the bay for a while longer to let some go past before ventring out.

At about 10am we saw an opportunity as most of the front had come though and went for a look, one word YUK. The swell was coming from SE and was 1.5 with the odd 2mtr plus and doubling up with white tips etc. after about 10 Minutes the boy's weren't keen so we went back in. Knowing that everything was right but the conditions for a 5.5 mtr boat.

We went for some squid in the meantime contemplating a kingy afternoon in the bay b ut by about 12pm the skies were clearing and the seas looked to have setlled back to 1 mtr. So we went out again and this time we got out, went through a storm cell but just heavy rain saw what looked like a water spout attempting to touch down but faded and the we could see that blue sky was coming through.

Logged on and got to the second Fad at about 1pm and before we even dropped a bait Dollies under the boat, 1st drift and we all hooked up (Tripple hook up)

The still overcast but the little yakka's and pillies were getting smashed and we were having so much fun, aprat from the odd undersize most were 65-70cm and Dollie pandimonium had broken out on the boat, crossed lines jumping fish. The current was not as bad as Friday and the water warmer 23.4.

in 3 hours we caught between 20-30 Dollies threw back anything that was even close to underize but probably legal and filled the esky for the Families.

Alas no sign of any Bulls but I did hear the chatter on the Radio of YFT on the shelf and Marlin but we already had too much fun. The total for the day was 18, 6 each between 65-70cm

Got back at 5pm logged off and had a great day, some pics below. Enjoy

[xtosea]

Gold, literally!!!!

[abiasin]

nice work mate. great bag of dollies there.

[Ray R]

That was a top day out mate, a great bag of dollies, bet they keep the hungry hoards happy..

Cheers...

[Penguin]

Well done nice haul of Dollies, and too bad on the lost golden bull

[Werner]

On the subject of currents, I had been taking an interest all week in the strong current pushing south along the coast.....probably the most distinct curent all season.....headed out the back of Jibbon bommie on Saturday morning to have a leisurely drift for flatties...water looked fantastic, current was running hard from the north. Here we were in 68 feet of water not to far from the back of the bommie admiring the great looking water when a decent size marlin cruises past the back of the boat on the surface....looked spectatular. Goes to show, you never know where they will show up......shame i didnt have a live slimey drifting out the back.....

But it does beckon the question as to how viable it is to actively target marlin in close when the conditions are right....

[WANNAFISH]

WOW!!! Great catch. Alot of dollies for the whole family and the neighbours.

[Rastas2035]

On the subject of currents, I had been taking an interest all week in the strong current pushing south along the coast.....probably the most distinct curent all season.....headed out the back of Jibbon bommie on Saturday morning to have a leisurely drift for flatties...water looked fantastic, current was running hard from the north. Here we were in 68 feet of water not to far from the back of the bommie admiring the great looking water when a decent size marlin cruises past the back of the boat on the surface....looked spectatular. Goes to show, you never know where they will show up......shame i didnt have a live slimey drifting out the back.....

But it does beckon the question as to how viable it is to actively target marlin in close when the conditions are right....

Thanks Guy's

Yes the belly is full and all were happy to partake in a great feed.

Werner it's all about the Tempreture change, If you look at the SST (Sea Surface Temprature) from the CSIRO you can target the changes and usually this is where the fish cruise for a feed. The warm water current the last week has come in fairly close to the mainland then you may find the odd Pelagic following bait schools.

I am still waiting to break my cherry on a beaky but following the knowledge of many an exp fisho before me I'm hoping if you put in the time it will happen.

I've also updated the Gallery with a few other captures from trips and local.

[johnv]

well done there fellas top feed of dollies

john

[searunner525]

I was out there aswell on sunday and you were dead right about the weather it wasn't as good as they said it was going to be got to the fad by 7 am but only stayed for half hour as wind and heavy rain picked up decided to head back in and fish the bay.

well done top catch

[erroll]

good report there mate and a nice bag full of dollies too. well done in persisting on sunday. i went out in my 5.5 and it was not that bad, but coming home again the swell was a slow affair.

cheers