1 Harbour King

[adkel53]

Up early at 4.15 am for the hour drive to Tunks Park. Arrived 5.40 to find the carpark already full. What is with those selfish bastards who leave trailer sailers, unattended boat trailers and even a car trailer parked in the spots reserved for cars and boat trailers?? Five spaces taken up by these inconsiderate knuckleheads. Will be emailing Nth Sydney council after this. Maybe a few emails from other Raiders will help press the point.

Tried for squid in uncomfortable conditions at the front of Middle Head without success. Decided to troll my way over to the southern side but didn't make it. I had a mackerel coloured Halco Laser Pro lure on a 4 kg overhead setup (14lb fireline and 20 lb leader) and a "toby" metal on my squid rod (4lb fireline and a 10 lb leader). Before I had crossed Middle Head the minnow took a hit that failed to hookup. Turned back and soon afterwards the lighter outfit started to scream. Very short lived screaming though as the leader parted about half way along. Swapped that rod for a 4-6 kg rated model (20 lb crystal fireline and 30 lb leader)and tied on a 20 g Raider metal. Next pass and off goes the metal. After about 5 minutes I have things under control (so I thought) with the fish under the boat and up near the top. Mine I thought. However, a powerful dive and ..... the rest you all know. Re rigged with Halco popper and kept trolling around the area. Saw some promising looking bait schools on the sounder but nothing seemed to be happening. Had decided on one last pass before trying elsewhere when the Laser Pro is taken in about 9 metres of water off the corner of Middle Head. Five to six minutes later, after some educated thumb work on the spool to keep this one away from the reefy bottom, up comes a nice king!! With the boat rolling around in the swell and wind it took me 4 attempts to get the net under him. Cheering!! :thumbup: He only went 72 cm but gave a spirited account of himself on the light gear.

Tried there for a while longer without any further action and went for a look see up as far as Clifton Gardens. Nothing much seemed to be happening up there so decided (even though conditions were decidedly more comfortable up that way) to troll from Middle Head across to Quarantine and out to Nth Head. Two more hits (bonito I think) on the Laser Pro without solid hookups before I decided that I had enjoyed a fun morning and set of for the ramp. Fresh kingfish on the bbq for dinner tonight and some for a fish pie tomorrow!!

Cheers

Kel

PS: He had a couple of anchovy-like baitfish about 7 cm long in him.

Edited March 14, 2010 by kel

[paul.kenny]

Kel, excellent post and goes to show that persistence does payoff....you certainly deserved that Kingie.

[g.t.]

Well done Kel. Sounds like you were rewarded for your efforts. :thumbup:

On the parking issue at Tunks, I couldn't agree more. I was down there a similar time this morning and had to park halfway up the hill. It makes it especially difficult when I'm launching and retrieving alone as I was today. Invariably I end up having to run to and from my paqrking spot so I'm not one of those people who hogs the plontoon for ages. I'm a bit worried someone might pinch my gear while it's unattended as well. I'll take you up on your suggestion and send an email to Nth Sydney Council.

Just a word of warning... I got a fine down there once for reversing the trailer onto the grass behind a normal parking spot. Won't be doing that again!

[mikeh191]

Well done Kel, the kings are not biting like the past few weeks you did well.

Cheers Mike

[adkel53]

I was also alone this morning (as I often am) and yes I also worry about leaving my boat and gear unattended at the pontoon. The fence that is around the pontoon at the moment doesn't help launching and retrieving either. The ramps east of the harbour bridge really leave a lot to be desired, particularly if you are on your Pat Malone. The lack of toilet facilities at Tunks Park is shameful. I might mention that in my email too!! They could easily make at least a dozen extra car/trailer parking spots by removing the grassed "island" where the individual car parking spaces are and designating those places as car/boat only on weekends (like at Rose Bay)

I could use Rose Bay ramp but there is so little tie up space and the boat/ferry wash makes tying up to the fixed structure a problem.

Enough whinging for now.

Tight lines.

Kel

[cameldownunder]

Well done on the king. You must have stomach of Iron, I went much later to middle head and couldn't stay, turning green

I haven't heard the scream of the reel, that I would love to pay the price of a lost lure to hear it.

Bot of course it would be better to get the lure back, including the fish who is hooked to it.

As far as Tunks parking spot regards, it must be annoying to have Non-Boaters parking their cars and other stuff there.

As far as I remember it is free to park there, and emails to council, might encourage them to apply a fee to park

[zen801]

Good effort.

It can be hard work finding a legal king let alone landing one.

We hooked 4 on monday with two being undersized (boated and released) and the other two being legal but we never saw em coz they busted off.

Enjoy

Mike