Magic Christmas Eve (Kingies & a Marlin)

[vitaminsea]

Took my son and his grandfather visiting from the Uk for a fish this morning

We have a "secret spot" for inshore trolling and were there by 9.15. Eight laps, 6 fish - 5 rats and 1 bonnie. Great fun for the little fellow and even better for his grandfather who'd never caught a fish before the bonnie and kingie he landed today.

After an hour decided if we were having that much luck, we'd try for bigger fish and blasted out to 12 mile reef. Only a couple of boats there and not much on the sounder, but drifted a couple of times with jigs for zip. The small man was feeling rough, so as we still had time figured we'd troll north on the way home.

Lowered the outriggers, dropped a small flouro orange jet head out the back. Turned around to pick a second lure. Started to clip it to the second rod when noticed a decent sized sailfish right behind the small jet head, just bashing it but not biting.

Immediately lobbed the second lure out the other side of the boat to keep it's attention, and went to look for the Joe Yee flouro lure. Had just got it in the water when the second lure got smashed and line started reeling off like mad. Fantastic jumps and pirouettes from the fish as it set a course for Browns with afterburners lit. Pandemonium on the boat as we shipped the lines and got ready to chase. With the fish having taken about 500 yrds of line, and continuing to skate across the surface it then spat the hook. Everyone disappointed but not a bad start to grandad's and the young fella's game fishing experience.

Trolled over the ground again for nought.

Then blasted by to Sydney and halfway back ran into a massive school of dolphins that raced and played with the boat for about 15 minutes.

Couldn't have been better if we'd tried (bar landing the marlin).

Beautiful day and the fish putting on a special event for all

[safboi]

Great stuff vitaminsea , what an experience for your two crew mates! that's prob something they'd both remember for some time to come, especially the young fella. Bad luck on the sailfish, would have been awesome to get one of those , I'm sure they're both prob eager to head out onto the water again sometime very soon

had heaps of fun reading it, great report

cheers,

Saf