Whatacatch Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Yesterday was absolutely fascinating day out on the water. My mate and I started early catching squid and our catch rates are improving thanks to tips from fellow raiders. We quickly had a dozen or so then headed out to North Head. Not knowing exactly where to fish there we did what most people do - join a gaggle of other boats - because they surely must know what they are doing. Turns out the spot was very fruitful - we caught 2 flounder, a cracking bream and got absolutely smoked on light gear a few times before we finally landed a small kingy - which was kissed and thrown back. After some unsuccessful downrigging we decided to head out to Long Reef for the first time. We let the anchor out and threw out some strips of squid. Quite quickly one of the rods buckles over and we land a samson fish. Absolutely beautiful fish and great as sashimi. That success continued as over the next few hours as we landed 3 more kings - only one legal. At one point my rod starts taking weight and after picking it up whatever is on the end starts coming in. I was thinking originally a big piece of weed but to my great surprise when I get it closer in it was a massive and very ugly squid. Just as it is nearing the surface my other rod starts screaming out. A mate grabs my other rod whilst I deal to this ugly critter. It was bright orange, a hood which was about 30 cm long, width of about 25cm and legs relatively short compared to its body of about 10cm. In the madness of the other rod going off I didn't take a picture of the squid but it was so ugly I am keen to know if fellow raiders have ever caught one? When I let it go it released and almighty ink squirt that turned the water around the boat totally black. All in all a cracker of a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whatacatch Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 sorry - think i finally worked out the photo thing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishythings Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 I think it was a cuttle fish. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shole01 Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 or a octopus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humesy Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 G'day rich I am thinking cuttlefish too. That looks like one in your photo. Sounded like a great session. Cheers mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whatacatch Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 Just checked out the websites and yes I think you were right Andy it was a cuttlefish. Man they are ugly. Don't tell me they are good to eat because that would be seriously annoying having tossed it back in..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimpee Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 they are good to eat. taste better than arrowheads if cooked right they are a pain in the ass to clean so i dont usually keep them unless theyre big. they seem to hold A LOT of ink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day's Fishin Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Cuttlefish candles are the best snapper bait you can get. The rest of it is not worth the trouble unless you have parrots at home and then as the name say's there is one big shell/bone/whatever you want to call it that the pet shops and supermarkets charge like wounded bulls for. Regards Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whatacatch Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 Jeff- mate you have made my night. I was wondering whether tossing him overboard was a big mistake. Given I don't target snapper I feel vindicated. Thanks Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howdoweplaythis Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 i caught a small cuttle once and it seemed to have a limitless amount of ink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whatacatch Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 I was blown away by the amount of ink it released. Pretty happy it didn't shoot that weapon into the boat. My mate and I would have been totally covered in ink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simda Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Sounds like a great day, were the conditions rough at Long Reef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewhunter13 Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 sounds like a great day on the water!!!! :banana: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piss'n'Broke Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Big cuttle make for some of the best bait,,,,,a few of our best sessions on the kings have been because of 3-5kg cuttlefish fish being caught stripped up and send down for hungry kings with cricket scores of kings being landed. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinsoi Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Well done and nice haul of fish there guys Nice work! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FISHARK Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Yeah mate sounds like a cuttle fish but hey all in all good catch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Was heading out on a charter once, when the captain turned around because of something he spotted from the bridge! It was a massive cuttlefish that the 3 deckies gaffed on board. They reckon there was enough bait there for 10 trips. Well, it worked on ours, we caught heaps!!! Next time keep it for bait. Cheers scratchie!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keza Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Cuttles are fantastic bait for kings. I got a samson and a king at longy on Saturday so there must be a few around. The samsons are a beautiful looking fish. Mine was about 45cm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harold Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Haven't ever caught a cuttle fish. Good on you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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