nbdshroom Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 (edited) Lately, I've been trying to catch another landbased jew but this time I've been trying new spots along the Parra and Georges systems. The reason for trying new spots rather than the tried and true places is because I had hoped to develop a better understanding of these fish's movements and behaviour according to the tide/moon cycle and effect of rain. This is still a work in progress but hopefully one day this may bear fruit. Anyway, back to the story. I got a tip from a friend to try a new place which he thought would be worth a shot and last week I struck it lucky! The general area was in the upper Parra. Right on the turn of the tide, my rod loaded up with the fish which I thought was a flathead at first. It was a powerful and short first run with the fish taking off toward deeper waters. Then came a sizable second run... punctuated by an even bigger third run. I was a bit perplexed at this point namely because I was no longer sure the fish was a flathead. Firstly, there were barely any recognisable headshakes and secondly it kept running! My heart rate suddenly shot up and all of a sudden I was conscious of my pumping and winding. I was not feeling as fluid as I was just a minute ago. I tried not to get my hopes up and calm myself down for the sake of landing the fish. Even though I was fishing solo, I audibly let out a few words under my breath that it 'surely must be a ray'. Surely... Well that worked momentarily. I calmed down and continued for another 5 or 10 minutes fighting the fish which was swimming with the current. I could feel it tiring but it was getting the better of me because it was starting to go around the bend. If the fish was to manage another several metres, I would surely have lost it due to the unreasonable angle required to fight the fish. So I locked up the drag, and battled against the fish and my machinery. When the fish was in safe waters again, i loosened the drag once again. By now, the fish was nearly in but it kept low in the water so I still did not have any idea what it was. In my mind, I was imagining a ray sucking onto the sea floor. After a few more weak runs, I saw a white belly flash and it was then I knew it was a jew. The pulsing heart, clammy hands and scared look in my eyes came back! I've lost plenty of good fish in close so I decided to make a quick landing. I pumped it in as quickly as I could and grabbed the fish out of the water! If you've ever seen the old John west salmon commercial where the guy hoists a fish above his head letting out a loud roar, that's what I was doing! ...actually that's not true, because it was more like a weak and hunched over position due to the weight of the fish. So there you have it! 95 cm of ghost caught on the turn of the high tide on a Squidgie fish. She was released for the future enjoyment of others! Edited January 10, 2014 by nbdshroom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Just awesome Pete! That was a great write up and I felt like I was there in the moment. It made me hang onto every word. You've been quiet of late but have come back in a big way! Just short of the magic 1m but a cracking fish none the less. Good on you my friend, I know how much you've targeted that species and your persistence has paid off! Cheers scratchie!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 good on you Pete what a top report Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 What sort of set up and plastic you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onearmedfisho Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Good job mate. Nice fish and good release... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbdshroom Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 Thanks for the comments guys! I try to make the reports a bit interesting and glad you liked it. Not sure how I forgot to put that in Jeff, but I was using a 7'3" 6-14lb Majorcraft Crostage hard rock rod with Sustain 2500FG spooled with 1.5PE Unitika Shore Game (equivalent to 8lb Fireline Crystal in breaking strain) and 14lb Sunline FC Rock leader. The lure was a squidgie fish in silver fox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bharris Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Pete the time paid off good stuff Sent from my GT-S7500T using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbdshroom Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 (edited) Thanks Ben, she'll be there waiting for you (or anyone else reading that gets her first) when she reaches the metre mark! Edited January 10, 2014 by nbdshroom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfisherman Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Keep up the good work. Your studies of where when and how you caught the fish will bear fruit when you have a peice of the puzzle. People have cracked the code but understandably keep it a secret, for it's something that's been worked towards... Would you give the money out of your wallet away? Great report. Harry If it's to good to be true, it usually is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Witha Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Mate what a fish. And such a great report. I'll put in a vote for you to compile your reports into a leather bound tome please Nice work on the release too. Cheers Witha Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aero.gard Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Nice fish pete Congrats on a great fish ps glad i could help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbdshroom Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 Thanks Luke, you have helped me immeasurably! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shak4g63 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Thats a standing ovation performance. ......Cheers buddy ..i felt I was in the moment. Tight lines!, Shakeel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Incredible Hull Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Onya Pete! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbdshroom Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 Haha, glad you enjoyed it Witha. Cheers Dave, fish soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlRak Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Great report, better fish. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.e.p.d Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Great report. Is that general area heavily fished? That is a fish you won't forget in a hurry. Great effort Cheers evan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmak Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 That's a cracking fish and a great report. You've put in the hards yards so enjoy the rewards! Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bharris Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 P.s grate work on getting the first jew on a urban combat jig on ya mate Sent from my GT-S7500T using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbdshroom Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Thanks pmak, it was very satisfying. Cheers Ben, it held up spectacularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieR Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Awesome report and what a monster!What sort of technique were you using with the plastic to get the jews attention ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinsoi Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Congratulations Pete on a magnificent capture Exceptional angling skills to wrestle the beast out of the depths. Great write up as well, very descriptive and suspenseful. As mentioned above I also felt like I was there too. You put the effort in and you reap the rewards.... very well done. Thanks for sharing and keep up the tremendous work. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbdshroom Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 Awesome report and what a monster! What sort of technique were you using with the plastic to get the jews attention ? Hey RichieR, the technique was the generic and disjointed double whip. I've also got interest when I've varied the method, in particular a triple whip. The key is to pay extra attention to the braid, more so than for flathead fishing which don't usually spit out the plastic when they hit. That is the fundamental difference I have noticed. Hope that helps! Congratulations Pete on a magnificent capture Exceptional angling skills to wrestle the beast out of the depths. Great write up as well, very descriptive and suspenseful. As mentioned above I also felt like I was there too. You put the effort in and you reap the rewards.... very well done. Thanks for sharing and keep up the tremendous work. Ian Thanks Ian for your kind words! I don't think I'm doing anything special in particular except persevere and constantly trying to refine my methods. I'm very satisfied it has paid off. I would have been stoked even if it were a 25cm model! All that bream fishing has given me a good platform to improve upon. Hope you get into some decent fish and looking forward to your future reports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRED-ATOR Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 awesome work Pete, good to see a report from you : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sureangler Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 That was a fantastic write up! God I look forward to catching a fish that size one day - good on ya mate! If your willing to drop a hint, what tackle and setup where you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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