Collins Rock (Woonona)

[SgtBundy]

Had plans to meet friends at the sea pool at Collins rock and let the kids have a play on the beach while I had a fish. Got there around 12 and the kids went straight for the pool while I decided to try off the rocks to the front of the pool. Had not really planned what I was going to do there. Thought about lures but had some 3rd time defrosted squid and a few tailor and mullet fillets left over so was just going to throw them in and see what happened. Being midday and not any particular tide I wasn't set for anything specific. The rock face had some swell hitting it but the larger waves tended to just slightly break over, with some spray so nothing too scary. Had the idea in my mind that it was a falling tide, that came back on me later.

Very quickly had some hits on the squid strips, mostly something pecking at it and seemingly too small for the hooks I had setup (some 5/0 ganged I think). Tried a some tailor fillet and something took a good liking to that and hit hard, but immediately seemed to snag me into something - probably rocks. Could not move it and it busted off on the braid after quite some effort.

Reset with a running sinker rig and the small hits kept up, but still clearly too large a hook. Again got snagged on something close to the rocks and it broke off.

Decided I was losing far too much heavier gear, and besides it was only small hits so went down to a smaller single octopus hook - good hits again but still no hookup, and snagged again.

Reset with a smaller dual hook 1/0 baitholder paternoster and some squid. This drove them nuts, it seemed the squid was buoyant enough to resist the sinker and it sort of held in the top of the waves, not sinking very far down so they came up for it. It got hit as soon as it landed and some stronger bites this time. Next thing it got smacked and I was on - could see silver in the water and was not sure initially what hit it, but as I brought it close I could see a good solid salmon - guessing around 60cm. But the trough of the waves was down about 2m from the top of the rock ledge. Seemed like the trough of the waves decided now was the time to stay down (of course). I tried to hold him for a wave to bring up as they tended to crest at the top of the rocks when they came in so I wanted to use that to get to me. Held him for about 20 seconds and the waves would not play ball - just as the right wave approached he threw the hook and was gone.

Around this time the waves started to pick up and were more frequently breaching the rock face and my gear behind me kept getting knocked over. Having not planned the session well, my bucket was top heavy with a second light rod and some metal rod holders for the beach (poorly planned, because I had no use for either in this position, plus all the other gear in the bucket). Multiple times the bucket toppled and I had to chase some of the gear that washed back over the rocks behind me. If I had thought about it I should have just loaded up the bait and some rigs onto my belt kit and went light, the rest of the gear was useless weight - lesson for next time.

About 2ish my wife called to say they wanted to go get lunch - I asked for five minutes more as I was still keen to see if the salmon were about but only managed some sort of small rock cod. After a few more casts I got snagged again and broke it off and so that was it. As I turned I found all my gear was toppled over and some of the lighter stuff slowly making its way down the rockpools. I collected up most of it but everything was soaked and I lost a half full bottle of tuna oil that was in the bucket. Later on I realised it was a rising tide and thats why as the session went on the waves got more gnarly and stacked up more.

Went to have lunch and by that time a storm was threatening and we had all had enough sun so just took an easy drive home along the sea cliff bridge.

A decent bit of fun for a play it by ear session.

[Guest no one]

Possibly could have been some Morays snagging you up. The only effective way I've found to get them out of their holes is to hold the line tight and strait (rod horizontal) and keep max pressure on without breaking the line, you might fin they just "slip out" of their holes then... Horrible things!

[SgtBundy]

Could be - whatever it was hit hard but immediately went to ground and just would not budge. Normally on weed I can dislodge it with some effort but this was stuck hard.