Houdini Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I went for a sneaky after work fish last night to make the most of daylight savings before it ends. I look 3 frozen garfish and a bag full of lures. While waiting for the garfish to thaw I tied on a white xxxrap and began casting. Not long after I got a good hit and a big salmon flew out of the water, it jumped all over the place but the hooks stayed connected and on the heavy gear I was using I had him at my feet pretty soon and washed him up and out unhooked and returned. A few casts later and another hit had me thinking salmon again but smaller so I just about skull dragged it in until it was at my feet and it turned out to be the bonnie pictured. You beauty sashimi on the table. A few more cast didn't yield anything and the garfish were well thawed and ready for a swim. I cast and retrieved the 1st garfish until it started to disintegrate beyond use and turned it into burley. The second one was about half done when a tentative bump turned into a violent jerk and solid weight. The difference between a keeper king and nearly equivalent sized salmon is light years apart and I knew in seconds this was a better fish. It took a couple of good runs and was zipping all over the place looking for some cover. The rod and reel did its job and soon enough the fish was in close. A few more last ditch dives for the rocks at my feet and it was done, washed out and mine. Double sashimi oh yeah. I bleed it and put it in the rock pool with the bonnie and rigged up the last garfish. This one lasted about 5 casts and was smashed by a rat on the surface right in close on the edge of the white water, he couldn't take any line against the drag and was washed up and out in double quick time kissed and returned. Out of bait I changed back to the xxxrap for a few more casts with no action so I packed up and cleaned the fish. The bonnie stomach was empty but the king had a perfect whole fresh squid complete with a heap of ink. The squid was so fresh it still had the green colour around it's eyes and looked good enough to eat which I contemplated for a couple of seconds. If I hadn't of packed up my gear I would of definitely used it for bait then and there, instead it went back in to feed some other lucky sea creature. It was a good afternoon with action and the bonus of a feed to take home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrKayyy Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Well done perfect fish! Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Great stuff! Always difficult to land a good fish from the stones. Well done Cheers scratchie!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Couple of nice fish there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike89 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Nice stuff. I ought to try that with the gars I have in the fridge. Two nice fish, well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welster Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Nice catch what setup are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsy91 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Loving all these land based stones reports lately! Beautiful fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toilor Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Kingies off the rocks on lures has it all. Preparation, anticipation, success followed by heart in mouth adrenaline pumping hand to hand combat and ultimate victory or crushing defeat, The 5kg fish are more manageable but I am 0 - 3 on the 15 kg bruisers that once or twice a year seem to mistake my 65 gram knight for prey, even on 40lb mono! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kymbo56 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Very nice work indeed Houdini. You have obviously done this before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holls Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Nice one! So all this happened before dark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houdini Posted March 15, 2016 Author Share Posted March 15, 2016 Thanks everybody for the positive replys Nice catch what setup are you using? I was using a 2.7m 24kg graphite rod, saragoosa 10000, 65lb power pro and 80lb fluro leader 4x 5/0 mustad 7766d hooks linked with black majic swivels, pink rubber squid and a small ball sinker Nice one! So all this happened before dark? Yes it did all happen before dark just fading light Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welster Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Thanks everybody for the positive replys I was using a 2.7m 24kg graphite rod, saragoosa 10000, 65lb power pro and 80lb fluro leader 4x 5/0 mustad 7766d hooks linked with black majic swivels, pink rubber squid and a small ball sinker Yes it did all happen before dark just fading light Thanks for your detail reply. Much appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest123456789 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Nice catch mate. You've inspired me to mix it up next time with some bait option/s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameldownunder Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Thanks for the report. Nice catch. I was using a 2.7m 24kg graphite rod, saragoosa 10000, 65lb power pro and 80lb fluro leader 4x 5/0 mustad 7766d hooks linked with black majic swivels, pink rubber squid and a small ball sinker Intersting you put a 65lbs line / 80 lbs Leader on a 33lbs Max Drag reel. I ask, because I just bough a PENN SPINNFISHER which has a similar Max Drag, but only put a 40lbs braid and 50lbs Fluoro leader. Is this because you fish from the rock, or is that a fairly common setup, and I missed the point ? ( I would use my rod from the boat, for chasing Kings, but similar location as you caought yours ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houdini Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 Thanks for the report. Nice catch. Intersting you put a 65lbs line / 80 lbs Leader on a 33lbs Max Drag reel. I ask, because I just bough a PENN SPINNFISHER which has a similar Max Drag, but only put a 40lbs braid and 50lbs Fluoro leader. Is this because you fish from the rock, or is that a fairly common setup, and I missed the point ? ( I would use my rod from the boat, for chasing Kings, but similar location as you caought yours ) I don't think anybody exactly matches their entire rig to rated line classes. 65lb is a compromise between cast ability and strength nothing to do with the reels rated drag 40lb braid and 50lb leader will be ok fishing from a boat go hard early and if everything stays tight you "might" win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsy91 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Up here we use 20-40lb braid with 20-50lb leader and 5.5kg drag reels and 10-17lb rods for mangrove jack, depending on what your chasing you can usually go outside your gears recommended limits just pay attention to how your gear is performing during the fight and adjust your drag accordingly. Ill also point out that my 5.5kg curado actually has spool capacity numbers starting with 30lb braid up to 50lb on the box so that tells you something there. Ads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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