JonD Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Ok I must admit I wasn't going to post this but the fact I know a few other anglers who've had similar happen to them must mean its not just a one off. Headed out alone on the weekend (kids were driving me nuts) with just a light 10 lb outfit in the hope of a couple of snapper. Not having the kids onboard I decided not to take a camera, after all I was just after a few for dinner, not chasing the trophy fish. After a 35 min run I was at my favourite snapper spot in just 56m of water, the sounder looked promising with plenty of fish showing. First bait down was grabbed by a fish instantly, this wasn't the species I was after so was instantly returned. As I stared at the tip of my rod as my second bait just hit bottom I was suddenly shocked to see the water turn white under the boat . It took a few moments to realise what it was, but as soon as I saw the shape of two humpback whale tales skim across the bottom of the boat I new exactly what they were. My 10 lb braid instantly started pulling away as entangled the whales tale, not the best feeling knowing how easily thin braid cuts into things. I kept the tension quite low but by this time the whale had noticed (I believe) and turned back at the boat. Incredibly it just came to the side of the boat where it allowed me to unwrap my line from its tail. I did have a mobile phone that I thought I had on video mode, which turned out not to be (polarisers make viewing screens very difficult) but I did manage just one photo that I didn't realise Id taken just before it got to the boat. Not a bad sized catch and release on 10 lb must admit it took some time for my legs to stop trembling after that. I would hate to think what might happen if one was to get tangled in a anchor line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddyT Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Cool story Jon- mind you I always start getting nervous at this time of the year as the whales start moving North- there are just so many of them now they are impossible to avoid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigma Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Lucky it didn't tangle itself into your anchor chain, otherwise you would be reporting this from Fiji.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HookLine&Thinker Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Great post mate! Quite the experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdanger Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 That's awesome, good work on untangling the line. Very trusting on the whale's part too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrone07 Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 I have also foul hooked a whale off Broughton island on a livey fished deep, thought I'd hooked a Marlin after the first run before the humpback surfaced around 100 meters away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARC H Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 nice that would have to be the biggest thing ever caught on 10lb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoingFishing Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 That is a once in a lifetime experience truly ! U really cant appreciate the beauty and size of these animals until u see them up close in person. i had one surface for air some 6 weeks back next to the boat wnd scared the life out of me ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big Neil Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 That's an amazing story Jon D. You and your family should seriously consider writing a book with the wonderful things you've all seen and done on the water. What's the marine equivalent of a "horse whisperer"? BN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flickn Mad Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 What an experience. You just never know what a days fishing will bring. whats the bag limit on humpbacks at the moment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARC H Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenno64 Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 You should try downsizing to 6lb and watch your hook up rate triple;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jocler Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Now that's a tall tail.............. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchie Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Good to see you had a whale of a time by yourself Jon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACJ Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Great work getting the braid off mate...thats a pretty cool day out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regan Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finin Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 JonD,? i wasnt going to post this but.... M8 its agreat time of year to fish and whale watch, i reckon the return run is better but can be a bit funny at times especially with the juveniles. We hooked one last year on the return run, two whales, mother and calf popped up out of nowhere next to the boat. Next thing rod goes off, whale legs it, turns to port at a rate of knots and thats it, alls good , except exhange of undies needed. Havebeen jigging at the 12 with four around the boat and not a problem lol. M8 its a great experience and you wont forget it. I think they are fantastic and their return in numbers is good. They are a powerful animal that can do damage to boats. The best footage i have seen are two sailors in Hamilton Island anchored up, 2 juvenile humpys come by and one grabs the anchor rope. They then proceed to tow the.yacht for miles each taking turns , one would drop the rope the other would pick it up. Ends up with the bloke scrambling forward with a hatchet chopping the rope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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