campr Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Weather looked good on Monday but decided not to compete with ramp crowds and took my wife for a drive down the Gong. Seas were glassed out and I regretted my decision. Tuesday morn looked ok and made a snap decision to go. Quickly chucked some gear in the boat but didn't get to the ramp untill 9am and surprised to find car park full so had a long walk to boat. Conditions were not as good as Monday with a brisk NE blowing which gradually swung to NW with seas a bit bumpy. I then realised that in my haste I had left the bait home. After giving myself a beating I went to the artificial reef and got about 8 big yakkas and a couple of small slimies on a bait jig and went looking for a flatty. Wind drift was too quick out wide where reports say they are and only small splkies closer where drift was ok. Managed 2 at 40 and 53cm when I hooked up big time. 50 metres of mono followed by 50 metres of braid quickly left my reel before I stopped him. I was hoping for a kingy but after a good fight I had a bronze whaler next to the boat. I grabbed him by the tail and brought him in the boat. They are strong little buggers but I unhooked and released him at just over a metre long. He was the prettiest bronzie I have ever seen with his back more like polished gold than bronze. I had to go then as I had a doc appointment, he proveded a bit of fun anyway. I used a rod I normally use for trolling with a mono top shot for some give and I was amazed with the lack of feel compared to braid outfit I normally use for bottom fishing. Not the best result but it was good to get out again. Ron 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
campr Posted October 5, 2022 Author Share Posted October 5, 2022 Photo. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larkin Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Strong buggers aren’t they! I had one along side my JetSki earlier this year, it gave a bit of a thrash as I was about to cut it off and ended up with the line digging into my hand. Still, well done on a couple of decent flatties for the effort 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 A couple of flatties is better than none. Could have eaten the bronzie if you had nothing else. When I have pulled small sharks on board, I have grabbed them by the dorsal fin, less likely to have the mouth swing around and bite. Yes, they are strong, and the teeth are sharp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessell1955 Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Yowie, are they good eating, like Gummy Shark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 15 minutes ago, bessell1955 said: Yowie, are they good eating, like Gummy Shark? Never eaten one, however, the small ones are sold in fish and chip shops in the N.T., and appear to be popular. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Great story and pic @Campr. I'll echo Yowie's comment as sharks are capable of bending around enough to bite you if you tail grab them - no backbone which makes them very flexible buggers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
campr Posted October 5, 2022 Author Share Posted October 5, 2022 I have a mate who shared a flat at Chronulla with a bunch of fellow uni students. He reconds they would have all starved if he didn't catch a couple of little bronzies every week off the beach at night. He said they had a bit of an iodine taste that could be solved by cutting off their tail when caught to bleed them out. I suspected their budget was spent more on beer than food. Ron 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Ct Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Good report mate, at least you managed something in the end. Well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackfish Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 I suppose it was school holidays and a nice day so the lucky ones on holidays would have thought Tuesday would have been better option than the Monday of a Long Weekend, but you got out and got a couple of fish which is good. Those Sharks can turn on them selves and able to bite you and bloody strong buggars to. Also the Shark may be a Dusky Whaler than a Bronzy and happy to be corrected, but the really go hard for their size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 Top report. Nice Bronzie. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 Nice work @campr, those Flatties will taste great. Some sharks are very high in iodine (and bigger ones, heavy metals like mercury). Mako’ and gummies are good eating - had both and delicious, never eaten a bronzie though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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