Unexpected topwater Kingfish

[Niall]

Hey Guys,

Had a fun session this morning fishing around Captain Cook Bridge at the mouth of the George's.  I'd fished there yesterday too and managed to stave off a donut - landing a very respectable 44cm bream.  I'd spent a lot of time yesterday paddling around the oyster racks and structure round Woolooware Bay - water was still very murky from the rain - today I decided to head straight to the bridge.  Good call.

Started off casting a soft vibe around - I've only ever caught one jewfish before and it was on a vibe under this very bridge. No interest from anything big so switched to a smaller black vibe - hooked up soon after but got dusted almost instantly.

Re-tied and started casting around a load of foam that had settled on the surface near the bridge.  Wind was pushing against current which I think creates the foam - managed a decent trevally that I wished was a big bream.  

I was just making my way over the first pylon again when I saw a huge spray of bait and an almighty bustup which I presumed to be tailor given the time of year. I cast in the splash prawn and after 2 or three pops something large took it.  Seemed quite sedate at first and was coming in pretty easy - definitely a tailor.  No sooner had I spotted the leader knot when the fish took a massive run - probably peeled off 30m of line like it was nothing.  This was on my rod that I use for surface bream-ing - 10lb braid and 12lb leader so I backed off the drag and made the decision that I didn't need to rush.  I had plenty of space and the water is deep there - I'd already drifted about a 100m from the bridge.  

For the next 20mins or so I slowly wore this fish down - still hadn't seen the fish itself.  The water was still quite murky so probably only about 1m visibility.  Spotted my leader knot about 4-5 times before I got a look at the fish and knew it was a good king - heartbeat rose about 60bpm when I saw the yellow tail.

Finally got the exhausted fish to the surface and netted it - there were quite a few excited cheers from me and a round of applause from some spectators on the bridge.  My first legal King landed from the kayak and my biggest to date at just over 70cm.

Won't forget that one in a hurry.  Might hit the same bridge tomorrow if anyone wants to join - some good fish around for sure.  Easy launch from Taren Point Reserve.

Cheers

s

[big Neil]

Wow Niall that would have been a fabulous buzz having it on for so long. Great bit of angling to just take your time and enjoy the experience...made even more difficult by the fact you were in a kayak. Very well done.

bn

[kantong]

well done mate, a good show patience to not rush and tighten the drag.

[Bennyg78]

Well done @Niall!

Plenty of good fish around those bridges, I have had a fair amount of success throwing the muss lure around there.

Good patience there not to try and wind that kingfish in quick!

[Little_Flatty]

Quite a few nice poke bowls in that fish Niall, well done.