NEW SPINNING REEL!!!

After that successful luring trip at Rocky's playground, I suggested to JM if he wanna try too on Sunday. We were contemplating first after he learnt about my encounters with those lima echo bravos. But in the end, we went ahead. Parked at the same place as last friday but JM thought of casting heavy plastics near the princes highway bridge for jewfish. While he was casting at the mouth of the bridge, I opted to go under this old disgusting bridge and cast my same setup as last friday. On the 2nd cast with the 1/32oz size 1 jighead with a squidgy 80mm flickbait, it got hammered. This fish was the best fun I've had for a long time. It took me for a ride in all sorts of direction, and rubbing rocks and oysters was what I could feel most times. Panic-stricken and at the same time enjoying the fight, all I was telling JM was this fish is going to do me big time. Haha, but he was just behind me taking video?! Anyway, after a tightening the drag a couple of times, finally we saw colour. What the?! Only 33cm and it gave such fun?! L.E.S.P.E.C.T...

It was the 1st time JM witness a live bream fight on light gear and he was P.O.I.S.O.N.E.D... Now he wants to get bream gear.. keke.. not my fault ah! But that basically summed up the session. There were times when we saw crazy surface actions which might be school of tailors terrorising the local baitfish population. The flickbait had scores of tailor tooth marks which was why I suspect it must be them.

Soon, I'm going to have a third luring outfit (1st was my surecatch, 2nd is my current blackhole). For my birthday, Chen and Jeff bought me a G.Loomis SR842-2 blank! I love these boys to death man.. Well, Chen got one too and he had ordered from USA. We've already gotten the blanks and I've also purchased the rest of the components such as grip and guides (which I will reveal later on after the build). And so, even me being so broke now, I still can go buy a spinning reel! Well, not everyday when you have your best friends buy you expensive gifts without you forking out more love right? Ok, talk to much crap. I have been aiming to get a Shimano reel since I've already got a Daiwa. At first, you'll wanna get high end reels, such as the TwinPower (that's the only one I can think of getting it without seriously burning my pocket). But, without working now and earning money, I better be more humble. So, bo bian.. aim a little lower and the next in line was the Stradic. Check the local tackle shop price and also monitoring prices in eBay, it seemed like a more viable option to get from overseas. But in the end, an online flyer was sent to my email and it was quite cheap to get a Japan made Stradic 1000 for only US$110 including shipping! That's about $130 aussie with the good exchange rate. It was from a wholesale seller in America who deals mainly with Shimano.

Click here to go to his page.. (I never poison you ah!)

The free shipping is a very big bonus I reckon. At least I don't have to wait for a ideal time to bid on eBay just to save a few dollars more. Then, got reel no line how can? So, knowing that BigW had a 30% discount on discontinued fishing items, I went out to EastGardens with Chen to check it out one night. We didn't see anything good and so left there feeling duped! But later, I saw Raymond's (you know who you are mate) MSN blog that he had bought a 2lb Crystal Fireline from his local Brisbane BigW at around $15, I went to another branch in Campsie to check it out. Indeed, it was there with that price! Far out, how can the branches be so different in advertising?! And so, I bought a 3lb Crystal for the Stradic.

Thanks for the heads-up Raymond! $15 for fireline is quite cheap, especially it's crystal. But if convert to singapore money, can get cheaper fireline in SG but probably not the crystal range. Ok liao, no more spending money liao! I'm really really getting super broke with this current new setup. At least I've stopped buying hardbody lures from eBay liao, really cannot tahan!

Ronald

Finesse To Da Max

In the beginning of the week, I had a rude shock from my supervisor regarding about one reviewer's comment on my thesis contribution. My CB sup said many things which wasn't pleasing to my ears. Feeling damn dulan, it made my entire week like shit. I had to be busy preparing the arguments and stuffs to sent to him and see if there's any chance to save my puny ass. JM had jio'ed me for fishing but I wasn't having much mood to do so. Come Friday, I got an sms from Chen telling me to look outside, as Brooker is calling me, lol.. It was indeed clear skies and little winds. But winter is still winter, the air outside is still damn cold. Did some work in office before the lure urge came and torment me. I sms'ed JM but he had to accompany his CO to duty-free shopping. So, off I went alone to another spot in Rocky's playground.

Good thing about that spot is the carpark is just next to the area. Put on my obligatory gulp grub and try suss out the terrain. Pretty shallow but not that snaggy. The start was a bit slow but then when I've moved down approx. 5 meters, the 1st fish came. Not a bad fight but still, a 30cm bream could've done better!

After releasing her, a thought came into my mind. From one of the aussie fishing forum, someone mentioned about gliding soft plastics. Then I thought, yeah, if fish have lateral lines along their body to pick up vibrations, surely a flippy soft plastic could achieve that, right? Well, no harm trying. Used one of my neglected Berkley 1/32oz jighead and rigged up a used watermelon bm. To achieve the flippy action, I trimmed it down so that any twitching I've imparted, it will flip the tail section more. Tied it on and drop it into the water and test it. Yep, it sure is sexy, almost can compare with bibbed minnows! On the first cast, caught a bream while it was 'gliding' halfway through! The fight was almost similar to the previous. Sianz.. but.. but.. on closer inspection, this bream was damn huge!

A lady walker came and check out what I've caught and she was impressed there's such big fish in the water. She helped me took a photo and asked if it was my dinner. I said nah, the water is polluted and I wanted to released this 39cm bream which against all odds, has survived for so long (also to score points for asians mah!). Had a hard time taking the hook out and it was bent pretty bad. Was impressed with this tip I've got about finesse and so, carry on! Cast back around the same spot but was pretty quiet. Saw a drain nearby and decided to check it out. The bm was already quite destroyed but thought, what the heck, just try lah. Put on some megastrike scent and hope the fishes liked pizzas. Result.. this 26cm liked pizzas, or the 'gliding' technique?

Then, another small flattie also like, maybe it like to see me leh? Suddenly there was a huge take and I striked. The kix went zzz for a split sec but no hookup! Wah lao eh.. spewing man! Wind back to only see my jighead was around, but plastic not there. Aiyah, blame me for continuing using the already destroyed bm. The drain was quite happening man. So, continued with soft plastic and since there was a used squidgy flickbait, I gave it a go. Trimmed the slightly damaged tail and trial run the action, quite hot leh! Cast back into the drain and work it across the drain opening. Just before my line reached the edge of the fast flowing drain, it got hammered! Another 30cm bream for me.

By then, my bladder was weak. The bites were still ongoing but I thought, enough is enough. Plus, this trip was not drama free also. Knn.. while fishing, 2 lima echo bravos come up to me and asked the usual loh: "Got fish?". I said yeah, just then got a 39cm bream. One skinny guy keep on 'eyeball' my bag and said is it inside my bag? I said released into the water. He was devastated why I did that. Keep on say "oh my god.. oh my god.." Then, I felt uneasy liao but I didn't show on my face. I remembered Rocky telling me that place notorious got these people, just play nice. So I joked around with them, say got jewfish this and that, to take their concentration off from robbing me, perhaps? That cb skinny guy keep on 'eyeball' my bag and also asked how much was my rod and reel stuffs.. I really almost shit in my pants but played along, confusing them more with my questions about how great this spot was, blah blah blah.. Then, they walked to and fro from where I was fishing, basically in the process I couldn't fish in peace. Finally they left and soon after, I also couldn't take it anymore cause urine is more important than fishing liao!

Took back the bent hook as souvenir. These Berkley old jigheads uses light gauge wire hooks, no wonder. But the new ones which they merged with Nitro, that one uses Gamakatsu hooks, much better but $1 one jighead!

Ronald

Desperate Measures

It is really shitty weather for more than 2 weeks here in Sydney. Just looked at the forecast for next week and pretty much the same torture I had to endure. There are times when I thought it might be sign to head back to Singapore. Hard to find jobs makes it even tempting to think about it. One bloody night, as I couldn't stand it anymore, the wind was really mild and virtually non-existence, I went out to luring. Knowing that the sky was bloody red and the smell of fresh rain coming didn't really deter me from curing that itch. But it was damn cold, so I made sure I wore this really puffy Giordano jacket that I have which was really meant for snow areas. It kept me warm, but too bloody warm! Spot a beanie and off I went to capture a 2 meter tide.

The water was really damn high, almost reaching over the bank. Maybe it was the extra rainwater that had been dumped? Put on my gulp grub and on the 1st cast, got a small flattie. Alright, no more drought liao! But I was still not satisfied, cos' I wanted the reel to scream. Then the drizzles started but luckily the jacket was waterproof. Most of the time I would cast while standing under the trees. That jacket was really good, I don't really feel cold at all, and my fingerless glove helped to prevent frost-bite on my hands.

On one particular far cast, there was something that took the lure right on the drop. I didn't strike it but it was already peeling line at a steady pace. I kept the rod tension and could feel some headshakes. It would have easily taken 20m of line before the inevitable happened, the 4lb braid went limp! ARGHHHHHHH!!!!! KNNBCCB!!!! Gone! Wind back the line and the lure still there! Hook fell off or it was not hooked properly I supposed! Might be a jewfish after all these rains or maybe a big flathead, who knows?! Wah biang, spewing man!

Thought that was it, a crappy session for sure. The tide was starting to move and so I went to a favourite spot. Few casts later, kix began to go haywire. Fwah, orgase in a bloody cold night. Finally something to make this session worthwhile considering how wet I was already. Did 4 good solid runs and managed to lip grip this 36cm bream.

Then, to make this night not so spectacular, my stupid Sony digicam played up again! Sianz.. cannot take photo with a big bream sure make me pissed beyond pissed. No choice, used my Ericsson phone camera and took lousy still shots. No point mucking around with the digicam and let this poor bream lie on the concrete floor too long. As soon as I craddle it on the water surface, she took off immediately! Don't even have to revive it! Haha.. Continued for awhile more before the rain started pelting heavily that I decided enough is enough.

But lures not enough leh.. So recently, went on to bid for another LuckyCraft lure. It's a 2004 network members model which is called a "Small Versatile Minnow" at 48mm and 3.5g.

Kinda regret spending money on this lure but I guessed no more lure purchases liao, I'm gonna get broke if I continue doing this when I'm not working now. Period.

Ronald

Not Everyday Is Sunday

The BIG wet is here in Sydney. Time to witness a drought of a different manner, and that'll be FISHING. Who'll have thought it was a storm coming instead! After that all-nighter trip we did, it was to be our last before a long break due to the impending storm. It slammed Sydney hard-out and flooded Newcastle as well as the Central Coast region. Suddenly heaven's gave us fishos a break and I asked Chen if he was keen on Monday as it was Queen's Birthday holiday, yes, a long weekend, to be dampened by Ti Kong. JM jumped onboard and we were off at the regular time.

Apparently it was mild winds and sunny monday, though the swell was a little bumpy due to the days of wild seas. Anyway it was only felt when we were around Balmoral area. Prior to that, the usual squidding was performed. Whilst on the way out of Tunks, I tried to scoop some water for the burley preparation. Bloody hell, the colour was brownish in my white pail! True enough, when we got to House-of-Squids, the water colour was visible even in low light conditions. As expected by yours truly, there was virtually no bites. The racing tide wasn't helping us either. Suddenly Chen snagged his jig and so a call to de-anchor was made and I helped position the boat help Chen free his jig. Luckily it obliged and we made a move to another spot. It was bloody cold for no apparent reason, as a chilly wind kept blowing at us even though we didn't feel it earlier. Then, SquidKing JM hooked up something big and it was one of the biggest arrow I've seen.

Unfortunately, he snagged his paternoster but with a little crafty work by skipper Chen, JM managed to stop us from having a casualty day. The 'window' had came and so off we went past Middle Head. The swell was indeed felt but Brooker managed to handle it beautifully. That arrow squid was indeed humongous and was sufficient to be shared around. Long story short, only JM and Chen managed to hook up trevs and baby snaps while I ate donuts. It wasn't an interesting spot and so a call was made to shift back to spot JM.

To our surprise, our usual structure at spot JM was missing! What the bloody hell??!! The storm uprooted it?! Anyway, we anchored a little further out and to our surprise, a drop-off was probably distinguishable. But the bloody current was still racing non stop everywhere in the Harbour. To make matters more doubly worse, there were full of debris and the water was like teh susu (milk tea). Still, JM managed to pull out another legal snapper (4th one and the consecutive 4th trip) at 30cm. Chen then managed to score a legal tailor on his newly acquired 3ft Ugly Stik. Yup, that rod sure looked like a toy but definitely a fun-filled rod to hold when he dangles with a biggie. I dropped a legal tailor whilst reeling in my blackhole due to their sharp teeth making short work on my 12lb vanish. That was it, not everyday is sunday. And my drought seemed to be on a continuing trend, not sure for how long more...

Ronald

The ONE That Got Away

I guess this recent outing warrants the right to brand this blog as "the one that really got away". JM signalled for a night expedition on Brooker which was its 1st since I've never done it before. Chen couldn't join as he had to do a quiz. I wasn't 100% keen as it was gonna be a bloody cold night when the weather was soon going to be turned bad. But, nonetheless, the fishing bug bites me hard and so I gave the heads up. Our plan of attack was for jewfish which JM was bloody keen for it. So the night came and I picked up JM before hooking up brooker. The batteries were charged full the night and day before and so off we went at around 11pm.

Got to Tunks park and launched without a single trailer in sight. Guessed we're the only fishing nutcases gutsy enough to do this shit. Apparently it wasn't as cold as we would've imagined but still we had 4-5 layers of clothing and JM supplied heat packs to warm our hands. As usual, went to our squid ground and did the same ol'. It was pretty quiet and I didn't score a single bite for a considerable amount of time before JM was 1st in on the scoreboard with a cuttlefish. Not long later, he got another cuttle while I was missing hookups. We spent roughly around an hour there till almost the last point, JM got a good size squid, the ultimate fresh bait for jewing. But alas, he casted back to the same spot he got his squid and snagged his jig. Seeing that the bait was sufficient, we motored a little bit of distance to our nearby 'probable' jewfish spot that we've been eyeing on during the last trip out.

Without a depth sounder, we roughly gauged the depth we're fishing by the way our anchor rope goes. Meters by meters it just took off and we were worried if the available rope was enough at this spot. Luckily the anchor finally reached and would be 15-20m by estimate. Sweet, we knew we were at the right spot. Rigged up my Jarvis combo while JM was already ready with his blackhole. Put on 4oz sinkers as it was the only one to bring down our baits at this ridiculous jewfish-depth! And the waiting game begins. We just chilled out and talk cock for the night and time actually passes really quickly. The usual pickers came into action when the tide was moving. Caught smallish snappers at those depth which was really unbelievable. Soon, JM was onto something but without any run at all. After a hefty distance to bring it up, it was a bloody EEL!

I had no bloody clue what this eel specie was but looked like the ones you can brew chinese soup with! haha.. Anyway, JM took his 2-hook rig back and released this slimey bugger. JM put on another new piece squid and the waiting game continues. The moment of excitement came when at one point while we were restlessly chilling in Brooker, the Daiwa Freams went zzzzz in a speed burst. JM immediately reacted and all I could remember was to bring up my line. I felt he had engaged the bugger and immediately called for a jew due to the run.

JM: ARGHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......!!!!!!!!
Ron: What?! Gone?!
JM: I striked and it felt like a snag or something but definitely heavy!
Ron: I saw your rod bent and u were like fighting the bugger already leh! But.. but.. how come? Wah lao eh!!!
JM: 2 hooks somemore leh! Don't say liao lah... (JM 'kek sim' and wind in his line)
Ron: eh.. I got something leh.. (remember I was winding in my line.. and still reeling..)

KNNBCCB!!! I was trying to bring in line and give space to JM to fight his probable jew when this fugly SOB (puffer fish) steal my precious squid bait!

That was it, long story short, JM's blackhole run was the only highlight of the night session. We were running short of the squid bait and since it was almost coming to dawn, we went to do our usual squidding again for the morning session. Didn't score anything due to the super low tide and so off we went to spot JM.

Reached spot JM pretty early and there wasn't much light yet. Burley hardout to wake the fishes up. By then, I was damn knackered! Even rigging up baits I was yawning non-stop. To think about it now, I could feel sleepy..zz.. Anyway, dropped the remaining cuttlefish bait and waited. The chilly yet eerily morning wasn't making me feel excited. The tide was low and the usual pickers came to demolish our cuttle baits. Time for cubing and the low unmoving tide wasn't helping much. JM was then onto another nice legal snapper that just made it to 30cm. TAPAO! Although this spot could help us get the odd legal snapper, but still, one in each trip isn't worth it! By then, the sun was slowly creeping up. ET was cubed and placed resting on the hull edge when suddenly the irritating clicker goes into mode. Picked up the rod immediately and reeled. At 1st the reeling was easy, and I called for a bream. JM resumed his usual business. All I knew was that I was damn tired, and was just reeling in the easy line. However, when the tension came, the spool spinned on afterburners! JM asked me whether I was sure it's a bream. Ok, not bream. The line then goes in circle and Bonito was in the mind. As I was half asleep still, the drag wasn't tightened properly. This bugger ran to the otherside and did the death-roll. That farker tangled my blackhole and the same thing repeated itself, a bloody mess that coils up to ET's tip. JM had to do the same thing by handlining in the bonito and net it. I was pissed beyond piss and couldn't think of much worse fishing scenarios to untangle braided lines again!

Well, let's not whinge and make a fishing outing such an unenjoyable one. Continued cubing for really little results and at one point, I could fell asleep. JM pulled the plug and we headed home.

Kept this 2 fish and will let our cook, Joe to see if he can do up some dish for us. The crazy wild sydney's weather is making us DULL men for sure.. sianz..

Ronald

I Have Really Neglected Luring

Maybe the days of colder water and the closing of kingfish season is looming, it might be a wake up call for me to get back to my favourite form of catching fish, LURING. To top off an even greater neglect, I forgot about a trip I had with my favourite skipper, Chen! Anyway, it was a Sunday trip which we were supposed to be boating in the morning but couldn't wake up. So, Chen suggested luring and of course I'd say: "HELL yeah..!!"

We left during late arvo to catch the incoming tide on a late autumn evening. The night is drawing closer and fishing time is getting shorter and shorter. With the light south easterly winds, I gave Chen the option of either Le Montage or Hen & Chicken bay. He picked the latter and I fired up Civic to our long-time-no-visit spot.

Got there to very calm condition and quite clean water. Whilst I was rigging up, a family was fishing there. There was this little ang moh boy and girl who came up and get friendly with me. The little boy asked me if I could spare him a small hook for his handline and of course seeing him so cute, I gladly obliged. Then he got really too friendly and started talking to me non stop. At one point, when my hardbodies tacklebox was taken out, he just automatically rummage through my entire collection without asking for permission! I thought it might be fishy and so observed these 2 little kids closely. Bloody hell, messed up my lures and then he asked whether he could use my rod to fish while he passed his handline to his mum who ironically didn't even bother about whether his kid was disturbing me or not! So called PARENTING! DIEW! Of course I said I need to fish as time is precious when it's getting dark soon (Duh! If I passed him my rod then I fish with what?!). Never mind, not end of trouble yet. When I automatically proceed down to my spot, he came up to me and asked if he could borrow my lures?! Not that I stingy or what, but I barely knew this boy and what happens if he snag my lure using his handline?! I really don't know how to lure with a handline leh! Ok, time to get tough with words.

I said: "Sorry, but my lures are very expensive."
ang moh boy said: "I can get lures in Queensland for 10 bucks." (and walk away)

Fwah! Ang moh is ang moh hor.. really no "house teach". Fark care lah, 'your father' (limpeh) no time entertain this kind of shit. Tied on my Megabass Smolt 1st but no takers. Then got sick of it and went soft plastic instead. Put on a pumpkinseed bass minnow and casted near a tree spot I reckon was productive for flatties. Soon, a bloody loud zzz sound came from kix! It woke up Chen nearby but was short-lived. KNNBCCB!!! No connection! Never mind, no fate so picked up my composure and continued till suddenly Chen's Tierra started screaming! I quickly reeled in my line and crossed to an action-packed skipper. This bugger was taking line hardout and I instantly called for a big bream. It swam sideways and pretty much confirmed my guesses. But, it turns out to be a big flathead! Measured 51cm and gave Chen a much deserved fight that had eluded him for sometime.

Not bad bro. Considering he has broken the virgin of his newly spooled pink fireline in 4lb. Asian finesse!

Soon, the light was fading and we were luring in almost complete darkness. I was soon haunted by my past luring escapade, the hordes of hungry SMALL flatties! Yup, flatties after flatties I was bringing them up on the one and only pseed bm. Lost count but probably about 7-8 of these picture-unworthy culprits were the highlight for my session. Soon we got hungry and packed up for our dinner at "Tai Ka Lok" restaurant where we were hammering their tasty chicken rice non stop. That's what I call HARD OUT (free-flow what!).

Wait.. how can my luring post end without announcing a new addition to my lures family?! Let me introduce a AU$5 (yes, only 5 bucks plus postage) eBay lure I recently received! It's a Heddon Teeny Torpedo for some topwater action. Nope, not from land of the rising sun, but from the U.S. of A.

Bloody hell! The trebles were not attached to any split rings, so I had to use a cutter to dislodge the lousy trebles and replace with my own. Call it my modification but guess this is Heddon's way of designing lures! KNS! .. ka-na-sai (like shit)

Ronald

Doctor Octo-Pussy On 'Dickheads' Day

The weekend came and Skipper Chen was dying to get out on Brooker after missing out last week. As the pilchards were running out, I went to Drummoyne and get a fresh pack of Tweed Bait but forgot to buy a new bottle of Tuna Oil! Wah kaoz.. must be old and forgetful already! Luckily Chen still had a spare bottle but it only had a little left for one more trip. Our poisoned-tourist sms'ed me if we're getting out and I told JM the quest is still ongoing. Picked him up a little late but nonetheless we were off to Tunks on a not-so-cold Saturday morning. It was JM's first time fishing alongside skipper Chen.

Once we reached Tunks, I forgot to bring out my powertorch! Oh well, no powertorch to help illuminate our squid jigs. A very very disastrous day for Chen's squid jigs. However, he managed to jig up something new which I haven't seen before. As he was reeling in and thought it was a snag, this thing could be moved but just very heavy. Soon, we could see something and it was a bloody octopus! A very unique creature and my very 1st encounter with a live one.

The squidding proved very hard work and I got jack-shit. Only JM managed to bring up a cuttlefish and that was it. Pulled the pin as it was getting to the 'window-of-opportunity' timeframe. To our dismay, a bloody huge naval vessel was berthed nearby and had tied onto the structure which we've always fished from, sianz... We tried to get close but observing the 30 metres rule but then there'll be some naval guys observing us from their overhead deck. We thought it was not wise to play punk and so scoot off (LL) to the old western wedding cake marker. The water there was deeper and the bloody current was racing. The berley proved fruitless just as our bait was floating. Got pissed and decided to try the yellow marker near our old spot. It was better and the depth was around the same. The baits went down so as the berley trick that JM was hoping to see results. Unfortunately, not even cubing was getting solid hits. It was quite lifeless till the trevs started responding. One bloody bastard took off from my ET and started tangling my blackhole and JM's lines. It was a bloody mess and to top it off, he did the usual 'trev-tango' dance and caught every mutha-farkin lines round the anchor rope. I was pissed beyond piss and very sorry to have tangled JM's line. Had no choice but to embarrassingly cut off 8m of his fireline, sorry bro! While then, I probably took the entire time at that spot untangling all the lines which surprisingly, I managed to unfree all, kaoz... As it was getting more demoralising, a call was made to proceed to Spot JM.

Along the way, we were looking into the fishing maps and maritime maps and discussing about possible good spots. The enthusiasms sets in and it was fun when you come to think of it when we do not have the state of the art sounder/sonar systems to see where the fishes are. I was jokingly telling Chen one day about how one of the sonar company's motto (Lowrance, We Find, You Fish) is and made up our own: Team StMike, We Burley, We Fished..

Ok, got to Spot JM and it was beginning to reach top tide now. Dumped the burley hardout and everyone casted different baits. JM was using the octo-pussy tentacle, Chen was probably with a 2 day old squid strip while I had the cuttle. Then, I prepped ET with an unweighted pillie tail (old shit) and casted it out and loosen the rear drag. I would say probably only having placed the rod (not in a holder) for awhile, the loud irritating drag of ET went off ballistically. At 1st, I called for maybe a bonnie since it didn't feel heavy. Along the fight, the drag was tightened a little by little. The weight was slowly but surely felt as the 3rd/4th run ensued. We were baffled and thought it might be a king. True enough, we could see shape and colour and our 1st Middle Harbour Kingfish was brought up! Yahoo!!! Finally ET is no longer jinxed when it comes to landing a king! However, it was gonna be my 2nd undersize (57cm) king to date and we couldn't bring it back for our impending Sunday BBQ, DIEW!

After her release, it went really quiet. The sun was really out and about and nonetheless, quite enjoyable chilling out at spot JM. The top tide started to tip over and current was starting to move. JM was getting irritated by the small snappers and both me and Chen were not getting any results at all. The burley was still tossed out and soon, spot JM's 'window-of-opportunity' started. Chen was fighting something which gave him a little curry. A great effort from him landing this 35cm bream which gave him good fun on his Revros.

He thought that it might break his PB clifton bream but it was not today. We decided to keep 'it' 1st and see if an 'upgrade' could be done. Well, not so soon yet when JM scored a big tussle with which he thought it was probably a big snapper or trev. But this thing went ballistic, taking line as soon as it dived deeper. I was preparing to grab my camera for a vid but had wanted to bring up my ET line 1st when I felt a dead-weight. We had a 'DOUBLE HOOKUP' but not of the same calibre.. diew! Chen thought that it might be a big flathead and it got me excited. But.. but.. it was a 'celebrity killer'! My 1st Stingray and not a bad size to it.. haha..

Obviously left it in the net and cut the bloody line, loosing my Gamakatsu circle hook to it. Whilst doing that, JM's tussle with that unknown creature was terminated prematurely. The bloody hook pulled right under Brooker's hull.. arghhhhhh!!! JM was gutted I can tell you that! Everyone re-rigged knowing that it's gonna be hot-bite now. True enough, my cuttlefish strip was smashed and blackhole goes zzzz right at the transom of brooker. At 1st I called for a king and it did really fought like one. Everyone pulled their lines out and the net was prepped by JM. Long story short.. it was a 39cm bream.. diew!

However, I respect this bugger and released this grand-mutha. Too bad she swallowed the baitholder hook and I didn't bother to try take it out in case it gets worse. Put on a new 1/0 Gama baitkeeper hook which I hadn't try yet and luckily could still used the ravaged cuttle strip. Not long later, blackhole goes off again at the transom and another 37cm bream was boated. She proved to be the upgrade and so Chen let go his one. Hot-bite sure is hot.

Whilst the tide was outgoing by now, JM continue to score fish on his side. He brought up a 31cm snapper which of course goes right into the icebox. He then continue to bring up a trev and with this one, we saw at least 2 bonitos tailing up. I switched ET over to his side with a cube pillie. That loud 'show-off' sound went off and I thought it was a bream. Thus in the process didn't bother to bring up my blackhole. Well, it was a regrettable decision. This bugger didn't have headshakes and was fighting pussily which was why making me to call for a bream. Then, the famous 'turbo' was turned 'on' and the speed I can honestly tell you, fwah.. orgasm man! Now it makes me wonder if it was the bonnies we saw earlier. Pumped her up and JM saw those stripes. Bonito it was and decided to swim their death-roll circles thus tangling blackhole.. arghhhh!!! Our skillful deckie JM said no worries and helped me pull the leader in to net that bugger when my ET tip is just simply stuffed with lines. Oh crap, another untangling job is on the way but why not pose a photo with my 2nd 'spot JM' bonito first eh..

Didn't measure her but straight into the hands of Chen for quality control while I kept myself busy (again) untangling blackhole lines.. hahahaha.. By then, burley was low in supply and the bites were slowing down as according to deckie JM.

All in all, not a bad little day but quite a tiring one considering we were on the water longer than usual. Except it made sure this was a 'dickhead' day when we were encountering heaps of these Sydney 'dickheads'. Obviously when you're anchored or even cruising on water, a 30m distance would be ideal to keep away from making sure it's safe and the waves won't irritate any other boaties. But, some family expensive cruisers or even a "Captain Cook" holiday cruise just couldn't care less and will barely drive past us in less than 10m I would say! KNNBCCB!! And the occupants could still happily wave at us while we were busy giving them our famous 'Singapore Army' trained foul gestures at these farkin idiots! At least it soothed our anger when their confused looks showed as they were just innocently waving at us. Then, not only on water, but on land as well. As Civic has trouble pulling brooker up from the ramp when it's engine is cold, it did just that on Saturday. So, 2 whiskey oscar golfs thought that it could be turned into their little amusement when Civic couldn't pull brooker. Well, at least it did manage later and so what if they could pull in their Quintrex with a van? At least Civic which is shorter than brooker could pull her up later to shut their mouths. Another dickhead was met in McDonald's when I was trying to park into a spot. This ang-moh ran over to my space and block it. He said he is reserving for his friend's car. I said no such thing as reserving and he just wouldn't barge and said "who says". I was on the verge of telling him "who says I cannot reverse my car in and reserve a spot in hospital for you" before Chen stopped this escalating drama and told me there's one empty right in front of civic. Then, before entering maccas, that farker was sitting outside, and when I gave him my chee-bye look, he didn't have the balls to look back. CB I can be small size, but if want to test-water with me, by all means since I'm sick that today was a 'dickhead' day. Oh well, just my rants. Living in a peaceful world... don't think so... just go fishing with my mates I'd say..

Ronald

My 1st Undersize King

The quest for this late season Yellowtail Kingfish is still ongoing. After much hesitation on Wednesday night, JM messaged me if we're still going ahead on Thursday. The wind had died down but it was bloody cold on Wednesday night. I was contemplating about the weather but still gave the green light. Any psychiatrist out there that can cure these 2 fishing nutbags?

It was indeed very, yes.. I mean VERY cold on Thursday morning! Apparently it wasn't that bad when you don't really go think about it when you're busy squidding. Luckily the tide wasn't racing that bad and I was 1st on the scoreboard with a good size arrow. Yours truly scored another big cuttlefish and JM manage to add one more into the inkful pail. As usual, we'll lose hookups or drop a few of these tricky cephalods. The time had came for us to proceed to our window of opportunity and we got there earlier than usual.

JM was 1st down with the cuttle head while I was next with a strip. Then, we proceed to prepare our berley and wait for any impending action. The northwesterly hold true to its ground and howl at us even though the background cliffs should shelter us! So, we just bear with the bloody wind while doing anything possible to keep our minds off the cold. Finally, the action came when my blackhole combo goes nuts and the spool of line took off. Tightened the drag immediately and whilst JM was busy bringing in the lines, I called for a king. This bugger fought pretty well than my previous I would say. She played clean and soon we could see a king. However, it was a little small from the view and nonetheless, she was put on the lie detector. Alas, it was only a 55cm and therefore became my 1st undersize king.

And so there it goes, my 1st time ever to release a good tucker! She presented some drama whilst trying to let her swim away but in the end still manage to power off into the depths. The cuttlefish strip was still there and I re-used it, really in love now with using cuttlefish as kingie bait. Then, the berley was ready and on the 1st toss, JM saw his favourite scene. He readied his unorthodox method and gave it a go. This time round, fortune did not favour his bold. Apparently his decoy bait sank too fast according to him. However persistent he was, it did not go as planned. The surfacing kings soon left and we proceeded to cubing duties. The trevs were on bite but due to the wind coming at us, it wasn't enjoyable fishing there. A move was made and I suggested Middle Harbour.

During the last trip, while on the way back to Tunks, I saw a few boats working around some moorings and so I was keen to try there this time. The water there was deeper and it was kinda tricky to anchor in amongst the boats. A compulsory move was made and we went further upstream. JM picked a spot and so the anchor went down to relatively the same depth as the kingie spot. Soon, it was an outgoing tide and the baits went down so as the last remaining berley. Waited quite a fair bit before my ET combo went nuts. Engaged the bugger and this fight had me baffling. It didn't have the grunt of a king or headshakes from a trev but it was absolutely on turbo. Upon coming up after a good tussle, I could see that it was a mackeral shaped fish. At 1st I called for a Watsons Leaping but when JM netted it for me, it was a Bonito! Wow, a bonito this late and upstream in Middle Harbour? Spot JM is GOOD!

Then, spot JM slowly but surely produces the goods. With JM scoring an almost legal 29cm snapper while I got my 1st legal 30cm snapper and a 34cm bream. We scored quite a few good runs but failed the hookup. When the time came to leave, Brooker failed to start! I had to call Chen to tell him the bad news and then ended up calling the Seatow service to come help. In the meantime, JM continued fishing. He caught a good size trev and whilst bringing it in, a kingie was tailing it! Then just nice, the Seatow guy came. He helped us diagnose the problem and apparently it was the starter motor that stuffed up but we were freed from further drama when it finally co-operated. Got back late but at least safely and also to have discovered Spot JM with free-roaming kings swimming around.

Gave the bonnie and bream to my favourite cook Joe and kept the snapper to see how it will be on the tooth.

Ronald