Top Water Bassing

With some nice tides on the cards today, but with only a couple of hours spare I decided to fish a high tide mark. The mark itself is shallow and rough. You can really only fish it for a couple of hours, after that the ground just becomes too snaggy and difficult.

On arrival I clipped on my Heddon Super Spook Jnr in Chartreuse and cast out. Tap, pause, tap tap, pause on the retrieve. I was about three casts in and the lure was nearly at my feet, when my lure was engulfed with an almighty splash, it was like someone just threw a boulder in the water. It took me totally by surprise and my heart raced.

The fish made a straight beeline for this rock;

I tried to pull it away knowing this was the fish I had been looking for like all year, yet under it went and like that my braid was severed on the submerged barnacles! Adrenaline turned to bewilderment and then a sickness in my stomach that I cannot even describe, I had lost a cracking fish and left my one and only Heddon lure in its mouth, I was totally gutted!

With a sullied feeling and shaky hands I tied another leader and clipped on my Zipbaits Fakie Dog. I worked the lure in a similar fashion to the way I was working the Super Spook Jnr and before long I had a take and a feisty fish of around 3lb was landed.

I was getting lots of boils and a couple of them sizeable, but as the tide receded I knew I had lost my only chance of a decent fish, I did manage a couple more schoolies.

My walk home was filled with mixed feelings; relief that I didn't blank, disappointment on losing the biggest lunker I've ever hooked and guilt for leaving a fish swimming with a lure attached. I had thoughts of "what could I have done differently", "did I do something wrong" etc. I think I just have to put it down as one of those things and continue searching for my girl.

Yet I do know this; it makes it difficult to feel content with saying "all my fish were released".

Tight lines all!

Sun and Schoolies

Today was a beautiful days fishing in the sun.

I went to a fairly regular mark for my Bass fishing and arrived on the rising tide. The water was calm and serene, really clear and perfect for a bit of top water fun.

I set up my Megabass rod and clipped on a Patchinko 100 in 500G. I love this little lure, its just so neat and casts a mile.

Working the lure I was getting a few rises and eventually I had a short take, I say short because the fish threw the hooks. I was not happy with myself.

Things went a little pear shaped for a while, due to some people I have had a bit of a run in with before. A Small boat with maybe six people in, decided to fish right in my swim and were free-lining shrimp on fly gear. I was not best pleased and when I saw they had a hook up, I cast over their lines and landed their fish for them. They still didn't get the hint, so I made life a little difficult for them until they left.

I just do not understand why they just couldn't have fished the many other marks available in the area and shown me some courtesy, some people are just unbelievable.

Anyway, having my space back again I felt content and I was able to land a few Schoolies.

I lost a few too, three throwing the hooks and two took a run into weed, they snagged me and slipped the hooks in the process.

I also caught another that didn't make the photo shoot, I slipped on a rock and released the fish prematurely. 

An enjoyable session though and so exhilarating taking fish off the top. It doesn't get much better than taking them off the top as far as lure fishing goes.

During the session I also foul hooked this very small Garfish.

Shame to foul hook a fish, but it happens every so often. A stunning looking predator though and is the reason I thought I'd include it. Many times I've had large Gar on, yet lost them at my feet and I feel I have a score to settle with them soon.

This evening I also went out, this time taking the LRF gear, I only had a load more Weever. I suppose its still good to catch, but they are putting my local beach species hunt on hold for a bit I think and I shall concentrate on other areas. 

I finished a cracking day with a beautiful Sunset; 

And so ends my report of a memorable day.

Tight lines 'til next time.