Barrel at cape schank
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 9:32 pm
Before you read this I would like to point out that it wasn't me who experienced this but a very respected member of the peninsula fishing community Dan Lee.
BARREL AT CAPE SCHANK
A very unusual day. Me and mate Jack were out fishing for gummies on the south channel when we got a call from Luke McCredden and Jarrod Day at ARL head office. Luke's mate, Cam White (cricketer) had just hooked a tuna down at Cape Schanck and needed help. Fishing one-up he couldn't land it.
We didn't have enough fuel so we retrieved the boat, fuelled up, got the boat back in and headed to the Schanck. A few km off Cape Schanck we found Cammo still hooked up and fighting the fish. We anchored my boat, and jumped on board with Cam who was by this stage exhausted. Now this is a crazy story... Cammo who had been fishing for kings, put a live squid down only to have it nailed by a big bluefin tuna. Cammo was only in 10m of water and at first thought it was a Thresher only to see when it came to the surface that it was a genuine barrel bluefin.
By the time we jumped on board he was rooted.... he gave me the rod and we spent the next 1.5 hours fighting the fish...we would get the fish to the boat only to have it turn and dive just out of gaff range. Hard thing here is that we were fighting this fish on a terez rod, 50lb braid and a talica reel... spaghetti stick at a gun fight.
So five hours in.... we were working and working trying to land this fish and finally the 80lb leader wore through... painful. Unfortunately, this story will be confined to the 'one that got away' album... but it was pretty remarkable to see. The peninsula has shown me some amazing fishing these last few years and although I am disappointed we didn't get the fish, it was pretty wild to be standing 3km from shore, fighting a genuine barrel, on our home ground. Hat's off to Cammo... he fought it one-up for 3 hours. Sorry we could help you seal the deal bud. Gut wrenching.
From the tuna I have seen this was a genuine 80kg plus model. A barrel at Cape Schanck! Not sure I will see one again anytime soon.... a pretty amazing story though and a sight I won't soon forget.
Dan Lee
BARREL AT CAPE SCHANK
A very unusual day. Me and mate Jack were out fishing for gummies on the south channel when we got a call from Luke McCredden and Jarrod Day at ARL head office. Luke's mate, Cam White (cricketer) had just hooked a tuna down at Cape Schanck and needed help. Fishing one-up he couldn't land it.
We didn't have enough fuel so we retrieved the boat, fuelled up, got the boat back in and headed to the Schanck. A few km off Cape Schanck we found Cammo still hooked up and fighting the fish. We anchored my boat, and jumped on board with Cam who was by this stage exhausted. Now this is a crazy story... Cammo who had been fishing for kings, put a live squid down only to have it nailed by a big bluefin tuna. Cammo was only in 10m of water and at first thought it was a Thresher only to see when it came to the surface that it was a genuine barrel bluefin.
By the time we jumped on board he was rooted.... he gave me the rod and we spent the next 1.5 hours fighting the fish...we would get the fish to the boat only to have it turn and dive just out of gaff range. Hard thing here is that we were fighting this fish on a terez rod, 50lb braid and a talica reel... spaghetti stick at a gun fight.
So five hours in.... we were working and working trying to land this fish and finally the 80lb leader wore through... painful. Unfortunately, this story will be confined to the 'one that got away' album... but it was pretty remarkable to see. The peninsula has shown me some amazing fishing these last few years and although I am disappointed we didn't get the fish, it was pretty wild to be standing 3km from shore, fighting a genuine barrel, on our home ground. Hat's off to Cammo... he fought it one-up for 3 hours. Sorry we could help you seal the deal bud. Gut wrenching.
From the tuna I have seen this was a genuine 80kg plus model. A barrel at Cape Schanck! Not sure I will see one again anytime soon.... a pretty amazing story though and a sight I won't soon forget.
Dan Lee