Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Apollo Bay, Port Campbell, Warnambool, Port Fairy, Portland, Nelson
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StarrangerAU
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Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Post by StarrangerAU » Sat Oct 13, 2018 8:04 pm

I had been watching the weather for Portland all week and whilst it was a bit iffy and could of blown out, I decided to take a punt and see how it played out. So, managed to wrangle an early finish on Friday and made my way post haste. Target species : Snapper... landbased! I had done some reading of the local clubs, and tackle shops and there were a small handfull of reports of snappers being landed in the past two weeks on the Lee Breakwall.

I'll cut to the chase, the night fishing on the breakwall through to 2am was terribly slow and barely worth mentioning. At 6am the sun breaches the horizon and its on. Even at the with bottom of the tide due at 9.30 the rods were kept busy with plenty of bites. A real mixed bag of species, whiting, flatties, gurnard, salmon, and barracoutas. Most were shy of legal so back they all went except the gurnard. A local chap assured me they were a great eating fish, I guess I'll find out.

So, I had my regular combo of two set lines out wide, half pillies on one and full squid on the other, and in between the tiddler with pillies in closer to the rock n weed. At 10am, after the tide turn, the tiddler bends in half and line peels off, which is a real problem cause it ain't got much to start with. I set the hook with a nice tug, and trybto slow it down a bit, I get that head shake and a change of direction. Ohhhhh this is good, its not a ray. It goes left, then right, makes for the open water, doubles back again. The tiddler is still bent almost in half, the baby shimano reel barely up for the job.... Folk nearby start gathering, two blokes front up with a gaff and a landing net. The fish starts tiring after 10 minutes and I mange to start bringing it in... oh! A bit of color, in a bit more...more.. closer and finally to the surface... Gaff man is ready, a cheer goes up.... Snapper.... freakin huge too.... and just then the animal makes its last effort to free itself before the gaff strikes, shakes his head and..?.Line beaks! The 15lb line had done well, but couldn't finish the job.

Folk around said it could of been up to 90cm, bias I am but I'll agree, he breached the water on his side so it'd be a fair estimate......A few minutes of kicking rocks ensued whilst I pained at the memory of the one that got away. It was a long drive home to the city, but gosh what a memory..... even better would it have been if it were landed. Nevermind Portland I'll be back again sooner than I think.

Happy Days!

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Re: Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Post by Boonanza » Sat Oct 13, 2018 8:26 pm

Mate I feel your pain but a great report and it means he is still there for next time :thumbsup:
A smart person knows what to say. A wise person knows whether to say it.

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Re: Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Post by smile0784 » Sat Oct 13, 2018 9:08 pm

That's the worse feeling ever.
Doesn't much worse

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Re: Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Post by 4liters » Sat Oct 13, 2018 11:21 pm

Beats working
2015/16 Fisting Victoria Species comp total: 289cm
Brown Trout: 37cm
Flathead: 51cm; Squid: 36cm; Australian Salmon: 51cm; Snapper 46cm; Silver Trevally 23cm; KGW: 45cm
Major Sponsor: Rim Master Tackle

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Re: Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Post by davek » Sun Oct 14, 2018 6:27 am

Ouch, unlucky, It's amazing the big fish can pick the smaller set up rods, :snap: cheers davo
It's an exhilarating feeling catching a fish
But it's an even better feeling releasing them

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Re: Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Post by fishnut » Sun Oct 14, 2018 8:46 am

I feel for you mate

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Re: Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Post by Lightningx » Sun Oct 14, 2018 10:20 am

I definitely feel for you mate.
Reminds me of the time my mate missed a net shot on a huge snapper and it also got away. So close and yet gone!
Hopefully you land the big one next time.
Nice report!
Cheers :thumbsup:

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Re: Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Post by ante552 » Sun Oct 14, 2018 12:08 pm

Aaahhhh worth the trip
I know how you feel.

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Re: Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Post by spudtrans » Sun Oct 14, 2018 4:39 pm

great report, thankyou.
hopefully next time he will come home with you

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Re: Portland - 13/10 - AM - The trip where I almost cried

Post by Texas » Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:30 pm

Loved your report
I lost a huge (& It's getting bigger) yellowbelly on the cod trip, one year
Wasn't the line, it was my fault, I had had so many snags, I didn't use good knots
It's bow wave flooded the bank and it was gone (That's my story 3 years later)
Cheers Gra

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