This day started at 7am, leaving Yaringa to catch some bait. We had our struggles at my new found bait grounds, dropping a couple and NO yakkas around either. Persisted and managed a couple nice little sambos which lifted the mood. Last 90 minutes of tide flow, i made the decision that it was time to get some Squid on Tyabb. First drift, bang. Second drift, bang. and repeat. Before we knew it, we had 5 fresh squid and a couple of sambos ready to go. With the tide coming to an end, we used the time period of slack water to sound around and find a new likely haunt for a RED.
First up, Eagle Rock. Found a cracking area, but wanted to keep looking. Next.. Crawfish rock. Absolutely packed, got out of there right away. I said, "We either go anchor on what we found at Eagle, or we sound long reef." We called it and went on down to Long reef. Found a ripper area and we dropped the anchor. Boat was still swinging with the tide, so we dropped a couple bait rods down, and good old mate josh wipped out hes placcy rod and started giving it a go. Right from the outset i knew we'd get onto them. Josh was nailing couta one after the other on hes plastics, exactly what we needed, more fresh bait! Meanwhile, i was doing the same on bait... but a little surprise too... some THUMPING KGW at 44 & 46cm a piece with the biggest weighing 700g. Not bad... on a pillie fillet and squid cocktail. As the water started moving in, the bite came to a hault like it generally will.
Right away my rod buckles... Eagle Ray.. ahhh :oops: . The plan was to stay put, with so much activity so early it would be completely stupid to leave.
Not all things went to plan. 2 hours into the flood, i had a rod buckle and a few runs, hooked up to another Red at last. Kicking myself i didn't change over sinker sizes, at this point the tide had really started humming as it always does mid way into the tide. We had a tangle.. and a bad one at that. You guys won't believe this, but let me explain. I had hooked up to the fish on the rig running two suicide hooks. My other rod it was tangled with had a 7/0 circle, and the circle hook actually got caught around the suicides..., i quickly flicked the bail arm over the other rod and thought it was all good. 1 minute or so later, POP. Yup.... not happy. Fair to say i put the heavier sinkers on rather quick. 1 hour later, my rod was twizzling, and boom, screaming in the holder.. with my heart set on this Red i grabbed the rod straight away and POP, spat bait. That'll teach me not to grab a rod that quick again! At this point i was furious. Not a happy camper thats for sure. I debated to move and fish eagle rock for the last two hours of tide, but i said no, lets stick it out. And i am so glad we did. Bang, some solid runs, and head knocks, decent fight but i wasn't sure how big, i didn't think it was too big and then we saw it in the water... WOW "GET THE NET NOW", what a moment, don't think i've screamed so loud with so many different emotions going through at the same time.
Wait.. it gets better. We were now into slack water, i put the berley pot down and all of a sudden we had a huge school of yakkas down there, reeling them in one after the other. And after last time i was out... i was definitely keeping a rod in at SLACK water. Again, im so glad i did. And this one went so FKN hard.... I literally thought it was gonna be a monster. Massive runs, and dogged it out for so long under the boat, but turned out to be a little bit smaller than the first! Can never pick with these fish.
Cheers guys, im heading out tomorrow, hopefully another report coming. :water:
