Mixed bag, Jew Shoal, 11Jul08

From: "kevin long"
Subject: fishing today
Date: Friday, 11 July 2008 2:49 PM

Jaro, Jim and I met at 0700 on this very brisk morning. The breeze was from the SW and as we launched we couldn't help but notice that the whole inner portion of the bay, from MG east and out for a couple of hundred metres, contained a huge patch of very small fish which were breaking the surface in their pursuit of even tinier prey. We didn't know what they were until I picked one up on my trolled lure - tiny tailor, about 15cm long.

We made pretty good time out to the reef, paddling straight into the sun which was low in the sky at this time. The breeze, although never dangerous, was pretty bloody cold so we didn't stay as long as we could have. We all caught keepers but Jim accidentally released his one and only when popping it into his keeper bag with hole in bottom. Jim's sweetlip rapidly returned to the reef.

Noticeable today was that the drift rate was very high and the water seemed to be a bit murky, this latter possibly a result of our recent heavy rain.

Jaro picked up a tiny mac tuna which took a fancy to his trolled lure on the trip home. Jim and I both caught waves on the final run onto the beach while Jaro at last stuck his paddle over the correct side when pushed sideways on a small breaking wave and saved a dunking. Well done Jaro, it was a good landing.

Final keeper result:


Jaro: 1 snapper, 1 flathead (very unusual), 1 mac tuna
Kev: 1 snapper, 1 bream (a first for me at JS)
Jim: doughnut

Kev
Red & Yellow Espri, black paddle
VHF channel 09 or 22 (if alone), Call Sign: sunshiner

PS Monday's looking good