Big Spaniard, 17Dec08

From: "kevin long"
Subject: Fishing today 17Dec08 -- Part 2 -- it's better
Date: Wednesday, 17 December 2008 12:40 PM

Get out the Bundy, guys.

As you know, I stopped fishing early today (Editor: see next earlier blog post) after nailing a very nice 1 metre plus cobia -- a pretty good fish. But better was to come.

After sorting out my fish and breakfasting on the verandah, at around 0930 I went back down to Middle Groyne to meet the others as they came back from JS. I carried my camera, radio and measure mat, just in case. Once on the groyne I made a contact radio call to the Noosa Yakkers. Jaro responded from out at the shoal that he personally hadn't done any good but that Steve (Turtle Boy) had boated a big spaniard. I spoke briefly to Steve also and was told that they'd be heading in soon. As there was a good steady northerly I knew they'd have a nice easy trip back. So I kicked back in the shade and relaxed, keeping an eye on the beach fauna.

Shortly I spotted a small grey yak out at the shark net and guessed that it was probably Andy W, who doesn't have a radio but who was first away this morning and was out at the shoal with Jaro and Steve. Sure enough, the yakker soon started heading for the beach and so did I.

1002hrs. Andy gets back home in his well fitted out Viking Nemo.

This was Andy's second trip with us and he related that he'd hooked a nice spaniard when trolling but had been unlucky enough to have the line bitten through several minutes into the fight, after he'd clearly seen the fish. Its size made him ponder how he would have fitted it into the Nemo. Hard luck, Andy, but at least you got some action.

At around 1015 I spied Jaro and Steve just outside the shark nets so knew they'd be in in around 15 minutes and I offered the advice by radio that an approach on the western side of the groyne was OK, in fact easy. So in they came, Steve first.

1034hrs. Steve lands his fish-laden Swing while a chick, attracted by yakker magnetism, looks on.

I helped Steve haul his heavy yak up the beach out of the tiny shorebreak. Where was the fish? Inside the hull. Steve took the lid off the forward hatch and there, exposed, was a small part of the silvery grey-striped flank of a Spanish mackerel. There was no way Steve was going to lose this fish if he'd rolled in the surf -- in fact it took us a couple of minutes to prise it free of its position and jiggle it around so that it eventually emerged from the hull to audible gasps from the beachgoing peasants looking on -- followed by the inevitable questions.

Steve's Spaniard, first view after being dragged out of the hatch near its head. He caught it on a trolled hard body lure while relocating to another position on the reef.

More views below.

Jaro (fishless today) helped to subdue the beast, so Steve reckoned he could be in the photo.

So, today's take home catch:

Above: 1.02m cobia

Below: 1.3(?)m Spanish mackerel . The measure mat is 110cm long. The Spaniard measured at least another 10-15cm.

Nice going Steve. What'd he weigh?

Now, Jaro, when are we going again?

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