Hi all. A couple of us friends went on a casual off shore angling adventure this past December. It was my first time out and i took my son Rees for his first outing as well. The conditions were very good and we had one of the tamest launches i have ever seen. We headed out from Hibberdene to a spot where we had a very good showing of bait fish. We were soon collecting beautiful little mackrell for the live bait well. The skipper assured us that these little babies would translate into some good fish later on. We were trauling for some tuna and "dorries" and soon came upon some visible action on the water. What transpired over the next 20 minutes was the most adrenalin fill fun and action i have ever experienced. Sight casting to yellow fin tuna has got to be the most exhillirating angling that i have ever done. Justin was the first to be streached by a good sized yellow tail, I was next with a skipjack, Rees was next with a bonnie and Jakes was soon on to another yellow tail. We all had turns popping, plugging and spinning for the morning moving from one battle field to the next.
When the wind picked up toward the afternoon it became difficult to see the evidence of tuna on the surface and we then moved to a reef at 42m. It was time to send our little mackrell friends down to have a look see!. Five minutes later and I saw Justin bent over with the biggest pull I have ever witnessed. It seemed forever but soon the leader was visible and a huge 20kg cuta was on the other end. This cuta was taken with a nylon leader, believe it or not, and a circle hook right in the corner of the mouth. While Justin rested his weary arms I sent a mackrell down for a date with destiny. I felt a very nervouse flutter and then bang! Line was peeling off the reel at an alarming rate. What a feeling. As much as I gained was lost as the fish and I were in a tug of war to the death. My arms were siezing up and I felt what this mythical "deap burn" was all about. Eventually a 17kg Giant King Fish made its appearance. Unfortunately we were unable to revive the king of the ocean and it surcumed to the fight. I was elated and saddned at the same time. A dream catch for me. Jakes was the next to pull in a daga salmon of 15kg. Our first time out was awesome. Great fun and cant wait to go again.
