Spoons and flies in the surf

[philter]

Nice catches, thanks for the report, think this is something I'll have to try.   

[Willie]

Thanks for the info this sounds great!

[bassbug]

Will it work?

yes, and multiple flies too (just need to adjust your cast for tangle free fishing)

[Nick A-S]

I headed back to Sheffield Beach this long weekend and took my flyrod for a few hours of fun. On Sunday morning I had some joy catching moonies and flagtails with small white salty bugger type flies, casting off the rocks into the deeper channel where there was lots of working white water. I suddenly had a take from something that instantly felt a lot more solid. It took the fish a little while to realise it was hooked before it steamed off towards the deep blue sea. I had to try and "palm" my fly reel (like and old school scarborough reel) to slow the fish down before it stripped my reel. After 2 or 3 runs I  started to get control of the fish and get it a bit closer, but I also realised i would not be able to lift it on to the rocks with the light mono leader I had on. I managed to clamber along the rocks to get on to the beach and then landed the fish with a shore break wave. However as I got the fish onto the beach with the wave, the line went slack and the little fly popped out. I dropped my rod and managed to scramble down the sand and grab the fish before the next wave came up. I didn't have a phone or camera with me, but luckily there was a kind lady on the beach who was happy to take a quick snap for me before I released the kingy back into the sea to fight another day. It was a fun morning out and a great surprise when I had been targetting small fish with small flies and a light setup to get a bigger pull out the blue. My flyrod is packed away now but will definitely come out when I hit Vidal in a few weeks time!

[WalkersKiller]

Well done! What weight rod were you using?

[Nick A-S]

I was using an 8 weight rod with a sinking line and and a light mono leader. I use a slightly heavier fluoro tippet to provide a little bit of protection against any toothy critters that may bite. I was trying out a few salty bugger / woolly bugger type flies, tied with a zonker tail and lots of flash, instead of marabou, to try get a bit more action and they seemed to work - mostly on size 8 or 6 hooks. This fish took a plain white version, but pink and green variations also got some success.

[Plugger]

Awesome catch Nick, that's what keeps the blood pumping !!

[WalkersKiller]

Thats so cool!

[SAfish]

Awesome catch! 

[Plugger]

Is it a Blacktip?

[Nick A-S]

My initial thought was that it was a brassy kingfish, rather than a black tip? When I've caught blacktips before the black has been more distinct. I just had the one quick pic taken so that I could get the fish back into the water, and the fish was quite sandy so not that easy to see it closely. Happy to be corrected though if anyone can confirm???

[Plugger]

No I think that you are correct.

[colin]

  Great catch 

[VISCHAL]

Awesome catches, well done.