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baggersace
27-09-2013, 09:35 AM
Last Monday I had the opportunity to take my aging Father and my teenage son fishing around Jumpin-pin chasing the new season flathead. Putting in at Jacobs Well we moved towards the bar area , seeing the tide pushing in pretty hard we decided to move off to some more sheltered areas and chase the rising water over the flooding shallow weed beds.

After land a few small just under legal flatties, I decided to act as guide and let the two other enjoy what was a great day. Finding the fish we more active across the patterned weed and sand banks, I decided to start to troll the very shallow banks and bars.

The old man who had traveled several thousand km's to spend holidays with his son and grandson, had never caught a large anything from the salt water, so this was a special day.

Slowly trolling over a depth of 2 - 3 ft with the odd piece if 1.5ft we dragged some Atomic Hardz in the darker colours. My father 's rod god a large thump, initially thinking it was snagged he declared we was stuck on a log. As soon as I saw the two quick lunges of the rod tip I knew we were onto a larger fish. Slowly moving the boat the deeper water on the electric whilst coaching the old man, we let the lizard do it's best. Only after seeing the size off this big girl and the fact the lure was engulfed way down the mouth of the fish did I lean over and just tighten the drag just a little more, as my now highly enthusiastic but very nervous father was all dinner plate eyes at this stage.
After several solid runs and many attempts to gain purchase under the boat the big girl started to tire, I held the line, dragged the fish along side and lip gripped the biggest flathead my father had ever seen.;D

My son eager to show his grandfather how well he works on the boat, did everything perfectly, helping getting the fish in and photographing it quickly. The big girl was released and there were high fives all round. A great way to spend time on the water with 3 generations of avid fishermen. We ended up with 4 nice flathead ranging from 45cm thru to 56cm, and dropped about 4 others, using very light line, 4lb or 8lb.

96732

wayno60
27-09-2013, 09:42 AM
Nice work...

Jeremy
27-09-2013, 10:22 AM
Great stuff. Very enjoyable as a skipper to put others on to good fish (sometimes). I was going to ask how big it was, but I see from the caption on the photo it was 80 cm. They go alright at that size on light line.

PixieAU
27-09-2013, 10:27 AM
well done on a great day out

alleycat
27-09-2013, 10:56 AM
Well done bagger, just a word though, holding them by the lip vertically causes damage to the spine and can kill them once released, better to support body so no strain on spine.. cheers

solemandownunder
27-09-2013, 11:49 AM
Onya Bagger, dad will be all the happier now, and good to see the anklebiter getting in and learning early ;D

Cheers, Ray & Kerri.

manta man
27-09-2013, 04:07 PM
Mate that"s what it"s all about. Good Story well done

Scott Ashe
28-09-2013, 09:20 AM
Well done mate, it sounds like it was one of those days where everything just falls into place.
Cheers

bondy99
28-09-2013, 10:59 AM
Congratulatons mate, old fella is happy as larry with the release of that lizard.

Bondy

sharkymark2
28-09-2013, 05:26 PM
What an awesome memory to take with you and your son into the future. He will one day share with his son and grandson how that he helped his grandfather land the biggest fish ever, Good story guys,

baggersace
30-09-2013, 06:40 PM
Thanks guys, Grandad has now returned to the Murray and Darling River fishing, with a heaps of bragging rights to his mates for years to come. It certainly was a visit highlight, and my son is obviously proud of his assisting efforts.

mangrovejacks
03-10-2013, 08:00 PM
Ripper Flatty mate! Way to go.;)