testing time

[axelsnappa]

With an upcoming trip to the whitsundays pending, i decided it was time to fork out and buy a decent placcie outfit. Something capable of handling a trout in close to bommies, but could back up as a bay snap outfit. Finally decided on the 4-8 squigy spin heavy starlo stick, and shimano 4000 seido reel, spooled with 20lb braid.
So of i went yesterday morning. Left scarbie about 5:30am, and headed to the northern bay, seeking some fish on which to trail the new outfit. Magic day!
The spot of choice was loaded with yakas, a good sign. I missed the mark on the first drift, but corrected on the second ..... Zot (whats all that blood coming from my index finger?). I soon realised this was no snapper, and after about 15mins of give and take a 115 cm gold spot came to the surface. The starlo stik had been blooded ! After some pics we spent about 30 mins trying to get the big fella revived and back to the bottom. It was revived but flaoting, so we used some snapper leads to "shot line" it back to the bottom.
A few more drifts resulted in a procession of throwback moari cod, pinkies, yakas, whiptails blah blah blah. Then the deckie grunted, i turned to see his loomis fully loaded and 10lb fireline fast disappearing of his 4000 stella. We called another cod, and in due course a 105 cm version was boated and released.
The deckie got bricked soon after, then i hooked a loongtail which we chased all over for about 30 mins, before the leader wore through, with the fish a mere 10 metres away. I have to say the starlo stick did not have the grunt to lift the fish which we estimated at about 15kg. Not that iam unhappy, its not designed for that type of fishing.
That about sums it up, great day, good fishing, a few keepers, sore arms, cant wait for another go!

Axel

[SummerTrance]

Bloody hell! what a way to test a new outfit. Thats a huge cod. Well done for making the effort of returning him to the bottom. Sounds like a great session.

[plaztix]

Bloody hell! that is a massive cod mate. Its no wonder you've got sore arms. And the other one isn't to shabby either.

Shame about the tuna.

What plastics were you using?

[plaztix]

haha, you took the words out of my mouth summertrance

[axelsnappa]

Sorry guys,

we were using 5 inch gulps, 5/0 TT and nitro jigheads in 1/4 and 1/2. Nuc chook for the big cod, watermelon pearl? for the other codly.
The tunny was on a sardine gulp

axel

[dinga1]

Axelsnappa,

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

that is an awesome cod mate (you deserve plenty of backslaps)

you are a great cod fisher

keep it up

what direction were you facing when you hooked it??

[snapperbasher]

Top fish mate!!

Cheers Lochie

[nuggstar]

huge cod. it would have been like fighting a submarine

[slyman]

Mate, they are huge cod well done!

[cobiaman]

thats a couple of great cod mate, unlucky about the tuna