One out of two isn't bad

[Scalem]

During the course of this week a variety of conversations between Poodroo, For Steve and myself all seemed to headed in the right direction, and we were going to have a chance to get out for a fish. Even after so much rain, the weather forcast was that we might get a chance, albeit in slightly less than perfect wind conditions. 15 - 20 knots was a walk in the park from S/SW, leaving from Manly to Mud in a following sea. Our knowledge of the bay proved correct, it was no problem whatesoever.

During the course of the week, in my preparation, I dropped into my usual tackle store to replenish my plastics supply, which took a pounding at the recent R2M. 4 packets of assorted patterns, I thought I was right. Then I suddenly remembered late Friday I forgot to get the one plastic which seems to reliably get good results, the Atomic 3" Prong. So because the tackle shop is close to work, back I went for that one packet of special plastic I felt naked without. Just as I was leaving the shop, I was given a larger 4" Prong to try.

To cut a long story short, you can guess which Plastic attracted the attention of the 75cm Snapper But even more remarkable was the rig that the fish was caught. I grabbed my trusty 30YO solid glass 7ft bream rod, and put the shimano 3500 bait runner on it, only in preparation for Tailor if we saw any. I had an 80 popper ready and rigged, but because we didn't see any surface action, I snipped off the popper, and replaced it with a 1/2oz jighead, 4/0.

20lb braid, 20lb leader, vintage solid glass rod, and the old faithful baitrunner, deadsticking out the back with a 4" prong mooching along the bottom. Bang!! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Brad got it on Vid and Poodroo on camera. 2nd best Snapper I ever caught, and once again, Brad, Perfect netting skills by you for which I am very thankful

We had our spot all to ourselves, the wind and recent rain must have kept a lot of people home. Thanks for the company Brad!

Here's the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcIF50CA21U



Poodroo also locked horns with what was possibly a bigger fish, Daughter did an maginfico job recording it..... but I can't get the footage to load properly. I'll have another go at it later.

Scalem

[Poodroo]

Sure was a nice fish. Well done. The day was fantastic. I thought I would have done better than I did today but there will always be next time. Here is a still shot of your fish. Once again the photographic support crew was there to capture the moment.



Cheers,

Poodroo

[gunna]

Super fish that mate. Well done

[Mark-P]

Well done guy's, you make a pretty good team !!!
Were you guys western side ?? If so it would have
been wind against tide

Mark

[plaztix]

Nice snap Scalem. Turned out to be nice morning despite the forecast. Just reward for braving the predicted conditions.

What colour prong?

[bluefin59]

Good work boys its good to see results from useing different methods and mixing it up a bit and braveing the conditions i just wish i was out as well and not haveing to work ,shame you didn't get that bugger on the R2M see you out there ....matt

[whatscracken]

Great fish Scalem, nice touch with the video!

[stessco]

looks like a great day out for a snapper fish. and a nice fish

[Horse]

Thats a fine fish Scalem. It would have looked good at the R2M

It is suprising how many quality fish fall to the deadsticked outfits

[Poodroo]

I am hoping this link works. This is the footage of the one that did get away (This time). I loosened the drag twice for fear of being bricked by this brute and he still managed to brick me. Oh well, that's fishing for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y55O9Hxp4kA

Poodroo

[Nic]

That's great mate, well done! I have heard Prongs are better than many other prawn imitations because their little legs and feelers are thin and waft around well... I have just ordered some and plan to try them out on the sluggish barra here. Good to hear they work well on reefies, too... I'll have to try them out on the local reds!

[Outsider1]

Great report and some excellent clips guys.

Bad luck on the bust off Poodroo, it sounded like it was a big fish. How much line do you reckon it took? Do you ever chase them in the boat?

Cheers

Dave

[Poodroo]

Great report and some excellent clips guys.

Bad luck on the bust off Poodroo, it sounded like it was a big fish. How much line do you reckon it took? Do you ever chase them in the boat?

Cheers

Dave

Dave it got me right down to the backing twice and I would have considered chasing if I had a competent deckie who could drive the boat but on this occasion I was with my 10 year old daughter so was relying on the gear to bring it in. I thought I was starting to win but the fish still had way too much energy on that last run that busted me off. Where the line goes through the eyelet of the jighead is where the flurocarbon decided to give in. It was only 12lb leader which was why I was loosening the drag off. I was trying to find that perfect drag setting to let the fish run but not so loose that I was going to get spooled. Again I say "BUGGER!"


Poodroo

[Scalem]

Nice snap Scalem. Turned out to be nice morning despite the forecast. Just reward for braving the predicted conditions.

What colour prong?

The single prong was given to me as a sample, and in a clear snap lock bag, so I don't know the marketing name of it, and if it is available in stores. But I can say that if you imagine a fresh banana prawn - thats the colour

Scalem

[Scalem]

That's great mate, well done! I have heard Prongs are better than many other prawn imitations because their little legs and feelers are thin and waft around well... I have just ordered some and plan to try them out on the sluggish barra here. Good to hear they work well on reefies, too... I'll have to try them out on the local reds!

Thanks Nic,


That was the tactic I guess - I let the plastic crawl along the bottom with a heavier than normal weighted JH, the legs and feelers did the rest. I'd love to book a trip up north and try that out on your local reds myself. Let me know how you go!!

Scalem