Did I catch a spaniard at Mud this morning?

[Freeeedom]

Arrived at Mud about 7.00a.m. this morning to find it a bit choppy on the eastern side. Persevered for about an hour but could not find even an undersize squire (or even a grinner) so I switched to chasing a few tailor on lures. Caught about 13 tailor in the next couple of hours but the quality was pretty ordinary - I only kept 7 from 35 to 39cm. Decided to try to berley up a few bream for the family (who don't like tailor as much as I do). Took over an hour to find the bream but eventually a pretty good bite started with good average quality fish. Took 11 and didn't have to measure any of them. While I was fishing the bream, using small pieces of prawn on about a number 2 hook and very light line (as the water was crystal clear in close to the island) I saw my line start to move off so struck to set the hook. As I did so a fish came cartwheeling out of the water away to my right. Is that my fish? I thought as I reeled in the slack. It certainly was, and as I got connected to it properly it took off at a rate of knots. I took my time thinking it was probably a decent trevally (which I sometimes get in the berley trails at Mud) but as I gradually worked it back to the boat I could see it was a nice little school mackerel of about 60cm. Just then the other rod took off so I put the mackerel on hold for a bit while I boated another bream and the mackerel could tire itself just swimming around behind the boat. Then I carefully brought the mac to the landing net and brought it on board.
When I got a good look at it it wasn't a schoolie at all. To me it looked like a small spaniard - the smallest one I've ever caught, if that's what it was. After a quick pic I released it and went back to the breaming without any more exciting interruptions.
Are there any other small mackerel species it might be?
Cheers Freeeedom

[T1]

Nice work F! Looks like a Spaniard to me... Game to leave it there at the back of the boat though? Good feed of fish too!

T

[netmaker]

yep. thats a spanish. well done on a good feed of fish freeeedom.

[ifishcq1]

great feed well done

cheers

[Crunchy]

Awesome, well done....

[Dicktracey]

T1 & Ifish if you slowed down and actually read the report instead if hanging the poor bloke you would of read he released it !

[T1]

Dicktracey... if you slowed down and digested the report and comments...

I put the mackerel on hold for a bit while I boated another bream and the mackerel could tire itself just swimming around behind the boat. Then I carefully brought the mac to the landing net and brought it on board.

I was actually alluding to the fact that he left it there and risked losing it and tangling with his other lines... wasn't inferring anything else, but thanks for your input nonetheless!

T

[netmaker]

yeah. whats goin on there dt? you hit manopause?

[carnster]

Awesome stuff mate you are better than me, i tried for a hail mary winter yak spanish recently
and missed out. I miss the screaming runs but enjoyed the paddle.

[rodneyk]

Thats interesting might be following the tailor ihave gaught 2 longtails in past fortnight on the botttom which is also a bit odd we havent seen many around in recent years definately a small spanish good work cheers rod

[Funchy]

Very very very nice mate. Well done.

[BAR UP]

Hey John, good read. I remember T1 caught a Spannish about 3 years ago I was in a boat along side him and saw it caught. It was at Mud, Peter.

[royslaven]

yeah. whats goin on there dt? you hit manopause?

Not sure about him, but i think you,re in the early stages davo, cheers roy

[mattooty]

Definitely a top little specimen of a Spanish Mack. We got a few on plastics this year that were barely over 2kg. I find they hit very odd baits and plastics at that size.

T1 & Ifish if you slowed down and actually read the report instead if hanging the poor bloke you would of read he released it !

Dunno where anyone alluded to hanging or keeping the fish? Got a rod up your @$$ or is it that time of the month or just need new glasses?

[netmaker]

Not sure about him, but i think you,re in the early stages davo, cheers roy

no mate. incorrect prognosis there. only early alzheimers. cant even remember where i hid me easter eggs. i'm more worried about dick tho. seems he's on his way to becoming a GOM at a rapid rate.