Went down to the Seaway yesterday just itching to wet a line and try my new reel (ended up getting a Shimano Symetre 1500 ) flicking soft plastics, and drifting for flathead. Arrived at the Seaway 5.30am, sun just coming up, looking like a beaauuutifuuul day. Two drifts laterand the first lizard was netted (60cm.) The next couple of drifts produced some smaller ones but nothing legal. An hour later another 55cm lizard. It seemed to go quiet, so drifted overthe hole off wavebreak a few times for several undersizes flatties. They seemed to love the powerbait minnows but gee,don't they pong.
After little luck and the tide beginning to ebb I moved to the channel close to seaworld and began drifting until a bloke in a PWC decided he wanted to use the same area so I moved and began drifting up a bit. Suddenly the water nearby began to boil and the birds were going birko. Something was chasing the baitfish into about three feet of water and the baitfish were taking flying lessons. I slowly motored closer and flicked out a 2" atomic shad,giving it a slow retrieve when WHAMMO, and it was hold on as 30 metres of 3kg.line was peeled off.
A long solid silver shape leapt from the water 35 metres or so out but too far away to identify. It headed toward deeper water, peeling off line in the process,and with the tide running out, I knew this was going to be a long hard fight. Five minutes later another leap from the water and it started to circle the boat still staying deep. I began to slowly gain line only to have it taken back each time it took off. How much do these 1500 symeyre's hold? Should've paid closer attention to the instructions when I spooled it up last night! I slowly began to gain the upper hand when it made a few more runs closer to the boat and leapt again. Perhaps a tailor? no the tail was too forked, maybe a yellowtail king? but still too far away to recognise.
Do yellowtail kings have sharp teeth? did it have gillrakers? was my knot properly tied? were there any frayed spots or weaknesses in the line? these thoughts raced through my mind as I battled it closer to the boat. By this time my left wrist was sore from holding the 2kg live fibre almost bent double for over 10 minutes but at least I was gaining line. Now and then I could see its shape below along with a few of its mates, but it still didn't want to come to the surface. I kicked the outboard up out of the water as the last thing I wanted was to be snapped off on the prop or skeg, as inch by inch I brought it closer, each run becoming progressively weaker. It sat below the boat not taking line but not allowing me to gain much either.
A a mexican standoff at it's best. That's OK I'm in no hurry and can wait. After a minute or so I could feel it tire and began to put some pressure on,mindful that it might make a last minute run or two. Slowly it came to the surface and at last after 12minutes of a long and hard fought battle I was able to safely land it. What an adrenelin rush. 60 cm and 2.9 kg of Australian Salmon.
Being hungry for more of the same (or being a glutton )
I fished around for more salmon but no go, and after flicking for flatties on a good bank nearby,decided to call it a day. Total keepers for the day 2 flatties,1 Aust.Salmon. After that little effort I just love my live fibre and Shimano Symetre 1500 and thanks for you fellow Ausfishers advice on recommending it.
Hooroo Knackers