Two fishes in almost three months ain't much fun. But better than none.
First trip was interesting. went 30 mile to sea in search of the southern bluefin tuna which have made a winter return off Sydney. Biggest I've heard of was 280 pounds. Being that far out in a 20 foot boat makes you feel very very small. We didn't find the BFTs but scored a small yellowfin and some albacore. Got my first ever albie, but we won't discuss how big
If albacore are known as chicken of the sea, this one had just hatched from its egg! Was on a jig, but not a tied one. Was a knife jig. Highlight though was a nine foot long blue shark which appeared just as the sun set and started chewing on the prop. Amazing creature.
Other trip was polar opposite; light/ultralight tackle in the harbour.
We got 10 species on a variety of lures. Highlight was this pretty little fella.
View attachment 1
Took some google searching and a photo sent to the Australian Museum to identify. It's a Crimson Banded Wrasse. Apparently common along the ocean rocks but rarely takes a bait let alone a lure, and got him west of the Harbour Bridge. So fooling him in enclosed waters far from their normal habitat is cool.
Jigs just seem to pull out the unexpected!
He was conned into taking a 1/8th Squoccy (squid/octopus) of dark brown and white with glow eyes. Will try to take some pics of the Sqoccies been tying tomorrow and post em up.
There's a fair few varieties of wrasse around here, the largest being the misnamed Blue Groper. A 46 pounder was taken on crab bait off the rocks near home the other day by a local rockhopper guru.. Has got me thinking.............
So, very little wettiing of lines lately but two new species in the two trips was satisfying (though one doesn't count so much, not being taken on a home made jig).
The way works going, may have a LOT of time to fish soon.
First trip was interesting. went 30 mile to sea in search of the southern bluefin tuna which have made a winter return off Sydney. Biggest I've heard of was 280 pounds. Being that far out in a 20 foot boat makes you feel very very small. We didn't find the BFTs but scored a small yellowfin and some albacore. Got my first ever albie, but we won't discuss how big
If albacore are known as chicken of the sea, this one had just hatched from its egg! Was on a jig, but not a tied one. Was a knife jig. Highlight though was a nine foot long blue shark which appeared just as the sun set and started chewing on the prop. Amazing creature.Other trip was polar opposite; light/ultralight tackle in the harbour.
We got 10 species on a variety of lures. Highlight was this pretty little fella.
View attachment 1
Took some google searching and a photo sent to the Australian Museum to identify. It's a Crimson Banded Wrasse. Apparently common along the ocean rocks but rarely takes a bait let alone a lure, and got him west of the Harbour Bridge. So fooling him in enclosed waters far from their normal habitat is cool.
Jigs just seem to pull out the unexpected!
He was conned into taking a 1/8th Squoccy (squid/octopus
) of dark brown and white with glow eyes. Will try to take some pics of the Sqoccies been tying tomorrow and post em up.There's a fair few varieties of wrasse around here, the largest being the misnamed Blue Groper. A 46 pounder was taken on crab bait off the rocks near home the other day by a local rockhopper guru.. Has got me thinking.............
So, very little wettiing of lines lately but two new species in the two trips was satisfying (though one doesn't count so much, not being taken on a home made jig).
The way works going, may have a LOT of time to fish soon.
