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Free Stuff!!
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For a limited time, you will receive a free Stealth or
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| Mick Meyer with his first reef fish capture….around 5 kilos of long nosed emperor,
and boy can these bruisers pull! |
Trout Had The Bends!
During the summer months we tend to chase reds in much deeper waters, anything up to 75 metres. For some reason
they move to the outer reefs when the water temps max out.
What a shock we had when fishing out near Linden Banks recently, in 65 metres of water, when the first fish we
pulled up was a trout, and a big mother it was too. My son Matthew reckons it’s one of his biggest and certainly
his most surprising.
We had invited a fishing mate of Matthews out for the day, Mick Meyer ,who had never been fishing to the reef
before. It’s always a buzz to see a new chums face light up when they catch their first Hoodlum and Mick certainly
achieved that! In the same spot he caught a long nosed emperor around 5 kilos then followed it up with a similar
sized green jobfish - you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.
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| This trout was pulled up from 65 metres of water by Matthew Graham - one of his best to date
and certainly one of the most suprising |
Surprisingly the water was dirty with the effects of recent rains so after the bite dried up we moved further
north and found a patch of much cleaner water in around 55 metres. The bottom showed a couple of spikes with
some fish life, which I thought could have been a few big reds, so the pick was dropped. Guess what the first
two fish were? Yep, coral trout around 2.5 kilos. Then we began a steady flow of similar sized fish with the
routine broken by a slatey grey and a redthroat.
We fished that spot for an hour and put another 9 coral trout in the esky. A top day by any reckoning but I’m
blowed if I could find any reds….perhaps they were out over the edge?
To end another great day on the GBR we pulled in behind the top end of Opal Reef for a snorkel. There’s some
magnifiscent bommies up there just choccas with all kinds of colourful reef fish, half of which I wouldn’t know
the names of. Young Mick was blown away, another reef tragic in the making I think!
Once In a Lifetime Fingermark
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| Adam White with a prime conditioned 5 kilo fingermark caught using a Squidgey Slick Rig |
There are some fishing memories that will be carried to the grave by most keen fishos. For me occasions like
the first barra I caught on a lure, and the first barra over 50 lbs, not forgetting my first black marlin on
6 kilo gear or my first bonefish on fly etc. etc. The story I am about to tell stands on a par with those
monumentous events in my sport fishing career. It’s spine tingling stuff and I can promise you that not one
word of exaggeration will cross my keyboard in it’s telling.
The timing of the phone call from my good fishing mate Adam White in Karumba left me in a quandary! It was the
week before a set of ‘double tides’ in that neck of the woods and Adam reckoned that with the expected weather
pattern and little run in the tides there could be a good chance of snaring a fingermark or two. I had already
made arrangements for the following week but soon decided to cancel these in favour of a chance to chase these
illusive predators using soft plastics. Airfares were paid and it was ‘game on’.
Arriving in Karumba to be greeted by near perfect sunny weather, (a revelation after leaving Cairns with thunderstorm
activity), Adam had his rig ready to go. A quick change and we were lauching at the ‘Point’ soon to be heading out
to sea towards fingermark heaven. Adam had not fished this spot for almost six months mainly due to poor weather
conditions when the tides were right and was concerned as to whether the fish would still be around, his fears were
soon to be dispelled!
We drifted over this distant mark holding our breath as we viewed the sounder...nothing...still nothing, then
there it was a small rock bar with bulk fish hovering above it. Adam said, "Get ready for some torrid action fella,
if these are what I think they are just hold on to your rod". I just nodded and took a deep breath.
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| Yet another fingermark on soft plastics near sunset for Adam White |
Using the latest ATC graphite rods from Wilsons, the 6' x 10 kilo baitcasters we were spooled up with the latest
Amnesia 40 lbs braid. By tying on 1.5 metres of 60 lbs. mono leader to the braid double this gave us a reasonable
'shock absorber', (and in just 8 metres of open water we were going to need that). Our chosen lures were the
Squidgy Slick Rigs in the 110mm and 130mm. sizes in golds, greens and whites. We also used Squidgy Shads attached
to various sizes of their heavier Fish Head Jigs. These suckers were tied on direct to our leader using a perfection
loop knot, for my money the most reliable and easily tied loop knot.
It was time to make our first casts, I gave this honour to Adam. He knows how to get the best out of soft plastics
as I watched him ease his offering to the bottom by freespooling his Calcutta 200 baitcaster all the while just
waiting for the 'take' on the drop, ready to crank the handle and set the hook. He slowly lifted his plastic off
the bottom teasing his prey with a slow up and down movement of his rod, then he retrieved a little to try and
entice them off the bottom. No hits! Adam began to retrieve his lure and, as it hit the surface it was followed
by not one - not two - but THREE fingermark which had to go a minimum of 5 kilos each. Wow!! These guys were interested
but not committed to have a go. All they needed was one of them to have a 'chomp' and start the frenzy!
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| This is the Karumba 2 Step...one of many double hooks ups for anglers Keith Graham and
Adam White who had the fishing session of a lifetime |
My hands were shaking! Adam and I made our casts and it took only one jig. WHALLOP, I was on, a split second later
so was Adam. Both reels were working overtime as these speedsters let loose and made for home. The preset tight
drag had little effect in stopping their initial run so it was a question of hang on until they began to slow down.
Tackle was tested to the max, and so were we! Pump, wind, pump, wind we began to gain line as these writhing balls
of muscle violently shook their heads. Then they changed direction making us dance around the boat threading and
weaving rods. If you think you’ve pulled on a rampaging fish try these critters on baitcasting gear, what a blast!!!
Ten minutes of arm stretching tackle testing action and both fish came alongside, an orangy red body with that
distinctive black mark on their rear is an awesome sight and to see two 5 kilo specimens at once just takes your
breath away! Adam carries a huge landing net, and a good job too as he threaded the pair in the net together,
a sight I’ve never seen before with fingermark!
Both fish were gently released and we motored back to our spot, lines in. Jig jig and BANG!! We were both on again
as we began the fingermark tango around the boat with much yahooing, this was fish heaven and we knew we were in for
some kind of afternoon!
We couldn’t believe the procession of fingermark that came to the boat, mostly averaging 4.5 to 6.5 kilos and in
prime condition. Just how big was this school?
It was so hot and humid we both began to wilt, that is until the adrenalin kicked in again and again to spur on
our efforts. Near the end of the session I hooked Mr. Big and he took me for the biggest run of the day. My
Shimano Chronarch sang a few unfamiliar tunes in protest as the first run took over 80 metres of 40lbs. Amnesia
with ease! Adam wound his line in to give me some moral support, almost like the crowd cheering on a bullfighter.
"Come on Keith keep him coming, you’re winning, don’t give up mate". He was more into it than I was but one thing
was for sure - we both wanted to see how big this mother was.
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| You just can’t wipe the smile off the authors face as he shows the catch of the day -
an 8.3 kilo fingermark taken on a Squidgey |
The sun was close to setting as we first saw colour, it was red, and it was BIG! One last crank and he slid in the
net as instant yahoos echoed across the lower Gulf. 18.5 lbs on the old scale, almost 8.5 kilos. It was the fish
of the day and a great way to end such a memorable afternoon! I swam him for about 30 seconds and as his tail kicked
in he left us with a parting gesture and saturated the pair of us. Hi Fives followed as Adam and I tallied up our
catch, 35 fingermark - all caught on Squidgey Plastics. Average size range 4.5 to 6.5 kilos, biggest fish 8.3 kilos.
Wow!!!
This was without doubt one of my greatest thrills in sportfishing the Far North and a great testament to the
tackle were using, take a bow Mr. Wilson and Shimano.
My sincere thanks also to my old friend Adam White, a gutsy sports fisho who really knows his stuff!
P.S. Adam and I have already planned our next trip later this year where we will be chasing XOS barra using mainly
soft plastics and perhaps a few deep diving trolling lures.
Read all Keith's Old Fishin' Yarns HERE!
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Fishing News
