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My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 2:36 pm
by Pecheur
Hi there,

With a few unsuccessful trips in a row it was time to get a few fish...
So Sheeby proposed to Sarrge and myself to have a go at the Cullen Bay Milkfish...
We said yes and we did not regret it!

In fact I had read so much about the run of the Milkfish, that I woke up at 3am and could not find any more sleep, too anxious to see what it would be.
Sarrge offered to give me a lift so no pushbike ridding under the rain for me, that was a good start.

As we arrive we were greeted by a double rainbow over the harbour, a nice thing to see in the morning.
We walk down the rock, Sheeby is not yet there and Sarrge start to cast a chrome slice, and before I have even rigged my rod, he is on a nice little Queenfish! On his second cast!
The day is definitively starting well, I tell myself.

Sheeby arrives five minutes after us, and jump in the action the Queenfish are all over the place.
I got one too, and quickly bleed it and put it in my bag.

Sarrge got two other that he keept, yes that makes three fish to take home for him.
:mrgreen:
And then he hooked a fourth one...
But that was cheating, he hooked it on the tail...
And he was small too, so he put it back in the drink, so it grow a bit more for the next time.
He also hooked another one, and that could have been the biggest Queenfish of the day, but it literaly slipped from his hand, once he had taken the lure out of the fish, and went back for a swim...
I am not sure that he was very happy?

Sheeby so far, was good company, but did not catch much...
And sure enough, Sarrge and I, like the two good fishing buddies that we can be, we don't miss an occasion to remind him what the scores are...
:twisted:
But I have to admit, that with time, he was to have his moment, no doubt about that.

Then, we put down the spinning gears, and start to try for these Milkfish, which from what I was told, can give some pretty big run, and have an impressive stamina...
I was not going to be disappointed...

This is when Sheeby started to shine.
He got the first Milkfish of the day, and I think it is fair to say that both Sarrge and I were surprise and impress by what was happening in front of us.
Even if we couldn't help to ask Sheeby if he was making it last so long because he hadn't landed a decent fish yet...
:lol:
But he definitively came up with the goods, and landed a beautiful fish.

Now the two novice wanted one...
And I hooked!
A mullet...
:bonk:
But he still gave a faire fight, and I nearly slipped in the water trying to reel it in...
This time it was their turn to make fun of me...
:roll:

But hey, I have no shame about it, it came at just over two kilos, and was a nice fish.
Because Sheeby gave me a Mackerel one of the last time that we fished together, I gave him the Mullet...
Fair no?
:angel:

Actually a few people told me that they were actually very good to eat, and next time I might keep one for me if I can catch another one.

All this time Sarrge was trying to get a Milkfish on a cheap baitcaster that I had lent him...
I was soon to discover that it was a good thing that he did not hook one on it...
And the way I discovered it, was by hooking one myself, on my whiting rod...

Luckily I had changed the line on it the evening before, full of 15lbs braid and 20lbs leader on a little Sedona 4000.
The thing just kept peeling line first going for the horizon, then for the left side of the wall, where I thought that I had it. But he started again, making a big circle around the point of the rock wall and jumping and taking for the other side.
I was sure that the line would break on a rock and I passed the rod to Sheeby who was standing higher than I so he could lift the rod tip to avoid the line rubbing on the rocks. I climbed as quick as I could and got my rod back, thanks Sheeby!
Then I spent what seemed a very long time trying to turn the fish toward me, but he didn't take any of it...
I even started to joke with the other that maybe they could come to pick me up tomorrow morning...
Eventually, the fish was close enough to the rocks for Sheeby to grab it by the tail and pass it to me.
Quick pic form his camera, and release of it...

My ho my, they can pull...

Then i felt spent...
And started to flick a chrome slice around to relax.

Sheeby got a second one, which seemed like he was never going to stop.
To the extant that I had to ask him :lol: if he had got his new reel cheaper because it came without any drag?
:lol:

The fish looked like he was going to swim for a very long time, but finally was subdued, photographed and released.

And Sarrge in all that?
Weel he did had and encouter with a milkfish...
It didn't last long, maybe one or two seconds...
But that was enough to bend his hook, and give him a taste of what it is all about.

So that was our morning, and we all got back home with some fish and some good memories.
Thank Sheeby to show us how to target the milkfish, and Sarrge for the lifte, God life is becoming good!
:wink:

Have a good day,
Pecheur

And now all the proof in pictures:

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 3:23 pm
by muntzy
Great post Pech and awesome looking Milkies!

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 3:42 pm
by Sheeby
Top write up Pech :cheers: That's why we left it to you.

It was an awesome morning even if I had to fish with you two smart arses :fu:
You forgot to mention that I christened my Daiwa Redback 4000...with a tiny queenie (it seems to be the trend for any reel I buy). I've gotta say that the new reel was fantastic on those milkfish.
During the second milky fight I had, the fish was near the end of it's big runs and jumped. Sarrge estimated 200-250m out and I agreed. It would have to be the best milkfish run I've seen yet and I'm confident that my old reel would've been spooled by that fish.

Thanks for the mullet too haha It was edible although I'd prefer queenie or mackeral anyday.

Oh Sarrge, sorry about the dodgy hook too (even if I landed two fish on the same hooks :wink: ). I just went and bought better ones for next time. I wish you'd hooked a milky on that baitcaster, I've always wanted to see a reel completely spooled and finished :bricks:

So Pech woke up at 3am worried about his reel handling a milkfish, Sarrge woke up at 4:30am too excited to sleep and I woke up at 5:30am worried that the milkfish might not show up :bonk: Yep, fisherman are a weird bunch.

Good times :catch:

Sheeby.

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 3:45 pm
by Timmo
some truly magnificent fish there pech

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 4:13 pm
by sarrge
Pech that is a terrific write-up - what a top morning.......

And it was good that you showed some charity :angel: to Sheeby seeing as he couldn't manage to catch anything to eat.

Being from SA, that would be the biggest mullet i've ever seen, Sheeby and I thought Pech may get spooled by it :rofl: it looked harder to reel in that that milky. And speaking of milky's, I'm definately going to go and buy some hooks that aren't made of solder - thanks Sheeby :mrgreen:

It did occur to my that it doesn't matter where you fish and who you fish with, the last bloke to catch a fish ALWAYS cops it from whoever else is there.

Had a ball this morning, caught some fish, hung a bit on the other blokes and, for what most seemed to think were bad tides for the rocks, saw lots of life including barracouda, queenies, mullet, gar, milkys, a dugong and a decent sized shark.

And next time, the milky's are mine boys!!!!!

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 4:31 pm
by max
well done lads youve got some seriousd bends in those rods

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 4:47 pm
by ozdodge
Fantastic write up Pech as always,

Love those milkies and their big tails, which make for big tales.... :)

well done!

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:13 pm
by Dreamrider-
top landbased fishing !!!!

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 7:17 pm
by meterclubwannabe
sounds like an awesome way to spend a morning.
A few laughs, some good fish and a heap of fun! :D
Excellent write up Pech and some great photos 8)
:cheers:

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 7:31 pm
by andrew.south
Great fish guys... :applause: :applause: :applause:

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 7:46 pm
by AdzaNT
Sounds like a great morning guys. And to think I was going to head down to Cullen bay this morning. My last few trips have been dead quiet and I wasn't sure about a cloudy neap tide morning. But you showed that up. Who would have thought milkfish would get the land based forum talking about line strength and reels.

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:25 pm
by Billster
Great write up and pics Pech, sounds like you all had a good time.
Billy

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:38 pm
by Fishless
Great report and great pics, those are some very solid looking milkies! :o

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:55 pm
by seano
Top report Pech -great first milky! That spot looks familiar............

Re: My ho my, they can pull...

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:45 pm
by Richieboy
Increasing the species list Pech, nice....always enjoy the reports!

Richie