Bloody Mutton Birds
Hey,
Just wondering if there is any way of scaring or deterring these pesky feathered mongrels ?
I went out today and although I am starting to dabble with jigging and soft plastics I am still a believer in good old fashioned bait.
I was trying very hard to set out an un weighted bait today and ended up catching the same Mutton bird not once but twice !!
After yelling at it, pretending to throw something at it and waiting for it to get a bit bored and fly away, I chucked the line out and it got a bit of depth before the bastard came flying back....landed....looked at me.....looked under water .... looked at me again ...... then dived down and grabbed my bloody bait again !! They can dive remarkably deep. Impressive but annoying at the same time.
The second time I caught it I looked at the priest and the thought crossed my mind however I just dropped it back into the water and it just flew a few feet, ruffled it's feathers and turned around as if to say give me more !!
I left and the bird stayed .... he had won.
Is there anything that will keep them at a distance apart from buying my own wedge tailed eagle to sit on the roof of my boat ?
My fishing spots are so secret........... even the fish don't know where they are !!
Jaggo
Posts: 206
Date Joined: 06/05/14
On the fishing boats we used
On the fishing boats we used to spray where the bait was going with the deck hose. Apart from that don't have any other ideas.
Anyfishwilldo (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
When they get close enough to
When they get close enough to the boat give them a hit with a rod or gaff pole. They fly off stunned and don't return!
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
Yep, boat hook works well.
Yep, boat hook works well.
Krusty
Posts: 714
Date Joined: 27/11/15
Good idea....I will use the
Good idea....I will use the gaff pole next time..... I snapped the tip off one of my rods today trying to scare the prick
My fishing spots are so secret........... even the fish don't know where they are !!
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
Slingshot
Slingshot and a cube of Mullie. That way you dont hurt it , but after a few hits they work it out and usually take off .
Auslobster
Posts: 1901
Date Joined: 03/05/08
Someone suggested this a while ago...
...catch one, lacky band a mulie to his leg, release, and watch the whole lot chase him beyond the horizon.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Short answer-No
I've "caught"a few lately on unweighted baits--they can dive to a considerable depth..Not as bad as a Giant Petrel, though --those bastards are massive and take some managing. I ctually had a GP AND a Skua on the one line once, two of the biggest predators of the southern ocean. I was glad my father was fishing with me, he had Antartic Division experience with handling these for scientific purposes, and I wasn't as bloody as I could have been when we were finished releasing them
Krusty
Posts: 714
Date Joined: 27/11/15
Hahahaha.....now that is
Hahahaha.....now that is something I must try
My fishing spots are so secret........... even the fish don't know where they are !!
Madmerv
Posts: 672
Date Joined: 24/01/15
Bit messy
A shotgun works a treat so the kiwi's tell me.
Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Shotgun
Yep, I remember a time fishing with a bloke I knew, and he was a police sergeant too. I noticed a shot gun tucked into the side pocket and when I enquired about it, he just said you'll see. Anyway, I was day dreaming whilst catching a few pinkies and KG's out the back of Carnac when an almighty boom went off. One dead molly hawk later and a nice oil slick on the surface, we didn't see another all day.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
Krusty
Posts: 714
Date Joined: 27/11/15
Yes ranmar their diving
Yes ranmar their diving ability is the only thing that I liked about them and the rest of my thoughts were heading towards how to harm them.
Like you pointed out .....it could be a hell of a lot worse.
So..... ALL I have to do is spray my deck wash over the sinking bait while waiving my gaff handle at them and lining them up with a cube of mulie in my sling shot while I release one with a full mulie attached to it's leg
Now why couldn't I think of that myself ....hahah
My fishing spots are so secret........... even the fish don't know where they are !!
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
LOL
Bahhaha, Beer literally just came out my nose, nearly choked to death , LOL It might just work
eziliving
Posts: 880
Date Joined: 30/12/09
Seventeen Mulies generally
Seventeen Mulies generally fills them up then they become shark bait as they are to full to fly away. Did this once and he floated of once full and didn't bother us again for the day.
Get busy living, or get busy dying!
eziliving
Posts: 880
Date Joined: 30/12/09
Seventeen Mulies generally
Seventeen Mulies generally fills them up then they become shark bait as they are to full to fly away. Did this once and he floated of once full and didn't bother us again for the day.
Get busy living, or get busy dying!
lame
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 20/01/10
here's one for you all
Oil slick
One day out had a savage burley trail thought it strange the birds were staying on the edge of the slick used the method ever since works a treat bit of pilchard oil out drop your bait once it disperses wide enough obviously only works on calmer days
I figure the oil stuffs up the feathers so they stay clear
luke george
Posts: 554
Date Joined: 13/04/07
by hand
Instead of casting the bait try hand feeding the mulie down underneath the boat, on the opposite side to them or even up the front depending on the current. Usually does the trick.
A few small bits thrown the opposite way to your bait can also distract them long enough to sink a mulie past
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
teamwork get yr deckie to
teamwork get yr deckie to throw a mulie in the opposite direction to your cast wait for them to chase the offering then cast simples
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
sea-kem
Posts: 15041
Date Joined: 30/11/09
That's what we do Willo,
Love the West!
Mike17
Posts: 323
Date Joined: 30/06/13
Bait Throwers
I bought a couple of cheap($4) bait throwers from Ebay which are basically just a plastic sling shot and put a handfull of chook pellets in them and give them a dose of hight speed pellets.
Sorts them out and burley at the same time
Use The Force
Krusty
Posts: 714
Date Joined: 27/11/15
Thanks for all the
Thanks for all the suggestions guys and as I can't get my hands on a shotgun I think the decoy method could be the answer.
I will also try what lame said and see if a decent oil slick will keep them out of the zone.
Anyway, I will let you know how I go in a week or two when I get chance to get out there again.
My fishing spots are so secret........... even the fish don't know where they are !!