A Day on The Blue
“Mate do ya reckon we should put the clears up today”. “Aagh yer we may need them”.
Poked the Commodore 6.7mt out of the heads at Dawseville and the Seabreeze forecast definitely didn’t match what we saw but hey it was a long drive from Bunno and we weren’t turning back. My mate goes. “Maybe we should just fish the FFB”. “What and catch nothing as usual don’t be a woos!” Dawesville is a better option for us rather than Bunno cos I think it’s better to punch into it on the way out rather than when the Doctor turns it on in the arvo when you are heading home.
I have been appointed skipper again as I think my mate appreciates that it is brine running through my veins rather than blood. Anyway I don’t need one of those girly swat anti sea sick wrist band things and a gob full of travel calm pills. HA HA. It has been really slim pickings for eons fish wise. I thought the FFB was fertile ground but as it turns out all we’ve been doing is heavily supporting the bait industry for a couple of years and the buggers don’t even send us a Christmas card.
It all changed one fateful day when I did a huge favour for a workmate and then he repaid me. He got a map of the world and pointed and said “You need to fish there”. What near that island? “Yep”. Jeez mate that’s a bit further than the Five Fathom Bank. Are you sure that’s how you spell it?”Yep”. Shouldn’t that say Rottnest or Garden or Penguin Island? “Nup”. So here we are heading off to what seems half way to Mauritius to catch us a Dhuie or maybe our boat limit of two. Twenty knots. bang pound, eighteen knots bang pound, fifteen knots bang pound. Maaate what’s that rattling sound is it the aluminium pole on the landing net? Nah that’s me bones. Thirteen knots and still on the plane the winds picking up and there are some really dark clouds where we are headed. We back off to eight knots as we get closer, tweak the sounder a bit and hey presto we are here. Slip her into neutral and all of a sudden we take a small wave over the bow, she runs up the windscreen and under the hood to give both of us a face full of water. Yep we are here this is the spot. LOL
Out goes the drogue to slow the drift down from 1.8 kn to a more respectable 1 kn. Some nice looking fit for human consumption Californian squid goes on the hooks (I told ya WA bait suppliers shoulda sent me a Xmas card) Then I ask me mate the time to compare it with the predicted time from the “Anglers All Maniacs” cos today is supposed to be a “good” day. We are half an hour early so things are looking promising. I know the little yellow book is not for everyone but it seems to work for me. A few minutes later the wind drops the sky clears the sounder lights up and I’m calling that “its gunna happen right now”, when my mate calls that he’s on. It looks more promising than the Gurnard and Sergeant Baker we just released but I still have to give my two bobs worth. “I reckon that’s a blowie you’ve got on there cos ya rods not even got a bend in it”. “What are ya puffing for?” “Get the net, get the net” he’s going. I already had the net and said “Gees mate ya getting excited what are ya gunna do if ya catch a real fish?” We can see colour and it is really quite white for a Dhuie. “Swim it into the net” I said and brought it into the boat.
Now I’m on, so I drop the net and leave me mate to sort out the tangle I’ve just created for him. LOL. This fish looks to be on the bigger size because it’s giving the 6ft Penn Senator a bit of a bend and its starting to take a little bit of braid off the Okuma Titus. It’s not long before I can see that beautiful whitish grey colour of a much better looking Dhuie. “Gee mate haven’t you got that fish out of the net yet, I’ve got a decent fish here so ya betta get a move on”. He gets the net over the side just in time to land not a big but a reasonable size fish for me. I said mate ya betta chuck yours back cos we’ve already got enough bait. He scowls and says f#@%#@. “How big is it anyway”. It goes a tad under 51 cm and then we make the bravest fishing decision ever. Do we throw our first legal size Dhufish back so that we can fish on. Of course we do.
I’m using some snelled 2/0 suicide hooks as I’m hoping to get some KG’s as a by catch, my mate is using some large circle hooks. After moving back to the X spot we start our drift again. It’s not long and my mate yells he’s on again. Crikey this looks substantially better because his 5ft Senator has got a serious bend in it and he’s onto a beauty so I offer him some encouragement. “Maate, are you snagged on the bottom again? Why are your cheeks all red and why are you puffing so much? Do you think you’ll have him landed before dinner time?” With that he started getting serious and really got the rod working so I told him to slow down in case he pulled the hooks if it was only lightly hooked in the mouth. I asked him if he wanted the net and he got his own back when he said “Nah ya better find a harpoon mate” A few more minutes and he had a beautiful Dhuie alongside, into the net and on the deck. All 15 kg of it. Whoo hoo, high fives back slapping and grins from ear to ear. It went over 1 mt on the measuring stick We think it was good Karma to release that small but legal Dhuie and it was repaid in spades. We had Fishing for the Future in mind when it went back because there was no guarantee that we would catch another one.
We certainly were thankful to have a following sea on the way home and not hang on with white knuckles while getting pounded. The last couple of trips out wide have done wonders for our male egos as hunters and fishos because prior to that when fishing the FFB we mention to the wives that we are going fishing and they would say “OK I’ll get some steak out of the freezer for tonight’s dinner”. The Anglers Almanac was wrong, it wasn’t a good day it was a “Great Day”. Thanks for reading Toothfish
It doesn't matter how deep it is.
Once it goes past your nose it doesn't matter!
Andy Mac
Posts: 4779
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Classic
Loved the comentary. Thats a nice couple of fish and great Karma after appeasing the fish gods with a first fish release. Well done.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
buschy
Posts: 626
Date Joined: 27/11/09
Sounds like hard work but
Sounds like hard work but worth it! Well done
Shane O
Posts: 926
Date Joined: 22/01/10
where did you go
how far out did you have to go to those fish, could i get there in a 4.85 m cabin cruiser?
STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
Good read!!
Thanks for the good read!! and congratulations on you're catch!! It's great when a plan pulls off, also stick with the almanac because the best days generally coincide with the moon phases. Fish the moons!!
Toothfish
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 10/03/09
Once the waters past ya nose
it doesn't matter how deep it is, unless you are a fish.
We went 35+ km.
You could get there in a 4.85 m cabin cruiser but there would be a good chance you wouldn't make it back especially in the conditions on Sunday. The conditions were far above what was forecast. The seas were being pushed up by an opposing tide and made the face of some of the waves quite steep.I find the conditions change after you go past the 30- 35 mt contour. A small boat does not have the buoyancy in the bow to lift in the face of an oncoming wave and it can be equally as dangerous in a following sea if you go over a wave and you don't have the boat length.
It would not be my reccomendation to take such a small boat that far as conditions can and do change. I did make light of it in my post but we did discuss it seriously and we did factor in a safety margin. We are always prepared to turn around and go home if conditions are unsafe.
Toothfish
It doesn't matter how deep it is.
Once it goes past your nose it doesn't matter!
STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
I've got a big boat
Will you tell me as Iv'e got a big boat, and also, how long would it take to get there from Mindarie marina??? LOL
Seaquest
Posts: 1132
Date Joined: 22/10/09
Great fish mate. Not easy
Great fish mate. Not easy throwing the first dhuy back but looks like you were rewarded for your efforts.
Been watching the almanac and keeping details of all fishing trips in a diary for years now. I have caught just as many fish in the white days (poor) as the black days (good). I think the tide is very important which relates to the moon phases but don't go reading to much into good and bad days in the almanac. It might work for other species but I haven,t seen any evidence that it relates to dhuys.
Goodz
Posts: 2332
Date Joined: 20/07/09
Great story there and good
Great story there and good work with your dhus. Musta felt great to throw that just size one back only to pull in one twice as big after!
Percula
Posts: 272
Date Joined: 23/09/08
Great story there toothfish!
Great story there toothfish! Great read and great fish!
Toothfish
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 10/03/09
Must be crazy
I must be crazy because I keep wanting to catch some nice King George whiting. Don't get me wrong my kids and Mrs love the Dhufish and so does my mates family. We have come across a purple patch with the Dhuies because we have bagged out on the last three trips. We have not flogged any spot and always move to new ground, the last three trips vindicating our decisions especially with the release of a size fish. We have just endured a period of nearly two years without a Dhuie. Its just that I have a new Holy Grail, a big fat King George Whiting as thick as my forearm (I eat lots of spinach and have arms like Popeye) well acually I want half a dozen. Can someone point me in the right direction or do ya think I need counselling. LOL
Toothfish
It doesn't matter how deep it is.
Once it goes past your nose it doesn't matter!
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
mate nothing wrong with
mate nothing wrong with wanting big KG whiting. Sounds like the drive and putting up with the weather was worth it, and a good read too.
If I was chasing KG's amongst the dhuies I'd fish a paternoster rig with the dhuie bait on top and a 1/0 or 2/0 hook on bottom with squid for bait.
Toothfish
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 10/03/09
Did just that
Did just that. I am not greedy for Dhuies that is why we sent one back. I am fishing 2/0 top and bottom on a paternoster with squid. My concern is that if we do catch our limit of two and I am using small hooks then the next fish if it is a Dhuie will deep throat the hooks and reduce our chances of releasing it successfully. I think we could help by cutting the line rather than trying to remove them. As the old saying goes you can catch a big fish on a small hook but you can't catch a small fish on a big hook. Maybe I need someone to show me where I can catch a KG and I can show them where to catch a Dhuie. You show me yours and I'll show you mine! Na na na na na. You go first. LOL.
Toothfish
It doesn't matter how deep it is.
Once it goes past your nose it doesn't matter!
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
cool story mate, good
cool story mate, good work
KG's try using half mulies on your snelled hooks.
try just off your lumps your drifting on, KG's like broken ground with weed, or rubble ground.
For some reason i find it real easy to spot KG ground on the sounder, much more than good Dhu ground.
Auslobster
Posts: 1901
Date Joined: 03/05/08
Mandurah KG's...
...have got all mine on snelled double 2/0's (I think Andy calls it a "super-snell") and either a whole mulie or a strip of skippy. Can be a paternoster or driftbait setup. Only ever seem to get one or two per trip, have yet to find that "honey hole"!
Great story mate...been hemming and hawing about launching out of Dawesville for some time now and trying the ground down there and your adventure has pretty much decided it for me!
synthos
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 23/06/07
circle
I have been using circle on my rigs mainly I wonder tho if I should maybe be usng the cuicides ? last time I went oout a Baldchin swallowed the circly and I gut hooked him ? but at50cm he was legal ;) how u finding the suicides vs circles ur mates using ?
nice catch !~
eddie
Posts: 303
Date Joined: 07/02/08
great story and pic!!
great story and pic!!
Toothfish
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 10/03/09
Much appreciated Bodie and Auslobster
Much appreciated Bodie and Auslobster for the terrific advice on how to home in on the KG's however Bodie there aint no lumps as we are fishing in the desert.
Have you ever heard of "Lassiters Reef"? Well we have been fishing at "Toothfishes Reef" and I would appreciate it if you keep it to yourselves and not let anybody else know.
I was delerious after a day on The Blue and inadvertantly let slip that TR was past the 30- 35 mt contour. This narrows down the ground significantly and I hope you both won't hammer it or pass that information on! I forgot to mention the two year "No Catch Dhuie Exclusion Period" which I had to endure before things happened!
Please don't mention "The Doctor, The Tide, The Rod, the Bait, The hooks, The Reel or The Boat as this is a valuable resource and can only support about 5000 families.
Cheers.
Toothfish
It doesn't matter how deep it is.
Once it goes past your nose it doesn't matter!
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
We must be really due for
We must be really due for some dhuies then. I think it's been about 6 years for us. We don't get out there much though.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17877
Date Joined: 11/03/08
well when i saw your story
well when i saw your story i thought here we go , long winded. but you certainly know how to tell a yarn. was a great read and you certainly made it interesting with the running comentry, (would be an interesting day with you on the boat)its great to see you would sacrifice your first legal dhuie for the day in hope for another.Congrats to you and your mate, especialy with the 15 kg monster.
I do have to agree with you about the kg's , would rather chow down to them than dhuie anyday.
hopefully one day you will find your nemisis and get the monster your after.
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Toothfish
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 10/03/09
Circles vs Suicide
For the last couple of trips my mate has been using large circle hooks and they have been serving him well. As I mentioned above you can catch a big fish on a small hook but you can't catch a small fish on a big hook. This is fine because we have been fishing on productive ground that has had larged mouth fish. When the going gets tough I am confident I will outfish him, as history has proven hopefully with a catch of nice KG's. Even on recent trips I have scored more fish than him however a Gurnard, a Sergeant Baker and a Dhuie doesn't outscore a slightly bigger Dhuie. I am biding my time for when I can bag those elusive KG's. I am always looking for new ground.
It doesn't matter how deep it is.
Once it goes past your nose it doesn't matter!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17877
Date Joined: 11/03/08
if your going snelled as a
if your going snelled as a lot do , i wouldnt bother with the circle hooks. i have caught a decent size dhuie on the snelled 2/0 hooks
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Toothfish
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 10/03/09
Snell Snell
Russ/Sandy, I am using two sets of 2 x 2/0 suicide hooks snelled,(2 hooks at the top and two hooks at the bottom).
It is my mate who is using large circle hooks.
That is one of the reasons why I have better catch rates than him.
Cheers
It doesn't matter how deep it is.
Once it goes past your nose it doesn't matter!
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15610
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Great read
Great read Geoff, love your work mate. :)
Cheers,
Adam
Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance
synthos
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 23/06/07
;)
So its the hooks not the skill ? :) Ever find u catch fish on one side of the boat and nothing on the other side ? so suicides seem to be the prefrence I may have to rething my circles.
PS loved the story