With winds being predicted to be a very mild south all day, I thought I would finally be able to tick an important item off my bucket list, help someone with a mental impairment catch a truly special fish.

A good friend of mine, Corky Thatcher, unfortunately obtained ceilingfixertosis in 1995, and ever since has had trouble comprehending everyday items, learning, and lifes general duties, and since the government doesn't recognize this impairment as an actual disability, he's had minimal support, except from his friends and family.

We launched in the dark hours of morning for a sloppy ride 16 miles out in the tinny to an area I know holds good dhu, and after a slow start on a few rat sambos and just undersize pinkies, came across a slight change in ground conditions. I looked at the sounder and said there's a few arches just above the change, when Corky's rod buckled over in defiance...

He recently spent some of his telethon money (thanks channel 7) on a nice pe2 light jigger and his 4000 twin power was singing with what I first thought was another, bigger, sambo, before a bullshit power run straight down had me second guessing it was a decent shark. He stopped it just before it bricked him, and turned him back up slow and steady to the surface for a few more minutes, with a look on his face that could only be likened to that of "the chunk" from the goonies. a few bubbles popping up had me realizing it was no shark. When it finally broke the surface, and no gaff on board, I put both my hands down its gills, and heaved the big dhu over the side.

The look on Corky's face reminded me of simple jack. he was more excited than the rainman, and sean penn in milk combined. gilbert grape had nothing on this guy right now, and he had me thanking my lucky stars I was lucky enough to have such a special friend.

we fished only for another half hour, but with our esky looking pretty damn fine with a donkey dhu, 84cm pinky (mine), red throat emp and another just-legal dhu, we called it quits and steamed back to the ramp.

although some of the photos don't really do it justice, it was a whopper. it came in at a sturdy 18.1kgs, exactly 100cm, weighed at home.

a really special fish, for a really special kid. onya corky.

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