Finally....Got my Mulla!

Every fish has a story behind it. Mine started four years ago. The wife and I bought a new 4x4 and went camping for the first time up at Wedge. I had recently started fishing and on my first night there caught a reasonable mulla - probably around the 7-8kg mark. My mates all called it a fluke...and so started a mission to prove them wrong. I started fishing different moon phases and eventually settled on certain times around the New Moon. I focussed on the mid-west area, fishing anywhere between Cervantes and Dongara. Dropped a lot of fish.....It was really only a little over 12 months ago that I started to regularly get into tailor. I eventually settled on a spot in the Leeman area - the tailor were usually there and this year I have caught heaps of soapies (1-3kg). I had heard a few rumours from locals about the big ones, but never seen one landed.

I went up there last month, promising the boss lady that it would be my last trip until the weather warms up again. This weekend looked simply too good to pass up though, with light winds in the lead up to the weekend....a pretty rare thing for that stretch of coast! So I begged and grovelled...and off I went.

Conditions were perfect. A bit of swell, but no breeze and the water was relatively clear. Looked like I was going to be in for a bumper tailor session. Arriving with just enough time to setup before sundown, my first bait hit the water just as the sun kissed the sea.

I was pretty surprised, not a nibble. I perservered for a good hour or so before I got my first hit and bought in a small tailor....around the 35cm mark. Figured it was going to be a long night.

Tailor became bait....and out went a small strip bait.

Took about 30 minutes....but then there was a little bit of a knock on the rod. This turned into regular knocks...and I put it down to a nibbler. This went on for 5 minutes or so, and the knocked slowly became more regular and with a little more purpose. Something was having a chew alright. Perhaps a ray or another gummy I thought.

Took the rod out of the holder and waited....within seconds I could feel some serious weight there, while the fish wasn't running I knew it was time to set the hooks.

Straight away the drag started running. Within 10 seconds or so, I knew I was into something decent. I beached a shark that would have been around the 20kg mark a few months back at the same spot. This felt similar. Regular big heaves on the rod, with the occasional run peeling line off had me call it as another shark. It didn't cross my mind at that stage, that a shark of that size doesn't chew on a bait for 5 minutes!

15-20 minute fight, with several mini-runs, I got sight of the fish front on as it came over the drop off. All I saw was a big mouth....I had no idea what it was, and my first instinct was catfish!?

10 seconds later it was up on the beach with the swell washing around it. It was only then that I looked down and saw the magnificent silver body shining back at me. The loudest 'woohoo' you will ever hear....

Fishing solo is tough when you land a big one. With rod in hand, the fish was too big to drag up the beach. I had to roll it over to get it out of the swell zone to safety.

Rod in holder, ran back to grab the fish. Picked it up and just about dropped the thing. My son is 19kg and I pick him up every day. This thing was heavier.

A fellow camper (Paul) from up the beach came over for a couple of happy snaps. I enjoyed a 30 second cuddle with my prize then got it back in the water. Didn't take long....a few seconds later, a big kick of that broad paddle tail...and off she swam to make more dream fish for the next generation.

Sorry about the picture quality, I don't usually take pictures.....but had to do something for the doubters (and for bragging rights of course...)

Have no idea of it's length or weight. At a guess....maybe 20kg...could be more. You be the judge?

EDIT: Forgot to mention, bought home one decent tailor @ 47cm for the Mrs. They were really off the bite though with only a handful of choppers caught (released). No B&B fish at all...

 

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Posts: 626

Date Joined: 27/11/09

Oh....

Sun, 2013-06-09 18:30

For the record, caught on 3/0 gangs paternoster rig, 30lb mono. Cheap line (Wasabi), cheap hooks (Mustad), cheap rod (Ugly Stik), cheap reel (Shimano Alivio).

 

crasny1's picture

Posts: 6985

Date Joined: 16/10/08

liar

Sun, 2013-06-09 19:26

wascaught on all the best gear, cost you a few thousand to land it!!!! Cant put smileys on for some reason but certainly pulling the pig.

It just proves you dont need $$$$ to catch a prize, but whats wrong with Mustads

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"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk

Posts: 626

Date Joined: 27/11/09

Hahaha...well, it's certainly

Sun, 2013-06-09 21:35

Hahaha...well, it's certainly been an expensive fish. Would hate to put a figure on it....

I got into higher quality hooks for a long time...Gama's and Owner - then when I was skint went back to Mustads and found I seem to drop less fish. In saying that though, I think I can count my lucky stars. The mulla was hooked on the first gang and it was bent way out of shape during the fight....it held fast though, that's a +1 for Mustad!

crasny1's picture

Posts: 6985

Date Joined: 16/10/08

OMG, that is a nice fish.

Sun, 2013-06-09 18:33

OMG, that is a nice fish. Well done mate. Not a Mulla expert and I will leave the guestimates to them. But a price anyway.

Love it

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"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk

tim-o's picture

Posts: 4657

Date Joined: 24/05/11

Looks fat, nice work!

Sun, 2013-06-09 18:37

Looks fat, nice work!

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I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.

Super peg's picture

Posts: 760

Date Joined: 02/09/12

 great story even better fish

Sun, 2013-06-09 18:38

 great story even better fish mate! great work on the solo landing too, 

good to hear it was released also mate!

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The art of fishing consists of casting, winding, trolling and jigging

while freezing, sweating, swatting and swearing.

Snags's picture

Posts: 558

Date Joined: 07/05/09

Well done mate! Good read

Sun, 2013-06-09 19:13

Well done mate!
Good read too.

southcity104's picture

Posts: 1659

Date Joined: 27/01/09

cracker croaker!

Sun, 2013-06-09 19:26

 deffinately a superb lb capture! top stuff

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"Its a life style job"

snipesleher's picture

Posts: 100

Date Joined: 02/01/10

NICE

Sun, 2013-06-09 19:43

Nice fish there buddy.

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Wesley

THE GERMAN's picture

Posts: 607

Date Joined: 20/07/06

awsome

Sun, 2013-06-09 20:08

 catch mate love it ,good write up too 

THE GERMAN's picture

Posts: 607

Date Joined: 20/07/06

awsome

Sun, 2013-06-09 20:08

 catch mate love it ,good write up too 

opsrey's picture

Posts: 1200

Date Joined: 05/10/07

Well done.

Sun, 2013-06-09 21:01

Great fish, thx for sharing.

mulloway_hunter's picture

Posts: 443

Date Joined: 18/04/11

good stuff matre this is wat

Sun, 2013-06-09 21:15

good stuff matre this is wat the dreams are all about. late nights freezing ya bum off and sitting there wondering if theres one swimming straight past your bait or even having a look at it.. cant wait till my 4x4 is fixed hopefully i can get one like this soon

Posts: 363

Date Joined: 27/12/09

 that is 1 fat mulla! well

Sun, 2013-06-09 21:47

 that is 1 fat mulla! well done!

cuthbad's picture

Posts: 1266

Date Joined: 22/04/09

Great fish and really good

Sun, 2013-06-09 23:34

Great fish and really good write up. Lots of respect for the release as well mate, that would be tough on the first big mulla I bet. Congrats!

bronzey92's picture

Posts: 72

Date Joined: 26/10/12

gotta be stoked with that!

Mon, 2013-06-10 09:48

good effort and report mate! cheers 

mateusz's picture

Posts: 207

Date Joined: 18/03/11

good catch

Tue, 2013-06-11 23:38

Thanks for the entertaining story behind it. Good work

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beached as bro! 

Posts: 83

Date Joined: 28/12/12

Nice,

Fri, 2013-06-14 14:36

Thats a great fish, well done!

FISH-ON's picture

Posts: 469

Date Joined: 19/07/11

Awesome fish great storywhat

Mon, 2013-06-17 08:27

Awesome fish great story

what did you catch it on?

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Be patient and calm - for no one can catch fish in anger

godders's picture

Posts: 116

Date Joined: 05/08/09

Thats a cracker piece of

Tue, 2013-06-18 19:20

Thats a cracker piece of silver. awesome mate, well deserved.  The might mulloway!!!

TheJettyRat's picture

Posts: 733

Date Joined: 02/03/12

Got to love the Ugly Sticks

Sun, 2013-06-30 13:57

Got to love the Ugly Sticks well done mate.

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Posts: 791

Date Joined: 05/12/09

Nice fish, and stoked you

Mon, 2013-07-01 17:02

Nice fish, and stoked you finally landed 1!!!

 Cheers for the write up!!  Always good to read a good story!!

PS.... Last week.... We caught about 20!!!  ;-) and EVERY 1 went the meter mark!!  lol... 

Kept the first 1 and released all the rest!.. Was good fun!!