Headed out for the monthly MAAC comp yesterday with Dean, Wal (Dean’s 72-year-old Dad) and Sarah (my 11-year-old Daughter) in fairly sloppy conditions (NE wind of 10kn+ against a SW swell of 2.5 to 3m).  I must say that I have always enjoyed fishing with Wal, and the banter between him and Dean, as his accumulated knowledge from a lifetime of quality sports fishing is gold.  I always learn something from Wal.

Same method, sound up the fish, spot lock, 5kg mulie shred block to the bottom, fish quality baits on good rigs and the fish kept coming.  The bite was not as “severe” as I have previously seen it, but by moving around we still managed a couple of nice pinkies (Wal’s was 7kg+ and mine was 4kg+), a lovely queen snapper (Wal’s), a big breaksea (mine at 1.918kg), plenty of sambos (Dean’s biggest at 21kg+, with some unstoppables), tarwine and skippy (Sarah got quite a few of these).  I didn’t take any photos of the fish (don’t know why really) so it “didn’t happen”.  I did get a shot of Sarah onto a big skippy and Dean’s sambo fight, with Wal looking on.  Breaksea Cod is premium so I took an “after event” photo of the fillets, as Jill demands I always bring these home.

We came in from out wider as the wind started to change westerly, and this was a good decision.  Time to target the inshore species, so we stopped at the back of the 3-Mile to sound up the sand whiting that hold there at this time of year.  They were thick, and we caught 30 odd within 20 minutes – an opportunity to stock up on pinkie baits.  We then came in close seeking tailor, snook, herring and gardies but conditions were crap, there was heaps of weed and the water was very dirty.  We came in early.

Wal had a good day, landing most fish he hooked.  It was a tribute to fishing skill that Wal won the monthly MAAC comp singles, and veterans, amongst seasoned competition.  A day to remember with a really good bloke, and crew.