Today heralded the last day of mahi fishing for work as a result of dropping water temps and the likelihood of catching one becoming rather unviable.  So being Sally's third last day at work she was given a guernsey and Richo and I decided that she needed to catch something worthy of bragging, so begins the story.

Once out the back, about 9am, we found sloppy conditions with an uncomfortable 1.5m swell whipped up by a good 10 knot + south easterly, getting thrown around a bit we decided to head south (from back of NW reef) to try and get some protection.  About 2 hours in we got our first hit as I witnessed a foam ball on the back left, shortly after convincing the other 2 it was a fish the rod started to feel weight, but no real hookup.  By the time I had time to look twice the rod had fully loaded up and snap, the line busted off at the rod tip and the first fish was lost as a result of a 'sticky' drag.

A quick retie of the double/leader and back on we went, not more than 5 minutes later line was peeling off and Sally was on to her first wahoo.  A few laps around the boat and I leadered him in (considered putting him in the livie tank but it seemed a little inhumane so dispatched him for our dinners)  Noticing some damage to the leader we replaced the pinky with another pinky and set the spread, this time the action took another 45 minutes to occur when a little black came up and smashed the lure with some serious anger.  I managed to get a few jump shots as the action took place with Sally fighting her first marlin, once boatside Richo went for the leader and with the fish still being a little green he took off like a rocket giving Sal a fair wake up call.  Being a little pissed off with how long it was taking Sal went to work and well, 10 meters from the boat the hooks pulled - on closer inspection the hook was completely bent and she was donned the nickname 'Heavy Handed Sally'.  (we are using 10/0 s/w fly hooks though so we can bend them out of bigger marlin rather than having them come in close to the inflatable)

Seeing as both pinkies were out of action I went to the bag and got out my trusty black grassy - the lure had hardly even hit the water before we were on again, this time to a serious fish that wasn't playing nice.  The fish initially took a good run, ran back to the boat and then took a 400m greyhounding run sideways we he spent most of the time out of the water - (like big blacks do - none of this head shaking jumping up and about - just one direction without hesitation) in one of the best displays I have seen in quite some time.  (I managed one photo but just couldn't keep up)  We estimated him at about 70kg but didn't even get close to him before the hooks pulled on Sal's 2nd for the day.

We then had a run of stripey tuna (4 at about 3-4kg) and one more bite that we think was a bill before we started heading back.  Not far off the lighthouse we had a little rat black come up and stay connected, passing the rod over to Richo I was hopeful that I might get a few more jump shots, but alas it wasn't to be.  Anyway we had finally stayed connected after one hell of a hotbite and unfortunately heavy handed Sally didn't get her first, but I think she got the marlin bug and I'm sure it will be hard for her leaving Exxy.  Will catchya round my little Sunday/Monday buddy!

Cheers,

Adam