Hillary's FAD Tue 13 Mar
On the internet the weather looked good, but no one took me up on the offer to fish the FADs today, so I decided to make the hike out on my own.
This is the first time I launched The Outrage alone and I am glad that it turned out to be no dramas.
I decided to leave a little later as Seabreeze indicated that the wind would only drop late morning and by the time I got ice, bait, finished rigging the boat and got it into the water it was 9.45am. The ride out was lumpy and I headed out between 19 - 25 knots and by the time I reached the Hillary's FAD it was close to 11.20am. On approach I saw 3 boats there, so I stopped about 800m away to rig my rods and got the boat ready for fishing. The guys out there were right on top of the FAD and I joined in, but off to one side. It looked like no one was hooking up and a friendly shout confirmed it.
The mahi were there, but for some reason they weren't biting. After I had 2 drifts, two of the other boats decided to try their luck some where else and took off. The remaining boat looked like a really fancy "flats boat", twin 50's, t top and a small radar arch.
Once the other 2 boats left, I set up for another drift chummed a mixture of mullie cubes and squid chunks and this time hooked up!
All the mahi were the same size and as usual, once one was hooked the rest lit up.
I was ready for this and once the first one was alongside, I put the rod in the rod holder (drag loosened) and got my other rod and offered another bait to the bunch hanging around - instant hook up!
I kept the first two and released 9 others in a span of 2 hours. One of them actually took me on a tour round the boat twice! All jumped except for one. Also hooked a mutton bird!
The guys in the fancy boat managed 5 and 2 mutton birds!
The wind did not stop till it was time to go at about 1.30pm. My last drift was almost motionless. I had drifted down to the FAD and actually within 10 meters of it for about 5 minutes!
I took advantage of the flat conditions to make my run in as I had a doctors appointment to go to and managed 30 knots for 21nm! It was only lumpy close in.
All in all, I had a good a day. I have been waiting to catch my first Perth Mahi and I have finally done it. Can't wait for April or May to come, I suspect they will be bigger by then.
Don't know if I should polish off the FAD paint
Sorry about the crappy pictures, came off a cam corder camera, so very low res. Was alone, so no action shots.
Craig J
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 10/01/07
Great story Alfred well done
Great story Alfred well done mate. Its been one of my must do's to get out to the FADS but I'm a bit chicken. My Boats 6m and everyone tells me no worrys your boats fine just pick your day. All the good days seem to happen during the week. Do you know how long the Mahi are around is there still a chance this year.
Cheers
SPESS
Posts: 3356
Date Joined: 29/12/06
Well done mate. Impressive
Well done mate. Impressive capture on your own, makes it all worth while and more of a memoriy to keep for ever. Congrats with the new species to add to your list as well.
Keep it tight, reeeeeeel tight!
big john
Posts: 8756
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Han Solo
Solo sportsfishing sorts the wheat from the chaff. Top effort Alfred.
John
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Thanks guys. I hear that the
Thanks guys.
I hear that the mahi usually remain till May, so I will be looking out for more calm days. If you know what the capabilities of your boat are and if you are confident that you can handle it, it should be fine to head out. My boat is only 5.5m.
Would love to have a go at the mahi with my fly gear, but my current boat is not setup for fly fishing!
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Well done Alfred
Big John is right, that's some effort solo.
Top report too.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
max199
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/05/06
TOP CATCH
Yep nice work. A bit more exillerating by your self. Glad to see you had fun. Are they top tucker? MAXY
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
I am getting familiar with
I am getting familiar with the boat now and I am starting to remember things about fishing alone as I use to do it in the past. I got myself one of those inflatable PFDs and had that on the whole trip.
Was also reminded that I should clear all ropes and have them neatly coiled up, by one of the mahis took me on a tour of my own boat!
Glad I had my "sharps" basket in a set place, so I never had to look to see where the pliers, hook remover and knives were. Habit I developed in the early days. Those things get tossed back in the basket after EVERY use.
At least on this trip I remembered that less was best and didn't bring the tackle shop. Had enough and a few spare all neatly packed in a handy pouch. This made keeping the boat tidy and hassle free an easy task.
Mahi good tucker? I love it, just don't over cook it. Nice white meat and few bones. Tastes great! Family had a feast of shashimi last night!
Now to try to mount a camera stand, so that I can get some pictures or make some Andy Mac styled videos.
shamu
Posts: 99
Date Joined: 11/10/06
nice fish alfred! wish i was
nice fish alfred! wish i was there with you! did the fish put a nice bend on your new jigwrex?
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Didn't use the heavy stuff.
Didn't use the heavy stuff. Used a couple of my ancient flick rods. Good fun.
Will be away the whole of next week, but keep an eye out on seabreeze and we can head out if it looks calm enough.
SamC
Posts: 2013
Date Joined: 30/08/06
dolly weight
what did the dolly's weigh?
good fish/report mate!! well done
cheers
sam
Cheers,
Sam
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Not much they are still
Not much they are still small. 3-4kg max I figure. One pushed a meter the rest were only in the 90cm range. Wait till May and they should be much bigger.
desmond
Posts: 116
Date Joined: 27/12/06
way cool
Hi,
That's way cool. Never got a mahi before but would love to get one on a 10lbs baitcaster. And yeah they do taste great. Been a while since I've eaten one. Went out with TAPOUT and h0ju on Tues as well and TAPOUT put me onto a nice small sambo. Got a bunch of small fish as well and had a ball of a time. Would probably have stayed longer but I had some work commitments so we all had to come back.
Give us a holler if you are going out ... i can scrub decks.
Regards
Desmond
... if it don't have 2 engines ... you're flying shark bait ...
SPESS
Posts: 3356
Date Joined: 29/12/06
Post it up when you go out
Post it up when you go out alfred and ill be in for sure! May get some personal and action shots with 2 of us.
Keep it tight, reeeeeeel tight!
synthos
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 23/06/07
I was just pondering the
I was just pondering the fads myself but its only a 4.8m however saturday is looking so nice.....
pgreen1
Posts: 395
Date Joined: 20/02/08
Congrats Alfred, well done I
Congrats Alfred, well done I will hopefully get out there again soon for some fun, they sure go off and fun to catch on the bream gear. see you out there.
Enjoy a good hard ...... Fish
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Thanks Paul, but this is an
Thanks Paul, but this is an 07 thread!! LOL!
Hope to get out there in the next few days!
1985 Boston Whaler Outrage 18 Johnson 140hp 4stroke
pgreen1
Posts: 395
Date Joined: 20/02/08
oops, haha Enjoy a good hard
oops, haha
Enjoy a good hard ...... Fish
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Top Effort Alfred
Top effort Alfred and a great write up. As BJ and AM said, good solo effort! Not a short trip! Mai Mai are still on my 'wanted list', but down here, you'd be very lucky (but possible).
Colin
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!