Last trip for the winter
With my surgery for a double knee replacement scheduled for the Tuesday morning, Gail and I decided to take a chance and get out on a rainy Saturday which was to be my last trip for the winter. The recovery time for this type of surgery can be up to three months and I had to make the best of this last trip before the summer.
We launched in the rain from Woodman Point and made our way towards the southern end of Rottnest Island. By the time we reached Seaward Reef on Five Fathom Bank the visibility was less than ten meters due to the heavy rain and Gail was protesting as she could not see land. I assured her that the Raymarine chart plotter does not lie and that other than Seaward Reef itself we did not have any “known” obstacles until we reached our destination. Her obvious question was “what about the other boats” which fitted perfectly into my future justification for a sonar. This rain squall lasted for another 30 minutes – so did the squabble. None-the-less we arrived at our designated destination all intact and dropped the anchor as the clouds parted to allow the sun to beam out its morning greetings to a receptive fisherlady.
On Gail’s first drop she hooked up into the largest Scorpionfish that I have seen to date – caught on a 7/0 hooked, loaded with a block of Herring. Soon after I caught a keeper of a Snapper on a drifting Scalie where no weight was needed due to the lack of a current (see video footage for method). The next fish was a Samson Fish on light gear which gave Gail a good run and tested her ever improving angling skills. I managed to get some underwater footage of the fight on the GoPro.
During the next couple of hours Gail lost three good fish and I managed to land the biggest Cuttlefish that I have ever seen. On our way out we stopped off on a sandy patch in about 16m of water about 2km west of the northern Point of Garden Island and caught a number of Whiting to end off another memorable trip.
Please keep on posting your catches as I will be “living” on Fishwrecked and YouTube during my recovery period. Tight lines and safe angling.
YouTube clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=2vdZzUPXGXQ
Fisheagle Ed
Guardy
Posts: 381
Date Joined: 09/08/12
A very nice catch once more
Gail is still managing to out fish you
.
Looks like you will need the 3 months or so after the knee replacements to reflect on how to out beat her when it comes to catching fish.
You are a braver man than me taking on both knee replacements at the same time. I have now had 3, with the first two done 6 months apart while living in Scotland then 2 years ago 1 failed when climbing down into my boat after a great snapper session and part of the replacement ended several inches up my thigh. All fixed at Freo Hospital and is better than ever.
Anyhow good luck and I'm sure we are all looking forward to some more great video sessions with you beating Gail while fishing.
Fisheagle
Posts: 349
Date Joined: 04/02/12
Time to reflect
Yes Frank, Gail still manages to outfish me and I continue to clean and cook. I will spend the next three months re-strategizing and come out swinging (even if it is only my knees).
This trip actually occurred two weekends ago and I am now in my second week of recovery after the surgery. All going well! Only reason why I am having both done at the same time is because I wouldn't be brave enough to go back a second time.
It will be great to have a catch up some time once I am mobile.
Fisheagle Ed
https://www.youtube.com/user/fisheagleed/videos
Stevo81
Posts: 1278
Date Joined: 16/04/12
Sweet photos!
Sweet photos!
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Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Good pics fish eagle, I feel for you on the knees also, I have to have a double knee replacement sometime also. Good luck with that mate.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
those pics from your gopro?
those pics from your gopro? come up a treat
Auslobster
Posts: 1901
Date Joined: 03/05/08
Yeah,pics are brilliant!
Very clear and vivid! Love winter fishing offshore...mild weather (apart from a bit of rain) and the ramps and ocean mostly to yourself! Thanks for the story and photos!
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Best of luck with the knee job
Wife just had one knee done and that has really knocked her flat. Having two done at the same time, bold move minister bold move. Oh the fishing pics are great I really hate catching scorpion fish and those damn cuttlefish urh.