Hi all,

Made it up to Leeman on Friday arvo excited about the prospect of spending my 30th fishing! After finding our accommodation and settling in, I had time to shoot out for an evening fish at a spot called 'Taylor Bay' just north of Leeman. It looked extremely fishy on arrival, 2-3m cliffs surround the bay and at the right time I reckon it would produce some monster fish. Unfortunately, Friday was not the right time! I had a couple of early nibbles from reef fish but all went pretty quiet after that. Packed it in early and decided to head down to the jetty at dawn.

Arrived at the jetty while still dark and baitcasted a mulie for a half an hour or so. No hits so I switched to the little rod (with 4lb fireline & tiny Jarvis Walker reel) - flicking out small pieces of mulie with no weight I got into a couple of herring first and then some of the Skippy turned on the action! Managed to get three on the jetty and was stoked. On light tackle they put on an exceptional show and I was lucky to get them out of the water. After that plenty of juvy pinks, blowies and baitless hooks so I packed it in.

Went to 'Spot X' mid-arvo with a promise from a local that I would catch tailor. Got a few herring and a snook in the arvo session before sundown despite conditions being average for a bread & butter fish. Also plenty of juvy pinks and of course sand whiting around. Walked down to my spot a bit before dusk and burleyed the place up including a bit of tuna oil which I often use.

Started baitcasting and like clockwork when the sun touched the water I was in to what felt like a good fish. Bugger spat the hooks a few metres from the rocks though. Missed a few hits and then landed a small chopper around 35cm - as it was only my third ever landed he became supper.

Good job I kept it too. By the time I was ready to cast again a shark was cruising around at my feet - I estimate about 1.5 - 1.8m and it looked very solid - big thick body and clearly a mature shark. Dropped my mulie on it's head in the shallow water but no response so went back to the tailor. Five minutes later - I'm in. This felt like a better fish. After a few seconds I realised I was into noah and going to lose my tackle. Played him for a few minutes, or should I say he played me. He swam back towards me and then a couple of metres from where I was standing on the rocks, gracefully turned and took off for the depths, never to be seen again, with my mulie, trace and a nice new set of Gaimakatsu 4/0 Gangsters!

I decided to setup the big rod a few metres further back up the beach. It was a reluctant choice to leave a spot that I knew was firing - but the car was below the high tide line, it was dark outside and I was on the rocks...just wanted to get back in my comfort zone as I was in unfamiliar territory.

Dumped the rest of my tuna oil and willed noah to come back and play on the big rod. Sure enough, about 45m later something found my bait....and ran.....and ran....by the way it was running (going harder, slowing, then going hard again) I was pretty certain it was a shark again (the rays will usually stop for a rest and a chew). Let it run for about a minute or so and when there was no sign of it slowing I started to tighten the drag and put the pain on but there was no stopping it. 120lb braid and 130lb trace....PING....all over.

I had another run and lost more tackle - probably to the same monster and decided to pack up and head back before the night got too expensive.

So the elusive big one gets away...again...but I will be returning to Spot X (without the TUNA OIL!) to get back into those tailor now I know where they hide!

A great 30th birthday, with Skippy for lunch, Tailor for tea and a few herring for later. Also a snook so plenty of variety and positives to make the day special. Nothing can beat going home early to the wife though and a couple of extra hours sleep at the end of a long day!

Picked up plenty of local knowledge for the next trip and can't get wait for the next getaway!