Metro dhuies
Went out for a solo on Friday having been let down by a mate at the last minute.
The last few trips out, despite all the dire reports of the poor to non-existant state of metro dimersals, have all resulted in
numerous dhuie catches, sure many are undersized but plenty have been over and slow retrieves and the use of the release
weight have ensured most ghet returned successfully with only the occasional fish for the dinner table.
Friday was no exception, being by myself I didn't stray too far beyond the bank, instead carefully focussing the 585 on the
bottom five metres ..........my target was hard coral evidencing fish traces rather than large structure. Finding a new area
with what I was looking for I noted a thick band of deep red with what appeared to be cave like voids - this type of structure
had produced before but the first drift only produced a few tentative touches but at least allowed me to deternine drift speed
and direction - more seaward should put me where I want to be so second drift set up perfectly.
Fresh eating quality occy and mulies were dropped on the lightest bottom bouncing outfits the speed of drift would allow.
Within minutes one rod was almost ripped from the holder and I struggled to get it out under great tension and rapid line loss.
The fast and powerful lunges had me calling it for a big sambo as it just wouldn't give up and kept repeatedly taking line in the
relatively shallow water - I managed to manouvre the fight to the other side of the boat away from the second rod which suddenly
also bent double with the reel screaming in protest at being abandoned to it's own devices - hmmmmmmm interesting dilemma !
My fight continued but I was finally gaining back some line and then in the crystal clear water I sighted the silver purple colours
deep below the boat - that aint no sambo - but surely a dhuie cant have that much power - well it can as it hit the surface
away from the boat, it was a big fish and was clearly tangled with the other line and the small 2/0 hook was clearly wrapped in
the other rod's braid. Ever so gingerly I applied pressure to get the fish back to the boat but it's progress was painfully slow.
Finally my no 5 iron golf club gaff hook was able to reach and pin it's jaw and, as I lifted it onto the transom the braid cut through
the trace but it was mine. Trouble was on the small gaff I couldn't lift it over the back to I opened thre transom door ands slid it in.
Turning now to the other rod given the braid was now under and around the motor I felt I should sort that out as a priority -
after lifting the engine and playing unknot the tangle it finally came "free"well sort of because whatever had bent it double was still
there. Another dogged fight ensured much shorter this time as it had worn itself out pretty much without my assistance.
Again out of the clear waters apppears that distinctive silver purple and a dhuie or around 10 kg hits the surface away from the
boat, corner hooked on the occy circle. Perhaps because of the long "fight"and slow ascent though the water column I had little
trouble in quickly unhooking and releasing this fish and it swam away strongly back to the depths.
The other fish on the deck was much larger - over a metre and would feed family and friends for a good few meals.
Bled and into the kill tank I thought I would try one more drift over the country I was now sitting over well over a km from where I started
Result - a specimen breaksea and three more dhuies of 7, 5 and a little one of 48 cms
The photo attached was taken back at CPBA so I apologise for it's quality - I much prefer shots of just caught fish but couldn't hold it
and take a pictures at the same time - my best metro dhuie and a truly memorable fish.no
.thumbnail.JPG "Pinkies from Lady Joyce trip")
Lamby
Posts: 3145
Date Joined: 04/08/09
Crackin Dhuie and good write
Crackin Dhuie and good write up!
I like how you picked up caves on the sounder, more time with the lowrance and hope to do the same.
Goodz
Posts: 2332
Date Joined: 20/07/09
Good work mate, thats a very
Good work mate, thats a very nice dhu! How many kgs do you recon he went?
Dont you just hate it when you have 2 rods hooked up at once! haha. You did well to land both fish. Shoulda sent out a deckie request, I woulda joined you for a fish, coulda taken the photos for you :)
sunshine
Posts: 2610
Date Joined: 03/03/09
With or without the wrasse
He had three large western king wrasse in his stomach and regurgitated a really fresh one onto the deck - length of the fish was 105 cms and my bathroom scales (which I am sure lie based on the weight they keep telling me I am) revealed a tad over 16kg without the stomach contents ( I always look soon after capture as I have caught fish on fresh stomach contents particularly fresh wrasse)
Without doubt the deepest body depth I have ever seen on a dhuie and thick as.
Just1morecast
Posts: 917
Date Joined: 04/12/09
Thats a BIG dhuie, im sure
Thats a BIG dhuie, im sure your mate that backed out last minute is kicking himself:p
Forever learning with fishing
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Always thought those wrasse were good bait
Good effort on the Dhuie and the solo effort in a boat that size.
Moderator. Proud member of the Fishwrecked "Old Farts". Make sure your subscribed to Fishwrecked Reeltime http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
sometimes fishing by
sometimes fishing by yourself is a refreshing change, you can sound around as long as you want, go where you want to go, and with results like that why not do it again.
Very good fishing for the metro area, and well done on the good releasing.
Tim
sunshine
Posts: 2610
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Sounder adjustment
Lamby - I only know the 585 but the key I have found is to wind the gain back - too much gain and the voids are literally filled in - I discovered this through diving and that really assisted in knowing just how much gain to set - when well adjusted I can see caves, overhanges and even fish sitting under those overhanges and ledges.
Wind the gain up and it just appears as solid bottom - oddly with the gain wound back in this manner you seldom see large fish (red arches) indeed most fish only show up as lighter coloured traces - I just look for suitable ground with fish in evidence and then do a drift or two - usually at least two as the first allows you to determine drift speed, direction and allows you to select the smallest size lead to keep the bait down.
As for solo fishing - it has it's pro's and cons - yes you do tend to travel slower and explore more as there is no pressure to start fishing but I do enjoy sharing the time with a mate or two irrespective of who catches the fish on the day - you also find each of you fish just a little differently thereby exploring the area a little more thoroughly. Launch and retrieve is easy with the teflon skidded custom trailer, self centres on retreive and just pick the ramp with the wind blowing the boat towards it on launch.
It is nice to see so many dhuies around - I am convinced the stopping of pro drop lines a few years back has really made the difference and one fish per angler reinforces the consservation of stocks - perhaps my only concern is that some will choose to "upgrade" but, equally, those few were probably exceeding bag limits previously.
Pete D
Posts: 1681
Date Joined: 07/06/07
Great write up sunshine and
Great write up sunshine and a crackin dhuie. Looks like your twin brother and the dhuies twin is in the latest CPBA newsletter too
Thanks for the info on the 585 gain...still learning about my 585 and the excessive gain comment makes alot of sense.
Cheers Pete
soupster51
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 29/11/06
Nice
Agree. Great write up and top Dhu.
Agree with Pete also on the sounder advice. Cheers.
The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.
Grooveepants
Posts: 194
Date Joined: 06/03/10
Nice Dhuie.
What depth did you catch them in?
Have you ever caught anything on the octajig you have hanging from your rod?
AmericanBen
Posts: 150
Date Joined: 26/01/09
great write up
What kw trannie are you running on your sounder and what level gain are you using? Don't have the HD but running a older lowrance with a 1kw trannie and have had great luck finding fish but have been running the gain in auto!
How are you rigging up your occy? Are you skinning it? We have been catching dhuis on herring and wrasse but wouldn't mind trying something new. Have you tried fishing with plastics yet? I haven't had any luck with them yet but am going to give it a try this Thursday or Friday. Hope to see you out there. Great writeup.....made me feel like I was out there!
sunshine
Posts: 2610
Date Joined: 03/03/09
585 with standard (600watt) tranny
Zoomed to 5 metres with bottom lock OFF (find the lock intensely annoying)
3.7 gain but it will vary depending on craft and positioning - I can sound well at thirty plus knots but when exploring generally travel at around 12.........auto setting makes overhangs and caves vanish as it seems to fill in the voids but other people might not experience that.
Less than 55 metres
Black blue octojig massacred and broken off first drop the green meany has proven a waste of time even in Dampier and the Monties - dont know why I keep persevering with it.
Skinned on a two hook snood as per Ryans advice which has paid off big time - none of that jellified skin to put fish off and wonderfully white flesh which must improve its visability as well. As a bonus some truly massive KGW out wide even as deep as 90 metres. The smaller hooks however need to be quality - gave up on certain red ones as they straightened evidencing poor tempering and now stick to Gammas in black
Western King Wrasse are a top bait followed by yellowtail (tail removed to stop spinning on descent and a flap cut from tail upwards)
Unfortunately Friday looks crap and I am locked into an appointment on Thursday
slam
Posts: 168
Date Joined: 09/09/09
Plastics
I have found plastics to out fish bait on many occasions with dhuies. I generally fish up to 40m with plastics & up to 1oz jig heads. I fish with a daiwa advantage plastics rod & daiwa sol 2500 reel. Great combo & to date largest dhuie is around the 8kg mark.
Got absolutley trashed on something big on fri, putting down to a large tuna! Mid water.
Much more enjoyable to catch a large fish on light gear than to drag one up on heavier gear.
Go the plastics!!!!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18032
Date Joined: 11/03/08
well done on the solo
well done on the solo mission. thats a cracker of a dhuie . sounds like you were extremely lucky to get that one in with the tangle, looks like i might have to have a play with my 585 when we get back in the water.great advice.
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Frank F
Posts: 481
Date Joined: 17/03/09
Nice fish buddy
Nice fish buddy
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
nice write up sunshine i'd
nice write up sunshine
i'd be very keen to see some sounder shots showing these caves and holes in reef.
i have been running my gain as high as poss , you are the first person i have heard saying back it off.
will have to give it a bash
by the way , i agree with the octo jigs and lucanos. i've hardly caught a thing on them.
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
Georgejungle
Posts: 354
Date Joined: 25/03/09
crackin fish mate and nice
crackin fish mate and nice boat