Pinky Success
Hi all.
Many of you will know I've been trying for a Cockburn Sound pinky for a while now without any luck. Years of watching Beau and Little Johnny post threads every half hour about when they were trying to catch a herring on a piece of straw only to get a four way hook up of 90cm pinks, and be back at the ramp 3 minutes after launching bagged out, or that time on the jet ski when one jumped straight into the esky and landed on the filleting knife and bled itself had gotten me pretty demoralised.
At the start of this year I set a goal of getting a sized pink from the sound, and gave it a few good shots. (although opportunities are a little limited for me, I did get out enough times for the missus to be saying "you caught nothing.....again?") After a couple of weeks ago I thought I'd had my last chance, and pretty much given up for this year. Well the stars aligned, and I got out with a mate on Saturday on the last day before the ban, armed with half of California's annual squid quota, an abundance of mulies and the secret weapon, Mick C's voodoo burley combo. Took my mate's new 6.7 bar crusher out as he wanted to get some hours on the motor (still not run in) and we hit the sound around 6.00am. Joined the hordes out at the usual haunts, and ten minutes later had hooked up to a nice fat 82cm pink on a floating mulie. To say I was pleased was an understatement! I was dancing around the boat, high fiving and generally giving my mate the sh%^s! He was a bit dark as that was the first "real" fish on board his boat, and he didn't catch it (I may have let him know this a few times over the course of the day)
Anyway, the bites dried up after that, so we decided to head way wide out into the 40s. Found a nice lump with fish showing and did a few drifts. Couldn't get past the hordes of skippy, we were getting smashed as soon as the baits got into the zone. Biggest went 52cm and pulled hard (harder than the snapper), a few double hook ups of 40cm+ fish was great fun. Kept a few and threw a heap back, along with some undersized dhu's, a pinky, and some small black arse. Saw some humpbacks on the way out, and while drifting another pair put on an amazing show for us around 200m away, both jumping several times and generally showing off. Was amazing to watch, man those things are BIG.
Came back inside the sound for the afternoon, and tried again for the sunset bite. Was a bit slower, but after sunset my mate managed to get some blood on his deck, and we went home pretty happy.
So stoked to have finally ticked that box, roll on summer weekends.
Thanks to all the FW crew who have offered help and advice over the years. Thanks Mick C for your super burley, and thanks to the regular posters on here for the inspiration.
Cheers,
BD.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17861
Date Joined: 11/03/08
well done. just in the nick
well done. just in the nick of time too. gotta be happy to tick that box.
them big skippy certainly fight hard, then again you would too if you just had your lip pierced and someone pulling hard on it .
well done to your mate as well for sharing the pinky blood on the deck
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Jason P
Posts: 521
Date Joined: 16/02/13
I know the feeling of trying
I know the feeling of trying and eventually succeeding. Certainly makes it worth it when you hit your goal.
DM306
Ericl
Posts: 450
Date Joined: 02/05/11
Nice humorous post
Great post with both a good sense of humour and a well deserved bit of success - Eric
Don't spend all your money on beer, boats, and fishing. Save some to spend foolishly
beau
Posts: 4104
Date Joined: 24/01/10
I swear i put up a new post
I swear i put up a new post quicker than every half hour
little johnny
Posts: 5329
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Top stuff
Can see by your smile you are over moon. Sounds like you have done hard yards ,well deserved fish . Congrats :):)
Swompa
Posts: 3783
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Hahaha "Years of watching
Hahaha "Years of watching Beau and Little Johnny post threads every half hour about when they were trying to catch a herring on a piece of straw only to get a four way hook up of 90cm pinks, and be back at the ramp 3 minutes after launching bagged out, or that time on the jet ski when one jumped straight into the esky and landed on the filleting knife and bled itself had gotten me pretty demoralised."
sea-kem
Posts: 14853
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Onya Browny
Onya Browny
Love the West!
Callum24
Posts: 1015
Date Joined: 24/06/12
Great right up mate glad our
Great right up mate glad our products from shore catch helped you finally nail that pink fella stoked for you
Qualified carpet layer available for jobs big and small
beau
Posts: 4104
Date Joined: 24/01/10
Nice one BD, anyone who can
Nice one BD, anyone who can brave that kind of traffic deserves a fish
Browndog
Posts: 581
Date Joined: 10/04/12
Thanks
Haha, thanks Beau.
Funny thing is, for a few years I focused on trying to find the fish myself, stayed away from the crowds and tried to do my own thing. Almost in desperation I went to one of the known spots and mixed with the traffic (by the way, great to see so many boats in close proximity and no aggro, people encouraging and cheering on others hooking up, that's how it should be on the water) and bingo, ten minutes later it was job done.
Anyway, still can't wipe the smile off my face, and still buzzing. Mates are getting sick of me asking them "Hey, did I tell you about the fish I caught on the weekend?"
Can't wait to get back out there after the demersal ban (although squidding in the sound could be fun too) and have a crack.
Cheers,
BD.
rigpig
Posts: 507
Date Joined: 21/11/12
Perseverance
Great work Browndog. You kept after it and finally got what you deserved. Next season you'll be all over it.