So i thought write up on our episode in the Rottnest trench. After a slow day working in the 300 to 400's we returned to the North wall to finish up and hopefully boat a cod for one of the crew who yet to land one. On the drop Jamie had a big hit on jig but for no hook up, Soon after Joel hooked up to decent fish but was soon sharked and bitten off followed by me hooking up. My fish tore line off the electric and it was soon clear it was no cod or trevalla, more a fish with stamina and pace. We guessed it was probably a shark but the beauty of the deep drop is that you never really know what you could get connected to. Starting at 300meters on the line counter we soon were at 700 meters with 300 meters remaining.

As the fish steadily headed west and us steadily tiring we decided to change tactics. We put the boat in gear and drove west, getting ahead of the fish and began lowering the line angle to attempt to get the fishes head up and begin plaining it to shallower water. The tactic gradually worked with us gaining 20 to 30 meters maybe every cycle.

As the hours passed with a few phone calls on the sat phone to our wives that we were going to be late (again) The spool on the myiah epoch began to fill and we guessed we only had 200 to 300 meter to go... At this point we all were pretty flogged and sore having fought the fish out of a long bent butt which was pretty uncomftable and burst blisters raw on the tips of the fingers from thumbing the spool and on the insides winding.

We then found the plaining technique was improved by moving into slow circles. The circles got tighter and the fishes ascent speed improved. At the two and a half hour mark we had the fish within site, a large long silver shape well below the boat. Every now and then we would get a clearer glimpse which had us all guessing and as you know we have all been there- "it a baldy, no a queenie, a dhuie" and ends up being a sambo!

Occasionally we could see a long bill like shape which had our hope soaring thinking it was abouut to be our first metro swordfish. Anyways it wasnt to be with us realizing it was a tail hooked Thresher shark. Some what disappointing but great achievement!

Up close it was a strange looking fish with an eye the size of your hand and pearlesant glow to its skin. For such a sizable shark its mouth was tiny, indicating its feeding habits. The teeth were needle like and about 5 -7 mm.

As ive said before the shark was in poor condition but still alive on release. Sharks are tough critters and id hope it revived on it way back to the abyss.

Anyways i cant stand crap marketing and self promoters but i will give credit the saltiga boat braid, wind-on dave's wind on leader, miyah epoch reels and my rigs for all its unforgiving punishment.

Anyways see you back out there.

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