Headed out on Sunday with the rest of Perth to be greeted with a 1hour queue to launch the boat. Obviously getting to the ramp at 5.30am doesn't quite beat the crowds anymore..
with this in mind, we decided to stay fairly close to get our fish before the chaos at retrieval. 
First drop resulted in a little dhu followed by a whiskery, big ray, 49.9cm pink and couple of little pinks too. While retrieving one of the baits, a big squid latched on and we managed to slowly bring it up to the surface. It spat the bait right next to the boat but it hung around long enough for us to grab the squid rod down and jigged up a big squid! surprisingly another squid must've followed it up to, so ended up with 2 squid in the bag.. the hood on the bigger one was pushing 40cm. After that little bit of action it went quiet..

moved a little bit further south, first drift we got onto a nice 45cm breaksea and then hooked up big time on the underdog jig.. with line peeling off the PE3 combo, managed to keep enough pressure to turn its head and after a little tussle up came a BIG FAT DHU. Some seriously solid girth on this fish which explains how much line it peeled off! 
With 3 fish in the bag, just needed one more fish for our ticket back to the ramp. 

decided to keep heading closer in and found a couple of cray pots signalling some structure amoungst the sand. Found a nice show and dropped down to get a 70cm Dhu. With high fives all round we made it back to the ramp with the smallest of queues in sight. Always a good thing when a plan comes to fruition.. managed to beat the crowds (on one side at least) and get our fish and head back in. 

Weather was pretty much perfect and a great session especially for only being on the water for a few hours.

The big dhu came in at 980mm and 16.8kg. So close to the magical metre mark!

cheers

video from the day below 

https://youtu.be/gh7Rs9IcW04?si=azKil2YEQiza9zp1 

Puerto Vallarta is more than just a sun-soaked beach destination. It's a world-renowned angler's paradise, where the warm waters teem with a diverse array of marine life. With its prime location on Mexico's Gold Coast, this coastal city is a hotspot for both inshore and offshore fishing adventures. Let's take a look and what's going on in September 2024 this month. The Bay: For a more relaxed yet rewarding experience, the bay offers excellent fishing opportunities. Half-day trips on a 28-foot super panga can yield a variety of catches, from snappers and grouper to amberjack and mahi-mahi. It's a perfect choice for families or those new to fishing. This trip can be customized to include snorkeling,hidden beaches and sightseeing on request. Perfect for a family of four. El Morro: If you're seeking the thrill of deep-sea fishing, El Morro is your destination. This 8-hour adventure takes you to the open waters where you can encounter marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi, and tuna. It's a great option for experienced anglers looking for a challenge. The month of September will see some big marlin out at this fishing destination along with some of the larger dorados. Take plenty of live bait on these fishing trips.

 Corbetena: Known for its abundance of trophy fish, Corbetena is a must-visit for serious anglers. This offshore trip offers the chance to land larger species like marlin and tuna. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many fishermen. One of our favorite fishing spot around Puerto Vallarta. One of the tricks we use here is fishing live 10-pound chorros. Either up top on a long line or short downrigger. This type of fishing produces large tuna,marlin, and big snappers. Imagine a snapper eating a 10-pound bait. El Banco: Considered one of the best fishing spots in the world, El Banco is a hotspot for trophy fish. This 12-14 -hour trip is ideal for those seeking the ultimate fishing experience. It's a bucket list destination for many anglers. From the fishing spot El Banco you can see the Maria Islands where the old prison used to be. There were over three thousand inmates out there up to a couple of years ago. Amlo the new Mexican President took everyone off the islands and will turn into a resort of the next few years. Beyond the Basics: Puerto Vallarta offers a variety of fishing experiences to suit all skill levels and interests. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a beginner, you'll find the perfect fishing adventure. There's something for everyone, from bottom fishing for grouper and snapper to trolling for billfish. Expert Guidance: With over 100 professional fishing guides, Captains and Marina biologists we have you covered here in Puerto Vallarta fishing charters. Puerto Vallarta fishing with Capt. Pete ensures that you have the best possible experience on the water. Our knowledgeable guides will help you choose the right trip based on your preferences and skill level. So, what are you waiting for? Come and discover the fishing paradise of Puerto Vallarta. With its diverse marine life, stunning scenery, and friendly atmosphere, it's the perfect destination for an unforgettable fishing adventure.

https://www.travelvallarta.com

Tight lines Capt. Pete and crews

August in Puerto Vallarta is a fisherman’s paradise here in Mexico with warm waters, the fish are hungry, and the action is non-stop. Let’s dive into this month of August and see it has in store for us.Puerto Vallarta fishing in August Water Conditions and Temperature are always changing this time of the year. There are rains,winds but mostly sunny days with clear skies for fishing here in Puerto Vallarta. The water temperature in August typically hovers around a balmy 82-84 degrees Fahrenheit. These warm conditions create an ideal environment for a variety of marine life, making it a prime time for fishing. The water clarity can vary, but generally, it’s good enough to spot baitfish schools and structures. There might be some days with slightly choppy conditions, but overall, the sea is usually calm and conducive to fishing. We use Terrifin App that tells us where the blue water is,water temperatures, and even thermocline breaks are in the bay and offshore. Offshore Action in Puerto Vallarta for the month of AUGUST. Tuna: August is tuna time in Puerto Vallarta. Yellowfin tuna are the main target, and they’re in abundance. We’ve been finding them in deeper waters, around 120-150 feet all the way down to 300 feet, where there are temperature breaks. On some days we have deployed the downriggers. Deep drops work fantastic for big tuna. Live baiting with skipjack tuna or flying fish has been producing the best results. The bite has been explosive, with some real hogs being caught. Have questions about booking your fishing trip click here.fishing for marlin in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Sailfish: While not as prolific as tuna, sailfish are still around. We’ve been trolling for them in the deeper blue waters. The key is to cover the ground and use a variety of lures. It’s always exciting when that white sail breaks the surface! Marlin: Black and blue marlin are making appearances, but they’re more of a bonus than a target. We’ve had a few hooked up, but the bite hasn’t been consistent. Still, every time that line screams off the reel is a rush like no other. Inshore and Bay Fishing for some of the best fishing we have to offer in the summertime. Looking for the best rates in Mexico click here. Snapper: The snapper fishing has been excellent in the bay. We’ve been targeting dogtooth snapper around the islands and rocky points. Live bait and artificial lures both work well. There are some real trophies hiding in those structures! Roosterfish: The roosterfish action has been hot and heavy. These acrobatic fighters are a blast on light tackle. We’ve been finding them around the jetties, river mouths, and sandy beaches. Topwater lures and soft plastics have been producing consistent results.how to catch marlin in Puerto Vallarta Overall, August is an incredible month to be fishing in Puerto Vallarta. The variety of species, combined with the warm water and favorable conditions, make it a truly unforgettable experience. Whether you’re targeting big game offshore or enjoying the excitement of inshore fishing, there’s something for everyone. Tight lines, https://www.travelvallarta.com Capt. Pete and crew

Headed out of Hillarys with Tony for an evening try yesterday.  Not long after we anchored up his floating scalie was inhaled, and the below images show the result.  Was good to see it go past 20kg on the certified scales - 130cm long with a 65cm maximum girth.  It was a relatively long fight on the snapper gear, and a happy boat when landed.

Think it’s my turn for the annual coral bay write up this year jsmolly??

Well, the trip has been and gone and was another trip that will be hard to beat (think we say that every year!)

We booked two weeks this year to give us flexibility on days, but we didn’t need it.

Had some awesome weather. Strongish easterlies in the morning, which allowed for gentlemen’s hour starts on most days, and then prob less than 5kt afternoons which gave some great fishing and return conditions.

Drive up with 2x cars and 2x boats was uneventful and 13hours door-to-door.

First couple of days was pretty tough going leading up to the full moon. A few squid to let the wind drop and then tried everything from 60-90m. Mountains of fish on the sounders, but just not feeding/ biting. We still managed some good fish (reds, robbos, honeycomb, Pearlie’s), but nothing amazing.

As the daily conditions just continued to get better, we decided to head to deeper water to try and find the goldband. And find them we did! A couple of consecutive days with big hungry fish, and the eskies were looking pretty good.

Fished some new ground on the second deep day with big double header goldbands giving the gear a workout.

Time for a rest day, well, sort of. we dedicated a day to squidding and landed amongst some massive schools of big squid (unfortunately didn’t take any photos). Once we found them, it was on with both boats cleaning up with easy bag limits.

We didn’t have much red in the esky so we made a call to punch way south in search of some new ground. Again, plenty showing on the sounder and despite trying a heap of new ground, we reverted to some old faithful spots which saved the day with some very healthy reds hitting the deck. the biggest breaking the magical 10kg mark.

Another couple of rest and maintenance days were then in order. The eskies still copped a hiding tho!!

Last fishing day we again were on the hunt for reds and trying new ground. Some of the crew had left so we just took one boat. with an awesome forecast, we headed out around 730 am in search. And this time it paid off!

Had a few drops on some new spots for a couple of robbo’s and spangleds (returned) and then tried a new spot not showing a lot on the sounder. All hell broke loose for about an hour with double header reds, spangleds, robbos etc hitting the deck on every drift.

With the boat bagged out, we headed back in for an early lunchtime finish. One of the hottest ‘red bites’ I’ve had and not a bad way at all to complete the catch.

Out of everyday, we only had one day where the sharks bothered us and we lost a few good fish. You just have to keep moving.

 Well...my annual report on our annual trip north to Coral Bay. 2024......hard work, just shows why its called fishing and not catching......but love it to pieces...an overview below. Once again....not enough fish pics..When will i learn.

April 2024- excitment is building, taking a cpl of newbies and a seasoned campaigner  on their first trek to Coral Bay on the Boys trip. To say the excitment was high is an understatement. The boys have listened to my stories of all these red emperor etc ..uh oh...hind-site is a wonderful thing.

Day before departure- issues already ???  I am washing my ute before packing and out of nowhere- my canopy window explodes like a 12 guage..u are joking !!!! broken glass everywhere..departure in 14 hrs, what to do..go to Westerberg Panel Beaters in Albany [ yes this is a plug as they where awesome !!] explain my prediciment- he says swing it in right now and we will sort it out with smash wrap etc...a bit of $$ plus some cold beers..these guys where amazing and have my business for life now !!! Driving home i get a call form one decky in Margaret river..his new ranger has gone into shut down mode at  midday..oh shit..towed to Ford- not fixable for 2 weeks. Some phonecalls and he has an old  work ute sorted..fingers and toes crossed it gets 18 hrs up the road and back...things are shaky and we havent left!!!!  Pack and pray was the order for the arvo..

Day#1- Leave Albany 5am, make a cpl of decky pick ups, the bullshit level is extreme, the boys didn't realize had the voice of an angel-  but 9 hrs later we roll into Nth Gero safe and sound..the Decky form Margs rolls in an hr after us-the team is together..plans a plenty that night..rest up.

Day #2 Leave Gero early..non eventful . We plan and put to the committee [ i was president of course !!]  the numerical point sytem I had concocted  and laminatedto score points for any legal fish that came aboard of course the better the fish, the higher the points..EG- Reds where 25 points, SPangos -5 points.....basically the points where tallied untill the last day, the winner gets a free feed and drinks on the last night..Throw some things where minus points where awarded-this proved to be a big talking point over the trip... into CB mid arvo. MIld weather-beautiful...early 30's for our stay..not as hot as normal.  1st thing- cold drinkies form the Engel..before tackling the unload. Done by mid arvo, downing cold bevvies and then the standard pub dinner 1st night..beautiful. Chatted with some locals we know- moon and tide not good for our stay..they ask why did we book these dates???...oh dear, i start to wonder a little..

Day#3- Good enough to go fishing, but weather looks real good mid/long term. We have 2 weeks to get our 10 kg of fillets..-lets chillax...boys went for a dive, got a few Occy's, then we got into a few squid along with some cold bevvies- life is good and we have slipped into the Bay lifestyle quickly..

Day #4 and 5- Fishing we go...wow...fishing was hard work..man did we have to do some Km's and effort to get our limit. As normal, i am fussy and keep the quality, send a lot back..but not much coming over the gunnells so we did well to get our limit these days-but hard work. Fish cleaning station was all chatter about the same-hard work...time to put my thinking hat on.

Day#6- the boys convince me to go to South Indonesia and go for Rubies as this was on the 3 boys  bucket list as they had not caught one- skipper wants to see them happy- fuel up to the brim, off we go to 380m..oh dear, 1st 2 drops in my never fail spot sees a nett result of fluff all...Skipper hat goes on and start thinking outside the square.  Off to some ground that rarely produces more then 1 or 2.... BANG- we are on them, they are hungry and we need to count..stop fishing......a cpl of good ones, but mostly great size. Photos all round, skipper has done his job and the boys are on fire..this makes me happy. The steam in is always good when there is a big esky of fish and some cold drinks-everybody wins 

Day#7- rum day..lets just say we had plenty of fish and we decide to have a cpl days off fishing-so we go hard..maybe a little too hard...Drinks a plenty from lunch till stumps, a cpl other crew we know come round with the same intention Lots of stories, heaps of bullshit-as u would expect. Who knew I am the Yatzee champion of Coral Bay..  plus Poker gets messy....great night

Day#8- did u read day#7...headaches and a very slow day around the house...a cpl of dips to clear the heads and whoops...we have some coldies again by mid arvo-albiet fairly slow ones.

Day#9- off to Exmouth to show the newbies around. Hoping to go to our secret Occy spot to get a bucket full...but tide was too high. A quick look around all the tourist things, a standard Tackleworld stop to buy more rods we dont really need, off to the Potty for a lunch and a punt-life is good once again. Highligh was sitting up at the lighthouse and some proper military jets went past..we could see the pilots smile they where that close- the sound and visual...awesome !!!!

Day #10/11/12- weather is schmick..off we go trying all my normal tricks..fishing is really hard. Day #10 i did 150kms on the water..the first 6 hrs we had 1 x Rankin Cod...my worst effort ever..then found some new ground and off we go - filled the bag up in 25 mins..how fishing works ?? Day 11/12 where similar, hard work to catch a few but we gett here...just quietly putting on here that the extra bonus 100 points to the longest Red Emp for the trip...well the skipper here pulls the biggest one for the trip in the last hr-putting him from 2nd to first and taking out the 1st Annual Trophy for most points- of course calls where made about rigging it and only going to that  spot last etc. etc...just saying-it could be the best fishermen just got there in the end !!!!

Day 13/14- I pull rank with experience...no more fishing and spending $300 on fuel/day plus $200 on gear to sharks [ plus i was leading the points tally!!] .....lets put it into booze !!!! everyone agrees...:) Snorkling, general relaxing and doing a fuel touristy things for the newbies..what a way to finish the trip -super chilled.

Day 15- well...we decide to do the 17 hrs straight home to Albany..Big effort, but we get there safely with no dramas. Gee that pillow was sooo good this evening..had a dream run even through Perth at 5pm..lucky days..

Overview- i've been going to CB  a long time and have caught plenty of fish every time -but this year was the hardest ever...Red Emp where great size, but so few and far between...but it just showed me with using my experince and my never give up attitude- we rustled up plenty of fillets of top quality fish and most important made memories for life. Sharks where present, but i think they looked worse purely because we where not pulling fish in non-stop...but manageable-they still favor red emp though, thats for sure!!!!  The more years i go to CB, the more the memories become of the things other than fish..As a skipper who gets more enjoyment out of seeing a newbie get his 1st Ruby than catching another one myself....i get great satisfaction in these moments. 

The bay is back baby...i reckon it has rebounded from Covid times and back to normal- although no 'real'pub to go too was interesting...i am already sooooo loooking forward to next year, bring on April.

FYI- if u want a laugh, go to Youtube and watch/subscribe  our videos - Fullbag Fishing....just some peanuts having fun and not taking fishing too seriously...life is too short.

Till 2025....

so overdue report for the trip to monkey mia end of march.

was a cyclone offshore up at exmouth, so trip was looking a bit dicey as weather report was changing every day. luckily moved furtehr offshore woithout too much effect, but unfortunately made for a lot of wind all week. most days quite a lot of southerly whcih made finding a shletered spot a bit difficult, but the boat handled things amazingly so still managed some good fishing.

trip started off a bit tumultous, after onbly getting the boat 3 weeks before, i had a hell of a task getting it run in and getting its 20 hours  and first service done before leaving. throw in some dickly trialer/brake lights (flled with water after 2 dunks) that needed fixing, and weighing, gvm upgrade for the car, made for some busy weeks leading up to it!

drove t lancelin on the firday with the aim to depart at 3:30am to get up there early arvo. drove to lano and found brand new airbag deflated on l side. strnage as filled before i left. got under the car, and found they had left massive loop of cable and strapped it right next to the exhaust, so it had melted clean thorugh!/ luckily enough cable left for me to jimmy a reattachment and get them working.

drive up uneventful. towed really well, averaged about 22l/100km. slow on the hills etc, but crusing speed didnt know the boat was there.

arvo we arrived was glamour conditions, but only had 2-3 hours before sunset to test the boat out. went close and swarmed by silver cobbler and small black snapper.

unfortnately rest of the trip was windy as hell! managed to get to some of mya marks 9have only fihsed here twice before) for a good session of rankin cod.

found numeorus tuna busting up, managed to get 3 around the 15kg mark before they got spooked, kept 1, let the rest go.

next day was a write off, ripping southery ruined everything.

one day ut denham side motored to levelian schoals heading to some markes north of dirk hartog, but then relaised didnt have as much fuel in reserve as i would like, so couldnt get to where i wanted (was still getting used to the fuel consumption etc). but managed ot pick up a good cobia on a floating mulie. thorugh was  a shark at first, so stoked when got closer to the baot.

some mroe rankin, cod, then back to the ramp nice and slow to conserve fuel.

hepas of turles and sharks seen.

out form mobkey mia side next day came on a school of big golden trevally. tripple hookups. bloody good fun, and then they were gone. kept 1.

lots of bonito schools.

heaps of school mackerel .

lots and lots of silver cobbler lol.

highlight was having the floater go off, then mate thought was nothing on, but was just swimming towards us. gave it a good yank and a bloody tiger shark jumped clean out of the water, head and tail. then screamed off into the distance like a freight traiin. quickly cut the line.

that image is burned into my brain.

weather made for some beautiful sunsets/scenery.

flies were atrocius.

all in all trip was great, first dedicated fishing trip i have done, so was a bit of learning.

apart form some sooky deckies giving attitude, it was a fun trip

amazing place, and cant wait to get back there . would love to experience it with some good weather. think next time will likley take the family instead of a boys fishing trips. Either that or let someone else do all the work/supply the boat/car etc! lol!

 Over last few weeks only managed to head out for a fish 3 times. Missed the start of the demersal season, but at least didn't have to deal with the madness lol!

trip 1 headed to the 40s. Managed a good baldy at 55cm, smaller dhu at 45, but clearly some barotrauma so baked whole that night and fed 4 easy. Got a big harlequin, then got spiked by a bloody scorpion fish. By jeebers they hurt. Just a tiny nick but still had my whole hand throbbing.

trip 2 anchored in the 3 mile burleying for snapper. On way out ( just in sunrise) managed to go over a cray ripe. Luckily just around the legs, not the prop so easily unhooked. Annoying part is I saw the floats and gave what I thought was a wide berth, but turned out to have moles of rope on the surface. Annoying given only I. About 12m! Luckily no damage done. Only a few smaller models, picked up a 40 dhu, but released well given shallow and slow retrieve. Another big harlequin ( developing a taste for these!), and a nice fat kg at 58cm. Went for a snorkel at rotto looking for crays but didn't find any.

trip 3, 2 days later headed to same spot with a mate who hasn't been fishing in years. 15m of water I got a decent breaksea but nothing else. Mate got a 73cm dhu, and a cracker 62cm kg. Headed home at 11 so the wives didn't get narky. Filleted the dhu for my mate to take home, and we kept the wings and frame for dinner. I'm starting to enjoy the wings and frame more than the fillets. Shame that so many got waste. 
Good to get some blood in the new boat, and finally out in some decent weather!
 

Had another cracking trip to the Cocos Islands in January, product testing several new Flig colour schemes.

Went for a fortnight and lined up a couple of mates who were keen to do a week each, back to back. We did six days with the guide (Rizan from Chasing Island Tails) and the rest was self guided. We caught fish every day.

As always the hospitality and warmth of the local Cocos Malay population was first class. Had a new phenomenom this trip with the local kids (and several adults) keen to clean me out of any spare fligs I had. Sold a few mid trip but held them off till the afternoon before I flew home when they cleaned me out of everything I had left. Their instagram feeds since then have been a joy to look at.

Highlights were plenty but some of the main ones were Brad's PB of 72cm on the first day, Brad raising the bat at 50 bones on his maiden trip, Brad's cracker permit on flig, Eric's nice sightcast barracuda and plenty of good bones, a 3kg mud crab that Eric (a chef) turned into a feast, a 75cm bone for myself, sight cast flats fugu and so on.

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

If you're after any specific info on the trip, send me a message. 

6lb handline unweighted with a Cole's chook use the stuffing as burley and bits of chicken as bait have been busted off a number of times was thinking they were soapies (baby mulloway) took my time on the 3rd go let it run for 40 plus metres then finally landed it came in just over 1 kg and 43.6cm, have been back 3 times since landing smaller sized ones. 

 Gday guys a couple of mates and I finally got a chance to go out wide off two rocks for a  demersal bash on Sunday.   After dodging cray pots that have been placed RIGHT ON!! and along the safe lead line (only a fukn moron would do that am i right?)  we headed out to spots we have in the 30 - 40m line WSW of two rocks where weve done well in the past. First drop as soon as sinker hit the bottom I hooked my pb baldchin went 66cm while other two mates were dealing with the usual undersize pinkie plague one after the other.  Got sick of the pinks so headed out to 88m line where i found some good coral in the past. Big breaksea cod and a few baldies in the 40 -50cm range started coming over the side followed by a just under size Dhuey (returned). Went bit quiet then 2 large queen snapper came up (put them back - taste crappy IMO). Pinkie plague started again so decided to move  in shallower and fish our way home. At that point we had kept 3 of the largest fish so just needed one more to bag out. Back in a different 30m area got some just size baldies and small pinks (all returned). Moving home slowly I happened upon a new lump that came up out of 41 to 33 that had fish showing. Dropped straight down and within a couple of minutes both mates hooked up big. First fish up was a 91cm dhuey (felt around say 15kg and was in really good solid condition) Second fish was still being fought (mate was only using 30pb braid) lots of big runs and headshakes got it off the bottom a few times but kept making its way back down then spat the hook!!  Turned out to be a great day with lots of fish on the bite. Anybody on here go out? how did you go?  cheers dave

 Last few outings have tried inside FFB for pinkies without luck. Trips have been saved by tailor around the inshore reefs and a modest but steady catch of reds from pots placed on reefy habitat in 12-15m. The tailor are getting ready to spawn, so maybe they'll head off soon

Got out a couple of times for some late arvo sessions last week north of Cotts and picked up a couple of feeds. First sesh we got a few tarwhine and herring plus a couple of tailor around the 450mm mark; Saturday night got a couple more tailor with the largest going to 600mm and fat as too. The young'uns were stoked pulling that one up.

All caught on mulies / gangs.

Just returned from a week at rotto. 18 of us in 3 houses at Geordie Bay

Fishing was epic. Weather variable.

Started the week with light winds - Day 1 headed south of the island to some reef at 55m that holds Kings. Caught a few and some Amberjack. Plenty of SBTs south of the island from 30-60m then more schools at the FADS. Tuna are very small at the moment, unlike last Autumn.

Day 2 headed to the FADS, Rec 5 and PGFC FADs held small schools of Dollies (10-12). Fish were 70 to 110cm. Caught and released a few on stick baits. Then jumped in. Mate Dave shot his first. I jumped in and got hassled out by an aggresssive 2.5m whaler shark. So hopped out to continue line fishing. Had plenty of fillets from the day before so only kept 2 fish.

Next few days were windy so pulled the pots and caught a few KGs around Thommos in the shelter of the fresh southerlies.

Last day was Saturday - end of demersal closure. Had a boat full of bikes, surfboards, bags and kids. With limitted space for fishing I set the kids with a fresh fillet of skippy each and gave them 15 mins max before we head home. Instant hook up was great to see 60 cm Snapper and Dhuie, and plump breaksea. High fives all round and back to Freo for a big wash down.

Heading to Dunsborough after Chrissy so will report on that and hopefully an offshore trip.

Pete

Day 1. Set up camp. I notice my room has an angry bat in it, that’s a first for me. Still better than the time I woke up with one squished under me in my sleeping bag. 

Tying leaders, comparing knots - organising and reorganising tackle trays whilst being careful not to reveal this years gimmicky impulse purchase that I’ve convinced myself will be the secret weapon the lads will be jealous they didn’t have. We all haggle over alarm time and settle for 03:30. 

03:30 rolls around “just five more minutes” you can hear in the silent air as nobody is getting up.  

We get to the spot and climb down. We’re the only ones there - rare for this time of year. Usually you’re half way down and notice headlights only 10 minutes further down the track. The early bird 03:15 crew 

First light is trickling through, everyone’s asking eachother what they’re gonna be using. I opted for a large mullet soft plastic - the target is Cobia. We’re all after Cobia as the sun comes up. 

First cast - a tester. Get a feel for the sink time and the tail thuds on the paddle tail. 

Second cast - the telltail tap-tap-thud of a big brown gob. “Yessss I’m on!!” 

“Fuck off… already?” - jealous bystander 

“What’s he using again?” - another jealous bystander 

A solid fight and a clean gaff shot by the designated gaff-man. A good gaff man is like the spiritual guru of the group, a respected shaman. 

Up over the rocks and the first fish of the trip, a solid Cobia and on the second cast. The monkey’s off my back and it’s not even 5am. Hand shakes, fist bumps, fuck-off-don’t-talk-to-me(s). 

“Yep, yep” - Kev’s on with the trusted unweighted scalie. 

“Yep cobe for sure.” 

A good fight and not a shark in sight. We land the fish and we’re two on deck within the first 20 minutes. 

I decide to switch to a Mack bait rigged with singles. First cast and it was pandemonium. Hit after hit and until finally getting the hook home. A short tussle and an average size shark mackerel comes over the top. If the fish are under 10kg I usually just lift them out by having the leader long enough to reach the rocks and someone just pulls it by hand. Second cast, another shark Mack. Ok this is going to be a good trip. When the shark Mack are on; they’re on. 

Adam’s on now with another Cobia. Our shaman has appointed me with the skill stick and I drive it home. 

3 Cobia, two shark Mack. I check my phone and it’s not even 6am. Over the next 3 hours we landed an awesome amount of shark mackerel, I stopped counting after 21. We stopped using hooks on the lures and a wound down the morning just pissing sharkies off with Invincible shiny baitfish. The awkward silence before we have to head up the cliff considerably heavier than we were heading down. 

I’m telling you, nothing beats a half frozen Maximus waiting for you in the Ute. Success. 

The rest of the day was filleting, bagging and napping with a pissed off bat flying around in circles, but I didn’t care. One of the boys ask what time we’re fishing tonight. Oh wait, he’s serious. Ok I guess we can go for a sunset fish but buckleys chance I’m going down that cliff twice in a day. 

Kev hooks a decent Spaniard that gets the tail snipped right at the last second. Still a decent fish, just not the crumb shot (bakers slang). 

Possibly the best sleep I’ve ever had since having a newborn. A solid 5 hours. 

Day 2.

3:30. Everyone’s eyes were wide open and I do a triple backflip in excitement, land squarely in my shoes and we’re off. It doesn’t even matter if we get anything today.. the monkeys off our back, fillets are in the freezer and the bat and I have come to an understanding. 

Kev’s on again - he’s a Gun Fisho. A Cobia. The well rehearsed tango but it’s not a fish until it’s on the bank. Good work gaff-man. 

By this point I’ve decided to spin lures for some shark Mack’s to see if they’re still around and I land two within 5 casts - I can tick that box and I hope to never catch one again this trip. 

Kev’s on again - wow Kev I’m so happy for you. Another Cobia landed. 

Glenn’s on - nice finally someone other than Kev. A short tussle and that’s 3. A solid day by anyone’s standards. 

I come up tight. a GOOD fish. Fighting for several minutes, I can tell this is going to be a good one, the shaman is already there with the lightning stick. Disaster. The one that got away. I wind in to find my jig head is completely bent open. Hmmmmm. Not impressed, but often it is just the way the hook sits in the mouth. It’s still a solid gauge hook. I’ll give the benefit of a doubt. 

Hatchies on.. Mack after Mack. Heavy gear, light gear. By this point I can tell by the sound of the drag who’s hooked a fish. 

Kev’s on again and he’s not even chasing Cobia anymore - C*nt 

I decide to copy “Kev the Cobia king” and I get a shark Mack AGAIN.

I cast out again and I hook a shark.

I cast out again and I get snagged. 

KEV IS ON AGAIN. I hope he can gaff his own fish and still have energy to walk home because this is insane. How can one man be so fishy; is he part Cobia?

At this point I’ve just given up and I’m just sitting an unweighted scalie at the bottom. 

One of the guys from another group down there hooks up to something solid which comes over my line. I decide to wind up my line only to find my line is actually far out to the left.. oh great. A shark. Kev would have got a Cobia but I only get sharks, or snags.. or shark mack’s. 

I fight the shark for a couple of minutes until I start getting line back. I start getting hope. Maybe this is just a good fish. Yes, this is a good fish. Oooh’s and gasps from the spectators as the riskiest part of the operation is underway. Yes. A good fish is on the bank. Yes Kev I’ll teach you my secrets if you buy my book. 

I’m telling you, nothing beats a half frozen Maximus waiting for you in the Ute. Unfortunately I'm flying out on Tuesday and I need to get home. A short and sweet two-day trip. I'm just uploading a few snaps, got many more but I they don't add to anything. Cheers for taking the time to read the long saga   

Its been a while for me to get out and spend some time on the water, but with some luck I managed to escape work for a week and decided to pull the boat up to Exmouth. Taking the gamble with the weather forecast looking fairly average for the start of the trip. 

Used the first day to drink beer and eat a few pizzas, knowing that I might have made a mistake, 3+m swells and ~20 knt southerlies, what a place exmouth can be this time of the year. Second day was a trip down to the Bay of Rest and a few hours bashing throught the mangroves and working every hole we could find we managed to get 6 decent size muddies and enough for some crab tacos. Day 3 of 6 was about similar to day one, beers and lots to eat with a promising forecast for the next few days, all smilesand prepping the boat and a few last minute rigs. 

Day 4

Started of with low wind but still a 3 m swell, decided to troll in shallow behind the reef to find some macks. Launched at Tantabiddi and exit through the north passage. On our way down to the south passage we came across a 3.5m tiny caught up right in the breakers next to the reef, next minute still trying to figure out what they are doing so close to the reef, we saw the boat got picked up and abslutely destroyed in a massive wave, with the boat capsizing and tumbling over the reef. A quick call to marine rescue to send someone ouwe knew it was going o take a long time for them to come across. With that in mind we decided to brave entering the south passage and see if we can be of any assistance. After waiting for the right set and riding a big wave in it was good and we managed to get through with no issues at all. From the inside it took only a few minutes to locate the area we saw the tiny go over and we approached as close as possible, anchoring and sending two guys overboard by foot to walk to the capsized tiny with some water and a medic kit, quite scared with life jackets, fuel tanks and an esky floating past us. 

Nobody found at the tiny, and luckily once marine rescue arrived and identifeid the boat it was a vessel that broke anchor a few days early and nobody was on board. Feeling very relieve and thankful for marine rescue with there quick response to the situation and clear guidance we were off again for another fish. 

Day ended with a mack tuna and one decenet spanish mack. Went back still feeling relieved that it was not a serious situation that day. 

Day 5

With prefect weather and low swells forecasted we went over the long island for the day, a bit of diving and fishing ended up very prductive with 2 macks and 4 tuskies. Tuskes all on spear in approximately 5m of water. A good swim with lots of whales to keep us busy all day. I also found my first ever red cray in exmouth, a nice addition for tonight. 

Day 6

Now I came to exmouth to hopefully catch something nice like everyone else. We launched at 7:00 at tantabiddi heading through the south passage. As soon as we went through the passage the water colour was the perfect blue at 23.7 degrees and we could see bottom at 20m. Feeling thankfull for a good day coming. Started with lures running south and picked up a 14kg mack almost immediately. With dinner sorted we decided to go in deeper to stand our chances with the deeper blue. The next few hours turned out to be gold with dollies everywhere, double hookups and fish following every catch. Back in the water and a stonker Wahoo took the Richter Oscar black/purple and went 22kg. 

A bit more trolling and my first billfish on my boat, a nice sailfish that put up a brilliant display of aerial acrobatics from the get go, caught on a Richter soft grassy pink/white between 40 -80 m. A few quick photos and a nice video of it swimming away strongly, what more can a fisher want than to see a beauiful fish swim of for another day. 

The day delivered a few more dollies and we had plenty to go about. After what I though to be a great day we returned to camp to start the long road back, full of good memories I spend the whole trip back to Perth planning my next trip up north. A few photos to show for what was definitely worth the gamble. 

Its always worth taking the boat.

 Hi All

Was I the only one that didn't realise the new lifejacket rule has startred. We were out the other day and fisheries stopped us to check our catch and told us it had started.

Plenty of big pinks around though.

Choc.

 Very nice conditions out of Bunbury yesterday, picked up 2 pinks and 2 dhues and cruised home at 20kn with a couple of beers.

Hello fellow fishermen, anglers, Captains, and folks that read my fishing report each month. Let me tell you what’s happening in the fishing paradise that we call Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  In the summertime, there are few places in the world that can hold a candle to it when it comes to fishing for pelagic fish and wall hangers.

In August, when fishing in our bay you are in for a real treat. The bay and offshore waters are full of Mahi-Mahi, yellowtail, sailfish, marlin, and tuna. The fishing conditions are just right every summer here in Mexico.  This fishing haven we called the Bay of Flags, is our little slice of heaven every summer. The bait movement, water clarity, and water temperature all come in line and we all get to experience these incredible fishing conditions.

https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/mahi-mahi-action-in-Puerto-Vallarta-803x1024.jpg 803w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/mahi-mahi-action-in-Puerto-Vallarta-768x980.jpg 768w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/mahi-mahi-action-in-Puerto-Vallarta-1204x1536.jpg 1204w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/mahi-mahi-action-in-Puerto-Vallarta.jpg 1439w" sizes=" 235px) 100vw, 235px" />

Here in the bay of Puerto Vallarta, you’ll find all kinds of fishing happening this summer. Some of the best Captains will be out and about, live baiting to catch all sorts of pelagic fish and some good-eating fish as well. If you’re fishing here in the summertime, you best be ready to try your hand at live baiting for the fish of your dreams or a scrumptious meal. Live baiting and pitch baits are the top ways to catch fish here in the bay and offshore. The troll is another top method for catching fish here in Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta is one of the largest bays in the world, it stretches along an 85-mile-long coastal strip leading into the mighty Pacific Ocean. That means some of the finest offshore fishing you can find anywhere, August is the time to be here for some truly fantastic fishing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. If you are fishing for trophy fish or some of the best-tasting fish you can catch anywhere in the world. We have it all during the summer months. Tuna, mahi-mahi, snapper, and yellowtail just to mention a few.  If you’re after marlin, fear not! We got both big black marlin and blue marlin that will be waiting for all anglers coming in August. The water temperatures will be around  80 degrees and these are perfect for catching big trophy fish. 

https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/august-fishing-report-Puerto-VallartaMexico-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/august-fishing-report-Puerto-VallartaMexico-768x574.jpg 768w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/august-fishing-report-Puerto-VallartaMexico.jpg 1439w" sizes=" 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

Now, if you’re looking to catch some legendary dorado, roosterfish, sailfish, and epic tuna, you’re in for a good surprise. The warm waters offshore will be full of these highly sought-after fish. With the perfect conditions and abundance of bait turn Puerto Vallarta into a fishing mecca! Come on down and wet a line with us.

 We got various options, from family fishing trips to hardcore marlin and tuna hunting. We offer bay fishing with our trusty 28 ft super panga or the bigger 40 ft deep sea fishing boats.

Whether you’re a party of two or a group of 200, we can accommodate you on the same day. Check out our fantastic reviews, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re here to make your fishing adventures unforgettable.https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/family-fishing-in-Puerto-VallartaMexico-765x1024.jpg 765w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/family-fishing-in-Puerto-VallartaMexico-768x1028.jpg 768w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/family-fishing-in-Puerto-VallartaMexico-1148x1536.jpg 1148w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/family-fishing-in-Puerto-VallartaMexico.jpg 1439w" sizes=" 224px) 100vw, 224px" />

So, give us a shout toll-free 800 430 6048 or shoot us an e-mail at . Get ready for tight lines and good times in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, where the friendliest folks in the world call home.

Tight lines

https://www.travelvallarta.com

Capt. Pete

 Good baldies still around, got this one as a double rod hookup, 1 metre Sambo and this 570mm golden coloured specimen 

 Hi guys.

Noticed it's been very quiet with reports lately.

With good weather approaching wanted to share that its thick with SBTs south of rotto. 32 m depth west of Carnac right through to Parker point.

Get out there and hit them while the bait schools are hanging around.

Stick baits and shallow diving lures did better than skirts last few trips.

Pete

Been a while since I've posted so figured I should contribute something! Have been really getting into beach drone fishing over last few years and found it insanely effective at targeting snapper. Had a PB day yesterday in south west with a group of mates getting 6 keepers in 2 hour with a few more pulling hooks. No need for the gym when you're dragging fish in from 300m+. Had some random young guys come check out the action so then put them onto another 3 fish, biggest of which went 87cm. Almost pulled the bloke over with a pretty tight drag haha.! They were stoked and took their fish home.

Probably one of the best things I've found with drone fishing is how easy it is to bring people with you and put them into good fish, especially those who aren't into fishing. No sea sickness and good times chatting until a rod goes off then bang they're catching their first ever snapper. How good!

cheers 

After 35 years of driving past, i finally turned left at the Overlander.

Recon landbased trip to test out some of my larger Fligs on the local black snapper population. Found a few fish and did some recon for future endaevours. It won't take me 35 years to go back.

youtu.be/utb1DSWP5Hw

Another year has come and gone and yes, all a very distant memory again! 

After last years record 3 tyre blowout trip up, both boats arrived safe and sound in just under 13 hours.

Night 1 proved interesting and resulted in two deckies not being very well for a cracking days of fishing on day 1. To the extent a few prayers were even said at the ramp to ask the fishing gods to be kind to us? It worked and we were rewarded with a good haul of decent goldbang, sharpies and rosie's from some old spots from many years back. 

Day 2 the weather did not plan out as proposed and myself being as crook as I have ever been on a boat. (Hang on, could it have been the Latin party at Bill's the night before?!) with a few sneakers (heavy easterley chop) literally landing in the boat. It did clear a little for the trip home. 

Day 3 the weather looked good again so we hit some more recent goldine shows for a great reult again.

Day 4 the weather looked all time so the call was to head way south for reds. Unfortunately despite goood shows, the fish didnt bite so we came back to the regular spots for a great mix of red, pearlies, red throat and a coral trout that blew everyone away. This all happened between 3-4 pm so we had worked hard for them. The red was 79cm and I'll pay just on 10kg. The trout was 82cm and as heavy as the red!! (the big fella is 6'4 to put in perspective). All caught on the sounder shot spot shown, an old spot that has produced big and consistent reds but nver a trout in that depth. The Seaforce crew said they had never seen anything like it pulled from CB.

The rest of the days were spent squidding with regular bag outs and some thumpers caught.

So in summary excellent weather, good times (we had 3 crews up there) cold drinks, sore heads at times but now the preparation starts for 2024!! A photo of the old pub for nostalgia reasons given it wont exist for much longer!!

 Gday fishos just thought i'd put up a quick report of saturdays trip out of two rocks. Launched 8am went out WNW direction to spots I have in 80 - 90m. Easterly wind was pumping out there ,not as light as predicted by BOM meteye which made fishing a bit harder . Got onto a few nice big breaksea cod and a couple of nice fat baldies in amongst the usual undersize pinky plague. Usually pick up dhueys in those spots but didnt even see an undersize dhuey all day bit wierd. Mate got a big queen snapper that fought like a train all the way to the top,  that was his first one and he was stoked ( i didnt mention that they not great  eating,  I didnt want to see the big smile suddenly drop off his face). The leeuwin current was really pumping out there and sounder was showing 23.5 degree water. Around midday I saw a large splash a long way off back of boat  about  300m away. Kept looking in that direction and we saw a big big marlin free jumping high out of the water. It was a big boy, even at that long distance away it looked BIG. Was surprising to see it in 90m, i thought they didnt come in that shallow, so you never know,  you could pick one up even in close  cheers

 Hey Fishwreckers,

Haven't posted for ages, works been hectic and to be honest lost the fishing bug for a bit. Anyway long story short finally got out a couple of weeks ago and managed a feed of Black arse and a Harlequin and got smoked by what a reckon was a good Dhu. 
Fast forward to this Wednesday got the Tinny in the water at 6am and anchored and burley in the water by 6:30am. Not much happening at the first spot, got 2 stonker Flounder so moved onto a bit more reefy area. Start the burley trail up again and before long the Skippy are eating everything. Get my eight in no time and take a couple of strips off one for some fresh strip baits. That worked wonders as I had a run on the baitrunner within 5 minutes. Nothing huge but a healthy 56cm Pink in the boat. Went a little quiet but had fun catching and releasing more Skippy. About half an hour later the reel screams again. This fish put up a good fight and after a few good runs a slightly bigger Pink is in the net boat side, going 60 cm. Done and dusted by 9:30. 
Definately reignited my fishing bug, already planning the next outing. 

 

 Meaning to do this for a while but here we go

7 day trip (total)

Day 0: Towed up to near denham

Day 1: Launched at 8am after some trouble loading the boat up (overloading), took 2 hours to get across because wanting to conserve fuel, took 3 fridges, swags gazebo, camping, fishing, and diving gear, 200l in jerrys, water etc.

Arrived at the beach roughly 10:30ish in the morning and having some technical difficulties (reverse not working) finally got unloaded and set up by 3. 

Took to ther cliffs for some bottom fishing, landed 1 small small (legal) pinkie that was quickly destined for dinner before the sharks moved in in force.

Day 2: swell was pumping, still windy but decided would punch out along to some ground that we had found in 80m, fishing in high wind high swell and high current without reverse was a seriuos problem but not to worry.

Found some good fish out deep and somewhat managed to outdo the drift.

Landed 2 decent pinkies (60ish) and 1 pearlie and 2 cod.

Not bad for day 1 of out wide fishing.

Day 3:

Mate Glen and I have had a few keepers during recent metro outings - links to YouTube vids below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9wePGnp-uM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj-pIHkZJJY

 Well...here comes my annual report for my fav 2 weeks of the year.Coral Bay 2023!!!!....this year was the family trip-4 x adults, 3 kids- so here goes...same story, i never take enough photos, but a cpl below...

Notes- my advice for CB every  FW post....listen to the chat at the fish cleaning ASAP- u learn soooo much. Nth or sth, deep of shallow.  We find every year is differnet and we like to find the best fishing for that particular 2 weeks we are there....chatter was sharks horendous Nth, pretty good Sth. Current roaring out widish. - off we go with a little knowledge that ended up running true...Also, my advice for the tables is don't expect full disclosure on info..we had a lot of people ask us too many direct questions...you can imagine the answers. Also remember we have been going for 15 years..took us 3-4 years of  just listening and not been nosey too much at the tables..just saying....also get out and try- if ur catching nothing, maybe look at your methods/bait/rigs. i understand people 'just want to know' but do the hard yards people...the best spots  you will ever have are you own...to the guys who repatedley asked us for a spot- THEN decided to follow us..shame on you u mob of flogs !!! [ OK, rant and whinging over, back to the good stuff ] .

Day 1- Set off 530am from Albany..highest priority is get a coffee into the Leader of the Opposition before we go too far- job done by 535am [ phew]. Meet up with the other family sth or Perth, roll into Nth Gero by 4pm-uneventful, just how i like it

Day 2- Weather looking good in CB sat arvo...made sure i had an iced coffee warmed up before i woke the boss this am..., on the rd early by 530am...non towing car went ahead, quick fresh supplies from Carnavon, we both roll into CB by 2pm..quickest unload u have ever seen at the house...out sth passgae by 330pm, fishing by 430pm- fish close spots 15k out. filter through the shit, 5 nice fish in an hr..take that...cleaned and done eating dinner at the pub by 7pm

Day 3- weather hollywood. Head to 80m's out sth passage...quite fussy with what we take home, so filter through all the Tom Cods, red throats, grassies etc...end up with 4 good reds, 5 big spangos and a big rankin..good start

Day 4,5,6,7- weather very average but looking mint on the long range..so keep it simple- snorkling, 4WDing, all round kids suff and chillaxing....loving the Bay lifestyle..Great to see a small town still do a great tribute on ANZAC Day. we like many got up for the dawn service to pay our respects to those who gave everything for us to enjoy this fab country we live in..

Day 8- go against my own advice [ what an idiot].. but i want to try our proven big red ground way nth..will ther be sharks?   YES...every big red hooked, taken in 5 seconds...moved around and perservered and ended up with an awesome bag incl one red @ 12.2kg, 1 x 10.4kg. plus 4 more 5-6 kg reds, 3 x rankins, 1 x nice robbo - . 10 x nice fish, but hard work... i think lets stay sth..weather looks as good as it gets for next  6 days...time for the family to come out.

Day 9/10/11- back sth. Fishing wasn't firing, but steady enough to pull in nice fish and get our limits each day. Kids came out. we stuck to our methods for  tageting Reds mainly with good sucess. Went deepish for a while to chase a few Goldband.

Days 12/13- time to stay shallow and target purely reds as out quoto's where pretty close  for all...filter through the rubbish, be patient and boy did it work...fishing all new ground, we easily found really good fish- A LOT closer than you would think to Sth Passage..not saying how close, but close enough. Got some great reds, a few massive cods, nice trout etc. etc.good quality with some big reds in amonst it...

Day 14- NO FISHING although weather is mint..one last snorkel with everybody at the top of nth passage, back to the house, pack up for an easy arvo at the pub.

Day 15- The customary 6am departure to swing past the Bakery..roll into Dongar mid arvo..raining cats and dogs from Kalbarri..Washing the boat beautifully.

Day 16- last early departure- roll into Albany mid arvo...Last 2 days pretty event free other than nursing home one of the boat tyres that was starting to poke out a few strands of wire...home safely.

Highlights- 100% the amount of big reds. 12.2kg was the best for not only this trip, but  C/Bay full stop across all my years. 4 more over 10kg [ FYI -all weighed to eliminate the extra 3 kgs for holiday mode lol ] . Plus all other ones largish too..Best  size in general  for a trip duration i've ever had. The Blitz Jigs from Rapid Fire Fishing  absolutley  killed the red emperors...especially the larger models.  Yes, u will lose a cpl to sharks- but i value good big reds over $100 worth of jigs   any day of the week :)  Weather was great. Coral Bay was back baby...my post last year stated the town seemed to be still reeling from staff etc with no backpackers Covid etc.. This year it felt 100% back to the normal Coral Bay of Old..well done to all the locals who did it tough and pushed through to this point...

Lowlights- same as every year and the same I post every year...the same people every day at the fish cleaning tables saying they got sharked at the same spot as the day before and there is no fish...???....Sharks where present, but not terrible...other than one day nth that was bad, we maybe lost 1-2 fish/day. One or 2 drops max on each spot tends to work good too. FYI- as always my adivce is how can you find new spots if you dont look for new spots..?  So many of our good fish came off new ground this year-especailly the in close stuff. Find a cpl of fish shows, drop., move, catch etc, repeat.  Work hard and you will get the rewards. 

Countdown is on to 2024 already..boys trip next year with a cpl of 'special' birthdays. to all the FW legends out there heading up to CB/EXY- have fun, be good and love life..how lucky are we to be able to visit this amazing place !

 Went out this morning got up at 4 and headed out to the 5 got anchored in 13m of water on a bit of broken ground. Had a curry chicken dinner that didn't get eaten as my burley took about 20 mins and I could just hear the rod knocking in the rod holder it was still abit dark to see the rod tips, was a nice healthy snapper at 44cm. Caught another 2 getting closer and closer to size was just unhooking a 48cm fish when one of the rods took off was going alot harder than the others so far was pretty stoked to see it in the water took a couple of goes to net was pretty stoked and the sun still wasn't up yet. Caught another 2 undersized fish and dropped a good run don't think I ever really had him hooked just took off like a steam train then nothing,  was about 7 oclock now started to think it might be over then my new rod started peeling off line fish went from one side of the boat to the other ended up seeing him at the back of the boat nice size snapper shaking his head and changing directions ended up netting him on the side of the boat that I started on. Put him on the brag mat went 77cm. Started to clean the boat down while I bled the fish cubed up afew more mulies as I was cleaning and bang another big run grabbed the rod but dropped the fish threw another bait on as I was still cleaning up ended up getting another 2 big runs that felt like big fish but they both got me in the reef. Boat was all cleaned up now and I wasn't going to tie anymore rigs so headed home was just after 7:30 what a great morning.