GT's, Doggies and Rugby
- Thread starter FREE THE FIGHTER
- Start date
shagnrelease
Sealiner
please bring on the sequel!!!! great stuff...!!
FREE THE FIGHTER
Senior Member
Hi Arrie - will Pm you later
Next few days were spent fishing the flats jigging up all manner if fish - bottom fish were never a problem and most times a nuisance...
Sailfish also were not a major problem but there was a learning curve for the guys targeting them as there always is on these at times frustrating fish - they seemed hungry however and not too picky - all caught just on plastic...
After a good day on the sea dinner was always great.....
Then the last day of fishing it was time again to find some Dogtooth spots. Again we headed out into the deep having chatted about targetting the 50 - 80 m drops which for me had held fish in other locations.
We had caught small doggies during the week but nothing of decent size although two good ones had been bust off. I am yet to be convinced of the success rate in trying to land them with a stationary boat and trying to hold them. So skipper although not convinced agreed to rce off the ledge and see if that worked.
The first descent fish was caught with the boat sationary... by the deckie...
The next good fish put on a good first run and the boat moved toward the deep. There was great anticipation that this would be the first good sized Doggie of the trip and it would've been but sadly the sharks got ahold of it. I think this fish could've been up in the 70's range.
Next few days were spent fishing the flats jigging up all manner if fish - bottom fish were never a problem and most times a nuisance...
Sailfish also were not a major problem but there was a learning curve for the guys targeting them as there always is on these at times frustrating fish - they seemed hungry however and not too picky - all caught just on plastic...
After a good day on the sea dinner was always great.....
Then the last day of fishing it was time again to find some Dogtooth spots. Again we headed out into the deep having chatted about targetting the 50 - 80 m drops which for me had held fish in other locations.
We had caught small doggies during the week but nothing of decent size although two good ones had been bust off. I am yet to be convinced of the success rate in trying to land them with a stationary boat and trying to hold them. So skipper although not convinced agreed to rce off the ledge and see if that worked.
The first descent fish was caught with the boat sationary... by the deckie...
The next good fish put on a good first run and the boat moved toward the deep. There was great anticipation that this would be the first good sized Doggie of the trip and it would've been but sadly the sharks got ahold of it. I think this fish could've been up in the 70's range.
FREE THE FIGHTER
Senior Member
Then I got a small one on of about 25kg.... pulling it away from the ledge on the trusted 350 rod...
Skipper was jigging off the front of the boat and then then was lots of shouting as line peeled off his Stella with a Smith AMJ rod. He succumbed and flicked the bail over into complete free spool. The boat was moved into deeper water and the bail enganged and pumping started but with very lettle pressure on the end.
Skipper then said to me " You see I told you free spooling these buggers doesnt work" I replied " Yes, but I told you to back off on the drag, not disengage it completely" . Once he had completed reeling in the customary bow in the line his face lit up and he said " I think I may have half a fish on"
The weight got heavier and once all the slack was in and the lifting started things got still brighter - nice specimen in the 60 kg range
Skipper was jigging off the front of the boat and then then was lots of shouting as line peeled off his Stella with a Smith AMJ rod. He succumbed and flicked the bail over into complete free spool. The boat was moved into deeper water and the bail enganged and pumping started but with very lettle pressure on the end.
Skipper then said to me " You see I told you free spooling these buggers doesnt work" I replied " Yes, but I told you to back off on the drag, not disengage it completely" . Once he had completed reeling in the customary bow in the line his face lit up and he said " I think I may have half a fish on"
The weight got heavier and once all the slack was in and the lifting started things got still brighter - nice specimen in the 60 kg range
FREE THE FIGHTER
Senior Member
A happy man I dare say...
We then moved further south and fish continued to be boated but no big specimans and the sharks started to hassle. Species landed amonst the smaller doggies were - rosy jobs, green jobs, bonnies, coral trout, a potatoe bass, rainbow runners, GT's,etc. Nice coral trout...
After yet another action packed session, all around mid morning to early afternoon, which is not traditionally good Doggie time ( sunset would be WILD) and it was time to head inshore and relax...
A mistake had been made however - Mr. Hyperactive and his marlin mad mate had put out two 50lb rigs for the haul back. Next thing a short zzzzz - about a minute later a fish put his shoulders out and jumped on the plastic.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz !!!!
More work to be done....
This beautiful speciman then presented himself for the second time...
Next thing he was hurtling away from the boat and within a flash had turned and was tail walking to the left. The line parted and left the angler and skipper slightly bemused after a 20 minute warm up session...everyone thought this fish was a done deal - the fish knew otherwise. We were only in 60m of water......
And that is a breif story of some of the fishing on this tour. These pics were all off my camera - once I get the ones from the other guys I will fill in with any spectacular ones that may come through ....final sunset before heading on homeward journey..
We then moved further south and fish continued to be boated but no big specimans and the sharks started to hassle. Species landed amonst the smaller doggies were - rosy jobs, green jobs, bonnies, coral trout, a potatoe bass, rainbow runners, GT's,etc. Nice coral trout...
After yet another action packed session, all around mid morning to early afternoon, which is not traditionally good Doggie time ( sunset would be WILD) and it was time to head inshore and relax...
A mistake had been made however - Mr. Hyperactive and his marlin mad mate had put out two 50lb rigs for the haul back. Next thing a short zzzzz - about a minute later a fish put his shoulders out and jumped on the plastic.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz !!!!
More work to be done....
This beautiful speciman then presented himself for the second time...
Next thing he was hurtling away from the boat and within a flash had turned and was tail walking to the left. The line parted and left the angler and skipper slightly bemused after a 20 minute warm up session...everyone thought this fish was a done deal - the fish knew otherwise. We were only in 60m of water......
And that is a breif story of some of the fishing on this tour. These pics were all off my camera - once I get the ones from the other guys I will fill in with any spectacular ones that may come through ....final sunset before heading on homeward journey..
FREE THE FIGHTER
Senior Member
Jigging tackle used... Jigstar 250-450's, AMJ rods. JM PE4/5, Saltiga Z40, Gorilla 12 and 12C, Stella 20K reels.
Leader -150 and 200lb JM mono, 200lb Momoi mono. PR knot connection.
Uni with thimble to ring, Kevlar to Gamy TU 35 hooks.
The PE4 reel on a 250 were very easy to jig with and the reel has excellent cranking power - because its so easy to crank/winch I wonder how long the gears will hold out under the abuse we threw at them. BUT because they are such fantastic little reels to jig with I will continue to through a big load at it and not treat it with kid gloves. A 27kg Gt was landed on jig on this rig.
The G12C would be my favourite heavier reel - with the T bar handle a great reel and bulletproof. This reel can take a reel hammering and as tough as nails.
One guy came with a high ratio reel and was exhauted on day one - fortunately I had a packed a Z40 which he then used - he handle well from then.
Leader -150 and 200lb JM mono, 200lb Momoi mono. PR knot connection.
Uni with thimble to ring, Kevlar to Gamy TU 35 hooks.
The PE4 reel on a 250 were very easy to jig with and the reel has excellent cranking power - because its so easy to crank/winch I wonder how long the gears will hold out under the abuse we threw at them. BUT because they are such fantastic little reels to jig with I will continue to through a big load at it and not treat it with kid gloves. A 27kg Gt was landed on jig on this rig.
The G12C would be my favourite heavier reel - with the T bar handle a great reel and bulletproof. This reel can take a reel hammering and as tough as nails.
One guy came with a high ratio reel and was exhauted on day one - fortunately I had a packed a Z40 which he then used - he handle well from then.
FREE THE FIGHTER
Senior Member
And the "not for the sissies rugby" - Sunday morn in Tana we spotted a rugby game played on a feild harder than a cricket pitch with NO grass - simply compacted red clay.. wonder if Bakkies or Richie could handle this...
Not a ruck you wanna be at the bottom of..
THE END.
Not a ruck you wanna be at the bottom of..
THE END.
FREE THE FIGHTER
Senior Member
Shot Roy. Thanks Tony - thanx to you guys that run these forums there is all the info any angler needs - one constant learning curve.
Hammertime
Sealiner
WOW!!! - Respect.
Hammertime wrote:
now thats what i call a memorable fishing trip.
shagnrelease
Sealiner
awesome stuff congrats guys and what an awesome parting shot of that bill !!
crackerkid
Member
As I said great photos, its always great to see good fish being caught on jig,I would like to know more about the tackle used on the trip and about the rod that broke, was it due to putting to much drag on the fish or why.