I've been chomping at the bit to make a trip to Fish Point since seeing an increase in the number of Raggies around Gonubie Point. When i looked at the forecast, for Saturday, I noticed that there would be a flat sea and light Easterly breeze with a big swell pushing through in the afternoon. It didn't take any effort to convince my business partner that a trip to Fish Point looked like a good Idea.
This is my 2nd year of shark fishing and I wanted to put the invaluable experience of a years worth of fishing and "Sealine" to good use. Despite some good catches last season I had set a target to get at least 1 Raggie over 150kg this season.
So what better place to start my 150kg+ quest than at Fish Point
By 6am we are on the point and although the water was a little too clean and warm at Fish Point I always feel optomistic.
I set 2 spikes in the rocks and set about rigging my 350/7 and Torium50 which was spooled with brand new 0,60 Big Game and a 1,5mm wind-on. I then rigged a Spotty onto a 20/0 Eagle Claw Circle hook. As I cast my Fishing buddy had just finished sliding his 1st bait out. I then went to assemble my gaff which requires 4 screws to be put in. By this time my buddy was already being picked up and went tight with what felt like a decent shark. I got to screw number 3 on the gaff when I noticed some action on my rod. I gave some time for the shark to eat and then set the circle hook. I soon realised it was a decent shark when it steadily peeled a few metres off of the reel at a fairly heavy drag. By this stage the hooks had pulled from my buddies shark so at least I had some help . In true Raggie fashion she came in close and used the current while aiming for every reef she could find. I pulled like I have never pulled before to keep her on the surface. I never beleived that you could pull that hard yet the /7 and 0,60 were saying "is this the best you can do?" After a nerve wrecking least few minutes where my leader twice went around rocks we had her safely in a gulley. I wasthis happy as with my 2nd Raggie of the season I had gone well past my 150kg goal with a Beautiful 212,5cm(186kg) Raggie, THANK YOU FISH POINT. Now the challenge will change to how many 150kg+ sharks and where's that 200kg
After that I slid the same spotty head out again and got a 124cm pup which picked me up as I was about to help my buddy land a 153cm Female Raggie. By this stage I had at least managed to rig my 350/6 and a grey shark fillet and liver. I slid this out and started to sort out my /7 for round 3 when I heard the ratchet absolutely scream on the Tor30. I tightened down and the 0,50 popped instantly. I'm sure it was one of the many dolphins that were passing by as I saw the dolphins take off at speed!!!! past the point after this, but WOW I have never heard a ratchet scream like that.
After that only the Grey shark fillets got a few enquiries while yellowtail and blacktail went untouched. As the tide started to push the swell got huge and became almost unfishable and the bites dried up. I was however quite happy to leave early, go home, and look at these photo's amongst others more times than I can remember.
She even had a loose tooth which I extracted as a souvenier
This is my 2nd year of shark fishing and I wanted to put the invaluable experience of a years worth of fishing and "Sealine" to good use. Despite some good catches last season I had set a target to get at least 1 Raggie over 150kg this season.
So what better place to start my 150kg+ quest than at Fish Point
By 6am we are on the point and although the water was a little too clean and warm at Fish Point I always feel optomistic.
I set 2 spikes in the rocks and set about rigging my 350/7 and Torium50 which was spooled with brand new 0,60 Big Game and a 1,5mm wind-on. I then rigged a Spotty onto a 20/0 Eagle Claw Circle hook. As I cast my Fishing buddy had just finished sliding his 1st bait out. I then went to assemble my gaff which requires 4 screws to be put in. By this time my buddy was already being picked up and went tight with what felt like a decent shark. I got to screw number 3 on the gaff when I noticed some action on my rod. I gave some time for the shark to eat and then set the circle hook. I soon realised it was a decent shark when it steadily peeled a few metres off of the reel at a fairly heavy drag. By this stage the hooks had pulled from my buddies shark so at least I had some help . In true Raggie fashion she came in close and used the current while aiming for every reef she could find. I pulled like I have never pulled before to keep her on the surface. I never beleived that you could pull that hard yet the /7 and 0,60 were saying "is this the best you can do?" After a nerve wrecking least few minutes where my leader twice went around rocks we had her safely in a gulley. I was
this happy as with my 2nd Raggie of the season I had gone well past my 150kg goal with a Beautiful 212,5cm(186kg) Raggie, THANK YOU FISH POINT. Now the challenge will change to how many 150kg+ sharks and where's that 200kgAfter that I slid the same spotty head out again and got a 124cm pup which picked me up as I was about to help my buddy land a 153cm Female Raggie. By this stage I had at least managed to rig my 350/6 and a grey shark fillet and liver. I slid this out and started to sort out my /7 for round 3 when I heard the ratchet absolutely scream on the Tor30. I tightened down and the 0,50 popped instantly. I'm sure it was one of the many dolphins that were passing by as I saw the dolphins take off at speed!!!! past the point after this, but WOW I have never heard a ratchet scream like that.
After that only the Grey shark fillets got a few enquiries while yellowtail and blacktail went untouched. As the tide started to push the swell got huge and became almost unfishable and the bites dried up. I was however quite happy to leave early, go home, and look at these photo's amongst others more times than I can remember.
She even had a loose tooth which I extracted as a souvenier
