Huge Southern Gardies

Got the all clear from my surgeon re my reattached bicep tendon last week so I didn’t waste time getting back on the water for the first time in 17 weeks. Did the Auskick thing and then hit the water by 11, tested out the new VHF with VJ6LQ and we settled on a bank only a mile south of the marina as it already pretty lumpy and uncomfortable.

My 4 year old has finally taken an interest in fishing after my pop gave her a bright pink Ugly Stick and she christened it in style with a monster gardy (pic doesn't do it justice) and was steadily out fishing her brothers much to their dismay and dad's pride. The herring were very thin but the kids would have landed 6 huge southern gardies that to the eye were around the 30-35cm mark along with another half dozen decent size ones and I had a tear in my eye returning them to the water due to the ban but definitely good signs for the stocks.

By midday the wind kicked up to 15kn and we were getting chucked around at anchor so we pulled stumps after freeing up a stuck anchor which was the ultimate test for my recovery and putted back in with three very satisfied kids who have been hanging to head out for months but with only the three hezza for my 9y old to practice his filleting skills on.
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Officially off the Pies bandwagon

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Faulkner Family's picture

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Date Joined: 11/03/08

 little miss 4 certainly

Mon, 2019-07-29 14:12

 little miss 4 certainly looks proud of her gardie. pity they cant be kept at the moment as that size would make a nice feed

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

quadfisher's picture

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Date Joined: 28/09/10

Footlongs anyone?

Mon, 2019-07-29 16:08

 yeah , all we can trust is the science , but around south metro atm Im catching more gardies than herring , and some are as big as southern gars i have seen , 

thick , and fighting harder than the bigger herring.

 We have gone up a couple of hook sizes so we are not gut hooking them and are using wet cloths to gently handle them , no bare hands full of scales.

 Every one I put back I see a jumbo greenough tailor or a mack , but its good to see them around , hopefully they recover quick , as I would imagine 

 there alot quicker growing than alot of the fish we catch.

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quadfisher

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Date Joined: 03/01/12

Good Work

Wed, 2019-07-31 17:17

 

Well done Frosty

Always good to see kids enjoying fishing.

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 Skull

Jackfrost80's picture

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They love it Skull and I'm

Thu, 2019-08-01 12:22

They love it Skull and I'm quickly finding myself being relegated to untangler and fish unhooker but it's nice to get them out away from screen time albeit they're pretty good at playing outside with the neighbourhood already.

I saw a nice Black Barcrusher with a white hardtop but no reference to the Maggies. That wasn't you was it?

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Not me

Thu, 2019-08-01 15:15

 

No it wasn't me Jack, sadly not getting out enoughat this time of year,

Looking forward to the warmer weather and gettting down to Cheynes again, have 4 little Grand daughters who love to go fishing with their Poppa.

I hear you with the deckie duties, that is me when they are on board, but the smiles make it all worthwhile.

 

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 Skull

Jackfrost80's picture

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Get into it Skull, my best

Fri, 2019-08-02 12:39

Get into it Skull, my best memories are going fishing with my Pop in Mandurah. Best time of year with light winds and quiet ramps plus it'll take your mind off the footy haha (couldn't resist). I was like a pig in shit steaming out of Hillarys Sunday after such a long forced break from the water and the only thing missing was a coldy or two on account of it being before lunchtime.

 

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Brock O's picture

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Good stuff Frosty....Glad i

Fri, 2019-08-02 12:50

Good stuff Frosty....Glad i read this as i had no idea about the gardies....usually straight in the bucket for bait if I'm killing time...

While a trip out deep or for pinkies is exciting, I have found the last few close trips with my little one just as rewarding!

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 Was it the Tendon to the

Mon, 2019-08-05 14:35

 Was it the Tendon to the forearm? or one of the two to the top of the shoulder?

I ruptured mine in October last year. Dont wish it on anyone!

Jackfrost80's picture

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Date Joined: 07/05/12

Distal bicep tendon that

Tue, 2019-08-06 21:40

Distal bicep tendon that attaches to the forearm. Felt it pop while sparing and looked down to see my bicep had rolled back toward the shoulder. It was phucked but a piece of cake compared to my ACL.

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Faulkner Family's picture

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 i remember back many years

Mon, 2019-08-05 17:17

 i remember back many years ago when the gardies were so thick down in the mandurah estury some of the older italian guys would be getting a sack full without even using a hook, only a lantern and a dab net under the bridge

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together