Pinkie Bonanza near Rotto
Ten very long weeks after my double knee replacement and I could eventually get back on the water again. Gail and I launched just after six in the morning from Woodman Point and made our way towards Rottnest Island. We got up a half an hour later than we should have and were probably going to miss the moon set before we got to our destination. As we passed Seaward Reef we noticed a commotion in the water which turned out to be a pod of three whales slapping their tales on the water. We stopped to enjoy this wonderful spectacle and were now guaranteed to miss the moon set, but what the heck – one does not experience this type of show every day!
We eventually arrived at our “Snapper Spot” and one drift over the drop-off indicated some decent returns on the sounder. The anchor was quickly dropped and the burley trail introduced to the swim. I took the Shimano Nexave loaded with the Shimano Stradic 4000 and dropped a soft plastic over the side of the boat. Soon after this we hooked a bird that picked up one of our scalies before it had a chance to drop down into “the zone”. As we were trying to free it the Stradic started peeling off line and I caught a Snapper of 58cm.
A little later Gail hooked her first of three Snapper, this one going 65cm. Her subsequent two Snapper went 86cm and 85cm consecutively and we had reached our quota within 90 minutes of dropping the anchor. We tried for further fish, but got smoked no less than four times before we pulled anchor in an ever increasing South Westerly. Before we left for Woodman Point we experienced a further two whales, one of which breached fully out of the water – what a sight!
On the way back we decided to stop off at Rowboat Rock near Mewstone to see if we could entice one of the Aussie Salmon which had forgotten to go back down south. My first cast with a soft plastic and bang – I was into a 85cm specimen. After a good tug on the light tackle the fish was snapped and released.
This was a welcome return to our wonderful fishery – can’t wait for the next trip.
YouTube clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rBcLMDpit0c
Fisheagle Ed
Meeuwissen
Posts: 755
Date Joined: 29/03/13
very healthy looking
fish. What depth do you fish with unweighted scalies. Is the current a problem ?
Down the Line
Catch the Experience
Fisheagle
Posts: 349
Date Joined: 04/02/12
Trial and error
This spot always has a decent current running through it. We normally start unweighted and by the angle of entry of the line into the water you will work out how strong the current is. We then add a sliding weight above the scalie so that the bait can get down to the bottom third of the swim. It takes a bit of trial and error until you start catching them. Once you work it out - you then change all the traces/rigs to the same weight. Good luck and tight lines!
Fisheagle Ed
https://www.youtube.com/user/fisheagleed/videos
Madmerv
Posts: 672
Date Joined: 24/01/15
Nice catch
Some very nice fish there. Always good to bag out in a couple of hours.
Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !
Scotte
Posts: 1145
Date Joined: 07/12/06
Great fish and write up!
Great fish and write up!
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
nice fish nice pics
nice fish nice pics
uncle
Posts: 9478
Date Joined: 10/02/07
sounds like a great day
nice pinks
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Bluetonic
Posts: 1147
Date Joined: 09/01/08
Great video, gota love it
Great video, gota love it when you get into a good pinkie session. Well done.
Blue Sky, Blue Water, Bluetonic!
Jason P
Posts: 521
Date Joined: 16/02/13
Always enjoy your posts and
Always enjoy your posts and pics
DM306
Brock O
Posts: 3228
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Great Vid
There Fish Eagle, love your work.
axey45
Posts: 1758
Date Joined: 26/11/13
Guardy
Posts: 381
Date Joined: 09/08/12
Hey Ed
Good to see you back on the water once more doing what you do best, letting Gail catch all the fish (well most of the fish)
. Come on you have to at least try to out do her on the number and size of your fish.
Glad to hear that the knees are coming right.
Cheers, Frank
Fisheagle
Posts: 349
Date Joined: 04/02/12
Good seeing you
Hey Frank, good to see you again. How is it that you are at the ramp every time I get a walloping?
We need to catch up for a chat sometime. Take care.
Fisheagle Ed
https://www.youtube.com/user/fisheagleed/videos
joycey
Posts: 251
Date Joined: 28/05/11
Great session there! I've
Great session there! I've been getting my snapper around garden island this year, I've never fished for them out at Rotto but might have to give it a go now.
The new fish cleaning station at the boat club is great isn't it.
Fisheagle
Posts: 349
Date Joined: 04/02/12
Great cleaning station
The cleaning station makes life so much easier and less drama with the missus at home because of fish scales in the kitchen basin. Boat ramps, wash-down bays, clubhouse, showers and bathrooms, food prep area, secure parking, ice available 24/7, etc.etc makes CPA is a winner. Don't mind paying a bit extra for this type of service.
Fisheagle Ed
https://www.youtube.com/user/fisheagleed/videos
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Thanks for the very good write up and video
A very good write up with video & pics, days like that are long remembered. especially when enjoying a good feed of locally fresh caught snapper and a good wine.
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
yeah top post and well done
yeah top post and well done going in for an op myself next week haven't been on the water myself for 2 months just shows there is always light at the end of the tunnel
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
Fisheagle
Posts: 349
Date Joined: 04/02/12
Good luck Willo
See you back on the water soon.
Fisheagle Ed
https://www.youtube.com/user/fisheagleed/videos
Notorious
Posts: 914
Date Joined: 23/02/12
You're a master - fantastic
You're a master - fantastic photos and video!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/174055815943047/?fref=nf
barracuda
Posts: 217
Date Joined: 01/09/13
Solid effort
good to see you back into it
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Good to see you back on your
Good to see you back on your feet ...... nice fish and quality pics as per usual!
Good vid and congrats to both
sstevee
Posts: 472
Date Joined: 15/11/11
Nice report!!ive just had
Nice report!!
ive just had shoulder surgery and hope I can come back with similar results!!! Would have made the wait nearly worthwhile.
Steve