A Narrow Window - 23rd November 2015

Wind, Wind, Swell, more Wind, Rain, more Swell and even more Wind. The last month's weather has been terrible with not even the hint of a break. Finally a narrow window showed itself and by a stroke of luck it coincided with a day off. Time to go kayak fishing! The tide was good for fishing the reefs for Pollack and with a shed load of homemade lures in the tackle box, things were falling into place....

Kieren was coming along too and we had around 6 hours before the persistent winds would return once more. Moderate swell was rolling in and the sun was even shining. It was cold though so the hat had to come out. We headed out to the mark and started to fish. The homemade split belly minnows were sent to the bottom and worked over the reefs and rough ground. It wasn't long before the pollack showed interest. A plethora of smaller Pollack up to 4lb came to the kayak, not big but still gave a good account of themselves in the deep water. Kieren had much of the same as we moved around from mark to mark trying to locate some bigger fish. More smaller Pollack were throwing themselves onto the lures but the bigger fish seemed absent. Also noticeable in their absence were baitfish in the water column. One small shoal of mackerel passed under the kayak but that appeared to be it.

Something bigger nailed the lure midwater and the rod hooped over. Off she went back towards the bottom as i applied more and more pressure until it turned. Finally getting the better of her she arrived at the surface, a slightly better one around the 6lb mark. Quick photo before the was sent back to the depths.

I headed out further to find deeper water. First drop down, tap....tap....BANG!

The fish goes bezerk and powers down hard towards the bottom with the rod tip trying to followed it. I hooked it practically on the bottom so when line starts peeling off the reel i know its time to lock up before it finds a snag. It did the trick and the fish was now heading in the right direction. A few more lunges before i could tease it up. I knew it felt different which was soon confirmed by a bright red fish appearing from the blue depths. A nice Ballan Wrasse was soon in the footwell...

This fish had come up from around 120ft, and usually the swim bladder will inflate with the pressure difference. This one seemed unaffected and shot off as soon as it was back in the water which was good. A few more Pollack followed before something else was hanging off the lure. Slow lunges and violent head shakes.... i know what this is, although it's not feeling like a big one. 

Hello Mr. Ling.... The lead head looks surprised to see you!

Only a small one and swiftly released. The tide had now come most of the way in, the clouds had replaced blue sky and the wind was picking up. It was getting pretty nippy. Kieren had a good run of fish and i had a few more small Pollack out before it was time to head in.

That was it. A reasonable day with plenty of fish but of no real size. Good sport nonetheless with plenty of rod bending action. Fingers crossed there will be a good settled spell soon with some bigger fish venturing inshore.