Making up for lost time with Brendan and Al

It has been too long since we had a good fish. So the best cure for that is to go fishing, and a fishing we went.

My good friend Brendan and his cousin Al, visiting from Hawaii, joined Rosie and myself for a bit of light tackle in shore fishing. Our target species for the day was, Bluefin trevally and Emperors. We were fishing with 15lb to 30lb line.

Let the fun begin.

First on the board was Brendan with a nice 5.5kg Bluefin.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

Then it was my turn. I am usually behind the wheel, but I try to steal a few casts here and there.

So, opportunity presented itself and I cast out with my 30lb gear, on the third pop, my lure gets smashed. At first the fish does not realize it has been hooked or doesn't care. It just keeps on swimming casually away.

Then I set the hooks and hold on, as what appears to be a good size GT, turns on the afterburners and tears off too an unseen, razor sharp, refuge.

The fight was exhilarating while it lasted, which was about 30 seconds.

That which connected me to the fish, parted.

The ever familiar sound of braid breaking, CRACK!

Damn, fish 1 Callan 0.

I sulk back to my place behind the wheel, humbled by a fish. Not just any fish, but a Giant Trevally. Pound for pound one of the hardest fighting fish in all the world.

Time for Al to get on the board. He is using a light 15lb set up.

When he hooks up, even to the small ones, it is a sight to see. Especially with a Brassy Trevally. They pull very hard for their size.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

Right about now I see another chance for me to get a quick cast in. I fire off a cast with a rather expensive lure. As I make my first pop my lure if hammered. I see the slab side of a Red Bass as it takes my lure and finds an unseen, razor sharp, refuge.

That which connected me to the fish, parted.

The ever familiar sound of braid breaking, CRACK!

Damn, fish 2 Callan 0.

I sulk back to my place behind the wheel, humbled by a fish. Granted, the Red Bass is no slouch. You get exactly 1.3 seconds to turn it towards the boat, if no? Then the ever familiar sound of braid breaking, CRACK!

So we now get back to the people that can actually boat fish.

That would be Al.

Here he is with a beauty of a Bluefin Trevally.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

Well now I am feeling a bit out of sorts. With two denied fish and all.

I see another chance, only this time my 30lb is not rigged so I grab my 15lb set up and fire a little stick bait on top of the reef.

I know, what the hell am I thinking, I have been smashed twice already on 30lb, why go to 15lb?

I cannot explain it, but it worked. I finally boat a small Brassy Trevally.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

Now Rosie has been a bit quiet up to this point. She has yet to get on the board.

Rest assured that is not going to last.

She manages to boat a nice Bluefin.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

Followed by another.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

And of course, two in a row was not quite enough to remind us who is boss. She goes and catches Black Tip reef shark.

Now that in and of itself is a good feat, but then Rosie informs me that she wants her popper back.

New ball game.

Namely teeth, and a lot of them, and they are really sharp.

After a great comedy of errors, we manage to extract her popper, leaving the shark without any fishing bling.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

All the while Al is quietly boating fish after fish.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

This one is a Big Eye Trevally.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

A view of our fishing grounds.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

And of course, as if to rub in the fact that I was smoked by a Red Bass, Rosie goes and catches a cracker of a specimen.

From Brendan Al Rosie Callan

A great time was had by all.

We enjoyed Al and his stories immensely.

My next post will be a brand new targeted species as well as a personal best for Rosie.

Until then,

Tight lines