Left real early in the wee hours so we could get first come first serve at my friend's favour spot. Got there in pitch black with only a few cars in the car park. Trek our way down to the preferred spot and it was not a disappointment either - even with my lack of surf fishing I knew this was the spot!! Walking in the the soft sand in wader is not the easiest thing for a novice but got there in the end.
First cast got into the ocean just about 1 1/2 before high tides. Heart was pumping and mind was hoping for the Bzzzzzzzzz sound of the reel straight away but that wasn't to be. After a few bait checks and re casting, one of the rod started to bend real hard but notice no violent shaking of the tip (as expected with snappers). First though was some weeds must have got hold of the line. Picked up the rod and started to feel the reel peeling off. Great!!! Fish was on but then mind started to think "what could this be?". Tightened the Shimano Aero 4000 further and started to slowly reel the fish in. Followed my friends instruction on the way down to the tee - "Don't skull drag the line line fish or no fish otherwise you will snap the line, just use the wave motion and reel it back". Thought it was a shark since the line just peeled off in mono speed so next thing was hoping that it will be a gummy and not any other one. After at least 5 mins of fight, the fish was in close near the wash. Saw the head with yellow stripes in the middle of its body - it was something but definitely not a salmon. Heart started to pump faster and the smile becoming much bigger - until the line felt loose!! A few more spin of the reel and my worst nightmare was realised. Lost it!!!! The effs words started to flow freely from my mouth (guess I could swear coz there was no kids around). Next thing came into my mind was "not the hooks or knots I hope" because that would have been even more devastating given I should learn from previous experience. It wasn't, so can not blame myself for it.
"What could that have been?" was the topic of conversation between all of us. My fishing buddy saw the yellow tail and I saw the head with yellow stripes on the body so we concluded it was a yellowtail kingfish. Now the disappointment of loosing it grew exponentially after realising that could have been a great present from the Queen herself but heck - that's fishing!!!
Apart from this episode, there was no other actions - between us and all other fishos around us. Guess the salmon also has its own public holiday to celebrate our head of state. Sir Snappalot's words rang true in my ears as we made the long trek back to Melbourne. But still wouldn't swap it for anything else. Got to christen my wader, had 5 minutes of hardcore fighting with something on the end of the line (now I realise how people hooked into game fishing), learnt to spot gutters - all for future preference. Perhaps my friends should have given me this advise on the up "You should have walk to the wash and bring up your fish". The bastard just wanted to stab the knife further into my wound!!! :icon_lolz: Yes, maybe he's correct and that could have been the difference. I will keep that in mind the next time surf fishing.
Gunna ... as Arnie's famous line ... I'LL BE BACK!!!
Cheers
PS - for all novice out there using the wader for the first time .. please don't let one go while you're wearing it coz only you and you will suffer ... found that out the hard way myself!!!
