Down to the ramp with a super keen crew, only to find Middle Harbour almost fogged out with heavy mist:
Travelling fast not really an option because the water was full of logs too. Not from rain, from big tides washing them out of the mangroves. The fog cleared just east of the Spit so off we went:
First stop Twelve Mile Reef, which has been producing for us lately. Not numbers but a better size of fish. Josh dropped down and hooked up instantly:
Bringing this solid 89cm aboard:
With the wind starting to pick up – but forecast to drop away after lunch – we got under way to the seamount, a further twelve miles east. On arrival I asked the lads to indulge me while I tried a little mako downrigging:
No joy with that. But during the exercise I was alarmed to see how fast the current was running. After a couple of passes under power trolling the garfish we set up the deep dropping on the electric reels. No good! The current of 3 knots plus made it just about impossible to get anywhere near the bottom. Things weren’t helped by a vicious short chop making reversing difficult. We didn’t catch anything and didn’t see anyone else boat a fish either. After an hour or two everyone else had bailed excepting the tuna trollers. We headed back in too. Back out again soon and will post a report if anything happens, Andrew
