Started casting a 40g Gillies Baitfish lure in about the second gutter I found to the left of the stairs (well I think it was a gutter), and about 6th cast - snagged. Wouldn't come free for love nor money, so after a big yank it broke at the uni knot at the swivel near the lure. (That's the second lure I've lost to snags at Gunnamatta. Does this happen to others - or is it just me?)
Anyway, tied on another snap-swivel and put on a 40g Surecatch Knight and walked towards the lighthouse. Started casting at the next area I thought was a gutter and then at about 8.20am I thought I had another snag, but the line kept winding in and I slowly realised - hang on - that has to be a fish. Lost it close to shore - never saw it. Cast again and hooked up shortly after and managed to land my first ever Gunnamatta salmon (see below). Nothing special size wise I suppose but it made me pretty happy.
Spiked it and threw it up the beach and cast back in. About 2 casts later hooked up again and a salmon about the same size spat the treble hooks in the end of the shallows. I dropped the rod and ran over to grab it in the gloves and half way there whack - knocked A over T by a wave. I'm on all fours taking an unscheduled dip and by the time I recovered and looked around the fish had long gone.
Anyway, they went off the bite then and despite about a hundred more casts at various places up and down the beach (and another dip on all fours after getting knocked off my feet again - those waves are strong) I didn't get another bite.
Two bait fisherman back near the stairs when I left at about 10 - one said he was having his bait taken but hadn't had any hook-ups.
Drove home wet as a shag and with a fair amount of Gunnamatta sand in various places and cursing the loss of the second fish, but with plans to return on the next day off.
The fish was nice and tasty for tea tonight with home made-chips and silver beet. :a_goodjob:
