Under the west gate crimson light

Docklands, Southbank, Yarra River Area, The Warmies, Newport, Maribyrnong River
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Sebb
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Under the west gate crimson light

Post by Sebb » Sat Feb 11, 2023 10:48 am

I've fished with lures, heavy to ultra light, boat and kayak, fly fishing lakes and streams, and lately baitfinesse (BFS), and yet there's still a romance and zen in landbased bait fishing with mates.

Fished under the west gate this morning, got there about 6am with two other mates. Been a while since we fished together with bait and chill, hope for the best.

Time fished: 6am-9am
Tide: peak high 7:30am
Sun: first light 6:17am, sunrise 6:45am
Moon: 72%, rise 23:00 set 11:35
Sky: clear
Air temp: 17-29°C
Wind: almost none
Bait: chicken, pilchard, raw peeled prawn

The view of West Gate bridge under the morning sun is grand and majestic.
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We set two rods each with patenoster rig, because it's weedy and snaggy, best to have the baited hook slightly above the bottom.

The incoming tide pushed the current upstream in the channel, and the river flowed downstream on the top water level and the shallow. It created a line belly. It was tricky to detect bites. Quite often the line got pulled (bites) but not pulling the rod tip at all, often the bells didn't even ring. We had to keep eyes on the line.
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I was pouring a hot tea to the cup, I was going to take a sip
AND THEN...!!
I saw one of the rods buckled, bell was ringing hard, swinging and shaking, DING! DING! RINGA DING DING!
I thought, this is it!

I ran faster than Hussein Bolt to the rod.
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I grabbed the rod, stroke, the rod was bending, line was tight.
My mate was yelling "I'll grab the net" !!

Few moments later, the fish got on the surface. It's red! It cannot be more beautiful and more red than that fish under the morning crimson.
It's a size beyond imagination, I've never caught nor seen in person of that size in my life, neither my mates.

Here it is, a beautiful healthy specimen.
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Me and my mates were laughing hard like bunch of kids. Been a while since we had so much fun like that.
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A fish is a fish :ft:
No fish is worth a life, stay safe

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Sebb
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Re: Under the west gate crimson light

Post by Sebb » Sat Feb 11, 2023 11:00 am

Oh my mate also caught a 40cm and 33cm flatty on chicken and pilchard.
------------------------------
A fish is a fish :ft:
No fish is worth a life, stay safe

ben475
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Re: Under the west gate crimson light

Post by ben475 » Sat Feb 11, 2023 5:02 pm

it doesnt look so big with the bridge in the background

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Sebb
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Re: Under the west gate crimson light

Post by Sebb » Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:53 am

ben475 wrote:
Sat Feb 11, 2023 5:02 pm
it doesnt look so big with the bridge in the background

:rf: :gj:
------------------------------
A fish is a fish :ft:
No fish is worth a life, stay safe

Lightningx
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Re: Under the west gate crimson light

Post by Lightningx » Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:14 am

Great write up Seb!
Enjoyed the read mate 😃
A landbased session with mates is always great fun!
Cheers 👍🏻

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Re: Under the west gate crimson light

Post by fishnut » Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:42 pm

Haha good one

Chilli
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Re: Under the west gate crimson light

Post by Chilli » Sun Feb 19, 2023 5:03 am

Great story Sebb. And the pics great additions too.

Seniorfisho
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Re: Under the west gate crimson light

Post by Seniorfisho » Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:51 am

Great read Seb. Next time you have some spare chicken, go to the Harbor and cast inside, not outside the wall, some nice snapper in there atm

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