It is said that a change is as good as a rest ( although Mrs P wouldn't necessarily agree with that one), so with that in mind I headed down to McLoughlin's yesterday for a threesome with the usual suspect (offsider) plus one...And just to be clear - 3 up in a boat that is!. Nice warm day in Paynesville almost encouraged me to leave the extra jacket behind with just a hoody over the usual T . Arrived around 10 am after a preliminary pie and tactical team talk at Lake Gutheridge in Sale, to be met in MCL by grey skies and a stiff cool for breeze which stayed with us for most of the day, so was glad of the extra layer packed. Outgoing tide for the first 2 hrs and then the reverse. Wind versus tide throughout the day, due to our locations, meant fishing across the tide which was handy with 3 up in a 4.5m open decked Bluefin boat. Fished our usual flatty spot within 5 mins of the jetty for a single keeper (45 ish) along with a large Raymond (second one hooked, sighted and lost - oh dear never mind) ) and multiple other species - all returned even though some may have been size. As Low tide approached, the weed increased and piscatorial activity slowed so we moved to spot B - just another 5 minute motor -basically to the end of the main channel, followed by a right turn. Berley'd up with a variety of products, including cat food, would you believe, and spent a very pleasant and most productive couple of hours catching mainly salmon around 40cm on both Sp, hardbody and bait (anything!) - either kept tight to the bottom using a drilled sinker straight through to the hook, or squid strips on the same rig on the retrieve. Triple hook ups were common with each of us using a different method at the time. Also a couple of KGW ( biggest going 42) along with numerous small flatties, yet more salmon , a lone Pinky Snapper around 40 (returned) several Mullet, some nice Trevally up to 42 and a few tailor (one kept). Disappointingly larger keeper Flathead were obvious by their absence, which was a bit of a shame, (for me at least) , as thats what I was specifically targeting - being spoilt for Salmon and KGW back home around the Paynesville & Flannigan's Island area now that summer has arrived (said tongue in cheek). Surprise of the day was that small KGW offcuts from previous filleting activity were a very effective bait, accounting for numerous fish. Shipmates didn't want any fish so transport and subsequent filleting down to me. All fish pictured bar the lone flathead (tonight's supper) were donated to a local elderly couple in Paynesville who are on my KGW gift list and have a particular soft spot for Salmon (and anything else with fins!). All up a good day with probably over 100 fish boated. Fish, nature, scenery and banter were all on parade today - so that'll be one to remember. Back to some KGW action in Wollaston Bay tomorrow ....just hope Mrs P isn't reading this......
PS Ray was given a bit of a cuddle as I've limited grip in the hands at times these days - unless hard cash is involved
Edited to add a Trevally pic and a Helo with a sonar thingy underslung which was probably doing survey work and moved around the channels and us all day
Tight Lines
Pirkz