Yellowfin tuna Sydney Australia MAY 2009

Mark D, Dave B and I launched a little after 8.00AM, and headed around to our sneaky live bait spot. Two pumps of the burley stick and the leatherjackets rose in a cloud, snipping off traces at will. It's going to be a long winter if those buggers plan on sticking around! The backup spot managed to provide ten stud yakkas. After logging on with Coastal Patrol we were on our way to the 12 Mile reef.

On arrival we had the place to ourselves. Down went the jigs. Mark hooked up to a king immediately and just as quickly lost it, to a leatherjacket bite. My jig was cut off seconds later. We were able to mark a few kingies in amongst the clouds of leatherjackets so persisted, with live baits. But it was hopeless. The jackets snipped off everything. We then set up to cube over the reef, knowing that there has been the odd tuna well inside the Shelf recently. An hour passed without result, but the wind was slowly backing off. The decision was made for a run to Browns.

Once there I was unimpressed. The water was a dirty green. Three or four trailer boats were parked on top of the hump fishing for bigeye, and they all had that 'nothing is happening' look. Last of all the Port Hacking 100 game fishing competition was on today, and the 1:40 sked reported only one fish from about 35 boats. Not very encouraging at all.

Yet persistence is everything, in the fishing game. We set up on the south-east corner of the plateau and got the cubes and berley going. A whole yellowtail went to the bottom on the electric reel. I put a live yellowtail way back on an 80-pound fluorocarbon leader, through the outrigger clip to keep it out of the way. An hour passed. Listening to the radio chatter the fishing seemed to be warming up. Then a twang, as the line pinged from the roller troller and the wonderful sound of the old Beastmaster 50/80growling filled the boat. We were on!

I called it for a mako because (according to the radio) there were a few around, and we'd had no action at all on the pilchards. We got Dave the New Guy into a rod bucket and he gave the fish some solid stick. After 25 minutes he called colour. A look over the side showed the familiar green and gold. An easy gaff shot and a nice yellowfin tuna - our first for the season - was drumming on the deck.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Yellowfin
• MAY2009

[dillberry99]

there's a really nice pinnacle south of the 12mile, i can't remeber how far but we got 5 kingies from about 75 to 110. kept 2 no jackets as the kingies were schooling up next to the jackets and we could see them start to scatter...next time rigg a bonnie, you'll be surprized

[downriggershop]

Very interesting indeed and I appreciate that info. We are planning to moor overnight at 12 Mile as soon as there's a break in the weather and fish big livebaits. Will post the results here or on the Sydney Angler website. If you have any recommendations would appreciate hearing them. Cheers, DR

[dillberry99]

nice stuff mate, we got 1 north of browns about 12nm to 40kg last year about this time, and lost another after an hr fight. that place can go off at times

[downriggershop]

Good stuff DB and nice to hear from you. We were out yesterday and had to turn back about 2/3 of the way there due to bad weather. However we jigged some kings and bonito so not a wasted trip. Will be back out next week, cheers, DR

[downriggershop]

That he do! But, dang it all, he's on shore leave for the next few weeks. Meaning I'm looking for a new berley bitch. Let me know if you're in?

[berjebers900]

good fight well done

[jocool]

Markus makes a good berley bitch!