Oh man...where do I start! Take a load of...this will take a while.
Let me preface this report by saying that I have wanted to post a report on here for a long time, but I have never had anything worthy enough to be here!
What an awesome day! It started of for me, on about Wednesday. Thats when I got the call to say I had a spot on a mates boat to go out to Brown's. Brown's Mountain is a peak just beyond the continental shelp approximately 45 KM's due East of Botany Bay, or 50 KM's SE of Sydney. It is not a destination that I could do easily, or safely in my 4.65 CC boat. So with an invitaion out on a 22 ft cuddy, I didn't hesitate. And with recent reports showing the Yellow Fin Tuna were on the bite, I started prepping my gear from that night!
I began checking, re-rigging, adjusting drags and everything else that is associated with Big-Fish fishing.
:There was no way in hell I was going to let a hastly tied knot, or a slightly frayed leader ruin my day!
One particular knot was tied more than 4 times till I was happy with the way it closed up.
We hit the water at a very sedate 6 AM, and with everything loaded and checked, we started out for Brown's. With absolutely stunning conditions, we powered out to the Shelf before setting a spread and making our way to the boat park known as Brown's Mountain.
We picked up a Stripey that was instantly despatched to bait duties and went under the knife. I must mention, that a particular Right of Passage was observed...we all took part in consuming some of the Stripey, straight of the bait knife!
Our plan was to fish the outskirts of the major concentration of boats, and we did so. We based ourselves on the NE corner a couple of kays of the mount itself. The method we used was cubing. I think you guys call it chunking?
When we found after a couple of hours that not much was happening, we headed back toward the melle, and found a nice secluded spot to try again. And this is what confronted us upon our return. You may not see all the boats in this pic, but rest-assured...there was a lot! :Rambo_Thr We counted over 50 boats in our immediate vicinity.
A few hours of quality time on the water was then spent in basic shit-talking, and a good 'ole laugh. With the day fast drawing to a close, ideas were bandied about as to what our final assault should be. And the Voice of Wisdom, AKA Chris (Aero), said we must troll...so troll we did.
The events that followed will stay with me for a long time. With only about 10 minutes into the troll, I saw one rod buckle over, and line start peeling of. Then ALL of the bastards went!
After a few choice expeletives, everyone just went into action with a minimum of fuss. The first rod to drop a fish (shotgun) was reeled in double quick, and battle stations were taken up.gunz
How we managed to keep all the lines away from each other, I have no idea. Chris got an Albi of about 10 KG in fairly quickly. Andrew put his rod which was still buckled over, back in the holder and gaffed Chris' fish for him then resumed his fight, and Chris instantly went to gaff duties.
Next one to come up was Bashir's. With Chris on the trace/gaff, he called out for help, and again Andrew put his rod down once again to tend the second gaff. A clean gaff and lift saw the second fish in the boat. In the meantime, mine had decided to go for a screaming run just as I got it close, and had my double on the reel!fumore
A bit of hot shoe shuffling between me and Andrew as our fish both decided to dance, but we managed to keep it all together. My fish went for a second screaming run, then it was finally subdued and 2 gaffs both found their mark and it was MINE!
I'm pretty sure the screams were heard for miles!
By this stage, Andrew was still on his fish. It was obviously a better class of fish, and doggedly avoided getting close enough to be gaffed.
And finally...some colour! Chris and Bashir both took up stations on either side of Andrew, and when the time was right...In went the gaffs!
With all the fish now on deck, we turned our attention to keeping them in the best possible condition, and instantly bled, and cleaned all the fish. It left a rather impressive bloodbath!:Pelvic_Th :Pelvic_Th
This is my 'Fin. Popped another cherry!
We estimated mine and Bashir's at about 30 KG, and Andrew's 'Fin would have been about 35.
And as we came back in, I just had to take a pic of this awesome sunset over Botany Bay. The picture really doesn't do it justice.
A huge HUGE thank you goes out to Bashir, for getting us all out there. And the same thank you goes to Chris for helping us all make it happen. We may do it all again this weekend.
Sydney Australia, 27/08/06 
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