I was alternating using a topwater lure in shallow areas, coupled with a gulp 2" shrimp in Molting Grey on a 1/24th jighead around structure. As we made our way across the northern end of the cove's shoreline - I hooked a decent fish, but it spat it out before I saw what it was.
I then proceeded to fail to boat 4 nice flathead in the space of about 10 minutes. I needed a fish for the comp, so was really cursing my 'I don't need no stinking net' policy.
As the tide went slack we headed for a spot right at Druboyd point that has a drainage canal that inlets into the harbour. Here, I caught my first bream of the day on the Sammy 65. Just undersized at 24 and a bit centimeters. No comp fish.
Others caught some decent bream there, but I was doing it hard. Boated an undersize flattie. Still no comp fish.
The sky was threatening to really let some rain down, but we perservered. I wandered off to work some water I had never fished before way up the western end of the cove. As I cast at a green rowing team start marker, I finally felt the bite of what must be a decent fish. It took off like a rocket, concerning me as my line was rubbing on the marker. 'Please don't wrap me, please please please!' He wrapped me once around the marker.
I free spooled until I could get up to the marker and unwind. Easy - now the fish really took off! After a bit of a battle, he started pulling me towards the mark again, so I put the pedals into action and made sure that wasn't repeated.
As I got him up, I saw a really, really large bream. Quickly scooped him into the boat and was relieved to see my new PB bream.
He measured out at just shy of 42cm's. Pedalled over to Rowan to make sure he got a picture of me with it and let it go, happy to see it swim away healthy.
Glad I stuck it out, to say the least!
