Well today (9th April) John, Keith and myself wandered down a bush covered track to a rock ledge to try our luck with some Spanish Mackerel as recent reports had been promising.
Setting up our gear for a longish afternoon session I threw out a yakka under a balloon, which hung around for about 30 minutes before giving up the ghost and dying.
We decided on focusing on catching some live garfish which were circling below the ledge, so John and I got a few on sabiki jigs which were quickly floated out under balloons and floats.
Johns bait was taken twice before he eventually hooked up to what seemed a large mackerel, but after is long initial run it had worked its way loose and freed itself.
Another gar later and John was on again to a mackerel which didnt drop off and after a tenuous pre-gaff moment I drove the gaff into it and hauled up a Spanish Mackerel of 19.5kg, a great fish and my first look at a mackerel in person.
Dispatching the fish, we hurriedly went about catching more gar and floating them out past the washes.
Keith hooked and lost 2 good fish with his livies, one fish came off due to the wire trace slipping through the gap in the eye of the hook!
At about 4pm I was sitting down watching a far off ship go past when my reel starts screaming, so I stood up pushing the drag lever to strike and held on.
20 minutes of chasing the fish around the rocks, John had gaffed my fish which turned out to be my first Spanish Mackerel of 12.9kg, I was stoked!
Hauling that fish up the rocks for some photos, we decided to make our way back as the sun was steadily disappearing over the horizon.
So packing up our gear and slinging our fish over our shoulders we made our way back through the twilight bush.
Thanks for reading and more photos will be added when I get them from people.
John and I with our Spaniards
