The Gold Coast Flathead Pin Adventure
Posted by Meggs | Fishing and Boating Posts | Posted on April 1st, 2010
Greetings all,
This week, guest blogger Greg Booth shares a poignant story of shattered angling pride as he is out-fished and maybe even a little out-drank by his lady fishing companion Jess….
Beginners luck or am I really just that bad?
Jess with a healthy Gold Coast Pin Flathead
Decided to take out the boat today to introduce Jess to fishing. Up until today she had never held a rod in her hands (concentrate boys!!) so I thought we might head out to the Pin area and tickle up a trusty flathead. So it was at the more reasonable time of 930am that we hit the water and set a course bearing to flathead county!
Jess seemed to be an almost natural at this fishing caper as no sooner had we dropped anchor she announced ‘I think I will have a beer’! And the sun was nowhere near over the yard arm yet.
Anyway so I put on a trusty 3 inch grub in pumpkin seed colour, I mean seriously what flathead does not like them and with a 5 second lesson in how to cast and retrieve I left her to her own devices. It was only 1 cast later that Jess’s rod buckled over and she announced ‘What the’? She was on to her first fish, so giving guidance on how to play the fish like a pro whilst appearing to remain calm and in control for the spectator fleet, up came a little flathead of about 28cm.
We had the obligatory ‘look what I caught photo’s’ and these were promptly sms’ed too all and sundry when I politely reminded the pro angler that the fish was still flapping around on the deck and it was hers to deal with. Anyway, like the true deckie I can later confirm I was to become I unhooked the little devil, gave him a few words of encouragement and sent him back to the depths.
A few more casts around the area and again the pros rod buckles over and this one is taking line. Oh man I thought, why wasn’t I on that side of the boat? Another short struggle later I am ordered to get the net to land a good size keeper of 46cm.
Mmmmmm this was starting to look a little embarrassing!
So I pondered for a short while about my technique and was a reading too much into it? Should I just be dangling my rod tip in the water making ‘pretty patterns’ with it and every now and then winding in and casting out again as that is what seems to be working! No sooner had I revised my technique and the pros rod in doubled over in pain again and this time some serious line is disappearing as the rod is getting dragged from port to starboard, from stern to bow. At this point I thought ‘is it wrong of me to secretly hope the next catch would be a shovel nose or ray’?
But my dreams were soon dashed as a monster croc surfaces next to the boat, takes one look at, well not me and then darts back for the sea floor. The fish was fought with some serious lift and wind technique complete with bent knees to absorbs the runs and before much more ado a 58cm flathead was in the net.
You guessed it, more pics, more sms……
I was burning up inside by this point as I hadn’t even landed 1 fish yet, so it was a change of hook, change of plastic ‘Hey Jess, what are you using’ and back in with some serious casting action. Instantly I was rewarded for my game tactics and I proudly fought and worked an 18cm bream all the way to the boat like a real fisherman. ‘Did you see that, that’s how you fight a fish I proclaimed!
A mutual decision was then made by me, that we were not leaving this location till I boat a keeper. So onwards we fished, me with all the passion and enthusiasm I could muster and Jess, well like any girl who has now had a few beers.
Success!! I was on and it was man versus fish with the machine in the middle! Pictures were still fresh in my mind about the shark ravaged jack and others so I turned that egg beater like I was making, well scrambled eggs and up to the surface popped a healthy 47cm flathead. My turn to call for the net I thought, and Jess decided that before she obliged, she would cast her line out again just in case. Not wanting to lose my trophy (read only) lizard I left him swimming in the water till the net lady (whoops, sorry pro) arrived and in the meantime my fish had swam a few laps of the motor leg and was now scratching itself on the transducer bracket. If I was to lose my moment of glory there was going to be some serious smacks!
Net was fetched, fish was safely boated and smiles all round! Pictures taken, but no sms for me as I am currently sporting a 2000 model Nokia 8210 on my hip and pretty sure the grey scale screen could not capture the moment in all its glory. Well that, and it doesn’t even have a camera.
Stumps were called and it was time to find my friend’s houseboat for some relaxing beers and a spa before heading home. We had a great afternoon on the rums chatting around the spa on the top deck of what looked like an over-sized shoebox before heading home.
A great day out, good times, good company, and good fun!
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Well better luck with the flatties next time Greg but it sounded like you and Jess had an alright day just the same.
Sea you later,
Skipper Meggs