The Legend of a Bream called Trevor – Part 1
Posted by Meggs | Fishing Holiday Stories | Posted on October 12th, 2009
Greetings Fellow Fisherpersons!
Over the next three weeks I will be bringing you the true story of a huge bream I caught years ago with my two children down the road from where I live in the Georges River in Sydney’s south western suburbs. It’s a touch funny and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it…
You see it’s like that old joke. You know the one where the adulterous guy goes into the confessional occupied by a cleaner and starts telling him about the amorous adventures he’s been having with the boss’s blonde wife. Finally it all gets too much for the cleaner who explains that he’s just the janitor. The other guy’s reply? “That’s Okay, I’m not a Catholic either – I was just so excited about the situation I had to tell someone.”
And so it is with fishermen, when after years of braving the elements and the jokes of neighbours and close personal friends they finally strike it big and somehow jag that once in a lifetime catch. You see all real fishos dream of classic catches and I’m not referring to World Series Cricket or in-ground pool contracts. Just remember if you keep wetting a line someday, sometime, somewhere and more than likely when you least expect it, along will come that prized catch.
But let’s face it. The moments of glory for the average fisherman are very few and far between so ask yourself this: will you be prepared to make the most mileage out of that monstrous mullet? Indians took scalps, hunters hung moose heads on top of fire places and I’m sure Hugh Heffner kept his own special momentos. But what should the humble, never-come-home-with-anything type of bloke do when he finally makes big? Surely the odd fish photo is not enough?
I must admit that up until that faithful day I was clearly unprepared. Being a professional Marketing Manager my idea of forward planning was booking the restaurant by 11AM. This story is for the benefit of all who have yet to have their moment of glory. So read on…you never know one day you could become the “Living Ling Legend of Lansvale”, the “Cod Curmudgeon of Coogee” or the “Prime Perch Poacher of Pelican Point” if only you’re prepared.
This is the legend of a Bream called Trevor…..
Having spent the equivalent of the national debt of a small third world nation on three rods, reels and fishing line for the wife (who commented appreciatively “Gee thanks Greg, what do I do with this?”) and two kids at Christmas it was finally time (three weeks later) to put them into action. You see I’m a good bloke so I spared no expense in thawing out some old bait from the garage bar fridge and packed each fishing bag as if they were my own for Grant (9) and Alisha (7).
The full moon had pushed the king tides from the upper reaches of Sydney’s Georges River and we had chosen a lazy 8:00 AM start at Lambeth Park which had already been the scene of many an encounter with plate size bream. The timing wasn’t that bad an option as we intended to fish the hour before and after the top of the tide and could therefore still get away with a minimum of lead.
A basic seamanship’s course some years ago taught me about the “twelthes rule” which has really annoyed the hell out of me ever since because its almost always right. The principle is based on the fact that there is roughly six hours between high and low tides. Generally, according to the rule, if you take the difference between the high tide (eg 2m) and the low tide (eg 0.8M) and divide it by 12 (ie 0.1M) you will find that in the first hour 1/12 of the water (0.1M) will flow in or out, the second hour 2/12 (ie 0.2M), the third hour 3/12 (ie 0.3M), the fourth hour 3/12 (ie0.3M), the fifth hour 2/12 (0.2M) and the sixth hour 1/12 (0.1M).
The moral of the “twelthes rule” (particularly when fishing in estuaries during a full moon) is to fish the top of the tide when racing waters won’t drag your bait from left to right in the space of seconds.
Be sure to tune in next Friday after 12 noon EST for the next exciting installment of a Legend of a Bream called Trevor!
Sea you later,
Skipper Meggs