Humongous Ray and Tiger shark.
Hit old mate Pirate up for a tiger fishing session last night.
Took my boys down to the beach about 0630, little did i know I was going to have the fight of my life. Got a tailor and some herring on mulies then poured a bottle of fish oil around my rod holders for the waves to lap up.
I had some blue mackerel left over from crayfishing so hurled a whole big fish out on a homemade grapple sinker designed with a metal hook to clip onto the bottom hook to aid casting. 7pm i noticed the big rods line had gone slack so I wound in and hit it. Blistering 300m run had me sure it was a huge shark. Then it took another 100m and settled down and I realised it was a ray. Had absolutely no control and I could see the 20 m of mono backing on my bottom of my spool.
I had to give this beast every ounce of energy I had, after 1.5 hours my hands where cramping and my back was stuffed. Had to sit on the beach and got my 10 year old and 9 year old sons to push the rod up while I heaved back and wound down. Slowly gained about 50 cm at a time.Had a couple of emergency cans of mid strength during the fight.
2.5 hours later the biggest ray and the biggest creature i had ever landed was finally on the beach.. Thank God.
I'm 120kg and this ray dwarfed me. 200 kg and change, the top of its body was like a huge leather back turtle. Released well.
Re rigged and hurled out another 2 kg mackerel, 10 minutes later another big run, this one I could control and with new found confidence in my rod reel and knots I landed my first tiger shark in about 10 minutes. Released.
Used a one piece ozflex i got 20 years ago for winching baldies up at steep point. A lethal 100 ( beast!) Reel loaded with 80lb J braid. 100lb Tiagra leader with a fg knot to the main line.
Thanks Pirate for a great session and gaffing\roping the catches.
Anywhere anytime
davewillo
Posts: 2431
Date Joined: 08/09/16
How's the back today? Epic
How's the back today? Epic stuff mate!
PGFC member and lure tragic
scano
Posts: 1247
Date Joined: 31/05/07
Yep this fin nor lethal 100’s
Are built like tanks. Especially for the price they retail at. Not the lightest reel going around but certainly built well to take some punishment.
Good job on the ray Martin and the shark btw
VIC DORY
Posts: 308
Date Joined: 28/05/15
Next time take the gaff out
Next time take the gaff out of it for the photo, some sensitive people out there that won't agree with gaffing a totally protected species.always best avoid any hippy heat.
rob90
Posts: 1528
Date Joined: 06/02/13
Few trophy captures there
Few trophy captures there solid effort on the ray most would of cut it off. Although I feel the locals would have our heads if they knew fishos were dumping litres of fish oil on the sand each night, while they go swimming on these hot summer mornings.
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
anypuddle
Posts: 597
Date Joined: 22/01/12
The fin nor certainty is
The fin nor certainty is solid for a cheap reel. When that ray stuck to the ground it was amazing how much pressure all the gear took and held together.Got to admit my hands are still not working properly and i feel like i got in a bar fight. Nice bruises coming up on my waist were I missed the gimbals for a while.
Vic i get your point ta, people love being triggered hey. Rob was 500 ml of fish oil blend same as thousands of anglers use. I see your point though cheers. Dont put up many posts,,, wonder why.
Anywhere anytime
rob90
Posts: 1528
Date Joined: 06/02/13
I was not having a go at all
I was not having a go at all don't take it the wrong way. Just in today's greenie dominated society the crew against fishos will take anything they can and run with it, shark fishos are copping heat enough as it is. I know what is done I've done it we all do it, just certain things are better left un said unfortunately. I didn't want to take attention away from your captures they are trophies.
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
anypuddle
Posts: 597
Date Joined: 22/01/12
Thanks Rob. I get you,
Thanks Rob. I get you, appreciate the reply.
Anywhere anytime
Brock O
Posts: 3243
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Thats a work out there...my
Thats a work out there...my back hurts just looking at that Ray it is massive!!
Nice Tiger, wish them last few photos came up better.
Mark_M
Posts: 186
Date Joined: 10/04/15
Distorted pics
Brock O
Click on the pictures in the original post and they should open up without the distortion
anypuddle
Posts: 597
Date Joined: 22/01/12
Yeah sorry guys don't know
Yeah sorry guys don't know why the last 3 came up stretched. Click and load them if u want. Cheers.
Anywhere anytime
Da pirate
Posts: 1570
Date Joined: 03/05/15
Vic ...
I placed that gaff shot in the tip of the
wing too avoid any major injury to the
old girl and for rig retrieval and in aid
of a quick release back into the ocean.
there is no other safe way of release and also
left the gaff shot in too avoid punching multiple
holes ..
cheers pirate.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18057
Date Joined: 11/03/08
Awesome effort. Them car
Awesome effort. Them car bonnets realy fight dirty. Had one years back that took 3 hours to get in . They certainly test your gear and knot tying skills out.
That second pic of the tiger is one to put on the wall. Great colors and pattern . Well done.
I'm surprised you had the energy left to throw out another bait let alone fight a tiger like that
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
anypuddle
Posts: 597
Date Joined: 22/01/12
Thanks Russ, I did consider
Thanks Russ, I did consider packing it in for sure but the beach looked too fishy and I had I esky full of macks, u only live once right!. Im glad it was a smaller tiger.
Anywhere anytime
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18057
Date Joined: 11/03/08
I have managed to get small
I have managed to get small sharks up to 4 foot to the beach up here but the big bulls have so far beaten me . One day
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Rod Stroker
Posts: 66
Date Joined: 09/06/18
Flappers
Hi Pirate
Do ya reckon they should have a Land Based Game Tournament for stingrays cob?
Salty old Seadog that needs putting down.
anypuddle
Posts: 597
Date Joined: 22/01/12
Gday rod S , im sure we
Gday rod S , im sure we have all caught plenty of pest rays, when they get 100kg plus 200 kg etc then I reckon they are critters to remember. Have u managed to land one? What did u catch it on.? Always learning hey. Fishing is great for self esteem and depression in my experience. Think you should wet a line with us one night.
Anywhere anytime
Rod Stroker
Posts: 66
Date Joined: 09/06/18
Nightmare
Used to see them all the time in bays at Rotto and in the shallows north of Hillarys. Never really thought of trying to catch one, never tried for sealions, dolphins or whale sharks either LOL.
I don't care what people chase as long as it's by the book, like ya say, it can be very therapeutic. Not sure the old flappers will ever be a trophy fish at any size though mate.
Still, each to their own hey.
Salty old Seadog that needs putting down.
Da pirate
Posts: 1570
Date Joined: 03/05/15
Nah stroker .
Nah stroker. But maybe you could
hold scorpion cod comp .. smallest
one wins .. the rod stroker classic
scorpion fishing comp .
1st prize pkt of 7766 hooks catches all fish
2nd prize box of polony crey biat .
3rd prize the guide to the art of stroking.
by rod stroker signed copy .
Just some ideas . Cheers mate pirate
Rod Stroker
Posts: 66
Date Joined: 09/06/18
Yes
Now you're talking Pirate!
I could probably host the weigh-in and do a slide show - a few fresh scorpion cod and footballer platters. Would be a great night!
Salty old Seadog that needs putting down.
rob90
Posts: 1528
Date Joined: 06/02/13
Gold!
Gold!
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
Curndog
Posts: 449
Date Joined: 21/11/16
Nice work anypuddle. I
Nice work anypuddle. I personally love the photos and thanks for posting. Don't know why ppl having a crack, can't do anything these days without someone whinging.
rob90
Posts: 1528
Date Joined: 06/02/13
Seems you can't give
Seems you can't give feedback without people jumping on the defensive straight away either.
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
Rod Stroker
Posts: 66
Date Joined: 09/06/18
Spot on.
You got it right there Rob. Never ceases to amaze me how some people post on public forums then get there knickers in a twist as soon as there's any response from the public they don't agree with.
Just because I think stingray fishing is for window-lickers, doesn't mean those window-lickers shouldn't enjoy it.
People gotta be a bit more tolerant of other's opinions - coz they're just opinions.
Peace crew.
Rod
Salty old Seadog that needs putting down.
Curndog
Posts: 449
Date Joined: 21/11/16
Not defensive
Not defensive, just saying. as anypuddle said doesn't post very often and my guess is he probably won't next time. Which is a shame because the photos are great
Rod Stroker
Posts: 66
Date Joined: 09/06/18
True
Yeah it does take a bit of effort to post photos I'm told. Maybe Puddles could post the last 3 photos of the Tiger again?
Salty old Seadog that needs putting down.
sea-kem
Posts: 15021
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Is Tim-o back in da house?
Is Tim-o back in da house?
Love the West!
jighead
Posts: 726
Date Joined: 03/02/12
Memories
Some of his shit was pretty bloody funny.
sea-kem
Posts: 15021
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Good post and pics btw AP and
Good post and pics btw AP and Pirate
Love the West!