Lang Lang cop out!

After I had 7 squid ready in the freezer from my last trip, Dad and I were set to hit Jam Jerrup again in the yaks. We found low tide was about 5.30pm, so we could easily launch about 2pm, but would have to wait until 7.30-8pm to get back in, a couple of hours after dark. As we don't have lights yet and we definitely don't want to get stuck in the mud again, it was off to launch the boat at Corinella and motor up.
After launching about 1pm, we were on the spot about 1.30. I prepared the burley and threw my first bait in, but before I could get my second rod ready Dad was pulling in a healthy gummy. After netting it I go my second rod in. I had some slimy mackeral on one of my rods (Purchased slimies and pilchards on the way) and squid on the other. Within 5 minutes Dad was on again, boating another good gummy. I asked if he wanted to have a rest now that he had bagged out. After a few smaller gummies it went quiet and we moved towards French Island to the other side edge of the channel. We dropped our baits in (All with squid now, which was accounting for all fish) and over the next 45 minutes did not get a rest, having multiple double hook-ups. In the end we left them biting as we couldn't keep any more gummies and just had to catch and release them.
We motored towards Freemans Pt at walking pace, and sounded up some fish near the bottom. Hearing recent reports of some winter reds coming in we dropped the anchor and got all of the rods in. For the next couple of hours we moved once more, sounding up fish again. Apart from a few tentative bites we did not get anything more of note, and came in about 5.45 very happy with some great gummies.
Back at the ramp we had 3 other boats come in when we were cleaning and filleting our gummies, and between them they had caught 2 undersize gummies after fishing all day using bought pilchards and squid. Over the last 2 trips to the Lang Lang area (One in kayaks, one in the boat) we have caught well over 20 gummies with most being a good size. The key has been the fresh squid, so the lesson I have taken is that you need to spend the time collecting quality bait and it is the difference between a great day on the water and coming home empty handed.

Unlucky 7

Got up early for my last day of holidays. Hit Mornington around 7am and attached the new sounder (A portable Humminbird 160) with a piece of rope. Turns out I need to work on my system to attach it! Paddled out to the reef at Red Cliffs and started drifting. Threw my favourite squid jig around and second cast had a nice calamari in the bag. The rest of the drift proved fruitless so I went back to where I caught the first one and anchored. 6 more squid in the next half hour was a great bit of fun, but then they slowed down. I missed a strike (First miss of the day!) and decided I'd get them active by working 2 jigs, so threw the other one out aswell. As I was working them, my favourite jig became snagged. I gave it a couple of short, sharp tugs and it broke at the leader! This is the last time I used 4lb leader at a reef that shallow - 10lb catches just as many squid and is easier to get off snags, and with squid jigs hovering around $22, it's a much smarter investment!
I continued fishing with a "shallow" yamashita, that had a very slow sink rate. I was also trying to get my sounder to work properly, which I think I basically have, just need to get it attached to the boat properly. While this was going on my rod was nearly ripped from my hands. The squid took a bit of line before dislodging itself. That hardly ever happens!
A positive for the day was the sounder worked as it should and I picked up 7 good squid to be used for bait in snapper season, the big negative was my favourite squid jig which has caught nearly all my squid on now forms a part of the Mornington reef.
On another note my online tackle order arrived (Well, about half of it did with the rest on backorder!) and I now have a 307 colour SX40, a Bushy's stiffy vibe in phantom and 2 TT switchblade vibes in nightmare and tiger minnow. Very pumped to get out on the Patto river to give them a try before the big Bemm River trip in late September!

All quiet at Mornington

Well, we have had a week of inclement weather to start the school holidays. I spent the first week at Coronet Bay, and got a leave pass one day to go to Mornington to chase some squid for bait. I got there and it was a massive onshore wind (No internet to check weather conditions from Coronet Bay, although Westernport was very calm!). I headed out through surf-like conditions but came back in shortly afterwards when I was nearly tipped numerous times by the swell.
Headed out again yesterday in much better conditions, however the squid would not play the game. The water had cleared up, and I was fishing the high tide so it looked very likely. First cast produced a small inker. Second cast I tried a new jig and snagged it up straight away - My 4lb leader was no match for the reef! Back to my old faithful natural yamashita 2.0 and over one and a half hours I got one more smallish squid. Headed back in about 11.30.
Not a great day, but sure beats working!