E the most of mackerel
ince knows the ropes
OLUMN regular Vince Mcglone will another angler happy to do his thing thin protected waters.
Mcglone is said to be able to find h in a dunny and it’s a near certain t that if there’s mackerel around, he on’t be far behind.
The well-known sparky says he efers to troll barra-size minnows to nd the schools of mackerel – metimes he’ll go right to them ould diving birds give them away – nd he’ll then consider casting metal s to fool fish.
When asked of favourite spots, his nswers are many and varied but did ention West Point with a fondness nd chuckle in his voice that could not ignored.
latties and jacks aplenty
LATHEAD and mangrove jack were appily slipped into the icebox when son Caruthers and mate Sean enson fished within the lower reaches the Haughton River early this week. The long-time fishing mates unched their tinny at Cungulla and egotiated a sandbar-riddled passage one of their favourite spots.
“We got some mullet and herring nd prawn before we set a rod,” aruthers said.
The holidaying panel beater was ry matter-of-fact about his fishing ctics.
“I thread on a sinker and tie a hook n … 2/0 long shank,” Caruthers said. “Thirty pound line I use – nothing ncy, no traces and stuff and it works ery time.”
Caruthers was a bit smug but lightearted when he told how he dragged ur jacks and an equal number of athead into the boat while Benson uld only manage a mediocre-size ck and a lonely grunter or javelin fish.
“Sean fishes too la-di-da for me. By the time he rigged up with his special traces and knots I had three fish in the boat,” Caruthers chuckled.
Benson might have had at least some satisfaction, though, when his grunter stretched the tape to 63cm – a good 20cm better than Caruthers’ largest jack.
The popular red fish are also hungry within creeks and rivers to the north of the city.
Mum and son’s river haul
THE Bohle River was kind to Susan Graham and son Garry last weekend, the pair claiming a brace of fat mangrove jack.
Graham said they fished the Stoney Creek tributary, from the bank near the boat ramp, during late Saturday afternoon.
Mosquitoes and sandflies were fended off with good doses of repellent and the effort deemed worthwhile when mullet fillet baits enticed mangrove jack to strike.
Garry, 10, caught the first fish, which pushed past the 42cm mark, before backing up with a small bream and another jack, albeit undersize at 33cm.
Mum said she derived much joy watching her son pull in the fish before her rod doubled over.
The fish found a submerged snag in the middle of the narrow creek and a stalemate ensued before the fish swam free of the structure. Graham said she was happy to drag the fish up the muddy bank and minus a few scales, the blood red jack recorded 39cm. Now that’s a catch that many boaties would be suitably impressed with!
Cooper’s great catch
AND Jodi Schultz was equally impressed when her son fished in Bluewater Creek recently.
Cooper Hewlett, 12, of Bluewater, claimed a tasty mangrove jack.
Great job, Cooper!
Singh hits high notes
MEANWHILE, a meagre catch of bream and whiting extracted from close to the mouth of Althaus Creek was a welcome one – but even more so when a thumping mangrove jack was added to the mix.
James Singh, recently married and of North Shore, said he was hopeful when he sacrificed a tasty whiting fillet, pinning the large bait to a sharp hook and casting the offering into the middle of the creek.
Almost immediately the whiting was seized upon by a big mudcrab, the crustacean only falling millimetres short of the 15cm legal size.
With the buck crab released, the mangled bait was given a bit of love and cast back to the same spot.
Singh said the wait was only momentary before the bait was monstered.
The fight was one to remember according to Singh who landed the biggest mangrove jack he had ever seen – a fantastic 51cm fish!
With more fish than Singh and his new bride could possibly eat in a sitting, the young man packed up his tackle, two bream, 3½ whiting, his ripper jack and headed for home.