Last knockings joy

Combination of a conversation at my local tackle shop and great tides meant I booked some time off to fish todays tide. Pulled up at my favourite daytime venue and made the long slog to my mark. Conditions were lovely apart from the slight offshore wind which wasn't ideal.

I was soon fishing with half a mackerel on my old set up comprising of a 9ft carp rod and new braid on a 4000 shimano. Felt so much better than the heavy gear I was using during storm Amy. When I say new braid, I reversed the braid on the spool so the stuff not used was now at the top. Hopefully that will reduce the recent knots I've been experiencing.

Well it was really slow going. Painfully slow and despite a couple of small schoolie runs nothing was on the incoming tide. A lure angler later walked past having caught three micro bass and it all started to look like one of those trips. Then out of the blue a proper run appeared! No messing around as it ripped off around ten yards of line, I engaged the freespool, watched the line draw tight, felt the bass and watched the bait spring back. I was gutted.

After another hour I would normally have packed away, but the high tide meant I was effectively cut off unless I fancied getting wet, so I stayed on until about three hours after high. I then started to experience a very enthusiastic schoolie trying to take my mackerel. I left the rod in the rest hoping its efforts would attract the attention of a larger bass. I had maybe fine minutes before I had to pack up when the rod went into meltdown!

Picking up the rod, the line was still ripping from the spool, and when I engaged, the rod took on a lovely satisfying bend. The fight was strong, but short and manageable and I soon had her beached. It looked so much bigger than she measured. At just over 24" to the fork I reckon she may have made 6lb. After unhooking she swam off strongly.

Maybe there were more to be had, but I didn't mind as I packed up to beat my parking ticket time. Thank goodness I stayed on.