PIERRE TROLLIP knows his way around a fishing rod and line. He’s keen to share his knowledge with the Times’ readers in his new regular column.
Congratulations to Bo Burns and her team for a great refresh to the Times.
And thanks for the (undeserved) “very knowledgeable” comment [at the launch event last Thursday night].
I am the first to admit I’m in the “you know nothing” camp.
However, I do get out there every week and do catch a fair amount of fish.
Two weeks ago, just off Maria Island, I caught my quota – seven legal snapper. Whoop whoop! It has been more than a year since I last got my quota!
So, are the snapper back yet?
I’d like to say yes, but four days’ later I came home with an empty bag. This time just off the Noisies, not too far from my quota catch. Go figure!
Last week, I ventured back to my old favourite – the trenches off Rocky Bay.
“The Spot” has worked well for years and years. Not recently, though, like most of the Gulf.
Being late autumn almost winter, I’ve started using burley.
With the onion bag tied to the anchor, the scent was drifting nicely behind the boat.
After landing the usual small shark, the snapper started biting.
Soon there was that great feeling of the buzzing reel and the rod bent well over.
This is what I’d been waiting for since the start of last summer! Whoop whoop!
This donkey-sized snapper required the mostly unused landing net, seeing me frantically reaching for it, unfolding it using my teeth, while keeping the fish on.
Again, months since the last time the net was needed.
A 53cm snapper was on the deck! Whoop whoop!
There was enough fillet on this fish for dinner for the Admiral and me for two nights. Wow!
I managed to get two cameras filming this catch. Check it out on my YouTube channel – OutSmart – The Fishing Pensioner.
Like and subscribe if you enjoy the videos.
