P54 - FISH & BOAT, February 2019 Readers’ Fishing Stories Fishing Evans Head By Shay Ali I thought “I’m going to catch I asked him how the fishing was Shay holds up one of What can I say, Evans Headthis bugger” as one of the boys hadand he replied that it had beenthe cod that he was is a beautiful place with the same thing happen to him anda pretty quiet night. Just then, Iable to land. He’ll be amazing people. A quiet lost the fish. The next day, I found checked out the other side on the back next year to get little town tucked away, and we were a place that held some live yakkas flat as the tide was running out. I the bigger ones. on a boys fishing trip for a week up and I burleyed up with some bread kid you not, it was the biggest fish- at Evans’ head. We were supposedand cat food. The water was soing frenzy with fish everywhere. to go on a charter for 3 days with clear you could see all the bream They were chasing something Evans Head Fishing Charters, butcoming around. There was evensmall and I even saw some decent the weather was not on our side - some small tailor amongst themsized whiting. It got me excited, kinda typical for us fishos. and I got onto a few. At the last of but the weather was looking good With this in mind, I decided to do the run-out tide, which was whattomorrow which meant we were some fishing off the break wall. Pri- was working best for me, I put on going to be finally heading out on before we leave, so caught someoff in style. After a quick photo, I or to that, I spent some time looking the live yellowtail I had caughtthe charter boat. more yakkas -only 2 this time. I safely released the fish. I will be around and speaking to a few locals and threw it out on a 7/0 live bait We ended up with some nicespent a couple of hours down byback again next year to try it all on what the waterway holds. See- hook. The boys were watching mesnapper, flathead, pearlys and athe rock wall trying to entice thisagain. The fishing gear I used was ing a fishy looking spot, I called out and within a minute, my reel just Maori cod. This gave us enoughbig estuary cod to take my live baitmy Okuma Salina 16000 with 80lb to the boys “Hey let’s try for a fish screamed. I could not stop what- fish to keep the boys happy. and then just as the sunlight went braid and my rod was a 2 piece by around here” so we got out our soft ever it was and it broke me off The captain obviously knew his plastics and had a throw in the shal- down, my line took off. I was us- Ziekel the red Slayer rod. I believe lows and walked our way off to the on the rocks. Whatever this fish spots well and knew the fishinging an 8/0 circle hook with a 100lbit is the one of the best value for drop-off. was, it took off very hard and fast. grounds. We crossed the bar safely leader. “This time I’ve got him” and money fishing outfits. So where- Nothing seemed to be on theNow I changed to a heavier 100lband got back home safe. That af-my rod was bent to a point where Iever you are fishing, take the time bite, and as we got closer, I fished leader and a new live bait. I wait- ternoon, I thought I’d go down to thought it was going to snap. Even to explore what the waterway has a deeper hole near the rock walled patiently for about 10minutesthe break wall and see if I couldwith a locked drag, I just couldn’tto offer and the next fish could be when ‘boof’, a big estuary codand the reel screamed off again.entice Mr cod to come out, so Istop it. It only went about 5m,that fish of a lifetime. came out and smashed my lure“Don’t worry boys, it’s coming intook 2 yellowtail that I had leftand I knew it was the big estuaryTight lines, Shay and took off with it. My eyes lit up this time” I had fought the fish for over. The tide was up, so I splashed cod and it busted me off again. I and it was then that my challenge about a 20minutes back and forth the water for a bit before slowly was so gutted, I felt like I was de- began. with rod bending and the reel with sinking the yakka. Slowly, a shad- feated. I was like “f@@k this, let’s close to a locked-on drag. ow appeared, and it seems Mr coddo it again” so, with my last bait, The trip out I finally got it closer to the sur- was happy and hungry. I estimated I moved about 10m further up. I on the charter face, and it was a big shovelnose this fish to be about 85-100cmonly had a dead yakka and all I didShay with boat provided shark. A personal best for me and long - what an incredible look-was just dangle it 1meter in fronta large some nice even some of the locals were im- ing fish. It pushed the yakka with of me. To my surprise, about half fish. pressed with the size and watched its nose and then opened its biga meter down another estuary cod, shovel- me happily release it to fight an- mouth and swallowed the yakka.slightly smaller than the last one, nosed other day. Next afternoon, we went With this in mind, I made a plan took off with the yakka. I gave the shark out in search for the estuary cod to go to the same place about the cod a short fight and turned him that was with no luck, but I managed an-same time as this must be when heup so he couldn’t bust me off on released other couple of shovelnose sharks. comes out for a feed. I was all geed the rocks underneath. to fight I went for a fish at night with my up for the next day. Now it’s my It wasn’t the big one I wanted, another head torch and saw one bloke fish- last day fishing and I told the boys but his baby brother. It was still a day. ing off the bridge. I was determined to catch this fish great way to finish the fishing trip DUAL ZONE TMDZ 80 & 95 TMDZ 50, 60 & 70 SINGLE & TWIN LID MODELS VV THE 12 VOLT FRIDGE Contact EvaKool for details or for your nearest stockist: 07 5492 7777 | sales@evakool.com | evakool.com SPECIALISTS NEW