ONE of the joys of fishing is the great unknown. Every time you head out to wet a line an unfolding adventure is at hand, whether you’re soaking baits from the shoreline or trolling lures along the continental-shelf.
Often the greatest variable is Mother Nature herself as she’s always keeping fishos on their toes. But for most of us it’s knowing that we’re just one cast, jig or troll away from catching a new PB or an exotic species for the first time.
Last weekend up here in Darwin we were blessed with some great weather, making it ideal to head offshore for a half-day jigging trip. Aboard were the usual jig suspects comprising of Glenn “Harbour-Master” Hubble and Dave “Mad Professor” Krantz, with the latter bringing aboard what he called his “Jerry Springer” rig. No it wasn’t an outfit comprising of a microphone, a set of incendiary questions and six burly security guards to quell the inevitable biffo between provoked guests, rather a big Shimano overhead reel mounted on a three-foot long rod! Sporting a pistol-grip butt section and two short lengths of thick wire with separate eye tips, it is one of the most bizarre pieces of fishing gear you’ll ever see. Trust me this contraption is worthy of a story on its own but that’s for Dave to tell another day.
With spectacular sea conditions and plenty of willing jig-takers, before long we were having fun catching a variety of mackerel and trevally species. Like Dave, Glenn is more than happy to be innovative (read mad) in his tackle and lure selection. Thus early on he was jigging up GTs and Spaniards on soft plastic Bog Frogs, because of course frogs form part of the natural diet of these saltwater fish species. Some say don’t question the method just the outcome and clearly his lure selection was working a treat. For the record I reckon the macs were more French than Spanish given that most frogs came back minus their legs.
Of course frogs are the natural prey of saltwater species like trevally and macs!
Later in the morning as we were motoring back up current for yet another jig pass, Glenn thought he’d take the opportunity to have a short troll. Already rigged up with one of Halco’s new spivvy-looking Outcast metal lures, he cast the 60g jig out the back on his light-weight noodle outfit. Less than 10 seconds later the drag on the small Stradic spin reel started screaming. Given the amount of macs around I immediately assumed it was another Spaniard. But much to our collective surprise we looked back to see a fired-up sailfish tail-walking on the surface!
The light-weight Terez handling the pressure very nicely.
Now for those who haven’t caught a sail they have very hard mouths and it is difficult to stay connected to one hooked on a treble, and even more so on a comparatively tiny one. Thus the situation before us required cool heads and soft hands as too much pressure would bend out the hooks and the fish would be gone.
Those little trebles on the new Halco Outcast still did the job despite being well outside its weight-class in this tussle.
Well as they say Cometh the hour – Cometh the man. Throughout the titanic tussle Glenn showed great poise under pressure to land his first ever sail which was a superlative achievement given the light gear he was using. After some quick photos the resplendent sail was released back to the depths to fight another day.
Glenn Hubble rightly looking pretty stoked with his first Darwin sailfish.
Glenn’s little sailfish-taming combo comprising of a Shimano Stradic and Terez rod, attached to his favourite billfish lure – a 60g Halco Outcast!
As mentioned at the outset each fishing day is an unfolding adventure. Sometimes if you’re lucky enough to have had your rod kissed by a fairy then miracles can and do happen. Well done Glenn on a great capture, but just don’t go telling Jules about the fairy business as she might get the wrong idea!
