So just put a post up on smoking meat, man I must be desperate, as pretty average on meat smoking though watch my brother doing chickens and pizzas real good on a big red egg thing he uses a lot. I can smoke fish ok.
But really wanted to put something up for end of game season to say how we went and why I still have the passion.
1) what a year, weather and roads made it hard to go, but water was warm and we’re some incredible days.
2) my season was basically split between fishing with best fishing mate Simon on his boat and then on my own boat with wife and later solo late season. I kept my perfect record with Simon as in no fish, but he still beat me getting two fish early down coro on consecutive days while I was at work. I still immensively enjoy my days fishing with Simon about 6 or 7 this year. We eat and drink well and being there with him and Trev is always great, even when marlin are scarce.
3) On my own little craft we got to help a young fella land a huge yellowfin early in season, after hooking a nice marlin ourselves on new lure off Brett earlier in the day. Same evening some young fellas ( neighbours where we were staying) tipped their 5.7m surtees off Brett and were rescued in well publicised event that made Herald. Glad we came in at around 5pm as did rough up.
4) Had 3 great days fishing with wife at Tuts… lost all the marlin: one blue and a big stripey, and then busted by likely black. Caught 6 big Mahis.. too much fish ….and a few we bought home made few parents and a neighbour sick. Rest were fine.
5) Had two very nice days late season (consecutive fridays) one solo and one with brother, both out of Leigh. Got and released first marlin in gulf for me (also solo on the first Friday) and it was a beauty. Saw some others, I like what is happening in gulf with marlin inside, where we would normally not consider fishing.
6) Buggered a very nice everol reel on that last marlin but is being fixed by someone who made a problem with a reel seem relatively inconsequential to what has been a tricky but very rewarding season. Also got hydraulic steering courtesy of Brett’s Marine on my boat for last 2 days we did this season, which is a real game changer if by yourself, or just two of you…should of done it years ago.