How is the fishing?
November 7th 2006 19:35
How is the fishing? One of the most often asked questions as we cruise past an anchored or drifting boat that is festooned with rods and hopeful souls.
Everyone wants to know if you have a good fishing spot. Are you scoring. It is a question that is asked even by people who would not be seen dead touching fishing rod. Often the answer is a casual opening of the upturned palms, indicating nothing, ziltch, zero. But on occasion a hefty looking body is hauled out of a bucket to be admired by all.
I have been lucky when teaching sailing on Sydney Harbour. By carefully watching fishos, I can tell when one is striking a fish. Then I sail casualy by pointing out this phenomenum to students and making an off the cuff remark like, "the govt. employs these people as part of the tourist industry to make sure you can see we have fish under the water" Some people are gullible enough to believe and some aren't. But it could be so.
What is your boat like to fish off? I do ok off my yacht when on it's mooring or when I am at anchor. I use a very light rod, light breaking stain line and just a hook and swivel. No sinker, I just let the bait drift to the bottom, giving fish of all descriptions the opportunity to commit suicide. I don't touch the rod when I have cast out other than to chek the bait. this works well for me as we have not tide or current where I am.
I sometimes give students hand lines to use when we anchor for lunch. Particularly if we are having prawns or smoked salmon/trout for lunch. As the scraps are thrown over the side it is great burley for the fish and many students have caught their first fish ever this way.
Some boats are built quite obviously for fishing. Those that aren't can easily be converted though owners get a bit anal about dead fish, scales, guts, blood and bait staining their pristine decks. I reckon if you have a boat and can't wet a line off it it is almost not worth having. There is absolutely nothing more satisfying than watching someone haul in their first ever catch. It doesn't matter how big or small the trophy is. The smile will be on the person's face for hours and the memory will never fade.
Everyone wants to know if you have a good fishing spot. Are you scoring. It is a question that is asked even by people who would not be seen dead touching fishing rod. Often the answer is a casual opening of the upturned palms, indicating nothing, ziltch, zero. But on occasion a hefty looking body is hauled out of a bucket to be admired by all.
I have been lucky when teaching sailing on Sydney Harbour. By carefully watching fishos, I can tell when one is striking a fish. Then I sail casualy by pointing out this phenomenum to students and making an off the cuff remark like, "the govt. employs these people as part of the tourist industry to make sure you can see we have fish under the water" Some people are gullible enough to believe and some aren't. But it could be so.
What is your boat like to fish off? I do ok off my yacht when on it's mooring or when I am at anchor. I use a very light rod, light breaking stain line and just a hook and swivel. No sinker, I just let the bait drift to the bottom, giving fish of all descriptions the opportunity to commit suicide. I don't touch the rod when I have cast out other than to chek the bait. this works well for me as we have not tide or current where I am.
I sometimes give students hand lines to use when we anchor for lunch. Particularly if we are having prawns or smoked salmon/trout for lunch. As the scraps are thrown over the side it is great burley for the fish and many students have caught their first fish ever this way.
Some boats are built quite obviously for fishing. Those that aren't can easily be converted though owners get a bit anal about dead fish, scales, guts, blood and bait staining their pristine decks. I reckon if you have a boat and can't wet a line off it it is almost not worth having. There is absolutely nothing more satisfying than watching someone haul in their first ever catch. It doesn't matter how big or small the trophy is. The smile will be on the person's face for hours and the memory will never fade.
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