"In the beginning"

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this blog are not necessarily the views of the blog management, (on the other hand, they are not necessarily not the views of the blog management).

No effort has been made to stay within the bounds of the truth in this blog as it has always been the view of the management that the truth should never be allowed to stand in the way of a good story.

Monday, July 07, 2008

Fun Monday July 7



Olive is hosting Fun Monday this week

http://urolive.blogspot.com/

Here’s da rules;

I would like to hear about your *whopper* of a fishing story. Yes, you heard it correctly whether it is fictional or non fictional I want to hear a fishing story from you. An example would be if you catch a minnow and tell it that you caught a swordfish (exaggeration is the operative word here). Did you hear me say show your photo(s)? Of course you did – be creative.



Hoo Boy I love to read those words “be creative” it opens up all sorts of opportunities for someone like me, who’s blog is based on the motto “Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story”.

Lets see which of my favourite fishing stories I should tell you… the one about the huge snapper from Coffin Bay, even the name conjures up pictures…. The one about the Marlin out from Port Douglas…. The one about the monster Sampson fish on Cape York…. Or about fishing the Daly River in the NT?

I’ll settle for the time I was fishing in the Daly River in the Northern Territory, this river is one of the very best spots to fish for Australia’s prime fresh water fish the Barramundi, the pleasure of eating the beautiful white flesh of a Barra is only surpassed by the joy they give when you catch one of these fighting fish.

I was alone fishing from a 10 foot flat bottomed punt, this provided a stable fishing platform in the calm water of the Daly River… that is until you remember this river is full of crocodiles many of which are 18 to 20 feet long… but it does have the famous Barramundi too!!!!

I had a pop-eye-mullet bait fish about 20 meters behind the boat on a suitably rigged line just waiting for a Barra to attack it, suddenly the reel started to unwind line at a rapid rate, allowing plenty of time for the bait to be swallowed I finally set the drag to allow me to start the battle.

By this time I had 70/80 meters of line out behind the boat so it was time to start bringing this fish home, I worked away at pumping the rod and winding in some line for about 3 or 4 minutes and was rewarded by the sight of a 4/5 foot fish leaping clear of the water, this is a trait of Barra and is one of the reasons they are such fun to catch, he only jumped once but even at a distance of some 50 meters I saw he was a monster.

I set to work on carefully bringing him to the boat and after about 15 minutes had him only a few feet from the boat, at this distance I got my first real look at him in the murky water… yes!!! At least 4 feet long and…………. Am I seeing things?.... Is that a dorsal fin?.... is that a bloody shark at least half the size (well length anyway) of this TINY boat?…. What the hell am I supposed to do next?...

About this time the shark made the same discovery that I had and decided he didn’t want anything to do with me or my TINY boat, so with renewed vigour he started to thrash about fiercely and by the grace of the fishing Gods he snapped the line and swam disdainfully away… thank you fishing Gods!!!!!

Note the river is tidal and there are often sharks up to 10 miles in from the coastline up there.

Here is a little bonus story;

I was fishing from a beach on Cape York, there are some pretty serious fish taken from beaches up there so the gear I was using was of a fairly high breaking strain, suddenly I got a strike which started the reel screaming, I had no sooner applied some drag to the line when it broke…. So much for my 25 pound line and heavy hooks!!!!

I was inspecting the remnants of my tackle when a local came along, I asked him what was likely to have been on the end of my line and had so contemptuously snapped it off…. Probably a Sampson Fish he replied, never having heard of this breed before I asked him what they looked like…. Buggered if I know he replied… not many of the buggers ever get landed!!!!!

Both these stories are true by the way, now go and read the lies that others have written in their posts at Olive’s.






20 comments:

IamwhoIam said...

Good stories - but you must really be into this fishing thing.

kenju said...

Peter, I haven't been fishing since I was 7 years old! I caught 7 fish and I call it beginner's luck.

karisma said...

Well you do learn something new everyday! I did not know sharks went that far inland. Interesting they would be hanging out with the crocs though! I think I would have been more scared of the crocs! Both great stories! I do believe I have seen the river on Tv once on a fishing show.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the explanation about the sharks being in the water. As for the crocodiles, well, I don't thing I would even be in a boat on the river.

Yours stories were a great read.

Hootin Anni said...

Aha! Tidal...that explains the shark. I was thinking while first reading this someone had dumped a baby shark in the sewer somewhere above the river and it washed into the river [we have baby crocodiles showing up in rivers around here 'cause they flush 'em down the toilets]

I would be scared out of my wits if I had a shark on my line.

Now I gotta go look up Sampson Fish on Google, just so I know you're not jerking MY line. :::giggles:::

Loved your Fun Monday fish tale.

Dave said...

Reminds me of the time fishing in the Pacific Ocean off of Alaska.

Hooked me a whopper of a King Salmon, he jumped 3 times in full view of everyone on the boat before diving and wrapping his butt around the anchor chain. I almost cried that I never landed that one... but so it goes.
True story.

Faye said...

These stories do have a ring of authenticity--true fisherman wrote them. By the way, have you eaten shark? I've tried but it's off putting because always think about how much they love to sample me!

ChrisB said...

Some of that sounded a bit technical for me!! I got stuck on the thought of crocs and sharks~ now I know why I steer clear of fishing ~ not that I would have that problem here! I checked out Samson fish and can see why your line broke!

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

I have never heard of a Sampson fish...but if the name has anything to do with it, I am sure it breaks many a line!

SwampAngel65 said...

Wow! What a story!! I'd love to catch one of those Barramundis. Or even a shark. Heck, I'd be happy to catch anything at all if I were in Australia!!

Have a great week :)

Jo Beaufoix said...

Wow, a shark, that's amazing. I'm no fisher but my brothers and dad used to go out when we went on holiday to Cornwall when I was younger. They loved it. :D

Molly said...

Why, of course , your stories are true. I am glad that you explained what sharks would be doing in a river. This city-inland waters girl lacks such important knowledge.

Alison said...

well you definitely have me beat, there is no way I would have been anywhere near the river with crocs in it...and sharks...forget it!!

Sayre said...

Doesn't sound like the kind of place you'd want to fall overboard in!

I have a shark-catching story too - but not nearly as exciting as yours.

Anonymous said...

Now those, dear Peter, are what I call Fish Tales! Tall ones? They sound awfully authentic. You were throwing around those fishin' terms like one Who Knows About These Things.

Just wish we had a few pictures, ya know?

;)

LZ Blogger said...

Peter ~ Thanks for the Award for my Napali Coast post. I am hoping that Vicki is still doing well? ~ jb///

Walker said...

I love a good fishing story and we got two wooo hooo

Anonymous said...

Barramundi? Sounds too much like Barrium-enema. I'll stick with catfish and water moccasins.
RE: photo below. Can you believe that guy actually wore that tie to his wedding?

Puss-in-Boots said...

I've had barramundi from the Daly River and I can also attest to the size of the crocs up there...but the shark...I dunno, Peter...that sounds real fishy to me (pardon the pun...heheh).

Hope all is well in your world and that your house didn't collapse or get washed away!

DellaB said...

Hi Peter.. good story! I hear they are looking for a new 'fun' theme to promote Queensland tourism..

I do have a fish story if I get a chance to write it out.. thanks for the laughs

Della