Black Rat Redemption

Out Saturday on the big beautiful Black Rat and after seven weeks away it was great to be back:

First stop South Pittwater, to pick up a couple of crew. Some impressive marks on the sounder down that way:

Out to the Valiant wreck, which has always been a productive live bait spot for us. Not on Saturday! Swept bare, which was a big surprise. And a bit of a concern because mahi were on the target list, and there’s not much they love more than a small yellowtail. On to Terrigal FAD and couldn’t believe we had it all to ourselves. Meaning there were a few fish around:

Don boated this tiny cobia on a jig. I’m guessing he was on his way back home to Queensland? Carefully removed the hook and sent him on his way:

Up to Texas Reef, marking some trap buoy sets for later investigation on the way. Texas is a series of pinnacles and bumps with our usual plan being, don’t drop until you’re marking something. Even then it can take a lot of hard work jigging to get a hook up. Last season I switched from our 24 kilo Ryobi 8000 jig combo – which weighs 950 grams:

to our 15 kilo Ryobi 4000 jig combo – which weighs 520 grams:

Both outfits are light. For comparison, the popular Penn 950SSM weighs over a kilo with line. That’s just for the reel. Big benefits of going light being:

The thinner 15 kilo braid has less water resistance, so your sink line is closer to vertical;

The 24 kilo combo weighs 950 grams. The 15 kilo combo weighs 520 grams. You’re saving nearly 50% weight in your rod and reel selection, meaning jigging is 50% easier.

But isn’t 15 kilo a bit light at a spot which often produces 1 metre kings, I hear you ask?
Yes. But the bottom on the 100 metre reefs is covered in soft coral, and except for man made junk down there there’s nothing for them to break your leader on. And if you hook up on an old stuck dropline it doesn’t matter how heavy your line is. More here:

BAY JIG COMBO $265

Out to Texas and despite a fast drift the lads were keen:

Fish were around – but not what we wanted:

The kings we did bring to boat were tiny:

So we headed back south, stopping at trap buoys and picking up keeper mahi on lures:

Not the hottest day of fishing we’ve had out there but great company and we all took prime eating fish home for the table. Big thanks to skipper James for the invitation and looking forward to a winter of jigging kings
Andrew Hestelow

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