Squid - 2, Fisho - 0
Went to Mordialloc pier about 9:00 PM Friday, 11th Feb, 05.
Tried fishing beside first light, near mouth of creek.
Water depth only about 2M, Baited jig, Silver whiting, head down. Suspended
below float approx 1/2M off bottom.
Quite a few hopefuls along the pier, mostly chasing pinky snapper.
Nobody was catching much, probably due to the dirty water. (courtesy of the recent heavy rains in Melbourne)
Weather was beautiful, temp about 18C, wind about 5 Knots.
I was trying out a new squid pole. 20 Feet long and rated at 4 - 10 Lbs line weight.
Hooked a small squid of about 300g at a guess.
I had lifted him clear of the water and was swinging him up from the water. The pole was just about vertical when............... Snap. The end of the pole snaps off and deposits squid, jig, line, float and broken rod tip back into the water alongside the pier. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol' />
After some grumbling and assorted growling noises about lousy, inferior equipment, I went on with fishing with a light surf outfit and another baited jig.
On about my third retrieve I noticed something glowing attached to the barbs of the jig. It was the tip of the broken squid pole, still attached to the line, etc. :blink:
When the squid, etc hit the water, it must have dragged my baited jig back under the pier and around a mussel encrusted pile. I pulled on the line and I could feel the jig on the other end come up as far as one of the snags, and lower itself back down when I released the pressure. A second time I lifted the jig I felt some light tugs pulling it back down. So something was still having a chew on my silver whiting. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blueboxbullet.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol' />
I stuffed around for about 10 minutes trying to free the line with no success. So I just snapped the line and at least salvaged my swivel and float stopper. I watched with dismay as my float began a journey towards Williamstown.
Close to midnight with no sign of any further action and another jig down due to a snag. I pulled up stumps and headed for the car. Good timing as the wind really picked up and was blowing at least 25-30 knots. Just got all the gear loaded back into the car and the rain started. Rain persisted for about the next 45 minutes on the way home.
The next day I took the faulty pole back to the shop where I bought it and they exchanged it without any argument. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> I didn't get the same brand the next time as I thought them a bit too flimsy. They had another brand that was rated at 6-12Kg. The new pole is a bit lighter and quite a bit stiffer too.
I would recommend the shop where I bought the pole as they have quite a big range of fishing gear of all persuasions. The staff are real fishos too and can make recommendations based on experience. One of the staff told me that for about 3 years he was a fishing bum and all he did was go fishing almost everyday.
What a life!! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
The shop is called "Anaconda - the adventure playground" and is located at the corner of Canterbury and Bayswater Rds in Bayswater. (Eastern Suburbs of Melb)
Not only do they have heaps of fishing gear, they have all sorts of outdoor gear. Tents, camping, skiing, watersports, mountain biking, climbing gear, 4WD equipment.
They even have their own indoor rock climbing setup where the kids can be harnessed up (Must be 6 Years old and over 20Kg) and they climb one of about six differing levels of difficulty climb. It only costs $2 per climb and the kids love it. (Besides that, Mum can watch the kids climbing while dad wanders up and down the aisles of fishing gear, drooling at the offerings.) <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub' />
Now I have a great excuse to go to the fishing gear shop, because the kids nag at mum to let them go climbing. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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