We've finally gotten the window of opportunity to head out to the east coast with our preferred boatman who was out of action for quite some time now. A cancelled trip one weekend prior to this was all the hope there was for a clear weather action before the monsoon closes in for good. An 11th hour confirmation late Friday raised much doubt about the weather being clear enough with various weather forecast sources (apps, websites etc.) indicates storm or showers over east coast. None of these forecasts mean much when a seasoned boatman says it's safe to go out and meet us at the Jetty in no more than 12 hours to go, we obey.
A sudden rush of panic and weekend activity plans starting to take shape due to dwindling hopes of a clear weather fishing hit me like a freight train. First, cancel weekend activity plans, have dinner, start packing and get an early night sleep as we'll start our journey 4am onwards to arrive at the Jetty just in time for a quick breakfast and preparation before loading our gear onto the boat.
With loaded gear and a boat full of hope and anticipation, we head out shortly after first light with heavy overcast skies. First stop was to try out some popping action around areas with current. Fruitless throughout the session after a comrade's initial line bust being reefed by something suspiciously big, possibly a GT. Boatman says, we'll come back some other time when the conditions are more 'suitable' for popping and we head off to pintail hunting waters.
Typically around these waters, long toms (todak) are everywhere and we usually let our preferred lure sink quite close to the bottom before cranking back fast in search of the 'great wall' hit & strike. Damn todaks are a menace as they destroy leaders and bust our lines taking our Jackson Pintails with them into the deep. Occasionally we safely land them with some damages done to our lines.
Double trouble with the notorious todaks on Jackson's Pintail Tune!
The Jackson Pintail Tune is the go to hunting lure here cranking them fast. Takes are usually quite explosive with the tengiris, barracudas and damn todaks but nothing can stop your fast cranks like you've just hit a solid great wall than a GT. That's when you do a double take if you may have cranked your reel backwards and realise it's fish on!
Sudden take while cranking fast with Majorcraft's Giant Killing casting rod felt like hitting a great wall! Fully pimped up Shimano Stradic 4000FJ takes on a runner.
The so called great wall of GT! Small but brutally fun on these medium weight gear.
Battle ready Jackson Pintail Tune.
An entire afternoon of casting registered no more than 10 strikes and the boatman decided it's time to try some light jigging instead. First jig drop, usually just to test waters, would be a light jigging outfit with jigs up to 50g tops. A couple of small hits was all we got as the gloomy weather sticks around longer.
Tiny grouper takes on a 50g Caprice Kid jig by Evergreen.
Another ambitious grouper takes on IMA's Ganpeki 40g special edition colour.
We then switch to our ultralight gear for some microjig fun and landed a variety of species as compared to the regular light jigging outfit and bigger jigs.
Various other fun captures using Xesta's 20g Nitro jig paired with the ultra fun Temujin 'Spider'.
Free piercing for this youngster using Jackson's Gallop 40g jig.
Even though the catch was disappointing, the variety of game proved to be sufficient to keep the outing fun and exciting with very little catch predictability.
Here's a short action video of our Pintail adventures and do subscribe to Tackle Source TV for upcoming awesome video releases. A full catch report can also be found here. Enjoy!
Friends of Tackle Source recently visited a fish farm / limited time / paid pond for anglers to haul giants and put man+tackle to test. Watch the video below to understand why!
Here are some photos of the bashing adventure!
Even lures need some serious BALLS to haul these giants!
Fully loaded Majorcraft's PE4 jigging rod to the butt!
First casualty of the day! How heavy? hand shaking heavy.
Exploding take on the Jackall's Mascle Deep 4+
Beast #2 on Evergreen's Gold Digger!
Evergreen's Gold Digger bags another gold!
Properly christened, bashed, chewed on brand new Evergreen Gold Digger!
Another freight train take on the Jackall Mascle Deep 4+!
Great things come in 3s!
Ballsy Jackall Doozer lost a ball between fights, came up winning with just one ball!
Basher grouper just doesn't know how to say no to tasty looking lures!
Jackall Dangan Squad Minnow is simply irresistible.
Arms are starting to feel the effects of explosion after explosion of takes!
Money shot of IMA's Honey Trap 95S, sweet!
Muscles vs Jackson Muscle Shot Magnum!
Jackson Muscle Shot Magnum wins!
Freight train against Red Beard!
Red Beard wins! IMA Barbarossa 95!
Most of these battle heroes were brand spanking new and they are now heavy battle ready!
Properly bashed all round. Ready for the next big battle!
These are just a fraction of the haul for the trip. Try counting the remaining haul for the day at Tackle Source bearing in mind that we were struggling to snap pix of all the catches!
