Guys, I haven't go time to write a detailed report for a little while so I though I'd provide some highlights and the photos and get around to the more detailed report at a later time.
In a nutshell, we did not exactly have great weather - it was wind, wind, wind and boy, did it blow at times. It was gusting from 20 knots and upwards and in my view, at times up to 40. That made for uncomfortable fishing and we moved further north to find better anchorage. That was a shame because in my view, the fishing south was better. The wind and rough conditions made it very difficult to find the points and we also struggled to find fusiliers. Last year, finding the fusiliers meant finding the fish.
All of that said, we still had some great fishing and some really nice fish were landed. I also saw some real stonkers during the week and with an ounce of luck, could have been attached to a couple of seriously big fish. Andrew Woodley-Page fought an absolute monster for some fifteen minutes after Damon had somehow managed to pull a rabbit out of ahat by getting the fish away from its cover and into deep water. Unfortunately, the hook pulled on Andrew when the fish was about ten metres under the boat. I saw the strike clearly and that fish would have been upwards of 60kgs.
Gerard Edwards, Hal Harvey and Brent Hughes all landed big fish in he 45kg and upwards category. Gerard actually got two and was wondering what the fuss was all about with GT fishing.
Martin Excel managed to land 13 fish on the first full day and followed it up with a duck on the next! Top bloke - he took it all in with great humour
Captain Ed Lester managed to earn the title of "Captain Crunch" by driving onto a reef. Andrew Woodley-Page saw the reef coming but did not say a word as he was sure Ed would veer away
Che Carson, David Hovinden and myself have earned a most uncomplimentary team title which will remain unsaid (what goes on tou stays on tour) for landing two fish in a day - after raising some 30-40. We raised the most fish of any boat and landed the least. We decided to blame the captain - as you do.
Overall, a great trip was had by all, notwithstanding the conditions.