Biggest herring caught
Fished recently at my Herring spot and bagged 11 good size fish with number 12 being the biggest Herring I've ever caught. Stupidly failed to measure it. I noted as I filleted up the backbone that my very sharp filleting knife struggled to cut through the large thick scales compared to the smaller softer scales of the other 11 fish. I imagine it was old for a Herring and must find out how to determine the age of one.
Once again the water was alive with Herring and I had the statutory bag limit of 12 within an hour, fishing from 6.30 a.m. to 7.30 a.m.
I say again how lucky am I to live close to the pristine Indian Ocean in Western Australia. I thanked the Great Life Force for allowing me once again to partake of the fruits of the sea.
I have started to keep a record of my catches and from time to time will report this data to the Department of Fisheries. On this latest occasion I noted that almost every fish contained roe. It is sensible then to only take the bag limit of 12 so that the roe-rich fish can breed.
Just a comment on the rod I am using. It is not your large beach rod but a wippy medium-sized rod that is so light compared to what I have used in the past. Best rod I have ever owned and its whippiness allows a good 50 to 60 metre cast to be out there amongst the action. Being a very senior citizen it helps to have such a light rod as the old arms and shoulders tire more rapidly these days.
I also note that the fisherman who are regulars on my little patch of beach have almost given up using oil-saturated burley. The oil is useless in an offshore wind as an oil streak develops taking the fish out beyond casting range. Further we need to use burley that does not contain ingredients likely to attract sharks inshore as we fish near swimming beaches and our coast is well known for sharks.
Fellow anglers think hard before you become a hooked on (pardon the pun) catch and release fishing as a sport. I continue to believe it is cruel to do this for so-called sport. Catch what you want to eat within the mandatory bag limits. Release banned species of course.
May the Force be with you!
GD
Once again the water was alive with Herring and I had the statutory bag limit of 12 within an hour, fishing from 6.30 a.m. to 7.30 a.m.
I say again how lucky am I to live close to the pristine Indian Ocean in Western Australia. I thanked the Great Life Force for allowing me once again to partake of the fruits of the sea.
I have started to keep a record of my catches and from time to time will report this data to the Department of Fisheries. On this latest occasion I noted that almost every fish contained roe. It is sensible then to only take the bag limit of 12 so that the roe-rich fish can breed.
Just a comment on the rod I am using. It is not your large beach rod but a wippy medium-sized rod that is so light compared to what I have used in the past. Best rod I have ever owned and its whippiness allows a good 50 to 60 metre cast to be out there amongst the action. Being a very senior citizen it helps to have such a light rod as the old arms and shoulders tire more rapidly these days.
I also note that the fisherman who are regulars on my little patch of beach have almost given up using oil-saturated burley. The oil is useless in an offshore wind as an oil streak develops taking the fish out beyond casting range. Further we need to use burley that does not contain ingredients likely to attract sharks inshore as we fish near swimming beaches and our coast is well known for sharks.
Fellow anglers think hard before you become a hooked on (pardon the pun) catch and release fishing as a sport. I continue to believe it is cruel to do this for so-called sport. Catch what you want to eat within the mandatory bag limits. Release banned species of course.
May the Force be with you!
GD
Comments
Post a Comment