Happy New Year everyone and best wishes for a productive season!
We've been lucky enough to have had some very settled weather after the 1st of the year and after my folks left, it was time to get the inflatable out.
On the first session, I explored more thoroughly my 'home turf', identifying a couple more good spots. Even though, the tide state wasn't ideal, the fish were active and soon enough the pollock and some chunky coalies were lining up to get my lures. I was using larger shads this time, all over 5" and on heavier jigheads (40g) trying to break through the 5-6lbers and get some better fish but it was just futile. I need to get some even larger shads!
Here's some pics and the vid...
On the next outing, I decided to explore further offshore. I was hoping that a little island surrounded by more than 70m waters and with strong currents would be the ticket to getting better fish.
After spending a couple hours there, it was apparent that other than coalies and a couple little pollock, there weren't any bigger fish so I decided to hit a rocky point on my way to the harbour. The sun was going down and I didn't have much time, but I was just hoping for a couple nice fish to make the day worthwhile. There was some current pushing and I encountered large shoals of baitfish close to the rocks (probably sprats). The depth was about 20m and started casting shads on 20g jigheads. I wanted to let the lures swing in the current and 20g felt adequate. Usually, pollock keep under the shoals and just rise to intercept bait brought with the current. This is exactly what happened and the fish were absolutely stacked! They were of a slightly better stamp from the previous session but as I was losing light, I had to call it a day. I will definitely be visiting that mark again!
It's becoming apparent that depth alone isn't the deciding factor for big fish. Locations that are still close to kelp with current and access to deep water nearby seem to be the most effective at this time of year for pollock. It really is difficult getting through the 50-60cm fish as they happily engulf even 7" soft plastics! I will persevere though and hopefully the weather will allow me to checkout some more good looking spots. Moreover, I'm planning on taking an LRF setup on the boat as them coalies are ravenous and also I've missed a good fry up!
Tight Lines
Gear used.
Rod: Tailwalk Saltyshape Dash Power Rock S90H,
Reel: Shimano Stradic Fk C3000
Mainline: PE1.2
Leader: Daiwa Tournament FC fluorocarbon 20lbs - 25lbs
Lures: 5"-7" shads and curlytails on 20g-45g jigheads
We've been lucky enough to have had some very settled weather after the 1st of the year and after my folks left, it was time to get the inflatable out.
On the first session, I explored more thoroughly my 'home turf', identifying a couple more good spots. Even though, the tide state wasn't ideal, the fish were active and soon enough the pollock and some chunky coalies were lining up to get my lures. I was using larger shads this time, all over 5" and on heavier jigheads (40g) trying to break through the 5-6lbers and get some better fish but it was just futile. I need to get some even larger shads!
Here's some pics and the vid...
 |
| Standard size still hitting 7" sps! |
 |
| Curly tails worked too. |
On the next outing, I decided to explore further offshore. I was hoping that a little island surrounded by more than 70m waters and with strong currents would be the ticket to getting better fish.
After spending a couple hours there, it was apparent that other than coalies and a couple little pollock, there weren't any bigger fish so I decided to hit a rocky point on my way to the harbour. The sun was going down and I didn't have much time, but I was just hoping for a couple nice fish to make the day worthwhile. There was some current pushing and I encountered large shoals of baitfish close to the rocks (probably sprats). The depth was about 20m and started casting shads on 20g jigheads. I wanted to let the lures swing in the current and 20g felt adequate. Usually, pollock keep under the shoals and just rise to intercept bait brought with the current. This is exactly what happened and the fish were absolutely stacked! They were of a slightly better stamp from the previous session but as I was losing light, I had to call it a day. I will definitely be visiting that mark again!
It's becoming apparent that depth alone isn't the deciding factor for big fish. Locations that are still close to kelp with current and access to deep water nearby seem to be the most effective at this time of year for pollock. It really is difficult getting through the 50-60cm fish as they happily engulf even 7" soft plastics! I will persevere though and hopefully the weather will allow me to checkout some more good looking spots. Moreover, I'm planning on taking an LRF setup on the boat as them coalies are ravenous and also I've missed a good fry up!
Tight Lines
Gear used.
Rod: Tailwalk Saltyshape Dash Power Rock S90H,
Reel: Shimano Stradic Fk C3000
Mainline: PE1.2
Leader: Daiwa Tournament FC fluorocarbon 20lbs - 25lbs
Lures: 5"-7" shads and curlytails on 20g-45g jigheads
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