The weather for this weekend was meant to be calm but frosty. I decided to go on a shore session to begin the year. Was hoping a big mama pollock would show up and start this year with a bang!
Started with a 5" blue/silver shad on a 30g jighead. On the second cast I got a subtle take with the lure hard on the bottom and I struck into solid weight. I had set the drag pretty tight, even so this fish took some drag in short, slow runs. I knew it was a good fish but it didn't fight like a pollock. Slowly I managed to get it closer. It kept trying to snag me up all the way in but soon enough I saw a brown lump coming up. It was a lovely cod and definitely a new shore PB at 3.6kg!
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| They're getting bigger! |
As New Year starts go, this was a cracker! I kept fishing and soon got amongst the pollock. There seemed to be plenty of them but of only average size with the biggest going about 4lbs.
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| Average stamp. |
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| In good condition. |
Most fish took the lure close to the bottom while hopping it. Only a few came up on straight retrieve. Natural colours worked better.
On this session, I paired the Solpara Light Shore Jig rod with my 6000 Daiwa Ballistic LT and a 1.2PE braid. The combo worked well and I might use it more often. I was pleasantly surprised by the 25lbs Duel BIG fluorocarbon leader, as even though most fish tried to kelp me, it held up well. I hope the season continues like this and really looking forward to some settled weather so that I can get the boat out and play with the trolling motor/GPS anchor and also the new relief shading overlay by Navionics. Its amazing!
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| Wow! |
Let's see what this year has in store for us and best wishes to all for good health and tight lines!
Dimitrios
