How to catch a Mussecracker!
Things don't always go to plan, but sometimes things are just absolutely perfect. The East London coast has been plagued with super calm clear warm water the last several weeks and fishing has been challenging to say the least. This past weekend though, for the first time in ages there was some decent 2m plus swell rolling in. So early Sunday morning I head down to my local spot and harvest some nice fresh redbait/rockbait and some saddlebacks. Check out Google Earth and see some promising new potential spots I hadnt fished before so off we go. On the drive out to the East Coast I see the dark clouds chasing me and the drizzle starts as I hit the beach. But conditionss are perfect, steady west wind blowing, rough warm clear water, cracker perfection. Don't walk as far as I planned but find a good point, get the wind behind me, nice outer angled reef breaking the big surging surf and some good deep rocky holes right in front of me. Wade out onto a good rock in the now pouring rain with my 15ft setup, keep it light with a 4oz sinker but 8/o circle hook and a big cracker bait. Blacktail abound and rapidly shred my baits, drop down to a smaller hook but still can't catch them, bump bump and gone, either too rough or not super keen on redbait today. So grab my 30 year old Blue Marlin Pro Carbon 12ft 2oz my least favourite rod of all time. Fitted with a Okuma Epixor 55, 30lb Perline 9x Surf Pro braid and some new O&O Fluoro Coated Leader Line I have been testing, drop the hook down to a Size 1 BKK Chunu-R and a small peice of redbait, time to show those Blacktail who's boss.
Tides pushing hard now so just a short flick into a close deep hole, rod gets pulled flat, drag screams, braid slices fingers, reminding me to buy new gloves, steady run of about 30m, feels like a good fish, don't touch the drag, just work him back to me slowly and using the waves keep him away from the outer reef, he slides past me into a deeper hole, still can't see the fish, but if this is a blacktail its huge. Then that unmistakable shape of good size musselcracker, gently lift him out of the deep water and onto the ledge. So stoked!
Fish measured just over size around 62cm not to many pics cause of the rain. Goes to show, fish the conditions, yes its nice to have good rods and strong reel, but by no means are they needed to catch fish. Getting to know what conditions work best for what species and how to choose a spot and then stay calm when hooking a good fish are all that really matters. Yes there are still plenty of fish out there, target specific species and zones and dont't be too lazy to harvest fresh baits they always work best. Just get out there and fish, rain or shine, calm or rough, every session is there to enjoy and maybe learn a thing or two.
Tight Lines
Donovon Couzens