2018 FLATHEAD CLASSIC
The Flathead Classic has been won and run for another year. Once again, the Gold Coast Sportfishing Club outdid themselves with organising a fantastic event. I met some awesome ‘like-minded’ people and had a bloody great time. Team Fish Flickers had their challenges in the three-day comp, but that’s the Classic for you.
My wife, Megan, had not put a legal fish in the boat all morning on the first day. Then with only about an hour to go…. Bang!… “Fish ON!” It was a croc that took some chasing once its head emerged out of the murky water. The call was made “80cm”. Megan then cried out, “I’m shaking and crying!” This was the biggest flathead Megan had ever hooked. A few tense moments around the boat and the fish was in the net. Photos were taken, and then this magnificent creature was released. This one fish put Megan into 3rd place on the first day in the Ladies Division. At the final weigh-in, they announced that the 1st and 2nd places were very close. Once they announced 2nd place, we knew that Megan had won it. For Megan to win it last year was awesome but to back it up and win again this year was unbelievable.
NEW FISHING BUDDY
I went out fishing with Anthony Mainas for a morning fish. I met Anthony at the Classic and we had some great chats. We headed out looking for snapper, but after a few drifts the call was made to move on and chase some flatties. The next spot we went to looked the goods with bait everywhere. We put out the lures and started to troll. After a few minutes, Anthony’s rod buckles and line starts peeling off. He commented that this fish he had on felt strange. I was hoping for the elusive metre flatty. This was not to be, as a big stingray came to the surface with the lure pinned in the tail right at the barb. Goodbye lure!
The third spot we stopped at is no secret being the saltworks. This is a big hole with lots of currents and some nice bottom. Anthony is the man in the know about Lowrance sounder and he pointed out a few big fish approximately one metre long. We cast out the vibes in their direction. After a couple of hops, Anthony’s rod buckles over again with a few awesome runs and a silver ghost appears next to the boat. A couple of bungled net shots by yours truly, but third times a charm, the slab was in the boat with high fives all round. A short time later I hooked up but this was definitely not a jewfish this time, but a 61cm flatty on the vibes.
After Anthony pulled in another jewfish around 90cm, we made the call to move and see if we could find a snapper. What we found was not a snapper, but a pack of bull sharks. The Lowrance showed them as if you were watching shark week on TV. It was only 9.30am but we were very content with the trip.
NEXT TARGET: WHITING
In the next few trips I will be targeting the tasty whiting. I prefer to chase them at night with either yabbies or live worms. The rig is simple with a long shark hook and a trace of 800mm. You need a piece of red tube above the hook and a heavy enough sinker to hold it to the bottom. A nice long rod lent out the back of the boat is the best way to catch them. Don’t strike. Leave the rod to load up, and then slowly pick up the rod and start winding. You can drift, but I find you catch the bigger fish being anchored. Don’t be afraid to move around or drift to find the schools, and then anchor up.
Just remember to keep “livin’ the dream”.
By Matty Savas
