Mako - 12ft tinny Sat 11.12

[patl]

Ready to leave home just after 4.30 am to launch at Patonga but when I went outside there seemed to be too much wind compared to the BOM site, waited till they issued the next forecast at 4.45am which was no real change to the night before so lets go and see how it turns out.

Ran straight over to the joey and trolled around there for a while, no good. The weather was getting better so headed south trolling along the rocks to see if any kings wanted to play.

Got down as far as mona vale when i came across a school of yakkas on the surface, pulled the lures in and lets catch a couple of these. With a bait jig got a few in the boat which i bridled up and put back over the side.

Before i tried trolling them I wanted a couple more so jsut drifted around the schools a bit and as they came up got a couple more.

The ratchet on the calcutta was starting to turn over very slowly, almost like I had snagged.

Anyway lets have look, this wasnt a snag as the afterburners kicked in for a short burst and then settled into short runs and hanging down deep. Now I am confused to what it could be - kingie??cobe??, iam on mono so probably not a shark, dont know.....then colour....this is not a bad fish....it looks at least a over 3 feet long.....then down deep again.....I want to at least know what it is.....so lets get it back up.....now its under the boat ....here it comes....oh shit its a bloody mako about 5ft long.

anyway I pull it up beside the boat for a good look its just sitting beside the boat .... what to do, on my own so I cut it off.

Pretty wrapped as this is probably the best fish I have let go out of my 12 ft tinny, and sorry no photo as the camera is sitting on the desk where i was supposed to pick it up this morning.

That was the only fish today but I am happy.

Patrick

[JOCOOL]

Good stuff Pat. Probably a good call about cutting it loose!:D Can Mako's be tailed?

[pogo]

Good stuff Pat. Probably a good call about cutting it loose!:D Can Mako's be tailed?

Yes, but they dont like it one little bit, :mad: :mad: :mad:

You'ld have to be game to try it on your own in a 12footer

[patl]

I had actually left the gaff at home, I think that was the lucky part????

I had a rope with a clip that I could used as a tail rope but in the end chickened out.

I remember one I stuck a few years ago down at Bermi, it jumped beside the boat with the gaff holding it from coming towards the boat

[Jimbo]

Great report Pat,

I think you made a wise decision cutting her off mate.

We dragged in a Mako about 5 years ago after dragging her backwards for half an hour.

The Mako looked dead as, floating on its side etc so we pulled it in. As soon as it
hit the deck the bloody thing went phyco!!

Lucky my mates boat is of reasonable size and we were able to take a step back before it got about 20 blows to the head with a wooden mallet.

Could have been bloody scary in a boat any smaller!!!

[Nicho]

I think the correct procedure in this situation is to gaff or tail the mako, throw him in the boat, then jump into the water..
Climb back in when the boat stops vibrating..

I remember having one break off the hook and come off the gaff just as he fell into the boat, result was 4 blokes up the front as the shark going nuts..

It was the longest game of 'Rock, paper, Scissors" that I have ever played..:p

They are an awesome looking fish when they come out of the water arn't they!!!

[Darryl]

Would have been a great birthday present Pat! And I see that you're only 99 years young you old codger:p :D :o

Cheers mate

Darryl

[bluecod]

I'm bluddy surprised you guys don't know the correct procedure:D for bringing a shark aboard

1st - tail rope him alongside the boat and tow it backwards for 5 minutes
2nd - mash its head with an aluminium baseball bat
3rd - drag it tail first over the gunwhale
4th - cut its head off before bringing the carcass aboard
5th - if it moves after that treatment radio for help and jump overboard:p