July 2020 – Another Month Battling with the Weather
We have had some success this month mainly with the blackfish (or luderick if you wish to be politically correct). The Sinkers have been getting the odd one or two from the RSL Wharf or the end of Kerr Street and it’s been enough to keep our interest up. Hammerhead keeps getting the good oil from his many contacts and we have been rigging up differently every time to improve our chances.
Included in Hammerhead’s proposals have been to paint all your tackle black and dip your bait in kerosene before you cast your line. We haven’t tried that one but I know poor old Hammerhead got into trouble with Joy when he spray painted his floats and tackle black on the garage floor.
The One That Got Away
I caught three nice luderick one day including a real stonker but as usual there was a sad tale. Anchors Away Johnnie reckoned it was the biggest blackfish he has ever seen but that doesn’t count for much because I’m sure he hasn’t seen too many. We use a keeper net (a bit like an onion bag) and leave it in the water to keep them alive after we catch them. Anyhow we put the stonker into the bag with the two others and Bam (The Clam) tossed it into the water and tied it up to the wharf. When we had finished fishing we retrieved the bag and took it along to the cleaning table by the Water Slide.
You can imagine our dismay to find there were only two fish in the bag and the big one was missing. It seems when Bam threw it into the water for safe keeping the bag must have opened at the top and the stonker escaped. You wouldn’t believe it would you?
Off the Beach
The weather and the big seas has made beach fishing out of the question most days and the recent proposed closure of the South Ballina Beach by the Council will put a hold on the success of the mighty Patch’s Duo. In desperation Patch’s Col sent a letter to the Council expelling our virtues as a Fishing Club and asking for approval for us to take Nugget GT back on the beach.
As a result Col and I visited Councillor Keith Williams and had a pleasant chat and coffee with him at his Restaurant in the old church at Tintenbar. We explained that fishing is a major relaxation for us old codgers at Palm Lake and as such it is essential for our mental health and wellbeing. Keith was very supportive to our wishes and will take our views back to the Council. It may be possible to install a locked gate and give access only to authorised groups such as ours.
Anyone For Carp?
Being the Chair of Rous County Council, Keith is an avid greenie and we were discussing the poor condition of the local waterways. He mentioned that a major concern is the carp invading Emigrant Creek and creating major devastation to the local habitat. He got quite excited when I suggested we might get our Club members to come down and catch some.
You aren’t allowed to put them back in the Creek but he said Grow Go use them for fertiliser and may be prepared to take any we catch off our hands. From all reports they aren’t much good to eat but they do provide a lot of fun for the sporting fishos. Anyway Patch’s and I want to give it a go so if anyone is interested in having a crack at them you might like to let us know.
Our Fishing Club Meeting
We held a meeting at the Oasis in July and welcomed some new members to the Club. They included Graeme and Pam Smith and Graham Suffolk. Welcome along Guys and we will undoubtedly work out some nicknames for you as we go along.
We discussed plans for when the weather warms up and these included further whopper weeks, trips to spend a few days up or down the coast or possibly to the freshwater lakes to the west.
That’s about it for July let’s hope for warmer weather and less wind in August.
Cheers till next Month
Tight Lines Douggie
