The one that got Away...

[Fate]

Picture this if you would...

It's 5am, the sun has yet to breach the horizon. There is a cool strong breeze blowing at intervals of approximately half an hour on and half an hour off. A glassed out broadwater reflects an overcast morning with the occasional boil. Perfect for the unknown.

My mate is running late and his phone is ringing out. I stand casting skinny pop jrs from a waist deep sand flat landing the occasional chopper tailor. The only sound other than the bloop is that whistle of the wind and my breathing into the buff occasionally fogging up my sunnies. An hour passes and I think to myself it's time to move on and give up on the plans for the day. Just as I turn to walk up the bank I hear the voice I've been waiting for. It seems like bad news as he explains that his Mrs has asked him to choose. Her or fishing. Whats it matter anyway right? I was about to head off. He offers me the tinny for the morning and practically forces me into it.

Off I go in search of Jewfish, My 6'6 Omen Black with it's Tatula 100P wrapped in 30Lb braid and a 2.5m 20Lb Leader. Confident I puttered out to the deep hole. As I arrive to my destination the wind picks up and it makes it almost impossible to float around casting accurately without being capsized by the whitecaps. I move to a more sheltered area and begin lobbing far down into the current and working against it. Hop Hop FISH. This was repeated 4 or 5 times with good sized Big Eye Trevally being landed and testing the rod and reels capabilities quite well. Nothing like being dragged around whilst you pump n wind speed demon fish.

I drift towards a bridge and pitch a cast behind the pylons about 15m from me. The current drags me to where I want to be... A brief thought enters my mind. Perfect cast, follow up with a perfect retrieve and this should result in a good fish. I point the rod tip down and begin a smooth slow retrieve. As I come to the front of the pylons the tinny now situated approximately 45 degrees and 5m out just about to speed my retrieve and bring it back to the boat WHACK line was peeling from the reel and the fish was swimming around the pylon. I sat down quickly and released the line thumbing it as it ran from the spool like a puppy chasing a ball. I pulled the motor started and raced around the other side following. Into the open I went and tightened my drag even more. For a moment I felt snagged but this snag was still running. Line still peeling. My heart in my throat as the fish darted to the other end of the pylons and rounded again. THIS IS RIDICULOUS... My adrenaline was through the roof as once again I positioned the boat into the open. I engaged the reel and felt like I was finally making some leeway. How wrong I was.

The line went slack



My heart sank instantly. The line floated with the current and so did I. I sat empty and broken... Devastated beyond belief. It was one of those moments where you ask yourself "what could I have done differently" It wouldn't have mattered. It was at this point I went to pull more line from the reel and it would not budge. It was rock solid. This fish had just pulled line off like it was nothing and kinked my rod over harder than anything I've ever had before. My transam was gone - it was my first ever transam and it had only been used for a day with more than a dozen fish to it's name already.

Words escape me but a grin begins to shine from my face. A smile from ear to ear and a racing heart still pounding out of my chest. A bloke nearby on another tinny just gobsmacked by what happened asking me what the hell was that.... I just shook my head and said it was a rush is what it was.

I didn't even tie anything on before putting the motor in gear and slowly making my way back to where I started.

I have never lost my love for fishing EVER but this single identifying moment having my leader busted off simply reminded me once more what I love about this sport, this passion this lifestyle. It was the one that got away and left me smirking like a twit.


Sorry for the long winded post and to have no pictures but I just hope that the story itself can paint it's own picture for you.


Cheers from one happy fisherman.

Sean

[Sloth]

Nice write up Sean. Great story

[forsterfisho]

Great write up...

I often enjoy the reports that have some effort and passion behind them, not just a few half written sentences and a few pics..thanks for sharing mate!

[Malestorm00]

hey mate , yeah I know how you feel

read below link

http://www.breammaster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58982

[Piscateur]

I want another 5 min to read that again. Most excellent.

[CK]

Loved it.
The passion is obvious.

[steve anderson]

It's the one that got away that has me continually thinking about how I can stop that from happening again.... I do not like it and never will.
Good story on how to look on the bright side of it

[spork]

Great read mate.
The good ones are great to catch, but it's the "one that got away" that get the heart and mind racing.

[justo83]

Good read mate, thanks for sharing

Thats gold coast fishing for you... The broady gives and she takes, can leave a man heartbroken!

[Rooney1997]

That was an awesome read before school!! Good stuff mate, and better luck next time, can't always be catching them, wouldn't be fishing otherwise

[Breamtim]

Those big fish rarely ever get landed...

[benny88]

Good read. The term 'knife to a gun fight' comes to mind....