This time of year around here we get a lot of snapper moving along our coast. These are often accessed by boat but with thought they can be caught from land near deepish water - although as little as 3 metres is quite enough when they are properly on the chew.
I brought yet another reel, a georgeous little Penn Squall 12 - I have enough reels now that the wife only ever sees a few at a time to avoid awkward questions. It was a glassy evening so I decided to go out and have a fling, didn't expect a fish as it was dead low tide and just a bit too late besides, but what the heck.
Looked like this when I arrived.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zvu3nfdxrzu1knh/2013-12-17%2020.40.29.jpgI'm aiming out into a slot in the reef I'm climbing down to that's about 20 feet wide and goes out about 150 yards or more. This shows the other side of the slot, that low rock is the opposite edge. The slot runs pretty much across and out to the left.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ztrgj2zc708g8sm/2013-12-17%2020.57.15.jpgI'm casting out just to the right of this, pretty much the right edge of this image - you can see why I don't care if I catch a fish or not...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uevyunpnmiqn46w/2013-12-17%2020.59.43.jpgManaged to belt out 4oz a little less than 120 metres by the 6th attempt - missed a couple of good bites while fiddling with my camera phone so not focussed well enough.... Reel is spooled with 160 metres of 28 lb mono, and I am using a modified 11' Daiwa Seajigger. Simple heave out, no pendulum or off the ground so all in all a very good first play. Very controllable reel, lots of braking adjustment and utterly useable in darkness, easily felt the splash down and had the reel crowning perfectly - most impressed with it indeed! I expect to be able to spool it with a power cast on a serious rod.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2jinw0qha8av4gj/2013-12-17%2021.15.16.jpgThen I remembered the tide had turned - got out of there with dry feet but only after a scramble.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sbet83ewjmonnmv/2013-12-17%2021.08.19.jpgNo fish, but too good an evening to be in front of the TV.
Next time I'll be here a couple hours before dawn, then it'll be 2 metres deeper and I'll be in hunting mode....
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