Well after the last couple of trips have been average by Onslow standards, mostly due to the amount of dirty water coming down the Ashburton and the last tropical low, yesterday finally produced the goods. Forecast was ok, but occasionally you get those days when the weather turns out better than expected, yesterday being one of them.

Blasted out to the bait spot and picked up some small queenies for strip baits. Then kept heading out, ending up about 26 mile from the ramp in 30m of water. No wind and no current made for very slow bottom fishing but James then chucked out a floater which lasted about 5 minutes before it gently took off. After about 30 seconds it must have felt the hook because then it lit right up and started pulling 30lb braid easy peasy. 20 minutes later James was starting to think shark but after being told to keep positive, a nice mack ghosted into view.

This was a very stubborn fish, circling in full view for about 10 minutes before coming to the gaff, where Peter did the job nicely.

Very solid fish in great condition, estimated him at about 60lbs.

James learnt a valuable lesson with this one when dehooking it. Thankfully he didn't lose it at the knuckle!

The next floater then produced a 25lb mack for Peter. At this stage the sensational weather was driving us crazy, so we had to go for a dive. Blasted over to a favourite island and jumped in. Took a while to find them but eventually 7 big green crays made it into the catch bag, along with a 50cm bluebone on the gun.

By this stage the wind had picked up to about 8 knots, giving us some good drifting conditions so a plan was hatched to head wide and try and find some good bottom fish. The new chartplotter was working a treat and as I cruised along the 50 meter contour a little show of coral with some fish piqued our attention. How good is it having a colour sounder that can read at speed.

Out went the sea anchor and down went our sweetened leadheads and Peters standard bottom fishing rig. First drift only produced some 60 cm spangleds and a small rankin. Re-adjusted our position for a second drift and then hit pay dirt with Peter pulling a nice 65cm red and myself a 65cm crimson sea perch.

Next drift saw Peter and James get buried by big fish. Peter quickly rerigged and and then hit paydirt with a PB red for my boat. I chimed in with another sea perch.

Next couple of drifts produced another red for Peter and then one for myself on the leadhead.

By this stage it was about 4.00pm, and with an icebox full of mack and goldfish to clean and being 28 mile from home we decided to leave them on the chew.

Home and washed up by 6.45pm, it was a big day but very productive, especially with a new red spot locked away in the GPS.

John