happened today. i was trying out a trifecta again but did not have any luck so i decided to change spots . i went to the very end of the breakwater and as close to the water as i could. i have been rather impressed by the halco tilsan range of lures and had ordered the tilsan big barra. i was surprised at the difference in this lure as opposed to the smaller size. the bigger lure isnot neutrally buoyant and has 3 trebles.
i started casting and was getting rather tired of the unending casts, when it happened. just before the lure was about to hit the rocks i saw a shadow below the lure. i saw the fish and stopped the lure dead in the water. the fish took the lure from below and cleared the water. i saw the flash of silver, not red and knew it was a barra ! my mind did not register the fact that i had raised the rod tip and was jolted out of the the catalepsy by the fish landing back in the water. i had the drag locked tight as i was targeting mj / grouper. the fish started towards the rocks and i had to bulldoze him away. the fish went airborne twice before giving in.
the fun started after that. my man friday went to retrieve the fish and caught the leader , the barra decided to go berserk and the leader was jerked out of his hands which were sliced by the braid. the gaff (never used before) went in to play and the fish was controlled.
i resumed casting and this time a very small less than 1/2 pound mj took the poltergeist i was using in a very savage manner. the poor tiddler actually caught all the three trebles and stapled itself shut.
this was the first time i saw a hit by a barra so close. it has only boosted my resolve to get a big one this year.
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