The other day while hurricane Kiko was getting closer, I decided to probably get rained-on and get out there, despite the waning full moon(best for early AM reef trolling is a new moon)before the storm arrived. Nice and dark though, with plenty of cloud cover, moderate sea and the swells weren't yet bad.
I saw a big swirl just off to the side of the yak, maybe 20' from shore as I started to head-out. I'd greeted a big green sea turtle on the launch ramp, but he'd only lifted his head to watch me and hadn't moved. Oh-oh, hoping it was a Monk seal or big fish...
Using a Penn 210 Mag with a small swim bait and a fly 4' above it, trolling about 4mph. About 40yds. out from the breaking swells, headed west, I got a good bite and immediate drag action. The yak wasn't slowing down against the fish pulling, but I could tell it wasn't a typical-for-me reef size fish. Usually I don't get big night feeders. There's maybe 3-4 species of Snappers, Blue-fin Trevally, small Barracudas, Needlefish, etc., one GT once, 'bout 20lbs.
Then after about 10 sec., it suddenly got heavier and stronger feeling. Was the fish bigger than I originally thought and freaking on me? Shark got it? Noooo, that has happened several times before, but they were probably Tiger's, moving slow and deliberately into deeper water, while I was completely unable to control them, so I cut them off. This guy was hard-charging and definitely uncontrollable. Another species of Shark, more hyper? Galapagos? Black-tip? White-tip? Back and forth, up and down, all at high speed, I was under gunned.
He did have some sideways pull-power and I was getting too close breaking swells. Time to turn and head to deeper water. About 75-100yds. of line out, I gave-up, while the line was slack thinking he may have wrapped it around the propeller. Pulled the unit up and out; good!, only 1 wrap on the stem, godda cut it, though, I'm really under-gunned here. The line wasn't tight or moving, hey maybe he came off? So, I started pulling it up through the motor unit hole. That's how I could tell how much line I'd lost. It piled up so much I started to worry about it getting caught on my hands or foot if the critter was still there and took off again. I could imagine him down there sulking on the reef until maybe he felt the line/hook pulling again. I could get cut-up by the 50lb. P.pro, get my arm jerked out of the socket or the yak could tip-over... Could I be getting smarter as I get older..? I did really at least wanna get a look at him..perhaps that younger man's ego is dissipating as I age. Thankfully for the wildlife, I prolly got most of the line back.
So, do the Sharks just go where the vibrations are? Or, are they capable of learning to follow along behind a moving boat and bide their time, until there's a hook-up? The last immovable (probably)Tiger Shark I hooked was only on the Barracuda after I stopped reeling him in, to reel-in my other line for about 15 seconds.
The 210 with a SS gear-sleeve and modified drag stack did ok.
Maybe a cow size tuna ??
The Boat guys don't call sharks, "the tax man" just for no good reason lol. I was watching an older show the other day and the sharks were taking every other fish! And if they didn't take every other fish, they at least damaged it to the point, where it wasn't fit for the table anymore. There's some crazy frenzy videos down in Florida, around fish cleaning tables and stations. Why go hunt for food, if they can just get a handout? All kinds of studies about this behavior. Evolution, at its finest.
Sharks and seals become aware of the potential of taking something in distres very very quickly. I think its the vibrations the fish give off. If you hook a fish from a shoal, his mates in the shoal immediately become aware of the danger and scatter or go deeper not to be seen again. The problem with this statement is that it does not always happen that way.
We fairly seldom see sharks, but boy when someone is on with a fish, they are there very quickly. If they manage to take the catch they hang around and their mates arrive and we see them cruising around, even the next day when there may be no fish they are still around. Some say its the Blood!
Seals are actually the worst tax collectors, they hunt in bigger packs, are generally more agile and faster and I think much more intelligent.
Just a quick example of seals and squid fishing. The seals are aware that there are squid to be caught, and that they guys on the boats are catching them. I don't think they can catch them unless they are hooked. Firstly the seals know they need to keep out of range of the anglers and drift around the boat remaining about 20 mt away. They just drift around sunning themselves, but the minute someone on the boat feels a squid, the seals react and drop down to where the squid is. Squid gone, instantly! I do not believe they can see the squid, the water is 45 mt deap and seldom very clearand the seal is still away from the boat as well. After you loose five squids to seals, you move the boat 2 miles away, going full speed. 2 minutes and the seals are coming towards you....impossible to get rid of them.
When after Yellowtail we drive the boat around to spot shoales of fish, but the minute you stop, you see the seals comming, they know, a stopped boat is on to fish and they have a good chance to poach it.
Even small bank fish react to one of their mates being caught.
Gregg, I believe they will definitely follow a boat. Fishing here in FL in the Gulf we've found we usually have to move at least 2 miles or more once a shark shows up. Tried moving less than that several times, and pretty sure they followed us. Also, we're finding sharks now just about every fishing trip since last years back-to-back hurricanes. Before that, maybe every 6th trip. Hope that changes soon. I've heard sharks will stay right under a boat waiting for a hooked fish to come up, but I've not seen that yet.
Quote from: MACflyer on September 11, 2025, 12:03:51 PMGregg, I believe they will definitely follow a boat. Fishing here in FL in the Gulf we've found we usually have to move at least 2 miles or more once a shark shows up. Tried moving less than that several times, and pretty sure they followed us. Also, we're finding sharks now just about every fishing trip since last years back-to-back hurricanes. Before that, maybe every 6th trip. Hope that changes soon. I've heard sharks will stay right under a boat waiting for a hooked fish to come up, but I've not seen that yet.
Knock on wood I've never experienced that in the Gulf. Had it happen on the one and only trip I did in the Atlantic. It might be regional or maybe I just don't get out enough
Gregg, you described the constant high speed at which this unknown fish was pulling you around. This to me doesn't sound like a shark. Sharks swim slowly and will swim fast in short bursts to attact prey, but otherwise sharks swim very lazily. Any oyher thoughts on what it could've been besides a shark ?
The old man and the sea got pulled around the same as you, and that wasn't a shark pulling him....just a thought
I have been on trips before (back when Guadalupe Island was still open) where the Captain has specifically refrained from going to a particular zone, saying "We would be the only boat there, so we will be the dinner bell and all the sharks will only have us to key onto." - john
Up in the top half of Australia where the shark population is healthy, there are spots where the sharks show up as soon as you cut the motor. No fun to get a bunch of fish torn up in the hopes of maybe catching one or two.
This seems to only happen randomly in the Sea of Cortez in Baja, as the shark population is much more pressured by commercial fishing.
I don't know if sharks or other fish are that smart in the way that we humans define intelligence, but they are well adapted to stuff like associating environmental cues to food sources.
-J
Easy food,like a fish or deer feeder,they get acclimated.They know when its about to go off,in line like me at a Chinese buffett. ;D
Ah well, a great memory with lots of spooky fun. Some fear, exacerbated by being alone out there and in the darkness. Maybe even kinda cool not to have seen 'em... the mystery lives-on in my mind.
Quote from: Gfish on September 12, 2025, 07:44:08 PMAh well, a great memory with lots of spooky fun. Some fear, exacerbated by being alone out there and in the darkness. Maybe even kinda cool not to have seen 'em... the mystery lives-on in my mind.
Yep as a fellow fisherman ,We all have one mystifying story !
Quote from: jurelometer on September 12, 2025, 04:05:46 PMUp in the top half of Australia where the shark population is healthy, there are spots where the sharks show up as soon as you cut the motor. No fun to get a bunch of fish torn up in the hopes of maybe catching one or two.
This seems to only happen randomly in the Sea of Cortez in Baja, as the shark population is much more pressured by commercial fishing.
I don't know if sharks or other fish are that smart in the way that we humans define intelligence, but they are well adapted to stuff like associating environmental cues to food sources.
-J
Western Australia we went to try and catch the near shore Tuna species (memory failing me again for name, Donny will know) burt we kept on cathing some pesky fish including queen fish and tried very hard to wind our lures away from them, but not always sucksesfull ;D There were huge bronze whaler sharks and they were on you in seconds. All preditors need to learn the easiest way for them to catch their prey.
Okay Cor, so your talking queen fish, so your fishing North of sharks Bay, maybe north of Canarvon, Quobba, Queen fish, long toms, can be a pest, very thin long fish, with many sharp teeth, am I getting close. cheers Don.
Quote from: Cor on September 15, 2025, 08:50:07 AMQuote from: jurelometer on September 12, 2025, 04:05:46 PMUp in the top half of Australia where the shark population is healthy, there are spots where the sharks show up as soon as you cut the motor. No fun to get a bunch of fish torn up in the hopes of maybe catching one or two.
This seems to only happen randomly in the Sea of Cortez in Baja, as the shark population is much more pressured by commercial fishing.
I don't know if sharks or other fish are that smart in the way that we humans define intelligence, but they are well adapted to stuff like associating environmental cues to food sources.
-J
Western Australia we went to try and catch the near shore Tuna species (memory failing me again for name, Donny will know) burt we kept on cathing some pesky fish including queen fish and tried very hard to wind our lures away from them, but not always sucksesfull ;D There were huge bronze whaler sharks and they were on you in seconds. All preditors need to learn the easiest way for them to catch their prey.
Probably Thunnus tonggol, AKA Longtail Tuna, AKA Northern Bluefin (not remotely similar to other tuna species referred to as bluefin). A slim blue colored tuna, averaging maybe 10 bs or so - 30 lbs is a big one but the can get up to 80. A fabulous gamefish, and a real challenge on the fly as they are especially boat-shy, even for a tuna. They get them in West Australia, but I think that Don's home waters might be a bit south of their range.
As for queenfish- there are a couple different species in the northern half of Australia, but the big one (Scomberoides commersonnianus) is a great gamefish too. They will come into the shallow flats, are aggressive feeders, and put on quite a show when hooked. It is sort of like catching a school sized mahi in three feet of water! In places in Australia where the fishing is really good, some fishermen see queenies as a nuisance because they keep eating your fly or lure ahead of your intended species. It is a good problem to have if you ask me.
I really, really, really want to get to Australia again. It has been too long. The northern half has a lot of the species that Gregg sees in Hawaii, but with much less fishing pressure. And the southern half has interesting species too, including my "local" favorite - yellowtail.
-J
Kinda sounds like Needlefish Don. I love those things here. Almost impossible to hook in the jaw as it is solid bone, teeth with a thin layer of skin. They hang-out over the deeper reef and seem to be attracted to the splash of a lure hitting the water. They fight like crazy and are lightning fast. I have lost many lures to them biting through my line.
Could'a been a great Barracuda. Actually kinda likely. Was in about 30' of water and made it out to 45' trying to escape the breakers. Thinking also Gray Snapper which can get to 80lbs. but they have never seemed that hyper.
I've only caught one needlefish here. It managed to tie itself up in the leader. We seem them jumping all the time. It's not really a jump. More like a thrown spear going just above the surface. They can go a long way too. There are stories of people being stabbed and killed by jumping needlefish.
Quote from: oc1 on September 17, 2025, 05:15:17 AMI've only caught one needlefish here. It managed to tie itself up in the leader. We seem them jumping all the time. It's not really a jump. More like a thrown spear going just above the surface. They can go a long way too. There are stories of people being stabbed and killed by jumping needlefish.
One here. Night fishing. Dad and son pulling up a net. The Needlefish shot out the water right into the son's eye and into his brain. Died in the hospital. Yeah they do try and stab me if I get 'em up to the boat. Godda try'n keep the tail out of the water. Also I have pair of those double-jointed extendable pliers.
Western Australia is a great fishing spot. We went as far as Exmouth.
I have been twice but won't go again as it is more difficult terrain then I am accustomed to and I believe in Cape Point where I spent my life fishing it is very hard and dangerous. Note we have moved after 30 years and now for the past week in a place called Stillbay.
One unfortunate Queenfish that got caught.
Look at the rocks!
Quote from: Cor on September 21, 2025, 02:57:13 PMWestern Australia is a great fishing spot. We went as far as Exmouth.
I have been twice but won't go again as it is more difficult terrain then I am accustomed to and I believe in Cape Point where I spent my life fishing it is very hard and dangerous. Note we have moved after 30 years and now for the past week in a place called Stillbay.
One unfortunate Queenfish that got caught.
Look at the rocks!
That's crazy!
I didn't get out to the west Australia coast much between Broome and Exmouth, but we rented one of those Toyota Land Cruiser campers with a snorkel air intake and explored a bit further inland. Let's just say that that Land Cruiser was more capable off road than I was. There is definitely some rugged terrain in that area (the Kimberlys?). When we fished the salt there, we hired a local with a boat. Too rugged for me. Big tides too, if I remember correctly. Broome and Exmouth had pretty easy access for shore fishing.
That is a really nice sized queenie there Cornelius!
And Stillbay looks like a pretty place- hopefully you a have some decent fishing in the area.
-J
The funny part of that Queenie was that we did our best not to catch anything and kept winding our lures away from them and anything else but every now and again a fish would ambush the lures, causing much mirth. This particular one we had to rope gaff and killed it then had difficulty finding someone who would take it off us, this guy was happy to and pose for a photo.
Okay exmouth the tide does`nt rize and fall very much, but Broome tide are about 30 foot, so if you get you planing wrong, then you can be stuck @ see for many hours, cheers Don.
That's a good picture Cor. One good thing about the tropics is the tide level change; 2' here is a "King" tide (spring tide). One can get stuck but usually they just gotta get wet to get back as long as the surf stays down.
After talking to a Big Island friend, my best guess is that I got beat-on by a Great Barracuda. 50lb.+ fast swimming "reef monstahs" like to steak-out territory. Sometimes the victims of spear fishermen, rarely landed by hook and line fishing. I don't wanna kill onea those, but me and my ego would love to beat one and release 'em...