St Georges Basin Surface Session

[Bjgilmour]

I decided to hit the Basin on sunrise to try for some Bream on surface lures, working a Gladiator Kozami 60 walk the dog lure it wasn’t long before I managed to snare a couple of Bream with long pauses after about a 50cm retrieve, I also stirred up several boils and missed strikes.





I worked my way along a shallow weedy point that has deep water on either side, the glassy conditions made it easier to see any action on the surface, I could see fleeing prawns and tiny baitfish being harassed by small tailor and bream right up around the weed edges.

I stuck with the surface lures until a failed to raise any other fish. Coming back off the shallows I started working a deep diving chubby near the edge of the deeper water where the depth changes from about 4 feet into 12 feet. I could still see small tailor working way up on the flats. Working the chubby with long pauses and sharp rips I soon hooked up again. It felt like any other bream take, a small tick in the line and short dart of speed, The fish felt good although it came almost straight to the boat but staying deep, I soon realised that it wasn’t a bream when 30+ meters of line screamed off my reel, still not having seen the fish I actually called it for a good sized silver trevally because of the speed and pulling power, I used the minn kota to steer the boat out from the shallows and into deeper water free from any obstructions, this proved a sensible decision because the fish stayed deep and had several shorter angry runs before I could finally see the mystery fish. Being solo I had the net between my legs and worked the fish up from the deep, slowly the leader knot broke the surface and shortly after so did my PB flathead. A beast at 86cm.

She was pretty tired after the fight but I managed to slide her head into the net and gently lift her out of the water and onto the boat. With the live-well pump flat out I gave her a good chance to recover before ringing my fiancé to come and meet me at the boat ramp for some “HAPPY” snaps.








Using the electric we slowly swam her for a good few minutes to give her the best chance of a full recovery. Seeing her glide off again under her own steam was the icing on the cake.

I would never have guessed that such a big flathead would take a 38mm chubby.

Cheers,

Brendon.

[Shields22]

Awesome flattie mate! They put up a great fight on the light gear!! Thanks for the report!
Cheers drew

[petejones]

nice flatty mate well done

[Stradicfan]

Awesome Flatty mate. Great report. Surprising sometimes how small a lure big fish will hit. I have caught a few nice jewies on bream sized plastics. Guess there might be something to the "Jelly Bean" theory. Well done mate.

[al49]

great flatty mate,a pb is always a nice personal acheivment

[DEANO68]

thats huge, and fat..!! top fish..congrats..

[Blackfish]

Now that a Flathead.
Great fish.

[Pete62]

Cracking Lizard Brendon, lucky the lil lady was available to come take the pics.

Pete

[004dam]

Solid flatasaurus they seem to love those bite size jelly beans.

[Barramag]

Excellent work,thats a top flathead,always good to see the big girls swim away.A pretty good session all up.
Paulo