Photos: Spero Kartanos.
BY SPERO KARTANOS
So up you get, handling the cold and the frozen bait, getting your feet wet on the way to the boat, then you’re on the water as the sun is rising, and freezing your face off as you quickly get to your favourite fishing spot. Thank heavens that in my old age I have a slow old boat that keeps me out of the wind on the way there. Then the anchor’s out, and it’s time for a fishing session, and the brain is saying, ‘It’s better fishing before the sun rises’, BUT the body is saying, ‘Hurry up and rise sun so I can warm up!’ Then the bait runner spool starts to unwind the line, and the rod is bending, and you have your first good fish for the morning, and all is forgotten. The cold, wet rain and the woes of the world have all disappeared, and the only thing in your head is getting that fish to the boat and into a landing net and contemplating how you are going to cook it – tempura, grilled, baked…that’s why we go fishing.
So forget the cold and the rain; if it’s not too windy, the squire will be in excellent numbers in all the shallow reefs. Whiting will be at Amity Banks, the Rous Channel, Maroon Gutter and the Hole, and Fisherman’s Gutter, and the school mackerel should be reeling off yards of line as they hit on the troll. Of course, the cuttlefish and arrow squid will be in full swing east of all the close-in Bay Islands, so get inked. I’m pretty sure it will not be long until we’re saying ‘Gee it’s warm again today’. Maybe that’s wishful thinking…until next month, good fishing!
