Hi Ian here, A mad keen fisherman. The drive to these inspiring places gets the imagination going ,what's the weather going to be like ? Are the tides going to be kind ? What if the wind is up ? Are the fish on the bite ? One has a lot of time to ponder on these and other serious matters on the 10 hour drive in the wee hours of the mourning with only the head lights for company .Arriving at Nanga Resort with eyes hanging out but a smile from ear to ear we are here. .After seeking out our favorite spot we set up camp .Shane has made the coffee and already has checked out the water and Shane's excitement and smile tells me that the weather gods have smiled on us for we are here in search of the famous monster Pink snapper .
I cast my mind back when we first came here ,thought we knew it all re snapper ,may be so in other places but we found out we was as green as the trees we camped under .We have educated our selves since then with the advice from the older wiser fisherman .
We are sport fisherman we fish with what most would use for Whiting and herring 4-6 pound line class ,for here the snapper are protected and is a catch and release meca .You can if you lucky win special tags from the fisheries in a draw less than a thousand are issued with a limit of two per person.Suits us just fine for the fish be here for our sons to chase In years to come .
After downing the coffee ,we decide to get some rest and go fishing around midday for the tide is about right and we will know what the wind is going to do by then .Its decided to head out to White rock and start our drift from there so we cover the channels, flats and weed banks to find where the Pinks are feeding .Casting out is a gentle process for the baits are bigger enough to break the ultra light line we using ,we feed the line out on the drift so the baits are 50-60 m behind us ,then wait and wait some more its a awesome day ,little wind , not a ripple on the water ,suns shinning yes indeed the weather gods have smiled on us today ,will the fish do the same so we wait some more we, crossing the mud flats now ,about 30 feet deep little holes and gutters here and there any one could be holding a fish or three.
Then my rod bends some, then some more ,Ian not yet don't set the hook its only playing with it ,I drop the bail over lets some line out don't wish to drag the bait away while on the drift.the slack lines goes tight again ,Now I strike ,yes the hook is set the lines is screaming of the reel the rod is bent over ,patience Ian this is whats it all about ,after what appeared to be eternity the run slows down 40m has disappeared of the spool ,the game is on, get the line back .
Gently I coached the fish in slowly, slowly, bowing the rod down so not to ping the line . Line angle is getting steeper now it is close real close ,now to coached it of the bottom this is the time it all can go wrong by applying constant pressure the fish will come patience now for the fish will see the boat and take of again be ready Ian be ready .I'm peering ,straining my eyes into the depth looking for color ,then my heart flutted its a good fish I tell my self . Then fish see's me as well , again the line screams of the reel back to the bottom he swims ,patience Ian that was to be expected do the same coach him up light even pressure for thats his last run .
A few minutes later I see color again this time he's coming in Shanes see the fish for the first time and almost falls over him self in getting the landing net ,Shanes now willing the fish in, I'm quietly praying to the fisherman's gods ,the mighty pink snapper breaches the surface ,Shane feeds the landing net around him and lifts the fish into the boat . After much back slapping and self praise a few pictures takin we release the fish back,for one day our sons may do battle with him again .(Was one of 5 that day from 750mm to 930mm 1Okg to 14kg line class 4pound )
Stay safe all. Ian