Fishing on 'Slack Jack'
Trip Start
Unknown
1
2
5
Trip End
Ongoing
Melbourne,
Australia
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
After the tumult of Christmas day had past, and we woke on boxing day, still full from the christams banquet we over induldged on yesterday, all were up bright and early from our planned fishing trip down to port albert. It would be ambers first time on 'slack jack'(uncle jack's fishing boat) and fishing down at port albert, and she was the most excited and eager to depart in the morning. Mum and dad were busily trying to buy us tickets for the test match tomorrow as we readied the boat for launching. The weather was perfect not to hot or cold, mid to high 20s, with few clouds in the sky, and only a breath of wind.
Slack jack is uncle jack's 23ft carribean cruiser. Beautiful boat, meticulously maintained, and perfect for a days fishing. We cruised down to port albert by about 11am, and with stories of big catches being passed down on the jetty, but with the change of tide against us, we headed out west, with hopes high of a big catch.
Passing other anglers trying their luck on boxing day, and recovering from their xmas feast too, we made a course for snake island, as the word passed, was that was where the fish were biting. We pulled up, dropped the fishing lines out and it wasn't long before the fish were lured to our hooks, and also a pesky commorant on the hunt.
As we pulled our flat head in, this commorant would dive underwater, then shooting up from the depth below would try and steal our catch before we had time to pull it into the safety of the boat. Dad and Uncle Jack were doing their best to fend off this potential thief by taking weapons in hand, Dad with a large scrubbing brush, and UJ with a rubber mallet, they warded off this foe with a few select hits to the commorant's body. This not deterring the bird, uncle jack lured the thief closer to the boat by dangling a small flat head outside the boat, and as the thief exploded form the water he would get a few choice body blows in. It wasn't long before the bird took flight having learned the hard way to catch its own. This too ws the cue for us to try a few more spots before heading back to the shore. At one point aunty anne entered the fray and showing all the skills of a master fisherman, pulled in fish after fish after fish, they were only small, and she threw most of them back, put its the thrill of catch the, tug on the line, the weight through the pole, the fight of the fish and the eventual feeling of triumph as you pull the fish aboard, is what fishing is all about. Also the food, drink and conversation as you waste the hours away, that is the attraction.
We also had times to remember on slack jack, cruising the gippsland lakes. Cruising from loch sport, to duck arm, Paynesville, metung, lakes entrance, the barrier, the cliffs. Catching up with Johnny and jo on the way. Uncle Jack even took us out on the tyre, for an afternoon. Where we tried to hold on with hands and feet as long as possible, with the waves and water always claiming their prize as we crashed back into the shallow depths. Tom, Amber and I all had a go, with amber lasting the longest and having the most spectacular exit from the biscuit. Her, being propelled, so high at one point, she had time to face the water, all fours clearly in the air and with the presence of mind to block her nose before she crashed back into the water, and the silence of the underwater world.
