They call me Colin Ray
A few of us (Sherbs, Big Steve, Topper, Uncle Stu, Uncut Trigger and myself), decided to head up to Flat Rocks for an overnighter on Saturday. The idea was to see if we could catch a few mulloway or tailor as the conditions were forecast to be pretty good. I also wanted to test out my new Toyota Hilux Surf 4WD after finally finding a suitable vehicle to fit my budget last week.
The wind was howling from the south east when we arrived and set up camp, but as forecast it dropped right off to make for pretty nice conditions (apart from a bit of weed).
Unfortunately, the fishing didn't match the conditions and the only success was a banjo shark for Big Steve.
Things were a bit gloomy and a few of the guys were thinking of hitting the sack at around 10.30 when I suddenly had a big hook up. We were all hoping it was a decent mulloway when it surged awayt from the beach - but it soon became apparant that it was a ray (and a big one).
After about 40 minutes of toing and froing, and some help from some of the boys in wrestling it out the shore break, the pretty sizeable black ray (estimated by Sherbs at about 40 to 45 kgs) was de-hooked and released back into the sea.
The only other action came at about 11.30 pm when I hooked a size, but pretty skinny tailor. I then lost another tailor and that was about it for the night.
We woke the next morning to great conditions (thankfully most of the weed had moved on).
Unfortunately there were no tailor around, but the lads had a bit of fun pulling in a load and herring and whiting.
I perservered with the bigger gear and lost a few fresh whiting baits (kindly supplied by Sherbs) before I made another big hookup.
Once again we were hopeful it may have been a mulloway, but those hopes were soon dashed when there a big splash and an Eagle Ray took flight with my line attached. This thing made a few jumps (which was pretty spectacular to watch) before heading back down to the bottom and taking me on in a tug-of-war.
Eventually I brought it in to shore only to lose it when it cut me off on the shark rocky ledge I was fishing across.
I hate hooking rays, but I have to say the big one was a great test for my trusty old Moonraker and my Saltist 4500.
In the end we ended up with a heap of herring and whiting before making the trek back home, though I did have a hiccup when I went to take off and found that my battery had flattened. Thankfully a bit of bush mechanic work had my vehicle back on the track.
Sorry about the lack of photos, the only fishing shots we had were off the big ray taken on a mobile and they didn't come out too good.
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Leemo
Posts: 3712
Date Joined: 22/02/07
pretty slow at mindarie on
pretty slow at mindarie on saturday night too. only managed two tailor, 40 odd cm each. a lot of effort for minimal reward. havnt tangled with a stingray for a long time...... gotta stretch the arms and test the drag on the spinfisher.
bludgin' since 94'
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
At least you got out for a fish
I've been house bound for a while... need to get the boat wet soon.
I was even going to chase some herring out from the marina but my daughter preferred Hanna Montanna to fishing on Sunday.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
Colin Hay
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Lol Andy
I know what I would have preferred.
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AmericanBen
Posts: 150
Date Joined: 26/01/09
at least you caught something :)
We stopped there about a month ago during an advanced sand 4x4 course and the tide was all the way up to the dunes. Wind blew so hard we were all covered with sand :). One of our instructors has caught some big tailor there, so hope to give it another shot. How big were the whiting?
Colin Hay
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The whiting were quite a nice size Ben
I think we were up at Loonies about the same time you are talking about. The sand was incredible and Sherbs and I were also buried.
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Faulkner Family
Posts: 18330
Date Joined: 11/03/08
sounds like you guys had a
sounds like you guys had a good night even tho you only got a couple of rays. good work out . good to see you got yourself a 4x4 , will open up so many more fishing spots for you
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Hi Russ and Sandy
It took me awhile to finally get one, bit I am pretty happy with what I have ended up with. I am thinking of getting a few things added to it over the next few months to make it a better fishing truck.
I don't know if I will be able to tow your boat, but you guys are always welcome to come for a ride.
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DieHard
Posts: 1823
Date Joined: 06/10/08
Well Colin Ray least your
Well Colin Ray least your arms got a workout :P
DieHard – The Official “Ray & Shark” Chaser!
brenz
Posts: 2182
Date Joined: 15/06/06
col what year surf ya get
col what year surf ya get and roughly what price bracket were ya in?
Colin Hay
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Date Joined: 23/10/07
Hi Brendan
It is a 1994, 3 litre, turbo diesel. I picked it up for $8000. The young bloke I brought it off had put a racing steering wheel on it and some fancy horns. I just have to work out how to programme them (Lol).
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gav077
Posts: 209
Date Joined: 05/04/09
I don't see why people hate
I don't see why people hate hooking rays, if theres nothing else around they are a good alternative. They stretch the fishing gear to the limit.
People who haven't caught a big fish just don't get it
DieHard
Posts: 1823
Date Joined: 06/10/08
And a lot of them cannot
And a lot of them cannot land them too.
Apparently there are MONSTERS at trigg???
DieHard – The Official “Ray & Shark” Chaser!
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
My problem with rays gav is that you get to a nice spot
set yourself up, put out a great freshly caught bait, and then you hook up to something big - hoping it is going to be a nice mulloway. Then your hopes turn to disappointment when you then realise it is another ray.
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soupster51
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 29/11/06
Good Fun
Sounds like a bit of a gym workout Colin. Nothing like drinking a few beers with the boys at the beach and stretching the arms a little.
The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Good report Colin ,good to
Good report Colin ,good to see the back still got some strenth,as the old ray can sure give you a good workout .well done.
Active Gyp-Rok solutions ,Residential and commercial ceilings and walls
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Thanks guys
Yeah, the rays (especially the big black one) gave me a good workout. What I was really happy with is how my Moonraker dealt with them. For a finesse beach rod, it managed to turn both of the rays very well.
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Trousersnake
Posts: 172
Date Joined: 20/12/09
Glad you were able to get out
Tha amount of help and advice you give out mate you deserve to be out there as much as possible. Hopefully tha hilux is tha gateway to more fishing!!! Have you ever tried to eat a ray? I'm keeping tha next one I pull in gotta try it atleast once.
null
gav077
Posts: 209
Date Joined: 05/04/09
If your going to keep a ray,
If your going to keep a ray, make sure its an eagle ray. They taste better than the others and are quite tasty. Don't keep one too big though as theres a lot of flesh on them and you'll have ray in your freezer for months. They make a nice fish curry and are also good on the barbie
People who haven't caught a big fish just don't get it
Colin Hay
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Hi Trousersnake
I haven't tried ray myself, but I saw an episode of "Bizzare Foods" recently and the guy on the show who travels the world eating everything from lama stomachs to monkey brains, trided some stingray and said it was one of the worst things he had ever eaten.
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Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
All hail the RayMan.... we
All hail the RayMan....
we are not worthy...lol
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Colin Hay
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Tony, you are welcome to have any further rays that
I catch for the rest of my life (Lol).
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sherbert
Posts: 4717
Date Joined: 10/09/06
My 300.00 dallar
4x4 landercruser 62s Had to get colin 8,000 4x4 surf going again,
I told you to buy the 80s lol NO colin agreat 4x4, Only afew things to do
And it will be agreat offroader
Assassin landbase fishing club
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
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I have got Kempy working onn the electrics today
and Wade Tolley's buddy Hank Bott giving it a full service tomorrow. So we should be right for the next adventure mate.
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Faulkner Family
Posts: 18330
Date Joined: 11/03/08
so this is what you guys get
so this is what you guys get up to when you go to flat rocks. first trip with sherbs new old 4x4 he gets it bogged , now you get a 4x4 and run the batteries flat. good one . maybe one day you will work out that you shouldnt go to flat rorcks
. good to hear your getting it sorted
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Minor issues Russ
With such learned bush mechanics and "senior" professional sarcastic bastards there is no such thing as a drama. Just an experience
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Update
Here are a few pics of the guys getting things sorted. That's about all the sorting that got done...
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
It looks like Uncle Stu is hacking into my Surf
in the second picture.
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max199
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/05/06
what the
go with your avatar Sherbs?? GAY ASS DAD!!
Spewin Colin, Completely understand the dissappointment when you realise you have a ray on and not a 15kg+ Mulla on. Shit happens, keep fishing!!
So the forbee was ok? Not too shabby? AND
RU going to Pembo?
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Hi Max I hope to get down to Pembo mate
I may have to come down on the Saturday as I may have to pick up my daughter from her school ball Friday night. I will give you a call.
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Scouse John
Posts: 8
Date Joined: 11/04/10
Hi Guys, I would just like
Hi Guys,
I would just like to say thanks to Colin, Sherbert and the guys for a great overnighter. The fishing tips were greatly received and so were some of Sherberts jokes !! The 4x4 lesson on the Sunday was great fun too. Hope to tag along with your next trip !
Once again thanks for a great time !
Colin Hay
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Date Joined: 23/10/07
Hi John
Nice to meet you guys too. I am sure we will catch up with up that way again soon.
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The_Wanderer
Posts: 735
Date Joined: 24/09/08
Hey Colin you sure its
Hey Colin you sure its yours?? Didn't pull it out someones bucket did you
Colin Hay
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Lol I would be happy to put all my stingrays
into everyone else's bucket.
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sherbert
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Date Joined: 10/09/06
Hes not like that
steve
Assassin landbase fishing club
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18330
Date Joined: 11/03/08
i would agree with sherbs,
i would agree with sherbs, Colin is the sort of person that would put fish in your bucket
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
sherbert
Posts: 4717
Date Joined: 10/09/06
russ
There's abit of a joke going on there with ben
Assassin landbase fishing club
Faulkner Family
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all good sherbs. i guessed
all good sherbs. i guessed that much , knowing your sense of humor
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Good news on the Surf front
The Kemps down at Dinkum Auto Electrics in Malaga have set me up with a new electrics system and bigger batteries (apparantly the batteries in the waggon were way underpowered).
Hank Bott in Malaga did a service for me yeserday and gave the Surf a big tick, saying it was in great order.
So now I am ready for when I have to tow Sherbs out of Flat Rocks (Lol).
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The_Wanderer
Posts: 735
Date Joined: 24/09/08
Stuff him Leave the Bastard
Stuff him Leave the Bastard there!
The_Wanderer
Posts: 735
Date Joined: 24/09/08
Stuff him Leave the Bastard
whoops double post
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
I can understand that ..LOL we do get emotional at times LOL
Great to see you invested in good advice Colin as it will make your experience so much better. Welcome to the 4x4 club. I look forward to many a trip away with you and the guys.
I was contacted by RAC today saying they were about to settle my claim so I can pick up my u-beaut TD5. Only problem is that Esanda forgot to clear my REVs incumberance after I paid that out 12 months ago. Now I am in the hands of COMPLETE dickheads. Thanks Esenda for nothing.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Really sorry to hear that Vince
That is all you need, stuck in a bureaucratic nightmare.
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