Here We Go Again - Chapter 96 - 80 Mile Beach Day 2

Solar power works well when the sun shines. This park has lots of shady trees so setting up the solar panel for the Cruiser auxiliary battery has its issues. Out early to get the panel working I position it to capture the sun as long as possible. Only one issue, there is a pea-soup fog engulfing the shoreline including the van park as I set it up.

The fog gives a new experience to the beach. The eeriness of the surroundings, and not being able to see vantage points or landmarks can be quite scary. It is mid tide and the water is returning for the noon high. If we walk away from the rising water I must end up back at the park, assuming we have maintained a perpendicular track into the gloom.

Robyn has been engaged in a long phone conversation with her brother and sister in law. It makes the walk go seemingly faster listening to the banter about them in lockdown, wishing they were free to move as we do. They had a Broome trip booked but had it cancelled because of an outbreak in Melbourne.

It’s difficult to put faces to numbers or the concern that requires lockdown when in your immediate vicinity no virus is apparent. Unfortunately, that is the world we live in for now. Premiers with more power than God, seeking to flex their power to the detriment of the rest of the country. Their decisions seem harsh, but time will tell.

Photographs of the all-encompassing cloud are a far cry from yesterday when uninterrupted vision was the order of the day.

The fog will lift, the sun will hit the solar panel, and all will be right with the world of power. For now, though it’s time to get ready. Ready for the fish that will be inhabiting the very spot I am standing, admiring the mudflats and the shroud of cloud.

I am expecting that the melee of fishermen from yesterday will be the norm close to the park. To combat this, a foray down the beach to some secluded spot will be in order. Beach travelling means lowering of tyre pressures to spread the weight of the vehicle across a much larger space on the ground. The bigger the footprint the less weight per square centimetre and a reduction in the chance of bogging to occur. 

I reduce our pressures by half to 20 psi. I check on Silver Leader, on whether he will simply accompany me or put his Cruiser on the beach as well. He is not in the mood to “beach drive” at all. He suggests he wants to dig out some old gear handed down from his father and try it out so to speak here in front of the park rather than risk failure well away from his backup. 

Doesn’t make sense to me, but he is the “professional tournament fisherman”. I will bow to the expertise of my partner in crime. Today we will fish directly in front of the park.

As the top of the tide approaches, I head out to secure a spot before the masses take over. Perhaps the early bird will catch a worm. I am not the first, but for now, there is plenty of room to set up my two rods in their beach holders and wait for the tell-tale bending of an attack.

The beach is not soft. It is very difficult to lodge my rod holders into the “sand”. It doesn’t help that I am wearing “Japanese Work Boots” (read here thongs or flip flops etc.), so bringing my full weight to bear on the apparatus is not possible. In any event they are secured enough for now.

Unlike Barn Hill where losing a bait was apparently impossible, here there are enough annoying small fish to rip your bait from the line, requiring rebating from time to time. I manage to catch a small salmon which I return it to the surf but re-attached to my line as a live bait offering.

The number of fishermen has increased significantly. Many simply aim up next to others, regardless of the proximity, apparently oblivious to the dangers of tangles. Not wanting to be confrontational, I say nothing but soon enough I am sorting out a tangle with a new neighbour, not even looking, having cast across one of my lines. Once is bad luck but when it occurs a second time, I let my concern be voiced. The fisherman apologises and suggests he will try harder. I suggest to him to look at the lines already in the water and cast away from them might be a good start. 

Only one issue with that – the neighbour he has slotted in between now is Silver leader and he is already close. If you want a good spot, you get out early or you walk, but not for this guy. He was here and he wanted to fish – here.

Soon enough the rod bends and bends again before I can get to it. Whatever has attached the salmon has had a really good go. I take the rod from the holder and tighten up the line. For a moment there is weight, then nothing, then weight gain. Whatever I have seems to be swimming towards me.

Reeling quickly I catch up to the fish. The way this is going it will be on the beach shortly. Just at the back of the waves, there is a major change. Apparently, the fish has realised it is hooked and its current direction will have it gasping for water very quickly.

The drag on the reel screams as the fish, probably a large shark, heads off away from the shore. It will be a test of the repaired rod and tip. Many of my friends note I tend to “skull drag” fish but for now, the drag has been set correctly and I suspect the Missing Link would even be impressed. Silver Leader is enjoying me struggle with the fish. 

From time to time I get wind or two on the fish but mostly its quid quo pro. The line comes in, but more line goes out. This goes on for several minutes until the line finally gives way to the knot between the line and the wire trace. The result was well in favour of the fish, there was much less line on the reel than there was prior to the commencement of the fight. 

A good fight. One I lost this time, but unlike in many other “big fish” fights I have had, I managed to stay in it for quite some time.

The water like the shark is receding quite quickly now. Soon I will be casting at the mud. That’s enough for today. Pack up and head back to the van. No need to wander past the cleaning tables. All the fish I caught were undersized or used for live bait.

The gear washed down and stowed ready for tomorrow when we WILL beach it. The time untangling lines today was far too long and too much time from the enjoyment of the experience.

There is finals football on tonight plus the last round of the NRL where my Bunnies are playing the Roosters. First, though we need to sort out dinner. We had taken some chicken out of the freezer (not sure if that was an omen for the fishing exploits or more a premonition). I marinate them in one of the sauces we have and they go very well on the stove. Accompanied with some tomatoes and lettuce, it’s simple but it’s filling.

The AFL is on first, not that my team the Hawks are playing finals football this year – we are still “rebuilding”. A joyous result in the NRL and another bashing for the Chooks. They have been hit with lots of injuries this year and it is starting to show in their depth while South Sydney is hitting their straps heading into the finals.