Popular Post Plaicehunter Posted May 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 5, 2021 My boat is pretty stable, but there was plenty of rock and roll this morning on my local estuary, with a vicious wind battering against the flooding tide. After two hours, one move and many lure changes, I finally felt a bump on my Megabass Flatbacker. The fish didn't stick, and a schoolie hooked a few casts later came unstuck, but it was vaguely encouraging. Suddenly the lure stopped with a bang and a heavy fish tore off downtide with the reel wailing. My main concern was the bass coming off, as I fish barbless, but I convinced myself that if I kept a tight line it would be OK. Eventually the fish stopped and I began to work it back amid several more runs. Then it surfaced in a mighty swirl, there was a lot of head-shaking, a tail like a shovel waved me goodbye and it tore off again. All the time I was talking to the fish, telling it I wasn't going to hurt it and that I would put it back. Eventually it surfaced and I saw for the first time how big it was. At least if it fell off now I would know what I'd lost! Fortunately it didn't come off, I didn't bungle the netting and one of the biggest bass I've ever seen was heaved aboard. The lure fell out in the net and I transferred the fish into a big garden bin of sea water I keep on board. Only the front half fitted in, but at least it could breathe while I sorted out the equipment. My new red metre ruler was unfolded and the fish measured at a mighty 80cm, nose to tail-tip. It eclipsed my previous one, a fish of 8lb 6oz caught last year not far away. I desperately wanted the bass to swim away strongly and it did, none the worse for its brief encounter with me. A new personal best and a fabulous fish which I'll never forget! Maverick, suzook12, Davemc and 6 others 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 This report was exciting on the first read, the second it was even better. Especially with the added photo evidence. A great catch indeed, well done! I don’t have a length to weight chart handy, so what did it weigh? Around 11lb? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuda4 Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 Lovely fish, you certainly know you have been a battle of wills when a nice bass hits your line,making me jealous sitting at home with F6 wind blowing. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 Wow! That's a beast!! What a great fish, and a super report. 80cm is very nearly a 13lb bass, according to UKBASS (https://www.ukbass.com/weight-for-it/) Very well done indeed. 👍👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaicehunter Posted May 5, 2021 Author Share Posted May 5, 2021 Apologies for the duplicated report. I got a bit excited! I weighed the fish in a wet sling but only on a spring balance with 8oz gradations. It was somewhere between 10.5lb and 11lb. I think later in the year and in peak condition it would have gone nearly 13lb. It had a massive frame and the tail was a real paddle. PH GPSguru, Andy135, Maverick and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 3 minutes ago, Plaicehunter said: Apologies for the duplicated report. I got a bit excited! I weighed the fish in a wet sling but only on a spring balance with 8oz gradations. It was somewhere between 10.5lb and 11lb. I think later in the year and in peak condition it would have gone nearly 13lb. It had a massive frame and the tail was a real paddle. PH That’s why I said 11lb because even though it had good length the thickness was a bit lacking. But a proper good fish for so early in the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davemc Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 Epic catch , Well done 👍 Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 Not bad I suppose. Did I tell you about the whiting I caught?.... GPSguru and Maverick 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 Now that’s a catch report.... 10/10! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bones Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 Nice work!! Stuff of dreams. Well done 👍👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass&Chips Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 Excellent bass & what a power unit it has. No wonder it was stripping line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPSguru Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 20 hours ago, Plaicehunter said: My boat is pretty stable, but there was plenty of rock and roll this morning on my local estuary, with a vicious wind battering against the flooding tide. After two hours, one move and many lure changes, I finally felt a bump on my Megabass Flatbacker. The fish didn't stick, and a schoolie hooked a few casts later came unstuck, but it was vaguely encouraging. Suddenly the lure stopped with a bang and a heavy fish tore off downtide with the reel wailing. My main concern was the bass coming off, as I fish barbless, but I convinced myself that if I kept a tight line it would be OK. Eventually the fish stopped and I began to work it back amid several more runs. Then it surfaced in a mighty swirl, there was a lot of head-shaking, a tail like a shovel waved me goodbye and it tore off again. All the time I was talking to the fish, telling it I wasn't going to hurt it and that I would put it back. Eventually it surfaced and I saw for the first time how big it was. At least if it fell off now I would know what I'd lost! Fortunately it didn't come off, I didn't bungle the netting and one of the biggest bass I've ever seen was heaved aboard. The lure fell out in the net and I transferred the fish into a big garden bin of sea water I keep on board. Only the front half fitted in, but at least it could breathe while I sorted out the equipment. My new red metre ruler was unfolded and the fish measured at a mighty 80cm, nose to tail-tip. It eclipsed my previous one, a fish of 8lb 6oz caught last year not far away. I desperately wanted the bass to swim away strongly and it did, none the worse for its brief encounter with me. A new personal best and a fabulous fish which I'll never forget! Well done Graham, epic, a fish of dreams. It took me 30 years to get a boat double (10lb 2oz) , but have had loads off the wrecks just under that very magical 10lb. Very well done indeed 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyswamp Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 An excellent and well deserved fish 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony smith Posted May 7, 2021 Share Posted May 7, 2021 Nice Bass mate It's what we all want to catch mate Great job 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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