Victor Darby reckons Fish of the Week winner Yasmin Dolman is the keenest fisherwoman he's ever met, but he's got an axe to grind.
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"She's just passionate about fishing, has her own tinnie and never misses a chance to get out on the water, but she has this rod we call "Poxy" because it IS so poxy. Absolute rubbish. And she continually catches all these great fish on it," Victor said.
Including this week's Fish of the Week snapper which was hooked in behind Moon Island off Swansea on Tuesday.
"It was windy and choppy and so we took cover there and sure enough, old Poxy started bending and Yasmin boated this nice snapper," Victor said. "She did real well because the rod's only light but she took her time."
Yasmin was at it again yesterday and got a couple of nice big salmon in the channel.
"Poxy has caught many a fish," Yasmin said yesterday, confirming Victor's bittersweet report.
"I was suprised I got that snapper in too because the guide is missing at the end of Poxy and it is like a guillotine and should by all rights cut the line, but that's Poxy for you. There's other bits and pieces missing on it too, but there you go. Old faithful."
Yasmin was surprised at the number of salmon in the channel.
"I've never seen as many. I was working the Casper Clears, but they were taking everything - pilchards, squid."
Victor meanwhile was sunning himself up in Hamilton Island where he is celebrating his son's 30th birthday, kicking off proceedings by boating a nice Spanish mackerel on Friday.
Now that's not so poxy.
Junior comp
Teralba Lakesiders Fishing Club will run their first Junior Fishing Tournament on November 3, 2019.
It will be a catch and release tournament with a team format.
There are three (3) divisions: Primary School, Secondary School and Club/Family teams plus a mystery fish award as well.
All competitors will receive a goody bag, hat, brag mat and the chance to win a $200 prize pack.
The first 40 registrations will also receive a bonus neck buff and team managers of the first 10 teams will receive a cooler bag.
"We are hoping to attract at least 10 to 15 teams this year with a view to turn this inaugural tournament into an annual classic event," Teralba Lakesiders president Ian West said.
"There will be a special workshop (toolbox talk) presented by Jason Nunn on Friday, November 1 (5-6pm) for all competitors, team and club officials and interested fishing club members.
"The fishing competition is from 6am to 2pm on Sunday with results to be handed in between 2pm to 3pm. Presentation will run from 3pm to 3.30pm with a barbecue to follow, at which competitors receive a free BBQ meal."
All proceeds from the tournament are going to Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie who will be running the BBQ.
Warhorse rises
Warrior angler Steven Stefanovski emerged from fishing retirement through the week to go jewfishing on Lake Macquarie.
Readers may remember Steve from Fish of the Week back in May this year when he featured "Mano a Tuna" with a mighty 13kg bluefin tuna hooked off the rocks at Newcastle.
Tuesday night he was back chasing mulloway in conditions as he described as a "not bad" - a little bit wet and windy. In other words, crap.
"I was out at Pulbah Island in Lake Macquarie with boat Mundule who knows the best fishing spots."
Fishing with fresh squid Steve didn't have much luck apart from a whiting which he hooked up as live bait.
"Just before leaving I caught a tailor and i decided to swap the whiting for the tailor," Steve said.
"About 20 minutes later my live bait (tailor) was smashed and boy did it take off like a rocket. After a 10 minute fight I reeled in my catch which was 91cm flathead weighing 3.1kg."
Steve normally releases the big flatheads, but this lizard was gut-hooked and could not be saved.
Handy tool
DPI Fisheries has launched a new and improved tool for the community to report sightings of threatened fish and aquatic vegetation.
It can be found on DPI's website, or through a link on DPI's FishSmart App, and enables anglers to report any threatened species they see or accidentally catch.
User-friendly links allow people to check differences between threatened and similar but more common species. A mapping tool enables accurate location and you can upload photos and videos both of which provide crucial information for fisheries managers and researchers.
For more information, or to report a threatened species, download the FishSmart App, visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/threatened-species/report-it, or email fisheries.threatenedspecies@dpi.nsw.gov.au.