” It was a Thursday night we decided to check the weather hoping for a good say on the rocks. With everything lining up with light off shore wind and a small swell, time to pack the bags ready for first light sunrise rock mission. It was 4am Friday morning on the road, 1hr drive to a spot we do well coming over the hill we could see the ocean, a GLASS OFF short 4×4 drive in we knew we have a good shot at some good fish.

Fast forward to a quick rig up, i started fishing bottom with paternoster rig and fresh herring, after 30mins of fishing it was very slow so I decided to change it up to live herring under a balloon. Few moments later, I’m hooked up on to a big salmon which was a short fight and onto the gaff I landed a keeper. Not long after, another live bait when out and within a minute the drag was screaming! so i locked it up which I knew I had hooked a big fish! Here I am Hanging on watching the line peel knowing nothing i can do feeling the reef and suddenly snap! I got snapped off and looked down, i had massive king fish and salmon fish swimming at our feet in the burly.

Adrenaline starts pumping knowing if I land one of these fish, it was going to be a personal best. Quickly tying on the STF stick bait and sent it out, with few twitches.. Bang! massive king fish surface strike! The fish being around 20kg plus I knew I had my hands full as I lock the drag and true slow this fish down I knew I had no chance and made it into the reef and busted me off! I was heart breaking. I wasn’t going to give up after my mate landed a big one, I knew as long as I kept sending that bait, I was going to land one after a few more casts.

 Suddenly! I hooked up to a screaming drag! With going to the plan I managed to slow this fishing down after working it back to the rocks, I saw the fish and my eyes lit up as the fish hit the gaff. It was a personal best by far, kept my cool fighting the fish until I released a yell of happiness and boom! up comes a massive yellow tail king fish hitting the STF PB Bragmat, measuring 1.45m long and 24kg on stickbait setting my new PB. Not long after an exhausting workout, I Decided to call it a day and as the job was complete ”

Gear Used 
Reel: Shimano Saragossa 8000
Rod:  Catch Pro Series Pe6 Popping Rod
Line: Tasline
Lure: Ocean Legacy Keeling StickBait
Bragmat: STF PB Bragmat

Angler Cowan John Wise