My biggest catch

visa · November 04, 2007, 20:04:50 CET

This 12.6 kilos pastardella or as the gozitans call it (imsell tal-imperial) was caught last saturday the 2rd November in force 3/4 at around 9.00am, never imagned that we would catch such a big fish, was not prepared for such a beauty, had nowhere to store it. Such fun and pleasure made my season on just one fish.

visa · November 04, 2007, 20:12:26 CET

more pics

skip · November 05, 2007, 08:39:31 CET

Fantastic what an excellent catch. That must have been a real buzz when you hooked into that. Never hooked up a sail fish yet, I noticed you were using a black/purple ish squid as a lure.

Excellent

shanook · November 05, 2007, 15:28:27 CET

U are perfectly right regarding the lure. The problem is that the maker of those lures (a family run business) stopped the manufacture as they retired. That type of lure and in pink and white is responsibility for spearfish and tunas apart from Alungi.

gabaj · November 05, 2007, 15:43:29 CET

It would make my season if I were to catch such a fish myself but it is still nice to see on a photo.Well done!!!!!!!!!!

twoutes · November 13, 2007, 05:26:36 CET

VERY NICE 'Short Bill Spearfish' Well Done!!!!! A sail fish's dorsal fin is very large and extends nearly right down to its tail fin. We actually hooked onto one in Cairns briefly in the first ten minutes, but dropped it.

Very Nice Catch Visa.

Who says there's no fish in Malta?

shanook · November 17, 2007, 11:52:22 CET

Twoutes our BIG problem with fishing in Malta is that when the fishing season starts we have to take up our boat on the hard, as we do not have decent safe marinas where to put them. The insurances usually cover you till October/November so no use risking the boat.
This is the main reason why we complain of fishing in Malta.....having said that its still of no comparison with Australian fishing.

visa · November 18, 2007, 20:14:47 CET

hey shanook my boat is still in the water but paying the marina for nothing as did not have any decent weather to use the boat , but next tuesday , wensday and thursday looks o.k. so will be going out for sure on one of those days, looking forward to catch a even bigger one (never Know) but will try one last time if i catch nothing will put boat up but if i do (catch anything) will leave it up till 15th December,

shanook · November 19, 2007, 19:54:03 CET

The BEST of luck to you Visa. There are a lot of pastardell and good sized pixxispad around. Hope you catch a bigger one that the last. But weather is going to go up for Thursday so better check the weather forecast as I know you go out quite a bit. If you can stay till the 15 better keep it there as you never know when the weather breaks....

ciappinu · November 20, 2007, 20:05:38 CET

I wouldn't be so doomy and gloomy about fishing here. I'm sure we can't compare it to a country where you have hundreds of miles of coast with lots of diversity, but hey, we are right in the center of the Mediterranean, we have loads of migratory fish passing by between June and December.

I personnaly can't complain much, and I know there is much more I can do and learn to improve my catches. I know fisherman, who don't post in this forum, but catch as much fish as us all put together. Huge Amberjack, Dentici, Albacore, Groupers, Tuna, Swordfish........Top game fish and its all here! Maybe thanks to this forum, by sharing between us, we can make up for what our older ancestors shared at the Xelin Wine Bars after they got drunk!

I'm personally going to invest in a good down rigger next year, thats my target. Dentici and Amberjack. Some friends had really good success with Amberjack.

visa · November 20, 2007, 21:28:02 CET

hi ciappinu
cant agree with you more, have a top dowrigger myself but hardly used it this year (just used it once) have been meaning to use it for the last two months but then i always preferr to troll on the surface as still havent got used to the downrigger but will try it once before i put my boat up.

Before u buy i can leand u a book called all about downriggers what to buy and what u need to know about them before u buy, on condition u give it back

just let me know if u are interested. myself cant complain as this year i caught my biggest fish although it was a poor year next to other years for example last year caught so many lampuki that had nowhere to store them and finsihed either giving them away to family and friends. and releasing those we caught under one and half kilo.(approx) But as the saying goes The fisherman is never happy with his catch, always thinking about the one that got away.

busumark · November 21, 2007, 10:56:38 CET

more people seem to be using downriggers. the problem is that in malta to buy something(downrigger,electric reels,gps,fishfinders) they are always a lot more expensive than abroad. my friend just bought a manuaul downrigger from usa from the net and got it with shipping and other expenses half the price than from malta. the brand of downrigger. even if you search for electric reels there are some places that the prices are nearly half of the prices in malta

skip · November 21, 2007, 11:14:06 CET

You are right ciappinu, there are definately fish to be caught, but I think the measure needs to be done against the casual fisherman who has the time to go out say once a week. If someone goes out three or four times a week for different types of fishing one would expect a much higher catch percentage.

I also think one has to look at the method of fishing as for me there is a big difference between fishing by rod or hand line, versus long lining, nets or large metal nassa in deep water. That said there are some excellent fishermen in Malta with years of experience and their own techniques who as you say are extremely productive. Perhaps we will be lucky to have one of them join the site one day and post some tips.

From a personal perspective I would love to learn more about downrigger and bottom line fishing and fishing with live bait, but I feel one has to have the right boat that is geared up for that.

Skip

visa · November 21, 2007, 19:48:34 CET

hi busumark , dont take it against the local shopekeeper, regarding the prices, you have a choice you can either buy from the net or go to the local shops, dont forget the local shop has a limited number of people to sell to, cost are high ie. employees, rent, stocks, electricty, vat, incometax, etc etc.. but from the internet they are selling to the world with a big choice and the amount they buy and sell they can afford to give those prices.
Having said that i bought a downrigger from usa and had to pay for carrage, vat and duty. bought it because there wasent the choice and varity in the local shops otherwise whenever i can i buy from local shops and skip the offer for the book is also extended to you.

ciappinu · November 22, 2007, 19:05:49 CET

Thanks Visa, I had a look at some downriggers at the local shops. They all seemed the same to me so you are right, I need to do some research first! I might ask you for that book.

Skip, I was impressed this summer when a friend of mine went fishing with an experienced Sport Fisherman from the older generation. They managed to catch around 9 alungi and a massive kastardella, or whatever you call it, when the forum was lacking the smallest of alungis! They were sport fishing of course.