After not having much luck trolling lures behind the AI I have decided to change tactics and use more soft plastic around the headlands and drop offs. Today I planned to head to Outer Newry Island and cast around the rock ledge and try some jigging in the deeper water. I never reached my intended desitantion, however. Upon reaching Victor creek boat ramp I saw that the tide was already heading in and the wind was very still - this means pedalling against the current to get out.
 
The weather was sensational: clear skies, calm seas and steadily increasing wind. It did still take a long time to get out of the estuary/channels. I had been trolling a Rapala CD11 out my way out and was deciding whether I should change to a deeper diver when I had a solid strike. Line peeled off at a rate of knots and by the time I got the sail furled and the yak turned, 50 m of braid had been taken. Taking the rod I applied more pressure and knew straight away that it was a decent sized trevally and after a short but hard fought fight I had colour. A nice Golden trevally appeared yak side and was using the tidal current to prevent me from lifting any closer so I could grab the leader. Finally it conceded and I had the leader, as I reached out to release it (bigger then I like to keep) it flipped around and damaged itself, immediately bleeding heavily. I then decided that it was going to be dinner and dispatched it quickly.

Resetting myself and the sail I decided to keep with the Rapala but was keen to get out the front and start throwing some plastics. I soon realised that my time was quickly running out and the tide and winds were fighting me all the way. There was another less attractive rock ledge closer and as I changed direction I got another strike, this one was way bigger then the first making it hard for me to remove the rod from the rod holder.
 
Again I called trevally, but much bigger this time. The fight was on and I can truly say that I had this rod fully loaded and the fish was still taking line. Pedalling after it, I was able to gain much of the line back and as I got closer the fish started to play dirty by trying to drag me into some shallows rocks. I held on to the spool and pedalled like mad to get away and after a minute or so stalemate I was able to turn the fish and it bolted past me. Still with a tight drag I gained enough line to see colour and there was the biggest Golden trevally I had ever seen - it must have been close if not a metre long. I was able to easily release this fish and it actually stay with the yak of a short while before it swam off.
 
It was getting on so decided to make my way slowly back to the ramp, working with the tide and wind the trip back was easy and I managed to hook and lose 2 more smaller fish. I was going to cast and retrieve but the sandflies were maddening and soon left. Gee it was nice to get my arms stretched and to have new found confidence in trolling lures.