Today I skipped work and planned to go fishing. One of the advantages of owning your own business is you can make decisions like that! Anyway, I thought that first I should go and try and do a bit of Christmas shopping. I drove around and around looking for a car park. I battled my way through other weary Christmas shoppers and over whelming shelves full of Christmas bling, to the point where I said enough! I drove just a little way out of town to this beautiful, serene and very lovely place.
I took mum too! Now I come from a long line of fisher folk. My grandparents were keen fishing people, so too was my mum and dad. They in turn passed on the passion to my brother and I and now all our kids are keen too. I think for me though, most of the pleasure is derived from just being peaceful by the waters edge. I love sitting in the sun on a quiet river bank, watching the birds flying by and all the little insects flitting about. It is often time just to unwind and relax. If I catch dinner then that’s a bonus!
It was just coming onto dusk when the fish started to bite. Now like every good fishing story, I have to tell you about “the one that got away.” I caught a really, really big flathead. Beautiful eating fish and they can grow very large. Anyway because we didn’t have a net, I couldn’t lift it onto the little jetty so my fishing line snapped and I lost it. I was happy to see him swim away, he was a very beautiful and very big fish!
We caught other fish too, such as trevalley, bream and luderick. But these were all too small too keep and so were released back into the water.
Now at this particular spot there are many pelicans who swim very close by when they feel there may be a feed of fish heads on the menu.
They have such amazing large beaks for holding lots and lots of fish. They also make the most amazing guttural kind of noise which I think actually resembles the noise a camel makes! Pelicans are much loved and admired.
Oh I nearly forgot! Mum caught a puffer fish too! Even the pelicans wont eat this one.
There are also lots of Australian Seagulls around. Many people are not fans of the seagull as they are considered to be scavenger birds. Personally, I think they are very beautiful. This poor one had a missing foot. This appears to be a common occurrence with seagulls and someone once told me it is because fish bite them off when they are sitting on the water. I don’t know how much truth is in that.
It was a beautiful and relaxing way to spend an afternoon and early evening.
Upon arriving home I decided there was no escaping my Christmas list. So I made a start on my traditional Christmas fruit cake. All the yummy fruit when into the bowl with a good splash ( or two or three…) of French brandy. I’ll let it macerate for a few days and then cook a big, delicious cake.
I guess things can get pretty hectic at this time of year, so I hope you can all take some time out like I did today. In fact, I reckon I might try and get back there tomorrow….
