I get constant remarks that people notice I am not writing up big stories at present about all the massive fish we have caught and the ones that got away. Well the answer is quite simple, Santa Claus didn't bring masses of fish for Xmas, not even as a New Years present. For some reason the fish seem to go on Holiday for December. I noticed it last Year when we went all December, 5 weeks in fact without a  big fish bite.   What is brought at this time of the Year is superb weather, with calm Seas, light winds and a temperature that is just perfect for relaxing. Mind that did not mean that December was 'Fishless'  we usually had one 'Big Fish' each trip and the bags were easily filled with lesser fish for the pot. As I have said the Ladies much prefer a lot of smaller fish to a big one. Life is like that, thankfully.   Now however we are into January, Historically good, and the 'Boat'  went out on Friday the 11th and came back with two Cobia of 10kg, so we set out on this day with our hopes up. The Sea was superb, the weather was excellent and on a day like this it doesn't get any better, mind a fish or two would be nice.   Big lines out and a bit of fishing with the small lines until a big one went. It was not long, then two lines zipped out and both were blanks as the fish took the bait to the hook and departed, but they were there and we knew it.  With anticipation we watched and soon another zipped out and Tom Cotton was into a good fight as the fish decided to go for a trip around the boat. Mind our Tom is not to be put off and he soon had it to the back of the boat, and then Supper was on board. The first one is always the important one, it is the difference between, 'Yes of course we had a big fish' and 'Sorry another blank(etty) day.    Back to watching and soon another line zipped out and Nigel Perry was at the helm. Now Nigel is an experienced hand at this sort of thing and he soon had the fish mastered and to the back of the boat. Job done!!. Well not quite as the best laid plans of Mice and Men came into force. With the fish at the back of the boat, the Captain bent down to gaff it and bring it aboard, something he has done dozens of times before, and missed, but obviously hit the fish, and it took off like a bat out of Hell. When the line was brought in the hook was straight. One each.   Quiet descended now for a couple of hours while we caught up on some shut eye, then the line went again, and this time Nigel not only got it to the boat, but we got it on board. Cobia is the fish we try to catch for two reasons, it gives a good fight, and it is just about the tastiest fish around, but Queen Fish and Pompano also swim in the Cobia waters.   The Sea abounds with all sorts of fish and different areas provide different fish. Sandy bottoms are good for Rays but they are not really tasty, while the reefs are good for reef fish, but here they tend to be a bit smaller.   Now it was a couple of hours fishing for smaller fish, of which the Padang, a red fish, is the preferred fish of the Ladies when you get home. Very tasty.   So with a couple of 'Big Un's'  a tale of the one that got away and a bag or two of Padang, it was time to make our way home and cool down with a 'Cold One or Two'. T.T.F.N.. 

Tom with his Cobia

Nigel with the one that did not get away.