How’s The Enemy?

By Dan Trotter on April 20, 2015 in Other

My parents always joked (or maybe they weren’t joking), “How’s the enemy?” to one another during busy days. Being free spirited, passionate life livers, they were, of course, talking about time, or the lack thereof. As a youngster I always grinned and enjoyed their lighted-hearted way of checking on a schedule.

With the passing of the years, sadly we all come to appreciate the true nature of what they were saying: blink and life changes; fall asleep at the wheel and you can miss some of the most magical moments it throws up; be too eager planning for the future and you can lose track of what’s happening in your life right now.

I’ve been lucky that my parents instilled in me a deep-set compass to live life in the now, to the fullest, and to make the most of every day. I’ve done this almost to a fault, just ask my friends. Standing here today, though, I wish I’d done it more.

And so it is with fishing. For those of us who love it, we can never get enough, and if you have a close friend or family member who loves it too, even better. Make the most of those moments on the water, paint those pictures indelibly in your mind and use them to carry you through the tough times or even just shitty days at work.

On the fishing front, the seasons will start to change soon. If you like to explore and have itchy feet for warmer pastures, head north. Even if you can only get is an extra day at the end of the week to turn it into a long weekend, take it. A six-hour drive will put you on the Coffs Coast, and as far as I’m concerned an hour south or anywhere north is pretty much God’s country for fisherman during the month of April. Want to know more about fishing up there at this time of year? Shoot me an email at dan@fshrmn.com.

Closer to your door, the fishing remains exceptional. With the changing of the seasons it’s time to embrace the multitude of options you have every time you step onto the ocean’s rocks, the wet sand of the beach or the deck of your trusty fishing boat.

The pocket rockets visiting from the north will be in full force with bonito and frigate mackerel on the chew. The bigger tailor will also turn up to mix it with early schools of Australian salmon and the every-present yellowtail kingfish.

Inshore it’s all about XOS Kingfish, snapper, full moon teraglin and deeper water mulloway. Offshore, as the EAC starts to slow, the number of marlin will begin to thin out and the larger tuna are almost ready to take their place. If deep-water dropping interests you then it could be worth the time and effort to head wide and put your knowledge and tackle to the test in 300 metres of water or more.

Paint those pictures in your mind, cherish the moments with your family and friends and make the most of every day!