Good Evening.
It is all kicking off at Sierra Brava! The fish have started spawning in and around the bay I am set up in, but fish are still feeding I am glad to say. Last night saw the full moon and what a big moon it turned out to be! I caught a welcome 25lb common at 3am and that was all the action that came my way during the night.
A morning run arrived at 9am as I read my book. A good scrap was put up by a mid double common, so after releasing him back to the water, I set about getting some breakfast. I am starting to run low on food supplies so tinned fish and tinned fruit was the order of the day; followed by two fried egg sandwiches!!
Craig Reed (a guide at Orellana) informed me he was coming down to Brava and wanted to fish alongside me. “Get yourself down here mate,” I replied on the telephone. Just before 4am I had a take as Craig was due to arrive. I had started to hear fish sounds that resembled the sound of spawning carp; on the other side of the bay. I was wondering if this was going to put them off feeding, when the take came on my nearest rod.
I was on it like a shot and like this morning’s smaller common, it quickly kited to my right. I watched the fish as it kited all the way into the margin, and boiled on the surface in shallow water. I could see it was another smallish sized carp, so I thought I would enjoy the ensuing fight as it unfolded. I could hear a vehicle approaching which I presumed would be Craig, as the carp then decided to kite back into deeper water. I was just watching my rod tip, and wasn’t forcing the issue or applying unnecessary pressure, when the hook just pulled. Nevermind!
Craig arrived and got about setting up. He was to fish to my right. It wasn’t long after I had cooked dinner for both of us (after my earlier bacon sandwich, and steak for lunch!), when he had a take within seconds of casting out. He was literally just allowing the line to sink when the rod was literally wrenched from his grasp. It wasn’t long before a good common lay in the net, after first being determined to tangle one of Craig’s other lines! Turning up and catching a 36lb common within a couple of hours can’t be bad going, and I will post the pictures tomorrow as they are on Craig’s camera.
Fish were absolutely everywhere. Hurling themselves clean from the water, head and shouldering, rolling, all over mine and Craig’s spots too, as well as being all over the bay area. It looked like carp broth! I tried to read but the anticipation was too much. I looked at Craig and we both just laughed at the activity going on in front of us. I was about to say that it wasn’t looking like they were interested in feeding, only chasing each other, when Craig’s other rod was away. He played a small common to the net which confirmed they still were on the munch, albeit slightly distracted by spawning rituals.
A rod I had put out at 11am this morning with a generous sized bait offering was suddenly away. The take was slow and the fish hadn’t even taken line off the baitrunner. I picked the rod up and it just felt like a dead weight. It was moving but felt lifeless at the same time. Not once did it turn left or right but instead just came closer and closer. I was still unsure whether I was playing a good fish or a crafty carp, and then I saw the carp break the surface. “I think this one might need a picture mate,” I said to Craig watching from his swim.
Finally I got the creature in the net after what ended up being a slow and protracted fight. I guessed it was upper thirties once I saw its frame, and this was confirmed when I carried her to the mat. Craig did the honours with the camera, after the scales had confirmed a weight of 38lb 8oz. My fourth 30lb+ mirror of the session, out of fourteen carp landed (including the repeat capture), with two more nights to go!
38lb 8oz – an absolute brute of a carp!
Stunning scale pattern and typical of the Sierra Brava mirrors.
I will leave you with the pictures and will be back tomorrow with another post from Sierra Brava.
Cheers
Jake Langley-Hobbs
Tags: carp, jake langley-hobbs, Sierra Brava
