May 31, 2003
THE SEA WAS ANGRY THAT DAY, MY FRIENDS
This morning we're hunting mankind's greatest foe - the yellow-fin tuna, or, as it's known around these parts, the Water Bastard. A boat has been hired; gear prepared; crew assembled; crack vials loaded.
We're ready.
The question is: are they?
UPDATE. The yellow fin still stalks the seas. None were caught, although several snapper were landed and a mako shark briefly detained. All captured seabeasts - about 50, including leatherjackets, pike, and some fish I'd never heard of called "sweep" - have since been eaten or donated to the hungry.
Posted by Tim Blair at May 31, 2003 05:46 AMGood luck, and good fishing. I used to pursue the legendary "Ahi" in Hawaii.
Posted by: Wallace at May 31, 2003 at 06:50 AMIs "crack vials" a reference to the 'King of the Hill' episode where they use it as bait?
Posted by: Damian P. at May 31, 2003 at 07:03 AMSounds like fun. Is the plan to turn the fish into sashimi, cut it into steaks and grill it, or what?
Posted by: Michael Jennings at May 31, 2003 at 10:42 AMHemmingway used a .45 Thompson gun (Islands in the Stream), though curiously enough, Hunter Thompson preferred a .45 Colt (The Gret Shark Hunt).
Posted by: Paul Pottinger at May 31, 2003 at 05:15 PMHave a blast. A man is tapping a primordial virility when he engages the fearsome tuna fish with the best hardware Smith & Wesson have on offer. Go carefully, men. Hooha.
Posted by: Earnest Hemmingway at May 31, 2003 at 05:40 PMIs the plan to turn the fish into sashimi, cut it into steaks and grill it, or what?
Huh? What is this nonsense? There's only one way to serve tuna:
Cook fish (I admit I'm unclear on this part---probably you boil it in a big vat)
Mush up into bits
Add mayonnaise and diced onions and sweet pickle
Spread on white bread
Throw away (at least, that's what I do with it--- I hate fish.)
Posted by: Angie Schultz at May 31, 2003 at 11:15 PMJeez. Leatherjackets, Pike and Sweep. Did you catch anything that wasn't a shitfish?
Posted by: Yobbo at June 1, 2003 at 02:15 AMYeah, and leatherjackets cook up nicely. Sweeps less so, but they make good cevice just like trevally do. Just marinate raw chunks in lemon juice and add cilantro and garlic. Serve with beer or cheap wine.
Posted by: gerry garvey at June 1, 2003 at 02:42 AM"Serve with beer or cheap wine." I dunno about you city slickers but our dogs work for a living!
We can't be feeding them alcohol with their trevally or they'll get bowled over by an angry Merino.
Posted by: Yobbo at June 1, 2003 at 03:45 AMYob: the mako was about four foot long, as judged by me when the fucker leapt out of the water just off the side of the boat. Then it slashed the line and fled.
Posted by: tim at June 1, 2003 at 04:50 AMSorry you didn't catch any tuna, but it sounds like you had a good day out anyway. I love bluewater fishing. Sounds like an agenda item whenever I make it Down Under.
Posted by: charles austin at June 1, 2003 at 07:44 AMGet down here and I'll arrange it, Charles. $US65 buys you a whole day.
Posted by: tim at June 1, 2003 at 12:02 PMFish have been off the bite down at Wye River since the big heroin bust three weeks ago. Consensus is that although the cops found 80kg and 50 kg bundles of high grade smack, another 50kg got washed off the dinghy. Greenie the publican reckons the snapper have checked into Betty Ford.
Posted by: slatts at June 1, 2003 at 01:49 PMOK, yobbo, you are right about trevally. I once cooked one up alongside some bream. The wife said the trevally compared unfavourably to used tissues. But better than the flathead some generous wog gave me when I first arrived in Australia. We were standing on Ben Buckler north of Bondi. At the time I was unaware of Bondi murk (sewerage outlet for those who have not been there) a few metres north...
Posted by: gerald garvey at June 2, 2003 at 02:48 AMAngie, you disappoint me. A nice piece of lightly grilled tuna is one of the nicest things the Almighty ever invented. And fatty tuna on rice with a little Wasabi, same again.
Posted by: Michael Jennings at June 2, 2003 at 09:28 PM