Glory Hunter


Glory Hunting has been around since the start of time, Humans or homo sapiens evolved about 35 000 years ago, they were considered ' big game hunters' and held a sophisticated arsenal of tools and weapons and were of greater intellect than the Neanderthal people that they replaced.(Although some modern day fisherman are excluded). The Homo sapiens were smaller physically than the Neanderthals so they had to develop newer, better and less exhausting hunting techniques to bring down the "big game". So through evolution man developed skills to capture previously unhunted animals of the "big game" kingdom. So the mere act of hunting is in our basic bio-mechanics for self survival. Humans being carnivore's means that to feed we need to hunt another animal to survive, this sounds barbaric I know but god created us this way for the good of Bio-diversity. So to get the most meal out of one hunt humans usually hunted large examples of any particular species that were on there food list, this gave them the highest energy used to energy gained ratio and thus ensuring the survival of man even in the most demanding and hospitable climates and circumstances. Humans are usually regarded as the top predator in most food chains so they play an important role in keeping the right balance in the eco-system, most large animals are cannibalistic so taking the large examples also helps the survival of the hunted species also. Humans like many other large predators, through instinct will only take other animals that are strong and healthy, where as other animals that are regarded as scavengers, will take the sick and injured and clean up any left over corpses. This is Mother natures way to keep all animals alive and living and part of the overall ' blue-print' of life.

As time progressed, humans developed into tribes and started cultures and traditions that were associated with hunting. Some were that women gathered and men hunted and for the boy's to learn the lessons of hunting they had to go and hunt with the older men and develop the skills needed to capture food for the survival of the tribe. As the boys got older there would be initiation ceremonies that would declare the boys to be men, to pass these tests some times the boys would have to hunt a large animal by themselves and prove that they were true hunters.

Some species of prey that were extraordinary large and dangerous to hunt were only hunted on special occasions, these animals were regarded as great creatures and the successful hunt of these dangerous animals by a tribal member would elevate their status in the tribe to one of Chief or tribal elder and thus a lot of glory was associated with the successful hunt of these animals and so all other younger hunters would try to develop the skill and courage to succeed and one day become a leader themselves.

So not much has changed from then to today in hunting terms, today men and women hunt for large specimens for food or for just glory. Everybody knows than to catch these large specimens you need to study their behaviour and habits and try to outwit them and make a successful capture. Today we know more about sustainability so these large specimens should were applicable be caught, photographed and released to breed and keep the species in good numbers so everybody that cares to try, can experience the thrill of Glory Hunting.

Over the years the thrill of hunting has rubbed off on nearly all of the aspects of life in todays world, today as in every other time through the centuries men try to be the tribal leaders by different tried and true methods, size has always been the yardstick that all people measure their successes, so for modern man to be or feel successful he or she has to be the biggest or own the biggest or drive the biggest so from that, we can assume that "size does matter" and relates to everything.

Today men and women compare the size of their possessions to the size of others to see were they sit in the society, just like our ancestors did many thousands of years ago, instead of comparing animal tooth necklaces, we now compare cloths and the more expensive the better, instead of cows we now compare farms, instead of huts we now compare mansions and the list goes on and on so if any one tells you that "size doesn't matter," ask what planet they are from because their not from earth.

Today man doesn't have to hunt at all to prove his or her status in our society, all you have to do is be seen in some of the great GLORY HUNTER merchandise available today and all will know that you are a highly skilled and talented hunter of the great and allusive catch of pure status. If you don't think that this is enough to convince your friends, you can and should send us you photo of your latest and greatest catch so we can show it to the world, then there is no dispute that you have attained the status of GLORY HUNTER. Remember that the mere act of waring any of the Glory Hunter range may lift you into a status position in society that all of the younger and smaller pawns will try and overtake you, so be vigilant and always keep ahead by purchasing and waring the best gear on the market today and stay number one.


Easter at Hann Crossing, Lakefield National Park
Filed under: Fishing Yarns - admin at 4:08 pm on Monday, April 2, 2007
Finishing work at lunch time on the Thursday, racing home and hooking on to the previously packed boat and camper and leaving for Lakefield via the Atherton Tablelands arriving at Hann Crossing at 8:00pm. Setting up a basic camp in the dark and heading for the "waterfall" for a quick fix of lure casting. After ten minutes we picked up a nice barramundi of 9 pounds and decided after the big drive that we should get some shut eye in preparation for a big weekend of fishing.
Rising early on Good Friday, we ventured back to the waterfall to try our luck again but to no avail, only 3 under sized barra. But this did not deter us. After breakfast, we launched the boat and fished the river directly below the waterfall. This spanse of water goes for approximately 6km and is a good camp site for a land based angler. Working this water way we picked up a few cat fish and a small barra of 6 pounds.
We tossed lures at likely spot's down both sides for no gain, then trailed deep divers across some rock ledges for 2 under size barra but no fish of any quality.
After lunch we trailed a large rock bar for 2 more average but good table size barra. Working our way down to "Sandy Creek" (where a small sandy tributary enters Hann River) we picked up another 10 pound barramundi but failed to boat several good sized fish. On our way back to camp we saw several crocodiles in the 3 to 3.5m range and this reinforced our healthy respect we have for the natural predators in this system.
Proceeding back to "Sandy Creek" after tea where we tossed lures for 15 minutes, We worked the mouth of the creek intensly then drifted out wards with the flow into deeper water where I landed my first size barra of 19 pounds on a gold bomber lure. We didn't need lights on our way home as my smile lit up the creek enough for everyone to see. The lure was lucky to hold a fish of this size as I had not replaced the weak trebles that these lures come with.
Day 3. We motored down stream to the top of the rapids and walked for 2 ½ hours towards the brackish water tossing lures at likely spots. Eventually finding a rocky outcrop heavily treed that had fish written all over it. Clay cast first for an undersized barra which was released quickly and then Rusty landed a 12 pound barra which started one of the hottest barra-on-lure sessions I've ever experienced. The water was boiling with barramundi and tarpon. With ever cast a fish smashed our ever depleting supply of Rapala shadraps . After about 1 hour we had an 11, 12, 14 and 18 pound freshwater barramundi to lug back the 2 ½ hour walk to the boat. All fish after this were caught and released, and left for another day. Within that hour we had caught 14 barra in total, missed at least half as many again and thought we were in fisho's heaven. The walk back seemed to only take half as long as the adrenalin in our system was running rampant.
Day 4 we decided to fish the Hann again this time using live shrimps that we had caught in a trap set with a half boiled potato. After baiting the set lines we trailed some lures against the bank's for not much gain but again picked up a nice barra at the mouth of "sandy creek". Going back to check the set line's we saw a 3 metre croc in the middle of the day which was strange, then we saw why, baby croc's were making there way down to the water and mum was on guard. We ventured closer to the bank to have a better look at this rare and incredible sight but before long mum decided that we were too close. After checking the set lines with all but one being "baited" we decided to concentrate on luring. That afternoon we travelled to Stoney creek which had dried up into several billabongs, the fish were hungry but most of them were the dreaded catfish. We landed two barra of about 10 pounds but almost every cast drew the catfish and we decided to leave them and head back to camp, pack up and head for home capping off a top weekend of barra fishing.


The Trout Bombie
Filed under: Fishing Yarns - admin at 4:08 pm on Monday, April 2, 2007
Working on an east coast prawn trawler out of Gladstone has some pretty good advantages for a keen angler and diver. Working nights trawling leaves plenty of time for recreational pursuits like spear fishing. While anchored in behind reefs for shelter during the day, good spearing is as close as putting on fins and a mask, grabbing a gun and entering the water.
After cleaning the nets and having breakfast the skipper and I decided to have a dive before hitting the sack for some shut eye. It was 7:00am on August 24, on the north western side of the reef, water was flat calm, water visibility was exceeding 15m, which is not uncommon for the Swains. As my dive buddy (the skipper) and I prepared our gear, he taunted me about the recent poor quality of my captures, and I retaliated with the usual, "Get f--d!", and told him today was going to be different. So as we enter the water I was dreaming about the large trout that are so common to this area.
We entered the water and scoped some likely bombies and saw some encouraging signs as we warmed up on some average yellow and red throat emperor.
As we swam towards what we later named the Trout Bombie, we saw large trout cruising the sea floor, as Craig (the skipper) descended he nailed a 4kg blue spot, then followed up with another 2 good trout. The large trout we saw as we swam in must have swum off as we could not locate them. We decided to move to the next bombie and shot some more nice trout and lipper. I shot a nice footballer trout and Craig near skinned an average trout with an awesome gut shot. We decided to head back to the boat and get some sleep and come back the next day, and as we made our way back to the boat I noticed how nice the coral was and how much life was about at the coral bombies. You often don't notice the quality of your surroundings when focussing, hunting down a large fish. At the boat we did a tally and we had 1 blue spot, 8 common and 1 footballer trout, 2 red throat lipper and 1 coral cod, a nice 75 minutes of spearing and a great way to start the day.
The next day, after steaming a few miles north, we anchored behind another reef and prepared to dive again. Craig entered the water first and nailed a nice yellow lipper, then a red throat and a nice trout. As we swam on further I noticed a trout under a plate. As I descended I cleaned him up with a nice head shot. He was a blue spot of 9 pounds. I moved to the edge of the bombie and a 30 pound Maori wrasse was sitting at the top of the bombie in about 1 metre of water searching for crabs ,what a beautiful fish! I descended down the bombie and nailed a blue spot trout of about 10 pounds and Craig got one of about 12 pounds. I then shot a blue bone of about 10 pounds and then one a bit smaller. We were swimming down either side of a long bombie by this stage and we came across a large cave, lurking in the shadows was a trout of about 24 pounds. Craig gave me the nod to take first shot, but god damn it I missed, then the smart arse nailed him with a great cheek shot! Gee I was pissed off, but Craig was gloating at my expense the whole day. We moved up a bit further and Craig nailed a nice 7 pound tiger trout. I shot and lost two more blue bone before nailing a nice flowery cod.
Craig got rushed by a 6-7 foot shark while tying up a nice trout so we decided to head back to the boat. On the way back I shot a nice trout and more sharks moved in, so we made a b-line for the boat before we lost any fish.
Later on while cleaning the fish I noticed a large turrum feeding on the scrap's I was throwing over board. I called Craig and he jumped in and nailed him but there was no stopping this fish. So I loaded another gun and speared him again to stop him. We got him to the boat and weighed him, 50 pounds of pure muscle, what a fish!
It's now 10:30am and time for us to get some sleep, but neither of us could think about sleep with all the adrenalin still pumping from our morning session. The only problem is we were 75 miles away from anyone to brag to, but happy all the same.


Glory Hunter


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