One is a 1kg whiting, the other a mangrove Jack.

To this day I have never seen or had reported a 1kg whiting and until last Saturday I had not had any evidence that a mangrove Jack was caught on a line in our waters.

I had just completed my weekly radio program with Craig Hamilton on ABC 1233, where I was telling Craig about the absence of a line caught jack, when I checked my emails.

Unbelievably there was a message from a young Medowie champion Drewe Jensen. Drewe, who would go fishing on a damp lawn, posted a message just after midnight informing me that he had just caught a 60cm, 3.5kg mangrove Jack off the Nelson Bay breakwall on a 4kg rod and 3kg line, a 1/0 hook using a cooked prawn for bait.

Drewe was fishing late into the night hoping to catch a few bream when he was nearly pulled into the marina by something that took off like the last bus to Anna Bay.

That something, after a 30 minute battle, turned out to be a mangrove Jack.

Drewe and his fish couldn't wait for Duffy to arrive at work at Salamander Bait & Tackle early on Saturday morning to verify his catch.

Drewe's effort is without doubt the most astounding catch I have reported in all those years. Let's hope that juvenile Jacks begin to appear in the port signalling a resident population.

Stinker's Fishing Clinic is on again - 16th February.

Designed for those having trouble catching fish, the clinic has proven very popular over the years and involves fishing with bait, plastics and hard bodied lures. The hottest spots and most of my secrets will be revealed. Ring Tomaree Community College 4984 1011 for further information. Limited seats.

I should invite Drewe to teach us how to catch a mangrove Jack.

STINKER