OTHER BIG BUGGERS The previous page concerns the IRON MONACH and the near miss. This sequence of events appertains to a Land Cruiser, so what is a 4 by 4 diesel doing out in the ocean? In fact what do innumerable motor cars have to do with fishing? The TOYOTA MARU that's what. Ron and I had an agenda this day, it was the night of the "Moon", so we decided to motor out in the early afternoon, service our traps and do some fishing until late evening, and then come home on the high tide. Conditions were quite good, we intentionally pick a spot some ways from our traps, the bottom end of the 38's in fact, around 94 degrees E of Brunswick Heads. THE 38'S, south of the WINDARRA BANKS. This area has seen some good catches in the past, there appears to be a few "lifts" and signs of low level reefs in the general area. Never forget a bloke given the name of "30 Reddies", he never went fishing without catching '30 reddies', I first meet him in the locality where we were headed. Where are you now Geoff Brenton? We probably arrived at the spot around 5 o'clock, drifted over the reefs for an hour or so and dropped anchor, and waited for the moon to rise. WE were not to be alone. Within an hour several more boats arrive to keep us company, I guess there were 4 / 5 other fishermen trying their luck, and actually it's not too bad to have some company way out there, a bit of friendly banter and a talk. So every body settles in for a bit of a fish, and in close proximity, (just to see what the others are catching). It's an eerie place out there on a still night, the sound of an occasional reel ratchet, a splash? Lights dimly glowing from stern lights and navigation lights, radio traffic noise. And the sound of a rum and coffee being poured, the wrapper coming of a chicken sandwich, another story. OH, that's in our boat!! Sometimes the cacophonous sound of a sawn off 12 gauge shotgun. Sometimes the sound of a small motor boat, no running lights, proceeding seaward and returning some time later. They seem to head for coastal vessel some distance from the coast. BOATS AND THE LIGHT SHOW. Night time sometimes is a wonderful ‘light show', imagine being miles from shore, looking up at the heavens and seeing the thin streams' of light, a meteor, a satellite? An alien spacecraft? Fishermen have seen these spectacles for eons. But enough of the romance lets catch some fish. HAIL THE MOON. But hang on!! I haven't' described the spectacle of the "GLORIOUS MOON". Oh my God what a wonderful spectacle, possibly the most beautiful vision of nature you will ever see. Slowly out of the darkness rises our nearest terrestrial neighbor, this huge orb of light, you can feel the unleashing of all life coming to greet you. You can sense the arising power of creation. You would have to be brain dead not to love life when beholden this spectacle, even the unfortunate blind can sense its presence. All creation is bound to its existence. OH, and sorry SUN. HEY SUN, you're the Father, but without doubt our Moon is our Mother, she encourages life, she fosters all things living, she nurtures and gives being to all living things. Mother Moon my religion. The glorious Moon is the placenta of life, you are the Egg that is fertilized by God, I can feel life, and everything around us on the 38's is being born. Bugger me I have digressed. Coastal big boats have a light show, passenger liners are like a little township passing by, lights from stem to stern. Cargo vessels are the same only there is less lights. This night we do see a few ships, and then from way down the coast an apparition of lights starts to rear its ugly head. Firstly, the deck lights, so far away, secondly the riding light(s) so far away. I say riding lights because we can, we all can see bloody RED AND GREEN, and the bugger is on a collision course, WITH US. THE TOYOTA MARU. I mentioned the RED and GREEN syndrome. If you see the port side light, then the green light, and the reverse of the above, your in deep trouble. I have to make the point, mainly because my readers will? Actually who are my readers? Specks on the ocean, a brick in the wall, flea shit on a blanket, just a no body. These are some of the analogies that come to the mind of the collected few this night. WE are in a particularly vulnerable position us fisherman, it's time for evasive action. Frantic radio traffic on the CB channel suggests we all "head for the hills", get out of the way of what now is friggen' great boat. Those who were anchored hauled up, people inquired, "how you blokes goin', want a hand?" We, that is the concerned, that is everyone heads in all directions, here she comes, getting bigger and bigger. Moon light on the water, all things good. Whacking big boat. What more can your ask for? She monsters through the spot where we, the collective were fishing only moments before, she's black, she's huge, she's the TOYOTO MARU. As it turns out, this actor entering from stage left is, or was laden with them 4 by 4 Landcruisers. Our little boats are being tossed and turned, all the sounds of a revolting incursion into our little lives have occurred. Not a living soul could be ascertained on deck, not even the cook. I will leave you with these thoughts. The moonlight. More thoughts soon.