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View Full Version : Time to chase Doggies off Maggie Is



No Barra
04-05-2009, 12:22 PM
With the new bigger boat it was time to take my son out fish in the bay instead of the rivers. So we decided to head out Sunday morning to chase Doggies off of West End which would be a first for me to.
We headed out from the Coast Guard boat ramp around 5am, no others launching and about 6 or 7 other car and trailers in the carpark, so boat sat on the ramp with the boy holding it while I parked the car. As we headed out he was asking to go faster, so I had to explain to him about the speed restrictions and when we got out into the bay and we started to open it up he wanted to slow down due to the swell running through. This meant that it was a 15 to 17 kt run out to West End. Love my Humminbird 997 as I could split the screen showing the map/chart of the area on both sides of the split. This allowed me to keep an eye on where Middle Reef was as this was first time turning left instead of right coming out of the milk pond.
We got to the mark, anchored up, baited up the boy’s rod up, over the side it goes and then tie up the burly pot and over the side it goes too. Then bang on the boys rods and quick as it happened it was all over, smoked. He winds it in and the last foot of the 50lb leader is as thin as the hair on your head. Well its time for him to have his breakfast while I get him and myself set up again. Then he decides that he wants to use the handline, not good for me, but it was in the boat ready to go so breakfast is gone bait on and he is fishing again.
You got it he is on again and need help, we get it in and it is his first Doggie that measures in at about 45cm so back in it goes and he is already into me for catching more than me. Didn’t tell him that he was the first out of us to catch a Doggie for the first time. So this time bait on my rod first then his so we both get it into the water together and not long before I notch up my first, to small back over the side. Then he is on again and requires help, when we get it close to the boat it looks good to be a keeper but my net man lets me down and it gone. Then the next fish he catches is a sucker fish so off it goes and back into the water. This went on for awhile catching undersized Doggies and sucker fish until we were out of pillies. In the end we caught about 10 Doggies, which only one was a keeper caught by me, and numerous sucker fish. We got busted off 5 times by something big but had a good time. Weather wasn’t to bad and on the trip home we made good time until just past Middle Reef where it started to lump up so we backed off and got back to the boat ramp at about 10am.
Overall we had a great time good to see Doggies around, so it might be a good season, and we will be back out soon thanks to KD at work for the mark.


Jeff

ronnien
04-05-2009, 05:19 PM
jeff,

sounds not to bad of a trip, was it flat?
& yes i believe that it"s going to be a cracker of a doggie season as a result of all that rain we had. there"s plenty of bait out in the bays, green back herring, yakka, even mullet of have seen out around westpoint.
hope you get a few good fish next time, is there a name on the new boat?
what brand, c/c, tiller steer?

ron.

No Barra
05-05-2009, 10:04 PM
Hi Ron,
the swell wasn't to bad until we got past Middle Reef on the way home. As for the boat no name on it yet but it is a Sea Jay Escape Sport side console. Looking forward to the next trip and by then they should of grown a little bit more.

Jeff

levinge
06-05-2009, 08:08 AM
Jeff, you'll have to come up to Cardwell on the Queens Birthday Long Weekend mate, another meet and greet with guys from Townsville to Cairns.

Good report, sounds like you had some fun and the young fella learnt abit about fishing for doggies. Top Effort.....

No Barra
06-05-2009, 09:35 AM
Would like to come to the meet and greet, but at the moment the family is thinking about going to Port Douglas for the weekend.
But do enjoy going to Hinchinbrook, with the new boat would be more willing to turn right then head out along the FAD instead of turning left all the time. In saying that I do enjoy going fishing up the channel in a nice little quiet out of the way spot where you see no one all day in the peace and quiet.

Jeff