caloundra wide barwon banks

[mooloolaba]

Hey all,

Really like to take the oppertunity of the next patch of good weather and head on out to the east side of the southern end of the banks. Lately I havent had any other boats kinda the same as my own that have ventured out with me.

I only have a 5.25 mtr with a 50hp yamaha four stroke with 125ltr tank of fuel and 25ltr reserve (avatar photo boat) im alittle more woried about the length of time itll take me to get out there, im estimating to beat 2 1/2hr each way I usually head out at around 14-15kts and return with the swell at around 18-20knts usaually while its under 1.5mtrs. Ive never personaly taken my boat out there so new territory. Interested in someone with the same kinda set up to venture out with me or someone with a good sense of the area who can give advise especially the differences in the weather out there. Lately Its been solo ventures to the gneerings and murpheys, but really like to bump it up a notch and get on out there.

if your interested in joining up for a fish out on the banks, or even the outer gneering shoals let us know.... as long as the weathers good im up for it

[hakuna]

The best advise I can give is not to go. You are a bit small and underpowered to go that far, yes on a good day you will get there and back, experience will have a lot to play with it, but if it blows up out there, that 2.5hrs return will turn into 4 hours of hell, a lot of water in your boat, and probably a visit from the coastguard. Jump in a bigger boat for those trips.

cheers

[daveylad]

Agree with Hakuna, I've been out there a few times in my 6 metre glass, and no problems but it dosent take much for the weather to change with the Northerlys blowing in the afternoons this time of year. It makes the water really sloppy and will more than double the time of your'e trip, my last trip we had this for the last few miles as we were coming into Mooloolaba and it isnt pleasant I would have hated it to be like that miles out son really think and listen to others.:-[

[mooloolaba]

cheers guys,
will probs will have to get two bilge pumps, :) cause i only have the one atm.

I definitly be looking at a real good patch of weather without to many spikes in a change, i wouldnt go unless it was great conditions, and is probally why i have only been out to the local reefs lately, and even lately the weathers been medioca i still have been staying in close.

but i continuely find myself trolling inbetween the inside reefs and the banks and have the fuel for the run but maybe my trip to the banks better suited to winter. and for summer ill just wait fishing inside reefs waiting for the perfect week of weather. alot have people have mentioned the boat being underpowered but i generally dont thash my engine but i can do 18-19knts into it and 23-25kts if i put it down to it , but an upgrade is on the way. 70hp
spent years crosing the shelf back and forth in larger boats as a comercial fisherman not that that has anything in common with a 17ft boat but the experience out at sea.

the fishing the banks is one thing probally like the pinical of local adventures but i know as soon as i upgrade ill be fishing noosa's canyon and dog legs.

thanks guys for your adise, it allows me to take more things into account when fishing small boats.. so winters a better season for small boats on the banks? and for now just waiting for the mackeral and more bait schools is probs the best option

[jason p]

hay mooloolaba theres lots of good fishing in close and you dont need to travel out that far to get a good feed of fish, but in saying that i now first hand that its the erge the excitement of heading out to the well know banks and seeing if you can land that big one8-) .

as the others have stated and you would already know that the weather can change very quickly out there and become very sloppy with a long punch home.
there are to many variables here for any one to say you shouldnt go out and you should know in yourself if you as a skipper can handle any situation that is thrown at you (experience) and what your boat is capable of.

i think you are on the right track though, going out there with another boat would be a good idea for the first trip so you can get a good feel for it all. log in with the coast gaurd a must, and all the right safty equipment.

sitting on about 20kn or there abouts can take me about an hour and 20 mins to get there and about an hour on the way back. i have been caught out there in some slop before and it took over 2 hours to get home and i was glad to see land thats for sure.
i have seen boats of similar size of yours out there and mines only a 5.5 but a very different design wich can make all the difference. preparation is the key.

anyway good luck with it all.

tightlines
jp

[jason p]

. You are a bit small and underpowered to go that far, .

cheers


this may be the case especially if it blows up and you need that extrs power to get out of a hole.

jp

[mooloolaba]

cheers again guys,, for now i'll master the gneerings.
who knows an upgrade in boat and engine in the future might see me beyond the shelf with heavy gear.
heard on many cases people catching great fish inclose and cant wait to get on top of some good fish so again thanks, i got all my gear vhf epirb and all the jazz and will wait for the best time even if its once a year ill get her out there,
i actually done abit more of a search found great info on this site already so thanks to all again

[burleygu]

i agree with everything thats been said above boat size motor size etc. id have no dramas going out to the banks in my old 5.2 formosa on one of those glorious days..
you can do it and will be able to you just have to be confident in the reliability of your rig and know how it handles in a worst case scenario.
if you are fishing mooloolaba already you yourself would know how the weather can turn especially when you have a se'ly 3 mtr + swell with an oposing wind.
but then we all know those days at mooloolaba were its lucky to be a foot of swell and not a breath of wind. just keep a mental note of how safe it is given the current conditions when you venture out study multiple weather forecasts and predictions and if you get 3 or 4 websites who feed from differnt sources that dont conflict with one another usually the days going to be pretty good

another thought is to venture north? only a little bit further then the banks but no more then 20 klms from the mainland

[hookinin]

Take onboard everything that has been said above as they all have good points but you yourself will know what you and your boat is capable of and as you say your going to pick your conditions. I fished the banks and 45 fathom reef east of the banks several times in my old boat 4.75 with a 50 4 storke and felt safer than in a mates 6m boat. We mainly fished the northern end so was a bit further 26-32 mile but a bit better trip home with the NE and as most know conditions can be worse in closer with the land influence. As i said you will know what you and your boat is capable of. Pick your weather(eg 5-10 variable), travel with someone and let the coast guard know when you leave.
Cheers Gaven
Ps we would rarely put the anchor down doing short drifts over good shows and ledges etc and used 36-41 litres of fuel

[mooloolaba]

cheers hookinin,

[Captain Seaweed]

I would suggest coming out on someone elses boat next time its good so you can judge.
I will post next time I am heading up feel free to jump aboard, I normally head up with BurleyGU

Marty

[TREVELLY]

I would suggest coming out on someone elses boat next time its good so you can judge.
I will post next time I am heading up feel free to jump aboard, I normally head up with BurleyGU

Marty

Generous offer Marty - Take it Maloolaba ;D

[mooloolaba]

cheers marty. that would be great.