malby
24-05-2014, 05:21 PM
Went on one of our Connect camps (see: http://www.suqld.org.au/connect) with the boys again last week and blow me down if we are facing a new challenge to our fishing trips up there. The usual track around the back of the lagoon is now cut off just up from the Leisha track and you can no longer get through to DI Point north side (i.e.. Rainbow Beach side)!
Was up just a couple of months back and it was no hassle so must have been the rain we've been having or maybe all of the Easter tourists but now to get through you need to either do so at dead low tide (and drive over a serious tree trunk in the process) or risk taking your car for a swim which we witnessed one or two cars doing, one of which ended up being towed home after the attempt.
Very sad as we have been getting some good Dart from the northern rocks on past trips and this had been saving our trips. If anyone knows anything regards whether the National Parks will restore this track (maybe for fire access reasons or access to the Lighthouse etc) please let us know.
So on to the trip report:
Pippies were everywhere as they have been for some time now which was great (ps. anyone with any good tips on brining pippies I'd love some input as they are so darn soft!) and the boys had loads of fun scrounging them off the beach.
From there on our first arvo/pre dusk fish we fished on the Teewah side just near the Leisha entrance and caught about 4 keeper Dart which was good as some of the boys had never caught a fish before and they were thrilled at the fight and experience. Very cool to see the look on one of the boys faces who was convinced he could not actually catch a fish and then he did and it was a really decent one.
From there next morning we gave the beach a go in some likely looking gutters and scored a very nice Tarwhine about 1 kg. After that though it was just small Dart and so we gathered some more Pippies and went off to our spot on the rocks from the south side this time. Wow, what a walk! 2.5ks to the Lighthouse and another 1.5 ks to our spot and I was carrying a heavy pack so we were all totally stuffed upon arrival.
Once there the north side was protected from the south winds but not as productive as previous trips. In fact for all our efforts we only pulled out another 4 keeper Dart and nowhere near enough to keep the boys interested but at least we were able to teach them how to get Cunjevoi off the rocks at low tide and there was some nice rock pools to keep them interested also.
Walked in and out twice swapping boys and wow do I feel it now! That hike up to the Lighthouse from the South side really lets you know your fitness levels of which mine are in serious need of updating.
At the end of the day we caught enough fish for a feed and it was cool to see 2 of our Primary School boys preparing the dinner with their hands coated in flour and breadcrumbs etc! Always helps when they get involved as they help motivate the other boys to try the fish which as usual they loved!
The weather was good to us most of the time but showers came and went and unfortunately the sand flies and mozzies are still about which I'd put down to the recent rain so be sure and take the repellant for dawn and dusk and if sleeping on the dunes be aware that some of our crew were savaged by sandflies overnight.
In all another great trip though. The boys did their treasure hunts (we plan and run up in the hills), slid the dunes, played about in the surf, cooked there own meals, slept under shelters they created for themselves or under the stars and experienced the great outdoor life we are so privileged to enjoy here in SEQ.
Our beach camps are just our starting point and being able to have fires up there again now really helps.
Thanks again to all who have donated fishing gear as it is well used each trip,
Cheers,
Mal;D
Was up just a couple of months back and it was no hassle so must have been the rain we've been having or maybe all of the Easter tourists but now to get through you need to either do so at dead low tide (and drive over a serious tree trunk in the process) or risk taking your car for a swim which we witnessed one or two cars doing, one of which ended up being towed home after the attempt.
Very sad as we have been getting some good Dart from the northern rocks on past trips and this had been saving our trips. If anyone knows anything regards whether the National Parks will restore this track (maybe for fire access reasons or access to the Lighthouse etc) please let us know.
So on to the trip report:
Pippies were everywhere as they have been for some time now which was great (ps. anyone with any good tips on brining pippies I'd love some input as they are so darn soft!) and the boys had loads of fun scrounging them off the beach.
From there on our first arvo/pre dusk fish we fished on the Teewah side just near the Leisha entrance and caught about 4 keeper Dart which was good as some of the boys had never caught a fish before and they were thrilled at the fight and experience. Very cool to see the look on one of the boys faces who was convinced he could not actually catch a fish and then he did and it was a really decent one.
From there next morning we gave the beach a go in some likely looking gutters and scored a very nice Tarwhine about 1 kg. After that though it was just small Dart and so we gathered some more Pippies and went off to our spot on the rocks from the south side this time. Wow, what a walk! 2.5ks to the Lighthouse and another 1.5 ks to our spot and I was carrying a heavy pack so we were all totally stuffed upon arrival.
Once there the north side was protected from the south winds but not as productive as previous trips. In fact for all our efforts we only pulled out another 4 keeper Dart and nowhere near enough to keep the boys interested but at least we were able to teach them how to get Cunjevoi off the rocks at low tide and there was some nice rock pools to keep them interested also.
Walked in and out twice swapping boys and wow do I feel it now! That hike up to the Lighthouse from the South side really lets you know your fitness levels of which mine are in serious need of updating.
At the end of the day we caught enough fish for a feed and it was cool to see 2 of our Primary School boys preparing the dinner with their hands coated in flour and breadcrumbs etc! Always helps when they get involved as they help motivate the other boys to try the fish which as usual they loved!
The weather was good to us most of the time but showers came and went and unfortunately the sand flies and mozzies are still about which I'd put down to the recent rain so be sure and take the repellant for dawn and dusk and if sleeping on the dunes be aware that some of our crew were savaged by sandflies overnight.
In all another great trip though. The boys did their treasure hunts (we plan and run up in the hills), slid the dunes, played about in the surf, cooked there own meals, slept under shelters they created for themselves or under the stars and experienced the great outdoor life we are so privileged to enjoy here in SEQ.
Our beach camps are just our starting point and being able to have fires up there again now really helps.
Thanks again to all who have donated fishing gear as it is well used each trip,
Cheers,
Mal;D